--The Headphone Thread--

Have a set of these that have lasted at least a year and half but they're cheap amazon routish..



Was in the same or similar boat last month and went with the airpods. I really like them but they've fallen out a couple times. Got an aftermarket add on silicone piece thing that fits over it and helps hold them in with no problems but its a pain to take on and off to put them back into the carrier thingie. Good luck!

 

Looking for some average to good noise canceling headphones for work. Budget is around a hundred. Bluetooth preferred. Checked out amazon and they seem to have several in that price range that fit the bill.. Anyone bought a pair of these?

 

Is there a thread for HD portable music players? Let my dad use my Senheiser set that I got recommended from this threads years ago and fell in love with them. I didn’t even know something like this existed until he told me about them.

Spoiler

https://www.astellnkern.com/eng/con...scg=CG210240&spos=4&tcg=&tpos=0&gcode=SC10990

I know this model is no longer continued, but this is one that he mentioned specifically. Any one familiar with these music players or any recommendations? Looking no more than $500 for a Christmas present.

 

That’s what I’m trying to figure out. Dad said something about iPod and phones compressing music files and diminished quality. I guess these HD players also put out more power to higher end head phones and power drivers. Looking like nothing there is under $500.

 

What about “Bit Depth”? Is there anything to that? Can music from iTunes be uploaded at the same 24-bit/96kHz to their iPod/Phone?

Crutchfield said in a general review, “Hi-res audio files sound better than CDs. And they sound way better than the compressed digital audio files we get from iTunes, Amazon, and most music streaming services. They come much closer to capturing all the nuances of the original performance... iTunes can play AIFF and WAV files, but it's probably not the best choice if you're building a high-res music library. iTunes doesn't provide the best sound quality, and it doesn't support common high-res formats like FLAC.... Many HD Audio Players also have built-in headphone amps to give you the best listening experience with high-performance headphones.”

May just look into getting him an amp for his headphones.

Edit: Crutchfield review

Spoiler

https://www.crutchfield.com/S-6ucH0xnGL7J/learn/high-resolution-audio-guide.html

 

There is that, some have more powerful amps as someone else mentioned and others it is claimed, feature a higher quality DAC. Does any of this make a difference to your ears? I don't think it makes much difference to mine although there are some people who claim these purpose built players are significantly better sounding.

 

I guess if you are rich then your ears suddenly get better.

 

Looking for some headphones/ear buds for my daughter who is 11. Bluetooth, decent sound, and nothing fancy, for all I know they will be broken or lost before I know it.

 

Best bang for your buck I have a couple refurbished Klipsch items and they work great. Probably uncool for an 11 year old girl though

 

Maybe something like this?
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Skullcandy...Zs1Kw:sc:USPSFirstClass!45230!US!-1:rk:8:pf:0

She really wants EarPods, but I told her no way. There are some knockoff ones, not sure if they'd be any good. I'm sure the build quality is shit.

 

For her age those would be just fine. She's gonna want style over performance. I'd see if I could find something similar, even the same thing, in her favorite color and call it a day.

 

Update: I replaced the headband on my Shure SRH840's. I got an OEM headband from Shure, soldered them shits up, and they worked. Wore them for a month and they fucking broke again. Same exact thing, the plastic on the headband near the driver broke.

I wouldn't spend money on Shure headphones. Everything from their entry-level to the 940's, which are $300 headphones, appear to be the same design on the headband. The 1440's and above are steel headband. The sound quality is better than my other headphones, but that does me no good when I can't wear them. It's shockingly bad quality from a normally high quality company.

The Sennheiser HD-280 PRO are good. They compare very well to the Audio-Technica ATH-M50x. It's good sound quality and a good design, meaning they don't just break after wearing them for a month. The ATH-M50x have smaller ear cups, which can start to hurt after a while, and neither the AT nor Sennheiser were not as full or as comfortable as the Shure's, but they are also in a lower price bracket.

 

How long have you had them?

 

Shure is best for super high end IEMS. I've never messed with their production stuff.

 

Are Sony earbuds any good? Again for an 11yo.
https://www.bestbuy.com/site/sony-wi-c300-wireless-in-ear-headphones-white/6196194.p?skuId=6196194

 

Can I get a good pair of noise-canceling over the ear headphones for $100-150?

Sennheiser HD 4.50 Bluetooth Wireless Headphones with Active Noise Cancellation, Black and Silver(HD 4.50 BTNC)

 

I'm in the same boat. Had Bose I was happy with that got stolen/lost whatever they are just gone and I can't find them anywhere. I was happy with them but didn't think they were worth 350. Would love to find something nice for 150-200, over the ear, noise canceling and wireless.

 

Sony CH700N Wireless Bluetooth Noise Cancelling Headphones - WH-CH700N/B (Certified Refurbished)



I received these Thursday, pretty happy with them but I have nothing to compare to other than ear buds or my AirPods. I’ve taken several phone calls and can vouch that the microphone sounds just as good on the receiving end as AirPods.

I think they’re great value if you’re cool with refurbished stuff. Battery life is apparently much better than the Senheisers.

 

Find myself keeping lists for shit to pick up on cyber mondays/black fridays etc with the direction everything is going in. Sucks to wait on things in some regards, but like you said I'm not sure I've used a $300+ pair that i felt were a steal at that price. Have the PXC550s and HD1 from sennheiser, retail at 350 and 400. Love them both, but i feel my opinion would be a lot different had i not bought them for $200

 

Thanks. I was checking out those out new for 148. I'm mainly listening to podcasts on the plane and music almost always while walking through an airport. I just want them to be comfortable and have reasonable noise canceling and sound quality.

 

I'm in the market for some new wireless earbuds. Had these: https://www.plantronics.com/us/en/product/backbeat-go-3 but I had to warranty replace them once and now one ear just conked out on them. They're primarily for podcasts when I'm commuting to work (commuter line to subway) so I don't need anything fancy. Recs appreciated.

 

Wife’s aunt and uncle got me a pair of iKanzi wireless ear buds for Xmas. Pretty cheap I think and I love them. Pop one in the ear while I’m falling asleep if I’m watching something on my phone or listening to other relaxing sounds. Usually wake up with it still in and I don’t even notice it.

 

Me too :-(

 

Got the qc35s and like them a lot. I have a pair of perfectly fine Bose qc25s if anyone is interested for $100 shipped

 

Bought a Cowon Plenue D, my plethora of iPods can fuck off. I'll probably stack it with a FiiO amp and use the Sennheiser 650's.

 

So been looking into getting this https://bottlehead.com/product/sing...e_upgrade-options=S.E.X.+3.0+with+C4S+Upgrade

 

I was hoping someone would say buy this instead that's already premade but thanks, just sent the order through.

 

I need new earbuds. Are Aipods worth it or are there better wireless earbuds?

 

I love my airpods. Had them a year and a half and they work great with my iPhone

 

Depends on if you think you are going to get much use out of the features that are iOS exclusive. You are paying a pretty big premium for that because they certainly are not the best sounding earbuds and noise isolation is pretty poor. Many competing style true wireless earbuds also have better battery life. Rumor is the next version that is allegedly going to be released later this year will have active noise cancelation though. I might be all-in on those depending on the price. Sony has some coming out with active noise cancelation next month and they are supposed to be awesome but are $230.

After my AirPods battery life went to shit, I got some off Amazon for around $40 that sound just as good (though admittedly not an audiophile) but have better sound isolation and better battery life. Sure, I lose some of the convenience (although not as much since my Apple TV died and I didn't get another one), but it's not worth nearly $120 more. But I also rarely used headphones with my phone, almost exclusively with the iPad, computer, or TV late at night so as not to disturb others if they are sleeping.

Since the AirPods actually still work but just don't last long, I tested them with my new TV, and they actually work pretty terribly with it compared to the $40 ones off Amazon.

 

My Bose Soundsports are beaten up. What’s the go to for running? I need a second pair of noise cancelling headphones for work. What’s the recommendation with those?

 

All I use them for are music when working out. Don’t need amazing sound quality but I would like it to be good.

I don’t like the newest apple headphones (corded), they don’t sit in my ear well.

 

Are you fine with overears or does it need to be true wireless earbuds?

Everything I've read for overears is the Sony WH line, Bose Quite Comfort 35, and Jabra Elite 85 are the best. Of course you are also paying $200+ for those. Not sure if you want to drop that kind of money for work headphones.

 

I have a pair of sennheiser PXC550's that I love. The noise cancelling is excellent and the bluetooth works great and you have a touchpad on the headphone itself.

 

Bought the Creative Outlier Airs, bluetooth IEMs

If you like punchy bass, these are your guys. I like clarity more, so it took some equalizing and compromes. Mids can be drowned out sometimes against the bass. Otherwise, I am happy with the sound quality and fit. Interested in the Jabras and JLabs if anyone has those.

 

Do you (or others) have a recommendation for wireless buds / in ear headphones that are good for noise isolation / cancellation? I need a pair of wireless headphones primarily for phone calls and blocking out background noise is highest priority. I work in an open office setting and focus more on going off and on mute so that background noise isn’t filtering into the call than I do on what’s being said.

Thanks in advance.

 

There's a pretty limited selection for true wireless with noise cancellation. Sony will be or just recently released some new ones, WF-1000XM3, that are supposed to be fantastic.

 

If your main priority is noise canceling, Sony is leading in that category