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Headphones

ddfgh	Date: July 9, 2008 @ 10:08 AM I've been relying on my laptop speakers for just about everything for the last 5+ months. Obviously, they don't make for a great final product and they don't do justice to the music played on em'... I'm finally on the market for a pair of headphones and an affordable speaker system. My price range is around 200. I realize that's low, but there's got to be some sort of middle ground in cost/quality. I've tried reading through various product reviews on amazon but for every 5 star there's a really convincing 1 star review...
ddfgh	Date: July 9, 2008 @ 1:23 PM Also, how do I exchange the electro icon next to my name for something else? I get the impression there's a heightened set of standards in regards to that category... I chose it not because I'm capable of blindly diddling away at a sequencer, which I admit I have been sort of doing recently- but because I use a lot of synth in concert with instruments I'm actually capable of playing.. that and I actually play the keyboard. I'd rather just stick a bass icon their so people don't assume everything they're hearing is some crappy instrument preset. Don't get me wrong- this isn't about track comments- I'm totally outclassed here and I'm still riding the high from the very first compliment I was given- before this site my highest compliment was an annoyed sigh Back to the headphones... I have a history of following shitty advice and buying pairs that look good but go mute in one ear by the end of the first week. I'm sure there's some solid advice
ddfgh	Date: July 9, 2008 @ 1:25 PM to be given. hmm
TameasDust	Date: July 10, 2008 @ 1:04 AM to exchange your icon ask an admin ... like me ... the ones with the gold bolt. Good Cans an excerpt from Good Cans Don't Worry Too Much About Specifications: Frequency response specifications listed on most headphone packaging are only helpful for weeding out the cheapest of headphones (under $20). True sound quality comes from the headphones producing the most accurate music reproduction, which is not necessarily from headphones capable of reproducing sounds way above and below the range of human hearing. We have personally heard headphones with a frequency response from 20-20,000 Hz with far better music reproduction quality than a pair of headphones with a 10-30,000 Hz frequency response! Impedance and sound pressure levels matter a bit more depending on what source you are using to drive the headphones. Higher end home headphones, including many Sennheisers, usually need more power to drive them, so hooking them up to a portable CD player just won't do. Grado's, Portables, and IEM's however, sound great connected to most portable players, a standard headphone jack, or a headphone amp. Circumaural vs. Supra-aural. Circumaural headphones have earcups which totally surround the ear and can be more comfortable than supra-aural headphones which sit directly on the ear. Weight and earpad materials can vary the comfort level. Many of the Sennheiser's and AKG's we review are circumaural and very comfortable. Grado headphones are supra-aural which has been the source of some criticism for their comfort level, (it's also part of the secret behind their great sound quality). I have found however that once the headphones are broken in, they become more comfortable. Also the Grado's are light weight, and since the headband is a sturdy leather or vinyl covered metal band, they can be bent to conform to your head (try that with the plastic cheapies). Open headphones as opposed to closed or sealed headphones. Open headphones are not always the type that sit on your ears, they sometimes are full sized headphones with some sort of opening on the sides to allow the sound to resonate better, (many of the Sennheiser's and AKG's we recommend are this type). Closed designs block out more outside sounds, but sound quality is generally lacking (sounds like you are in a tin can). Unless you require outside sounds to be blocked out such as a musician in a recording studio, or will be listening in an environment where sound leakage will be a problem, we usually recommend the open design. A majority of the headphones we sell, (except the Noise Reduction Headphones), are of the open design. We are now doing some reviewing of closed headphones and are beginning to recommend a few models since many of you have asked! Portable Headphones. I have purchased a few portable CD players and mp3 players in the last 20 years, and I am continually amazed at the marvel of such neat little machines at affordable prices. One thing that always disappoints though is the cheapie headphones or earbuds that come with such great portable players! In order to keep costs down, virtually all of the companies have shortchanged us with inexpensive headphones or buds that barely do their players justice. While we've had some customers who prefer to connect a Grado SR60 or SR80 to their portables, to be fair, the Grado's are actually mid-sized headphones. Not necessarily portable. True portable headphones are a bit smaller. Sometimes collapsible. But unlike earbuds, portable headphones can create a large, full sized headphone sound. Over the years we've been totally pleased with the Koss PortaPro, (not to be confused with the lesser quality SportaPro). We've also been liking the Sennheiser PX100. A couple of subcategories of portables are the "StreetStyle" headband, (behind the neck rather than on top of the head), and the "Ear Clip," (no headband, just clips to hold the transducer to the ear). Our favorite Streetstyle is the iGrado and our favorite earclip is the Koss KSC75. Wireless headphones. Our emphasis with headphones has been "sound quality". We have auditioned quite a few wireless headphones, but they have a long way to go to catchup to corded headphones in the sound quality area and we are rarely impressed! And reception quality.... don't get us started! Most are bad! FYI, RF wireless headphones, (Radio Frequency), can sound good at some locations, and bad at others. Depends on what radio waves, electronics, or microwaves that may be around your listening location. So what works fine for one person at their house, may not work for you at yours? Frustrating!!! We do realize though many of you have a need for wireless headphones. Though we prefer a good headphone with an extension cord, if you investigate our site, you may find a review and recommendation for a wireless alternative, (we are especially impressed with the transmission quality of the xDream by FreeSystems... uses an infrared signal transmitting digital information!). Noise Reduction Headphones. Sometime in the early 90's, ANR headphones began to be marketed primarily to airplane travelers. ANR refers to “Active Noise Reduction,” (as opposed to Passive Noise Reduction which is just blocking sound with a bulky, closed headphone, or use of earplugs in the ear canal). If you’re in an environment with a steady, low droning sound, (like an airplane engine), ANR headphones can be helpful because they produce an opposite sound wave to the ear which in effect, lessens the loudness of the offending droning noise. The result, the offending noise is reduced and you now have the means to listen to music or movies through headphones at a normal volume, (FYI, turning up volume in headphones to drown outside sounds is not good for the ears). Some points about ANR headphones to remember: -- Random noises are "NOT" reduced! Talking, banging, babies crying, etc..... not reduced by the ANR circuitry. -- Sometimes erroneously called "Noise Cancellation" headphones.... they reduce one offending noise, not cancel! -- $300 ANR headphones, even from self boastful famous audio manufacturers, do not sound as good to an audiophile's ears as does a $69 Grado SR60. Besides being closed which affects sound quality, the ANR circuitry introduces some hiss. -- If you travel a lot, by all means, spend some money on some good ANR headphones. But if you only travel occasionally, opt for the less expensive ones for traveling and buy some regular headphones for all other uses. -- You may want to consider an IEM, as they can passively block outside noises. IEM's, In-Ear-Monitors, Canal Phones... In-Ears are a tricky product to recommend. So much depends on the fit in the ear for both sound quality reasons and for noise blockage reasons. And everyone's ears are different, so what works for one person, may not work well for another! Plus, some people can't stand sticking the things deep into the ear canal, while others seem to get used to it, and love the intimacy of the sound. Etymotic and Shure kind of led the way in this category. But given the popularity of the iPod, (and other portable players), and the not-so-good earbuds that come with them, IEM's are getting more and more popular and many companies are jumping in with me-too products. Unfortunately, the better ones are quite expensive, ($200 and up). In the under $100 category, we've found a couple of Denon's we like, (whereas many in the lower price ranges are lacking in detail or bass). Due to the portability factor and the noise blocking factor, I've enjoyed some in-ears for several years now. They sound better to me than earbuds which I don't find fit my ears very well, (and sound inconsistent as a result). And I find besides being super portable, IEM's can block outside sound out quite well so I use them a lot when traveling. And a maybe not so common use... I often use them when going to sleep at night, (which rules out some of the bulkier designs that protrude from the ear). One thing I want to point out. Good IEM's can produce very clear detail. But when it comes to headphone sound, I feel a full sized headphone gives a larger sound and it's hard to compare with an IEM which produces a sound that is totally inside your head. In other words, I'm not gonna give up my Good Cans! The truth about headphone amplifiers: Not many of you are aware that there even exists such a thing as a headphone amplifier? We get a kick out of listening to a $1000 plus headphone/headphone amp setup! But quite frankly, though the sound quality can be better than a pair of $95 Grado SR80 headphones hooked up to portable CD player.... it is in no way 10 times better! We are now reviewing and selling headphone amps, but until you are a true audiophile with a quest for the best sound possible, don't concern yourself too much. Get some good headphones first. Listen a while. And if you really get into it, then maybe step up? Whether you do want to get an amp does depend on the quality of your sound source and current amplification?
zedsalt	Date: July 10, 2008 @ 3:40 AM Hit the garage sales, second hand stores, estate auctions, etc. and look for huge, clunky-looking 'phones with "Koss" on the output jack (ignore other logos elsewhere; Koss manufactured great 'phones for a number of different retailers for decades). If you're not at all handy with a soldering gun, ask if there's some way you could try them out. Even if you're just not too handy with a soldering gun, shorts are pretty easy to fix. It's hard to imagine what it would take to cause a short, though. I've rolled mine under a folding chair supporting my 250 lb.+ frame countless times, and I've caught my nephew swinging them by the cable like a lasso. I haven't had to open up my current pair yet (got 'em at an auction about twenty-two years ago for $1 in a big box of other stuff).
zedsalt	Date: July 10, 2008 @ 3:42 AM Gah! The first part of my post got cut off (insert your own John Bobbit joke here). I just suggested you hit garage sales, yard sales, second hand stores and estate auctions and look for the huge, clunky-looking 'phones with "Koss" on the output jack.
GeneHilbert	Date: July 10, 2008 @ 4:53 AM Here are 3 links. The 40 watt version I have are not listed here but these little speakers w/sub are really good for the money. And the price is right up your alley. http://www.staples.com/office/supplies/p1_Speakers_180863_Business_Supplies_10051_FEATURED src="http://images.dmusic.com/v7/emoticons/irked.gif" align="middle" alt=":S (Irked)" title=":S (Irked)" />C3:CG6P1434:CL140479 http://www.staples.com/office/supplies/c22_MP3-Satellite-Radio-Speakers_10267_Business_Supplies_10051 Head phones..... well you know you're gonna get what you pay for. http://www.musiciansfriend.com/navigation?q=akg+headphones&src=3WWRWXGB&ZYXSEM=0 $100.00 you'll be set until you can get better quality gear.
ddfgh	Date: July 10, 2008 @ 8:18 AM Awesome responses! thanks, this is exactly he kind of advice I was looking for.

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