I intend to buy new headphones and have the AKG 242 in mind. Do you have any (better) recommendations at that price level?
Thanks!
I dare to say that AKG's are best bang for your buck, especially the model you have considered due to not having the sticky leather padding which I personally hate in headphones. AKG's are good quality and can take even harder blows without breaking and their sound performance beats some of the most expensive ones. I decided to grab Sennheiser's after my Sony's broke down but soon found out how weak the quality actually is. Everything is plastic and the so-called good bass performance can't take even a normal bass drum. I have been following one particular Hifi forum and most of the people there are praising AKG's so I'm quite sure you won't be disappointed.
I have some AKGs that are about ten years old and they were one of the cheaper models at the time (plastic, crappy head band) but they've served me well. I have a large cranium so I like the big over-ear headphones that completely surround my ears.
I've also been contemplating an upgrade and was considering these AKG K702s: http://www.amazon.com/AKG-K702-Headphones/dp/B001RCD2DW/ref=wl_it_dp_o_pd_nS_nC?ie=UTF8&colid=2BNZTGLZ21LKZ&coliid=I25WKK5CXCLA0X
At one time I was very close to buying some Denon AHD2000s because of all the good reviews but I never did and I'm somewhat regretting it now. They used to be ~$200 but apparently are no longer being manufactured and the prices have jumped to like $400+
Along with new 'phones I've given much consideration to picking up one of those "cheap" chinese tube amps I've seen around lately and using it strictly as a headphone amp. Something like this: http://www.amazon.com/Qinpu-A-6000-Integrated-Headphone-Amplifier/dp/B0057OI448/ref=wl_it_dp_o_pC_S_nC?ie=UTF8&colid=2BNZTGLZ21LKZ&coliid=I8ZZAD3JHG2DB
I have Sennheiser earbuds and over-ear jobbies, both of which perform excellently. I don't have the model numbers to hand, sadly.
Does anyone have recommendations for good portable headphones for mp3-players? All the stuff I've checked out so far, sucked in one way or another.
Highly recommend the Sony MDR-7506 headphones. Best $100 you will ever spend.
Thanks for your answers! So I'll get these AKG's - 2 years old but in near mint condition for 50 euros
For years i'm listening to noisy stuff with Technics RP-DJ 1200 which is an excellent choise for this particular sonic kind but good luck to find them because it's a rare model (I think).
I have Audio-Technica M50's and while they work fine, if I can do it I always prefer listening to noise over speakers.
I have not purchased a headphone amplifier myself, but I heard from trusted/credible sound enthusiasts that a headphone amplifier is essential for some of the higher-end headphones, as really high-end headphones are really power hungry, and the good amp is necessary to get all the frequencies from them and really fulfill their sonic potential.
I would love a set like that but I absolutely couldn't afford it haha.
Hope this helps. :]
Akg - cannot remember which model. Perfect and robutst although the damn sticky parts melts in the summer
visually these AKGs that you've posted in here are truly repulsive. It very much reminds me of some soviet era "vintage" headphones a la TDS etc.
http://www.oldtimers.lt/viewtopic.php?f=56&t=47625 (http://www.oldtimers.lt/viewtopic.php?f=56&t=47625)
Quote from: Levas on June 26, 2013, 08:33:57 PM
visually these AKGs that you've posted in here are truly repulsive. It very much reminds me of some soviet era "vintage" headphones a la TDS etc.
http://www.oldtimers.lt/viewtopic.php?f=56&t=47625 (http://www.oldtimers.lt/viewtopic.php?f=56&t=47625)
Who cares how they look? How do they SOUND?
If you're worried about how you look while wearing headphones, maybe Beats by Dre are more your style. Seems like those have become quite the status symbol.
So status symbol has to do more with looks or with sounds? thanks for consideration, I'm not that worried about how I look while wearing headphones.
Well I am really keen on trying these AKG's and yes they look not very modern but that's fine with me. But concerning an amplifier I guess that wouldn't be a bad idea - but has to be postponed... Does anyone use amplifiers for headphones here?
I've had a set of AKG240M for a very long time. For $100, I haven't found anything I like as much. Mine have proven to be durable and comfortable with minimal long-playing hearing fatigue. Solid, flat sound. It's important to me that a headphone not boost the high end, and that is where most headphones fail. I like my headphones like I like my speakers: flat. I don't need them to color the music. I've never heard those 242s, but at that price, I'd definitely give them a chance.
Quote from: Levas on June 26, 2013, 08:48:51 PM
So status symbol has to do more with looks or with sounds? thanks for consideration, I'm not that worried about how I look while wearing headphones.
...I don't think you understood what I meant. And besides, I was kidding.
These I've owned and were great.
http://www.amazon.com/Sennheiser-HD-280-Pro-Headphones/dp/B000065BPB
These too:
http://www.amazon.com/Klipsch-Reference-ONE-On-Ear-Headphones/dp/B005ZNHDYS/ref=sr_1_4?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1372294058&sr=1-4&keywords=klipsch+headphones
I have a Grado SR125i. It cost 165 AUD (plus 43 AUD for a 4.5 m extension cord). I really like them although I don't have anything to compare them to as they're my first serious headphones. I feel the whole frequency range is equally represented and no details are lost. After using them for a while, my ears hurt a bit but with a couple minutes of rest, I'm good to wear them again for another album. On the other hand, my girlfriend can wear them for any length of time, so this seems person-specific. I should also add I only use them at home. They're not very nice looking I guess (although I have no problem with their design) if that's a concern for street use.
I know Grados are considered very good quality for a low price.
As for headphone amps, I don't have any experience with them. From what I've read, even headphones that are not power hungry often benefit from one because the headphone output on a lot of amps is not the same quality as the speaker outputs (many amp manufacturers consider them less important). I was told by someone I trust on these matters that the Grado+NAD amp (what I've got) combination is a great match though, and I've also read NAD amps (and, if memory serves me right, Cambridge Audio amps as well) actually have good quality headphone outputs.
Quote from: RG on June 27, 2013, 01:50:00 AM
...I don't think you understood what I meant. And besides, I was kidding.
It might be.
I've been mainly Sennheiser user. HD-555 are the ones that I currently have and they are ok and most important they are open. But a pair of closed ones for comparison while doing some mixing or so. I like mostly what Zeno said about sound being flat.
As my previous headphones totally disintegrated (Bose AE2i) i'm in the market for a new pair.
I always like those pair, but i don't have a real base for comparison because they were my first pair of more expensive headphones. Previously i had sennheisers but more a low end series.
A friend of mine who is an audio engineer recommended me some Audio Technica headphones (can't recall the exact series), but i'm reviving this topic to get some more opinions. There might be some new ones on the market since 2013 which might be worth picking up.
FYI - i listen to everything from HNW, death metal to minimal modern composers, improv, etc...