The Gang of Five
Beyond the Mysterious Beyond => The Arts => Sound Off! => Topic started by: TheNumberOneShmuck on October 18, 2007, 06:49:29 AM
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Maaaaaaan, I can't decide, maaaaan.
Sony MDR-XD300s (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16826159225), or Sennheiser DJ-Style HD202s (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16826106306)?
I mean, the Sennheisers are cheaper, but I noticed this in the review section for the Sonys:
Can block about 25Db of noise even though they are not "noise canceling."
That sounds pretty handy-dandy, especially since I mostly use headphones in the car.
Then there's the part where I've never used a Sennheiser product before. Are they any good?
I DUNNO!
Anybody gotz tha info?(or something like that) Help, yo!
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Even though I'm a tad biased to one headphone brand (see Dale in my sig :lol: ), I'll be as objective as possible.
On the Sony's
Input Impedance 70 ohms at 1kHz
Cord Length 8.2 Feet
It sounds like you want to use these on road trips or with a portable player. That 70 ohms is going to mean you're going have to turn that player very loud to get some real volume out of these headphones at a human hearing "sweet spot". You'll probably lose a bit of battery life (less than 5%, but it can make a difference on long trips). That 8 ft of cord you're going to want a twist tie or rubber band for because it will get in the way. By the sound of it, they weren't designed with portables in mind. Also, I noticed these have the larger 40mm drivers and are circumaural so just be aware that you're going to have some pretty bass-heavy headphones (if that's what you like in music).
On the Senn's
Input Impedance 32 ohms at 1khz
Cord Length 8-10 feet
While the cord is still very long (and something I would certainly not want in portable headphones IMO), that lower impedance rating is much much better for portable equipment. You won't have to turn these quite as loud to get the same volume out of them. I didn't see driver sizes listed, but these are more of a closed style headphone and will naturally block out more noise due to their design. Senns usually are recommended by those who listen to classical or accoustic music and are not made for strong bass music (or rather disappoint those types of users).
Personally, that's all I can say without actually testing both in a quiet environment with the player I'd use on the road. Numbers and math only tell so much. If you can, test them both in a quiet environment with the player and music you'll be listening to, and return the pair you like less. Good luck! :) :)
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Petrie has covered a lot of the bases, including the one where the numbers only say so much. I will try to bring some other thoughts to the table.
Part of the question is, how important is the difference in price? These are going to be primarily for use in the car on trips, right? As Petrie, said, lower resistance is always good for saving batteries, especially if your music player isn't all that great on batteries. If it is, this may be less of a factor.
Anyway, my point is that we don't know which set of headphones will sound "better" (a highly subjective term in the case of sound quality).
Based on the designs, I assume that the Sonys will have more sound isolation than the Senns but this isn't 100% guaranteed.
I have experience with the Sony MDR series. I own a set of MDR-V600s which I use for a lot of audio work. They are Excellent for sound isolation. If they're playing at any decent volume, I can't hear a thing outside the headphones. I've never used Senn headphones but I have heard nothing but good things from them.
My MDRs tend to be a bit bass-heavy, despite the "studio monitor" slogan used on that product line. <_< Not enough to worry about though unless you're trying to mix with these things. I suspect the MDRs you're looking at will have a similar trend. According to the reviews, they do.
I generally find the Sonys quite nice to listen to. They do give a very full sound IF you wear them properly. With mine, it is vital that you have them sitting slightly forward or you lose some of the treble. Again, probably not a huge concern for casual listening but from a mixing perspective, that's very bad. :P:
For casual listening, honestly either one will probably do the trick just fine. I would also consider factors like reliability, style and ruggedness. The Senns, it seems, win hands-down for style. The Sonys will be Big suckers which may look a little silly if you walk around with them outside at all. The Senns will look a bit more "normal". Of course, this is entirely personal style/preference.
Let's break this down.
Larger frequency range: Sony (8Hz to 25kHz) versus Senn (18Hz to 18khz).
Winner: Sony.
Does it matter? Not at all. :p Why? The extra range provided by sony will
1) take so much juice to generate those super-low frequencies that you'll never hear/feel them anyway.
2) not be audible by any normal human. :p
3) Mp3 tracks DO NOT contain any data in those extreme Sony ranges.
Battery Life:
Winner: Senns.
Does it matter? Quite possibly, if you're going on long trips.
Cord length:
8-10ft.
Winner: Senns. Why? "Convenient belt clip for adjusting the cable length when listening on the go." That's why. B)
Does it matter? Maybe. How big are your pockets? :P:
Style:
Sony: Big, bulky, intimidating
Senns: Sleeker, smoother.
Winner: Your call. I'd say the Senns are more typical for being seen by the public while wearing.
Does it matter? Again, your call. If you will wear them exclusively in the car/in private, it probably doesn't matter.
Weight:
Sony: 9oz
Senns: 4.6oz.
Winner: Senns, for comfort.
Does it matter? After a long enough ride, it might.
Comfort:
Sony: Comfortable fit with parallel link free adjustable headband and urethane leather ear pads
Senns: Extremely comfortable to wear due to ultra-lightweight design, even for extended listening
What does this mean? Who won?
Who knows? :p
Sound quality:
Sony: "Dynamic, cinema-quality" *shrugs*
Senns: "High levels and crisp bass for modern rhythm-driven music" *shrugs*
Very subjective. Chances are, those descriptions aren't even very accurate. You don't get "cinema-quality" from $35 headphones. :lol
Cost:
Senns: $21.49
Sony: $34.99
Does it matter? It's up to you.
I'd say the winner for the casual in-car listener is the Sennheiser set. They're cheaper and they appear to be a more practical (and more compact) portable headphone. Again, a lot of this is open to interpretation.
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Hmm…
Metallica
System of a Down
Beastie Boys
Video Game Music (Old-School)
VG Music (New-School Rock soundtracks, like Sonic Adventure)
That should give you a general I idea what I'm gonna be usin' these things for. Will the Senns be able to pump out enough of the phat bass to do the Beasties justice?
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Being a Senn user (how ironic you got a Sony user and a Senn user in your midst) I'd say no, Senns are not made for rock/metal bassheads, or at least anyone who reviews them, and gives them lower than average ratings is because the bass is not what they expected. Classical, accoustic, vocal, and instrumental pieces generally work the best on Sennheisers in terms of musical accuracy (again, that's subjective).
Tim did a better job on the similarities differences than I did. Style is personal preference, price is personal preference, frequency range is BS, sound quality claims are largely BS too....shopping takes some time.
Try both...let your ears be the judge in the end. We can only say so much being end users of both company's products, but let YOUR ears tell you what you like. What I look for in headphones is probably not what you're after, and likewise, not what Tim is after either. ;)
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Honestly, I'd save my money and buy a better set than those described above. I would personally never spend less than $100 on a pair of headphones. Trust me, you'll be glad you got the better ones. Until then, get a $5 pair from walmart and save your money for a better pair.
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Metallica
System of a Down
Beastie Boys
Video Game Music (Old-School)
VG Music (New-School Rock soundtracks, like Sonic Adventure)
Well I can generally say that my Sony headphones are great for rock music. I have found them really quite precise and the bass, while present, isn't distracting or overbearing. I keep my Equalizer on Flat.
Bear in mind too, that while my Sony headphones are of the same product line as those you mentioned, they are very different. Here's a link to my Sony headphones (http://www.pricegrabber.ca/search_techspecs_full.php/masterid=47712081).
Style is personal preference, price is personal preference, frequency range is BS, sound quality claims are largely BS too....shopping takes some time.
I agree with every word of this.
Shopping does take time, and how much time you're willing to spend depends on how important the overall quality is to you. Obviously since you posted here, you are looking for quality headphones at a reasonable price.
One of my real-life friends also owns a Sony MDR-series set, though not nearly as expensive as mine. I don't recall the model of his but I do know they were quite nice, though a little overpriced for the quality. He paid somewhere in the $50 range. I wouldn't trust them enough for audio work, and they really aren't that comfortable for very long.
I have mixed feelings about the Sony headphones. On the high-end, they're alright (though mine take a little getting used to). In the low-to-mid price range, I haven't been especially impressed with Sony over, say, JVC. I've never heard Senns before so I can't comment. I really think Sony is overpriced in the lower price range. That being said though, I've never heard their high-end headphones. Mine are of the entry-level semi-pro level. Their real pro headphones are closer to the $300+ mark. :P:
We can only say so much being end users of both company's products, but let YOUR ears tell you what you like.
That's the bottom line. The problem is, because headphones always come in pretty packages that are impossible to seal up again, trying them before you buy them is always troublesome. If you want something of high quality that will last, and you want to put forth the effort to order them both, try them both, and send back the one you don't want, go right ahead. Just make sure the company you're buying from will let you do this. I will agree that it's a good idea if you want to do so.
Honestly, I'd save my money and buy a better set than those described above. I would personally never spend less than $100 on a pair of headphones.
Generally, I almost agree with this actually. Maybe I don't have a $100 minimum but I probably wouldn't spend between $25 and $50 for a set of headphones. For mobile use, cheap is fine with me. For audio work, I need something better than the $50 units. I'd only buy something around the $25 to $50 mark if I needed more headphones for recording sessions or something. Of course, that's just me. B)
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Okay, I should'a done this earlier, but
Style: Don't give a crap, unless "style" refers to the type of headphone, in which case I'm positive I want an around-ear set.
Price: Big factor. I can't see myself ever spending more than $50 on a pair (mostly on Newegg, so I'm buying a little better than the price suggests) unless I somehow become obscenely rich.
Sound: I'm not an overly casual listnener, so I would like some quality (I simply can't use earbuds), but I'm also not an audiophile, so I don't need anywhere NEAR top-of-the-line.
Bass: Not an expert (or even really an amatuer) on the subject, but if this helps my Metal sound heavier, I'd like it good.
If it helps, my current set is an MDR-V150 (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16826159053&Tpk=sony%2bmdr-v150), and I like them, (except the part where I stepped on the bridge, requiring a quick-fix with tape) but I want a set that I'll like enough not to replace for a long, long time (remember, not a super-listener).
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For portable use (i.e. car rides where there is a lot of ambient noise) your MDR-150s will be fine...buy another if you already like the sound they give you. You're not going to hear every detail so don't buy the world for something you're going to use and not discern over every little thing. That's my opinion. I use Sennheiser MX-400s for portable...they're earbuds, but they do the job just fine.
For home use, those portable phones may not be what you want. I don't know....personal preference once again. Unlike Austin, I haven't $100 to blow on headphones....so I did the next best thing for home listening. Looking for a deal under $100 and that's where I ended up with the PX-100s. But I listened to them before coming to that conclusion. ;) That's what you need to do.
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I have a pair of Sony MDR-V150s. I just had them given to me, so I don't know how much they cost (or how they compare to others). I began to use them after my ear buds broke (for the best; I hate ear buds). They're the best headphones I've had to date.
EDIT: I just realized that they are the same thang as the ones that TheNumberOneShmuck has.
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Schmucker:
Here's what I would do. If you have a retailer near you (Best Buy, Circuit City, Frye's) see what they have for a selection. The only reason I suggest this is because of returns should you really discover that you purchased the wrong thing...its a lot easier to drive them back then to ship something back to an online store in some cases. Check the policy before you buy. I'd hate after all this to discover you bought something that wasn't for you and now you're stuck with it.
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The only cheap pair I've ever bought was the shinnester (or however you spell the thing. Petire knows what I'm talking about.) It was $50 and it had half decent sound. Every other cheap pair I've ever bought were just plain bad. They sounded like my cell phones speaker. <_<
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If you think that $50 is a cheap pair of headphones, you have too much money to really know what "cheap" is.
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It depends on the item. I don't think $50 is cheap for something like a flash drive, but headphones are expensive! It's like toilet paper. Sure, you think the one that's $.20 a roll is great, but that's just cuz you've never had Charmine Ultra. :lol:
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but headphones are expensive! It's like toilet paper. Sure, you think the one that's $.20 a roll is great, but that's just cuz you've never had Charmine Ultra.
Great analogy. :lol :p
That is certainly true. The question is, how much does the buyer (in this case, Schmuck) care?
My thoughts are that a $30 set is fine sound quality for the most part, and the durability will be fine, so long as they don't get vacuumed up or stomped on. If you're careful with the headphones, anything over $10 or so should last you indefinitely.
It's the principle that you spend 20% of the money for 80% of the quality. To get that last 20% quality, you're getting into much higher price tags and the gain from one level of quality to the next becomes gradually smaller. Trust me. This applies to headphones and sound equipment in general. Can you vouch for this, Petrie?
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Yeah… just because you can buy a $500 pair doesn't make a $50 set cheap IMO.
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Yeah… just because you can buy a $500 pair doesn't make a $50 set cheap IMO.
Exactly. I have seen headphones advertised up to and over $1,000. Never heard em though :unsure: .
Basically, $50 headphones are fine. $100 are that much better. $500 are even that much better. Each person needs to decide where on the price/quality scale they want to settle, based on their needs/wants. If $50 headphones were absolute crap, they wouldn't still exist. The sound good; they really do! The headphones I'm working on is the first set I've spent more than $60 on, ever. I lived with probably a half a dozen sets of full-sized headphones in my lifetime (not counting the open-ear type and earbuds), most of which were very acceptable quality. Recently I decided to take a step up and I'm fairly happy for the most part....though I wouldn't buy Sony again unless I had a very good reason...The differences between my headphones and a $40 set which I used in grade 9 are Only significant if you need to *work* using the headphones. For listening purposes, they both sound great :)
Please don't think of me as a rich snob for posting this. I'm actually not a wealthy guy at all. When I talk about my "expensive" sound stuff, consider this: Audio is my passion, and I really don't own Anything except my sound stuff, my computer, my LBT collection and my car, which was given to me and is basically falling apart. :p Most of my spare money goes to upgrading my audio stuff.
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Okay, I went onto Sennheiser's website to check the HD202 page, and this is what I saw:
Closed,dynamic, semi-circumaural stereo headphones
What the *naughty language* is that supposed to mean?! Is it circumaural or is it not circumaural?!
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Okay, I went onto Sennheiser's website to check the HD202 page, and this is what I saw:
Closed,dynamic, semi-circumaural stereo headphones
What the *naughty language* is that supposed to mean?! Is it circumaural or is it not circumaural?!
That means it may or may not sit on your ears, or that it might possibly cover your ears like a closed headphone (hence very little sound gets in or out). I suspect this term generally applies to fit...if you have big or ears that stick out, they may not resemble a closed fit on your ears, and that will change how they sound for sure.
Its hard to explain. :p
It's the principle that you spend 20% of the money for 80% of the quality. To get that last 20% quality, you're getting into much higher price tags and the gain from one level of quality to the next becomes gradually smaller. Trust me. This applies to headphones and sound equipment in general. Can you vouch for this, Petrie?
Yes Tim, I will vouch for this. Lets compare what I use for example. My Sennheiser MX-400's (which are earbuds) cost about $14 and these are what I use in the car and on road trips. My Sennheiser PX-100's go for $60, are not earbuds, but are also not the big things Schmucky is looking at. That $40 gives me an entirely different style of earphone and a very noticable increase in quality. Can I go and top my PX-100's if I wanted to? Sure, but those are plenty good enough and the balance of bass, midrange, and treble is right where I want it for my orchestral and accoustic music tastes. What more would I need?
Schmucky, if you're still searching, think about not only for the present but for the future...do you plan to use these headphones at home as well as on the road or will they be entirely for portable use? If your answer is for both, you're in a bit of a pickle if you don't have much to spend because you really do not want to be using stuff that goes for less than $25 at home when you can actually make out a difference in audible accuracy and quality. (If you can), I'd recommend some type of earbud for portable use because they're easy to power and drive so you won't have to turn the volume up so loud, and the roar of car engines and tires on pavement will drown out any bass you could hear in music, and some type of open-style headphone for home use. Open-style headphones tend to be more natural sounding due to the construction (the driver is exposed to air). Expect to spend over $60 to go this route, but it will pay off in the end. :) :) Good luck.
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More info: went to Amazon and I'd say every 1 out of 3 reviews for the Sennheiser HD202 mention issues with comfort and how the headphones are too tight on their heads and the pads crush their earlobes (that's the semi-circumaural part I was going on about earlier). Like I mentioned earlier with the price $25 is borderline not-acceptable in my book for home use. My honest opinion - you might want to look around some more.
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Actually, the 202s are $35 MSRP. Newegg just tends to sell stuff cheaper.
And remember, I'm not an audiophile. My V150s ($13.89 on Newegg, $19.99 MSRP) do a pretty decent job on the road and in the home, in my view. I'm just looking for something that, in comparison, will do a great job. And circumaural ones, because I like them better for no real reason.
As for looking more, meh. Newegg usually has the best deals, and I'm lazy.
Looking here (http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductList.aspx?Submit=ENE&N=2100370000+1092908217+1319922102), you see that the 202s and XD300s are the only 5-star rated headphones under $50 (including shipping, so the 205s and 250s are out). So that's what it comes down to.
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In the past I have found some fantastic headphones for $40 (Canadian, in a retail store) which I would probably still have if they didn't meet unfortunate accidents. :(
Some of those $40 units are close enough to my Sonys that if I wasn't concerned about mixing, I'd love the $40 units for listening, even at home in a quiet environment. If you're willing to go in the $40 retail price range I'm sure you could find something you'd be very happy with. :yes
[EDIT] just saw your last post.
Actually, the 202s are $35 MSRP. Newegg just tends to sell stuff cheaper.
Makes sense. Buying stuff online is generally cheaper as long as you can live with the shipping. Newegg does seem to have some sweet deals :)
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My last question for Schmucky: how do you listen to music? What do you use? If you use a portable dap player, what bitrates are you using and file type (mp3, wma, aac)? If this is what you will be doing with these headphones over 75% of the time, it will change what type of headphones I'd recommend.
CD/Lossless - open-air style ($40 or higher) or closed style ($70 or higher)
MP3 (at 192kbps or higher) - open-air style ($30 or higher) or earbuds (higher than $15)
MP3 (at 160kbps or lower) - earbuds (any kind)
itunes Music Store AAC (128kbps) - earbuds (any kind)
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MP3 (at 192kbps or higher) - open-air style ($30 or higher) or earbuds (higher than $15)
In a perfect world where sound transfer in and out of the headphones is NOT a problem, I would agree. I tend to consider my environment when making a descision about closed vs. open-air. If you're riding in a car, chances are your fellow passengers don't want to hear your music throughout the entire ride, nor do you want to have to crank up your volume so you don't have to listen to your fellow passengers throughout the entire ride, which would end up disturbing the passengers again...and around we go. :p This is where closed-air is nice. In closed air, sound escaping the headphones isn't really a concern.
Unless you need/demand the extra precision from open-air (unless you're pretty picky about creating a completely realistic sound experience, which isn't even possible on headphones due to their nature), I'd actually recommend closed-air. The benefit of open air is a more natural sound stage for you. Debatably, it's worth going open air for, but I'd say you need to consider the practicality of open air before you start worrying about setting up a bit more natural sound stage. Closed-air, while it doesn't exactly simulate a live show sound, nor does it sound anything like listening on speakers, it creates a nice immersive sound because it helps eliminate outside distraction.
Again, personal preference based on circumstance.
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^ Exactly why I wrote "or earbuds". ;) Nature of the headphones, you don't have to crank earbuds that loud either. The reason I didn't recommend closed is because of price, and you only realistically want to spend a lot if you're going to stay with cd/lossless, not lossy.
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I can't offer much more because I don't know how you encode audio (lossless, mp3, wma, aac, etc. with what settings). Until I get that, and if that's what you do with all your audio, its hard to recommend phones.
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I use MP3s, at 192kbps for all of my stuff except comedy/spoken word (not necessary IMO) and (legally) downloaded music that's set at 128.
Anyway, I can't stand earbuds, and I'm pretty much set on an around-ear pair.
And again, more than $50 (AFTER shipping and tax) = nay-nay. Money is a big factor.
So really, unless you can find a good reason (or deal) to get something besides the 202s or 300s, any other options might as well not exist.
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Alrighty then, my honest opinion is to stick with what you had before...Sony V150...whatever they were they'll do fine with a library of compressed music. I don't think I'd try a Sennheiser...you wouldn't like listening to those 128kbps encodes on them.
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you wouldn't like listening to those 128kbps encodes on them.
Well, if that's the only thing I won't like, it's not much of a problem, the 128s make up about 7% of my collection.
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Ok well you asked for my opinion and I gave it. One thing I will recommend is whatever you buy test them extensively and I'd suggest trying out the clips in the "Sound Test" at the top of this forum. If you're going to spend hard earned money you might as well buy something that can decently play those clips.
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Ok well you asked for my opinion and I gave it.
And for that, I thank you. Thanks also to everyone else who posted.
Based on the stuff dun been posted, I've decided on the 202s.(and because they're cheaper. lawl D:)
If they end up not good for my usual music, oh well. I'm sure I can still find use for them, and maybe get the 300s later.
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Ok, sounds like a plan. One more thing about Senns....they sound better with age, so as soon as you get them, don't put them on to listen to because you really should do a small burn-in period to free the drivers. Pick a couple of your favorite albums and put the volume at a comfortable level for you (with the headphones on) and then turn it one notch higher. Leave them for a couple of hours just playing music you like for a couple of hours. Then come back and start listening. ;)
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they sound better with age, so as soon as you get them, don't put them on to listen to because you really should do a small burn-in period to free the drivers. Pick a couple of your favorite albums and put the volume at a comfortable level for you (with the headphones on) and then turn it one notch higher. Leave them for a couple of hours just playing music you like for a couple of hours. Then come back and start listening.
I agree, Petrie. This is actually true with any new speakers/headphones. Never a bad idea. B)
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Drivers...? When I hear that, I think of programs to run hardware. Are those headphones connected to the computer via USB, or does drivers mean the inner working of the headphones?
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Most headphones are dynamic-driven speakers...and they're not big but should be freed up because its likely from assembly line to packaging, the headphones have never played a single note of music. If they've been on a shelf or in storage for a very long time, you need to free the speakers up from the state they've been in so they can move as music plays.
If you've ever cranked speakers up quite loud and actually watched them vibrate, the process is exactly the same and to get the parts moving so they can faithfully reproduce music. Without the burn-in they're going to sound either a.) flat or b.) very bright and tinny with very little bass
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Alright, got my headphones today (well, yesterday), which is nice, because I ordered them the day before.
I left them playing, as was recommended, and then played some musics.
(NOTE: May not have a clue as to what I'm actually saying)
Immediately noticed was the clarity. With the 150s, everything was slightly distorted by the bass, and the vocals were often a little drowned out. The 202s have better balance, so I can hear every part of the song.
Here's how they stacked up against my regulars:
Metal(Metallica): Good enough that I'm not in any rush to replace them, but they lack the "power" I always felt from the heavier stuff. Needs moar bass, IMO. As I said before, though, I can now hear the vocals clearly.
Hip-hop(Beastie Boys): Again, the voices are clearer. Unfortunately, the sweet spot between clear vocals and bass-y beat here seems to be somewhere in between the 202s and 150s: The voices need to be a slightly lesser priority than the bass, but they're equal on the 202s. The 150s simply overdo the bass.
Video Game - Traditional, Classic(Sonic 3 & Knuckles): Well, there's not much outside of the music itself either way, but somehow, the 202s just seem to sound better.
Video Game - Traditional, Modern(Metroid Prime): A little bass action going on sometimes, but not so much that the 202s can't handle it. Just like the classics, it sounds better with the 202s for seemingly no reason whatsoever. :/
Video Game - Rock, Modern(Sonic Adventure): I might have just listed this as rock, but there's something definitively video game about the tracks. Anyway, these don't seem to be bass-heavy, but the 150s somehow overdid it. The 202s bring back some order to make them better.
Video Game - Orchestral, Modern(The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess): Clearer sound, no bass distortion, with classic acoustic instuments(this was the bonus music disk that included the game's orchestral tracks)… C'mon, obviously this was going to be better. This is some good s***, I tell y' what.
Orchestral(The Land Before Time): My goodness. And here I thought this was beautiful before. If I had any reason for second-guessing my purchase, I can't remember it after listening to this. The sound with the 150s was already great, but with the 202s, I was blown away. Absolutely fantastic.
I must say, I'm pretty damn satisfied with my new 'phones. Slightly dissappointed with the lack of heavy in my metal, and the "too far right, too far left" hip-hop miss, but everything else sounds great. Also, I haven't tried fiddling with the equalizer yet, so there's still a very small ray of hope.
(REMINDER: Lingo guesswork. Don't be suprised by any confusion you may be suffering.)
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Video Game - Orchestral, Modern(The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess): Clearer sound, no bass distortion, with classic acoustic instuments(this was the bonus music disk that included the game's orchestral tracks)… C'mon, obviously this was going to be better. This is some good s***, I tell y' what.
Orchestral(The Land Before Time): My goodness. And here I thought this was beautiful before. If I had any reason for second-guessing my purchase, I can't remember it after listening to this. The sound with the 150s was already great, but with the 202s, I was blown away. Absolutely fantastic.
Senns will shine on stuff like this as I've said over and over. :) I'm not surprised you were "blown away" by the difference. Sounds like you've made a good purchase. You can muck with an equalizer as you see fit if you think you want to hear more bass and less of what's being said in the song. Your call.
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Any updates on how those headphones are going?
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"Two thumbs up" fits nicely.
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Sorry to gravedig this topic, but it has suddenly become relevant again!
So about a month and a half ago, the left phone in my 202s stopped working. Can't tell you why, as I don't know myself. I suspect electricity of some form gone afoul.
Well, going back to my MDR 150s was kinda lame, and I guess I complained loud enough for someone to notice, because I got a new set of headphones for Christmas. And not just any set.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx...N82E16826106328 (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16826106328)
Holy fartsicle! There's a conspiracy, someone's trying to get me to become an audiophile, I just know it!
I don't yet know how good they are, as I'm currently going through the burn-in period Petrie recommended. I did wear them, though, and they seem really comfortable (seem, because I don't yet know the effects of extended use)
Doubtful anyone's gonna read this post anytime soon, considering Christmas and all, but meh. More later, when I actually use them.
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I'm glad you found a pair that you like. If anyone's still interested though, the safest headphone brand to buy is Bose. It's pretty much the most practical headphone brand for quality sound that won't break your budget. Here's a pair from Target. I have these and use them almost daily:
http://www.target.com/Bose-On-Ear-Headphon...on%20ear&page=1 (http://www.target.com/Bose-On-Ear-Headphones/dp/B000HWRBG2/sr=1-1/qid=1230219175/ref=sr_1_1/177-7393220-9568459?ie=UTF8&index=target&rh=k%3Abose%20on%20ear&page=1)
I've heard some crazy expensive headphones in my day, even a pair that was $350 and the inexpensive (relatively) Bose on-ear headphones easily outmatched them. To quote my best friend's mom:
It's like being in a movie theater!
For me, even though I got them almost 2 months ago the "awe" affect still gets me every time I put them on. :p
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Sorry to gravedig this topic, but it has suddenly become relevant again!
So about a month and a half ago, the left phone in my 202s stopped working. Can't tell you why, as I don't know myself. I suspect electricity of some form gone afoul.
Well, going back to my MDR 150s was kinda lame, and I guess I complained loud enough for someone to notice, because I got a new set of headphones for Christmas. And not just any set.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx...N82E16826106328 (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16826106328)
Holy fartsicle! There's a conspiracy, someone's trying to get me to become an audiophile, I just know it!
I don't yet know how good they are, as I'm currently going through the burn-in period Petrie recommended. I did wear them, though, and they seem really comfortable (seem, because I don't yet know the effects of extended use)
Doubtful anyone's gonna read this post anytime soon, considering Christmas and all, but meh. More later, when I actually use them.
I'm around on Christmas as everyone's gone home. :p
The HD280 pros are nice in writing. If your situation is the same as before, I have my doubts they'll be good for portable use. There is a 64 ohm impedance, which is double what I would recommend for portables (32 ohm) because a lot of power is needed to drive them. If you plan to only use these at home, then any computer can drive these without an issue.
I have not tested these personally, so I won't know how they sound. I've never listened to a "closed" Senn headset, but I will say they will sound very different to any open headset.
Also, just as a final tidbit, Senns have two year warranties on most models so you could've likely gotten a new pair of 202s if they were what you liked, less S/H. ;)
Bose.......blows. Overpriced no matter the model. Same goes for Shures. You do not need to pay Bose prices for what you can get in a $40 speaker model. There are companies known for good speakers and Bose isn't one of them. Hi-end wannabes is what they are in the audiophile world. Stick to Klipsch, Polk, etc. if you want high-end speakers, and Grado, AKG, and Sennheiser for headphones if you're after audiophile stuff. I don't have that kind of money, TYVM, so I'll settle with the deficincies of lesser equipment which is all I can afford.
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for comparisons like this, i like to always return to the argument of a multi-product company vs a single product one.
not to say that the sony's will be rubbish, but i reckon the Sennheisers will have the superior sound quality. the lower impedance is a plus too.
i would probably get the Sennheisers, but the sony's are good too. :)
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Bose.......blows. Overpriced no matter the model. Same goes for Shures. You do not need to pay Bose prices for what you can get in a $40 speaker model.
I shopped around A LOT before actually choosing the Bose headphones. I bought several similarly priced headphones and Bose were the best (and yes that did include Sennheisers). Trying 6 different models, the Bose was the best. It was of much better quality than the other models, the sound was unsurpassed, and the on-ear design is the best thing I've ever seen (or heard I should say). I've owned $5 headphones, $10 headphones, $20 headphones, $30 headphones, $50 headphones, $100 headphones, $200 headphones, and even a $350 pair of headphones and my $200 Bose headphones is the best of all of them.
I also own the $750 surround sound system from Bose and it's the best. I don't know where you got your information, but it's majorly faulty. I'm sorry but you can't get the same quality from a piece of crap $40 pair of headphones than you can from my $200 Bose. Believe me, I've tried (I'm cheap and I tried EVERYTHING not to have to pay $200 for a pair of stupid headphones). I'm thinking of studying audio engineering in college and the professor was downright amazed by the quality of my Bose. I may not know everything about audio that I'd like to, but Bose is a very good brand. I just can't get over how good they sound. My Bose headphones totally blew away my previous pair (a $50 Sennheiser) and the others I tried of similar price. They were worth every penny and with a complimentary 3-year warranty, I know they stand behind their work. I can't say that much about some of the other headphone brands out there, even the more expensive ones as they only give out a 1-year warranty.
Bose may be expensive, but they're worth it. Yeah, there are better brands out there but Bose is great if you're on a budget. I admit that some Bose products are a bit insane (such as their $800 wireless headphone set. It didn't sound any better than the $200 so you were basically paying $600 to not have a cord). Let me put it this way...I can't listen to any MP3 unless it's 320kps. It sounds like s*** if it's any less. I can tell you exactly how many kps a song is just by hearing it with my Bose (though I frequently mix up 128kps and 196kps since they're so close). My previous surround sound system could blow you out of this world, but once I got my Bose, I gave my previous surround sound system to my aunt.
Bose may have been overpriced years ago (I don't know. I didn't care that much about how good of sound I got back then), but from what I can tell in recent years, they really deserve every penny for their products.
Oh, and one Bose product that I would stick away from is the $250 pair of computer speakers. They really suck. Heck, my logitec speakers beat them. :p I returned those the same day.
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The HD280 pros are nice in writing. If your situation is the same as before, I have my doubts they'll be good for portable use. There is a 64 ohm impedance, which is double what I would recommend for portables (32 ohm) because a lot of power is needed to drive them. If you plan to only use these at home, then any computer can drive these without an issue.
Yeah, I suspect that taking the 202s on the road may have led to the problem, and I want to be extra careful with these, so it's strictly computer and video game use for them. Broken to hell though they may look, my 150s still work like the day I got them, so they're my road 'phones. Hell, even my 202s will still find occasional use, as I sometimes like to listen to comedy at night while I game in my bed, and its long cable allows for this. No stereo necessary to enjoy some Katt Williams.
As for the 280s, well… they're good, better than the 202s, but I dunno about $70+ better (could my sound card, a default Dell one, affect the quality? or maybe I haven't worn them in enough yet). But they were a gift, so that complaint is irrelevant. They're way more comfortable, and extended use brings less discomfort than the somewhat ear-crushing 202s. The sound dampening aspect is pretty cool, although it creates a distinct potential for accidentally ignoring such things as the doorbell and people who knock on my door. I like the big thick cord, so nice after the 202's flimsy little strings.
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(could my sound card, a default Dell one, affect the quality? or maybe I haven't worn them in enough yet)
Technically yes but the only thing it will really do that's even worth mentioning is the signal/noise ratio, meaning with a better sound card you'll hear less hissing at higher volumes. That's basically all a sound card will really do for you for just listening to music.
Bose.......blows. Overpriced no matter the model.
I have to agree with this, at least for speakers, as opposed to headphones. I'm not too sure on headphones. I wouldn't touch a Bose speaker system though. I've heard enough of them to know they're not my cup of tea.
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I have to agree with this, at least for speakers, as opposed to headphones. I'm not too sure on headphones. I wouldn't touch a Bose speaker system though. I've heard enough of them to know they're not my cup of tea.
Well the $250 set sucked anyway. The $750 surround sound system rocks and the $400 set I got for my mom work pretty well. Maybe you just have to spend a lot to get decent quality in the speakers?
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Maybe you just have to spend a lot to get decent quality in the speakers?
I listened to demo Bose systems at Best Buy that weren't super-cheap (I forget the price but over $1000 for the package) and couldn't help but think I could get a much nicer system for the same price (or cheaper) with Klipsch, even Energy, etc.
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Well what do I know? I didn't shop around for the surround sound systems. I just assumed they were the best because the Bose headphones beat all the other brands I tried hands down. I guess it was a stupid decision. Oh well. I'll do better next time. I switch my surround sound speakers at least once a year.
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I switch my surround sound speakers at least once a year.
I'll take your old ones, even if they are bose! :lol :p
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I'll take your old ones, even if they are bose!
I would but technology goes down the line in my family. Once I get tired of the technology (which happens very fast), I give it to my mom. Once I get tired of another of the same technology, she gets my old one again and the one she had before goes to my aunt....and so on. It's a 5 person cycle and by the time it gets to the bottom of the line, it's Waaaaaaaay old. :p I can give you the $300 Altec Lansing speakers I had in.....2003 once I get my new pair and my great aunt gets tired of them. But yeah, I get the best of everything and I give the technology I get tired of to other members of my family. I just gave my great aunt a laptop with a 3.2ghz HT P4 processor, 1.5gb of ram, and a 60gb hard drive. Sure it's not the best, but I got it, then gave it to my mom, then my aunt, then my uncle, then my grandma, then my great aunt. In around 4 months, it's gonna have to go to the thrift store because I'm sending another laptop down the line. :smile So yeah, you can have my $750 Bose surround sound system...but it'll be in 5 years or so once everyone in my family has had a taste of them. :p
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Haha, no worries :p
I'm liking my Energy RC-70s anyway. :lol
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Different strokes for different folks is all I'll say I figure on the Bose stuff.
As for the 280s, well… they're good, better than the 202s, but I dunno about $70+ better (could my sound card, a default Dell one, affect the quality? or maybe I haven't worn them in enough yet). But they were a gift, so that complaint is irrelevant. They're way more comfortable, and extended use brings less discomfort than the somewhat ear-crushing 202s. The sound dampening aspect is pretty cool, although it creates a distinct potential for accidentally ignoring such things as the doorbell and people who knock on my door. I like the big thick cord, so nice after the 202's flimsy little strings.
Yes, this is a common issue with closed headsets. They will crush your ears a bit if they don't fit just right, and yeah, you probably will hear less of your phones/doorbells in the process because of the design. Thicker cords are obviously a perk of more expensive sets. Your sound card will make a difference only in the amount of electrical interference you may hear (moreso with onboard laptop cards). Electrical interference can be hiss, crackles, static, etc.