[Bruce C. Miller]

Need a good pair of headphones for general use (laptop, portable music
player, home, etc). Would prefer to keep it in the $400-100 range.

A question I have is do open-air headphones generate a lot of sound
outside the listener? Meaning if I was on an airplane, listening to
music on a laptop with a pair of Grado RS-2's, would the guy sitting
next to me hear it too? I'm also considering a couple AKG models. For
example, the K141. This is a semi-open air design. Assuming open air
ones have this problem, how prevelant is it in semi-open air ones? And
can anyone recommend a good pair of closed air headphones?

Another question is with headphone amps. I'd prefer not to have to use
one, just for the inconvenience factor of having it, plus another cord
around. Would headphones that seem to recommend them (like Grados) be
ok without one? And would I have volume problems using full ear
headphones off a laptop or portable music player (assuming I use the
1/4" to mini adapter)?

Thanks

[MiNe 109]

In article . com,
"Bruce C. Miller" wrote:

Need a good pair of headphones for general use (laptop, portable music
player, home, etc). Would prefer to keep it in the $400-100 range.

A question I have is do open-air headphones generate a lot of sound
outside the listener? Meaning if I was on an airplane, listening to
music on a laptop with a pair of Grado RS-2's, would the guy sitting
next to me hear it too? I'm also considering a couple AKG models. For
example, the K141. This is a semi-open air design. Assuming open air
ones have this problem, how prevelant is it in semi-open air ones? And
can anyone recommend a good pair of closed air headphones?

Short answer: yes, others will hear your open-air headphones. I don't
know many closed-air models, but there's a Sony Pro that's ubiquitous in
recording studios. Here it is, the Sony Pro MDR-7506:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/cus...Y/ref=cm_cr_dp
_pt/104-0824043-4956722?ie=UTF8&n=172282&s=electronics

Another question is with headphone amps. I'd prefer not to have to use
one, just for the inconvenience factor of having it, plus another cord
around. Would headphones that seem to recommend them (like Grados) be
ok without one? And would I have volume problems using full ear
headphones off a laptop or portable music player (assuming I use the
1/4" to mini adapter)?

Should be okay. Headphones amps generally offer the promise of better
quality rather than more volume.

If you really want isolation, you should investigate in-ear monitors,
such as those by Etymotics.

Stephen

[Bruce C. Miller]

MiNe 109 wrote:
In article . com,
"Bruce C. Miller" wrote:

Need a good pair of headphones for general use (laptop, portable music
player, home, etc). Would prefer to keep it in the $400-100 range.

A question I have is do open-air headphones generate a lot of sound
outside the listener? Meaning if I was on an airplane, listening to
music on a laptop with a pair of Grado RS-2's, would the guy sitting
next to me hear it too? I'm also considering a couple AKG models. For
example, the K141. This is a semi-open air design. Assuming open air
ones have this problem, how prevelant is it in semi-open air ones? And
can anyone recommend a good pair of closed air headphones?

Short answer: yes, others will hear your open-air headphones. I don't
know many closed-air models, but there's a Sony Pro that's ubiquitous in
recording studios. Here it is, the Sony Pro MDR-7506:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/cus...Y/ref=cm_cr_dp
_pt/104-0824043-4956722?ie=UTF8&n=172282&s=electronics

Another question is with headphone amps. I'd prefer not to have to use
one, just for the inconvenience factor of having it, plus another cord
around. Would headphones that seem to recommend them (like Grados) be
ok without one? And would I have volume problems using full ear
headphones off a laptop or portable music player (assuming I use the
1/4" to mini adapter)?

Should be okay. Headphones amps generally offer the promise of better
quality rather than more volume.

If you really want isolation, you should investigate in-ear monitors,
such as those by Etymotics.

Stephen

I dislike in-ear monitors simply for the hygeine factor. A few years of
use and... ewww...

Anyway, thanks for the advice. I settled on the AKG K 171 Studio, since
I liked AKG's style more and it was the next step up from the 141s that
was non-open air. Can't wait till they get here

[paul packer]

On 4 Jan 2007 10:27:18 -0800, "Bruce C. Miller"
wrote:

Need a good pair of headphones for general use (laptop, portable music
player, home, etc). Would prefer to keep it in the $400-100 range.

A question I have is do open-air headphones generate a lot of sound
outside the listener? Meaning if I was on an airplane, listening to
music on a laptop with a pair of Grado RS-2's, would the guy sitting
next to me hear it too?

Generally, yes. If you were sitting right next to someone they would
certainly be aware of your music choices.

I'm also considering a couple AKG models. For
example, the K141. This is a semi-open air design. Assuming open air
ones have this problem, how prevelant is it in semi-open air ones? And
can anyone recommend a good pair of closed air headphones?

You definitely need closed phones. which infortunately involve sound
compromises. If you don't mind full-sized (circumaural) phones, the
Audio Technica AT A900 is within your price range and well thought of
by some. Otherwise you'd be best to audition a few in the shops.
Unfortunately many of the cheap phones you see youths wearing in
trains etc are closed but still leak sound because they sit on rather
than around the ears.

Another question is with headphone amps. I'd prefer not to have to use
one, just for the inconvenience factor of having it, plus another cord
around. Would headphones that seem to recommend them (like Grados) be
ok without one? And would I have volume problems using full ear
headphones off a laptop or portable music player (assuming I use the
1/4" to mini adapter)?

Difficult question. You probably wouldn't have volume problems in the
sense of audible distortion, but a laptop would definitely be
struggling to drive any decent phone and this would be reflected in
the sound quality. Besides, laptops and portables have lousy
electronics in their headphone outlets; you wouldn't be doing the
phones justice. If I were you I'd be contact a headphone specialist
like HeadRoom (http://www.headphone.com/) with your requirments. I'm
sure you're not the first to ask these questions. :-) You could also
post a question on Head-Fi:
(http://www.head-fi.org/forums/forumd...p?s=&forumid=2)