Best Headphones Under $150???

[Julie]

Hello, looking for the best headphones (under $150) to use with my
home stereo (Sony receiver). I really want something that has
excellent sound, is excellent at managing very high volumes, has
outstanding bass, looks good, and is comfortable. I've heard about
Grado SR80's but have also heard they don't handle a loud sound or
bass reak well and are not the most comfortable headphones (This is
just from what I've heard). If anyone has an alternative
recommendation, I'd much appreciate it... or are those Grado
headphones the best out there. Thanks for any advice!!!

Julie

[Beauchampy]

"Julie" > wrote in message
om...
> Hello, looking for the best headphones (under $150) to use with my
> home stereo (Sony receiver). I really want something that has
> excellent sound, is excellent at managing very high volumes, has
> outstanding bass, looks good, and is comfortable. I've heard about
> Grado SR80's but have also heard they don't handle a loud sound or
> bass reak well and are not the most comfortable headphones (This is
> just from what I've heard). If anyone has an alternative
> recommendation, I'd much appreciate it... or are those Grado
> headphones the best out there. Thanks for any advice!!!

I have a pair of the grado sr-80s and absolutely love them.. definitley the
best pair of heads i've ever bought (even though thats not many) but they
some absolutely awesome. i dont find them uncomfortable at all.


>
> Julie

[Pug Fugley]

I prefer Sennheisers over Grados, I just liked the more natural sound of the
Senn's better. Plus I found the Grado's very uncomfortable, the Senns fit
much better. Notice they are actually shaped like an ear so they fit better.


"Julie" > wrote in message
om...
> Hello, looking for the best headphones (under $150) to use with my
> home stereo (Sony receiver). I really want something that has
> excellent sound, is excellent at managing very high volumes, has
> outstanding bass, looks good, and is comfortable. I've heard about
> Grado SR80's but have also heard they don't handle a loud sound or
> bass reak well and are not the most comfortable headphones (This is
> just from what I've heard). If anyone has an alternative
> recommendation, I'd much appreciate it... or are those Grado
> headphones the best out there. Thanks for any advice!!!
>
> Julie

[Bob]

I have Stax electrostats ($2K), Sennheisher HD650's ($500), and Grado SR80's
($90).

Yeah, it's unfortunate that Grado's are so uncomfortable since they are
FABULOUS sounding phones. I replaced their pumice-like cushions with some
cheap ones from Radio Shack. They still sound great and they're a little
more comfortable.

I would say that you should spend an additional $1850 and get the Stax. You
will NOT be dissapointed. If not, the best Sennheisher's (for $150) may be
your best choice.

Bob


"Pug Fugley" > wrote in message
k.net...
> I prefer Sennheisers over Grados, I just liked the more natural sound of
the
> Senn's better. Plus I found the Grado's very uncomfortable, the Senns fit
> much better. Notice they are actually shaped like an ear so they fit
better.
>
>
> "Julie" > wrote in message
> om...
> > Hello, looking for the best headphones (under $150) to use with my
> > home stereo (Sony receiver). I really want something that has
> > excellent sound, is excellent at managing very high volumes, has
> > outstanding bass, looks good, and is comfortable. I've heard about
> > Grado SR80's but have also heard they don't handle a loud sound or
> > bass reak well and are not the most comfortable headphones (This is
> > just from what I've heard). If anyone has an alternative
> > recommendation, I'd much appreciate it... or are those Grado
> > headphones the best out there. Thanks for any advice!!!
> >
> > Julie
>
>

[Scott Dorsey]

Bob > wrote:
>
>Yeah, it's unfortunate that Grado's are so uncomfortable since they are
>FABULOUS sounding phones. I replaced their pumice-like cushions with some
>cheap ones from Radio Shack. They still sound great and they're a little
>more comfortable.

The new Grados are much more comfortable. If yours have the older cushions,
call up Grado and order a pair of the new-style cushions. You will be much,
much happier.
--scott


--
"C'est un Nagra. C'est suisse, et tres, tres precis."

[Markeau]

Sony MDR-7506

"Julie" > wrote in message
om...
> Hello, looking for the best headphones (under $150) to use with my
> home stereo (Sony receiver).

[**bg**]

Hey Julie,

It's a fairly subjective topic, discussed to death many times over herein
and elsewhere, everybody loves the ones they've come to love.

I love my Fostex T40, see:

http://www.fostex.com/index.php?file=products/accessories/headphones/t40rp

Let us know what you choose.

-rj-


www.thelittlecanadaheadphoneband.ca
www.lchb.ca


"Julie" > wrote in message
om...
> Hello, looking for the best headphones (under $150) to use with my
> home stereo (Sony receiver). I really want something that has
> excellent sound, is excellent at managing very high volumes, has
> outstanding bass, looks good, and is comfortable. I've heard about
> Grado SR80's but have also heard they don't handle a loud sound or
> bass reak well and are not the most comfortable headphones (This is
> just from what I've heard). If anyone has an alternative
> recommendation, I'd much appreciate it... or are those Grado
> headphones the best out there. Thanks for any advice!!!
>
> Julie

[Ben Bradley]

In
rec.audio.opinion,rec.audio.pro,rec.audio.misc,alt .home-theater.misc,
on Fri, 26 Nov 2004 10:28:05 -0600, "Markeau"
> wrote:

>Sony MDR-7506

I wouldn't recommend those for plugging into a typical "home
stereo" headphone jack with their usual 150 ohm series resistors from
the speaker outputs. They've got a big resonance that only goes away
when driven by a very low (about one ohm or less) impedance.
I like the AKG 240M, both the way they sound and how comfortable
they are (I think some of it is just a bigger volume inside the earcup
so my ears don't warm up as much). They're open-back and so let more
outside sound in (and let the sound in the transducers out as well),
but that's not a problem in many applications.
The AKG 270 was being blown out at $99 each maybe a year back
(previous street price was over $200), I don't suppose there are any
more of those left, but it's successor, the 271, has a street price
only a little above your limit.

>"Julie" > wrote in message
om...
>> Hello, looking for the best headphones (under $150) to use with my
>> home stereo (Sony receiver).

Go to a Guitar Center or other big music retailer with a pro-audio
section - they usually have a "wall of headphones" and you can listen
most of the models mentioned in this thread and make up your own mind.

-----
http://mindspring.com/~benbradley

[Rich Clark]

"Ben Bradley" > wrote in message
...

> I like the AKG 240M, both the way they sound and how comfortable
> they are.

Me too. They're comfortable for hours on end, and the sound is very
accurate. That's why you see them so commonly in recording studios. Great
choice for home listening.

RichC

[caveplayer]

(Julie) wrote in message >...
> Hello, looking for the best headphones (under $150) to use with my
> home stereo (Sony receiver). I really want something that has
> excellent sound, is excellent at managing very high volumes, has
> outstanding bass, looks good, and is comfortable. I've heard about
> Grado SR80's but have also heard they don't handle a loud sound or
> bass reak well and are not the most comfortable headphones (This is
> just from what I've heard). If anyone has an alternative
> recommendation, I'd much appreciate it... or are those Grado
> headphones the best out there. Thanks for any advice!!!
>
> Julie

just bought the grado 80's last week.
Sound great, and slightly uncomfortable.
If your looking for something that blocks out some outside sound,
they're not a good choice, but if your listening loud it won't matter.
The most comfortable headphones i tried were the bose triports. I like
how they fit around your whole ear without touching it. Could not
really compare the sound because i did not have them side by side with
the grado's but i remember them sounding pretty good as well.

[Tom Hartman]

Sony 7506. Sound fine at home or in the studio. Impedence be damned;)

[Spectre]

Define "NEW"! I bought mine (Grado 125) 2 months ago and the feel just like
the old pair of 80's I had before?


"Scott Dorsey" > wrote in message
...
> Bob > wrote:
>>
>>Yeah, it's unfortunate that Grado's are so uncomfortable since they are
>>FABULOUS sounding phones. I replaced their pumice-like cushions with some
>>cheap ones from Radio Shack. They still sound great and they're a little
>>more comfortable.
>
> The new Grados are much more comfortable. If yours have the older
> cushions,
> call up Grado and order a pair of the new-style cushions. You will be
> much,
> much happier.
> --scott
>
>
> --
> "C'est un Nagra. C'est suisse, et tres, tres precis."

[Kurt Albershardt]

Tom Hartman wrote:
> Sony 7506. Sound fine at home or in the studio. Impedence be damned;)

Great for reinforcing that upper midrange hearing damage from which many of us already suffer.

[Scott Dorsey]

Spectre > wrote:
>Define "NEW"! I bought mine (Grado 125) 2 months ago and the feel just like
>the old pair of 80's I had before?

Probably about three or four years ago they went to the new ear pieces.
If you got yours two months ago and you have the deep pads instead of
thin flat ones with no hole in the center, call Grado.
--scott

--
"C'est un Nagra. C'est suisse, et tres, tres precis."

[Robert Morein]

"Julie" > wrote in message
om...
> Hello, looking for the best headphones (under $150) to use with my
> home stereo (Sony receiver). I really want something that has
> excellent sound, is excellent at managing very high volumes, has
> outstanding bass, looks good, and is comfortable. I've heard about
> Grado SR80's but have also heard they don't handle a loud sound or
> bass reak well and are not the most comfortable headphones (This is
> just from what I've heard). If anyone has an alternative
> recommendation, I'd much appreciate it... or are those Grado
> headphones the best out there. Thanks for any advice!!!
>
> Julie

Sennheiser HD580

[david]

In article >, Scott Dorsey
> wrote:

> Spectre > wrote:
> >Define "NEW"! I bought mine (Grado 125) 2 months ago and the feel just like
> >the old pair of 80's I had before?
>
> Probably about three or four years ago they went to the new ear pieces.
> If you got yours two months ago and you have the deep pads instead of
> thin flat ones with no hole in the center, call Grado.
> --scott
>
> --
> "C'est un Nagra. C'est suisse, et tres, tres precis."



Grado sold these models with 3 different pads. The oldest ones had your
ears closer to the drivers, and as a result they had less top end,
which was damn nice for any headphone imo.

Then they went to a thicker one that angled into the center hole - both
of these iterations had holes. The second one made the headphone sound
brighter, which I didn't like, but hey, who listens to me except my
kids ;>

The ones they ship now, as Scott said, no longer have a hole. And they
are more comfortable and they sound like the second version. Call Grado
and get a pair and try em out. The earpads are cheap and Grado is damn
nice folks.





David Correia
Celebration Sound
Warren, Rhode Island


www.CelebrationSound.com

[Julie]

"**bg**" > wrote in message news:<HsLpd.357017$%k.355124@pd7tw2no>...
> Hey Julie,
>
> It's a fairly subjective topic, discussed to death many times over herein
> and elsewhere, everybody loves the ones they've come to love.
>
> I love my Fostex T40, see:
>
> http://www.fostex.com/index.php?file=products/accessories/headphones/t40rp
>
> Let us know what you choose.
>
> -rj-
>
>
> www.thelittlecanadaheadphoneband.ca
> www.lchb.ca
>
>
> "Julie" > wrote in message
> om...
> > Hello, looking for the best headphones (under $150) to use with my
> > home stereo (Sony receiver). I really want something that has
> > excellent sound, is excellent at managing very high volumes, has
> > outstanding bass, looks good, and is comfortable. I've heard about
> > Grado SR80's but have also heard they don't handle a loud sound or
> > bass reak well and are not the most comfortable headphones (This is
> > just from what I've heard). If anyone has an alternative
> > recommendation, I'd much appreciate it... or are those Grado
> > headphones the best out there. Thanks for any advice!!!
> >
> > Julie

Hello, thanks for all the responses. I still haven't decided which
headphones I'll get but I was also looking into getting those
Sennheiser RS-100 wireless headphones that Tweeter.com has on sale for
$50... was wondering if anyone knows anything about them and how they
compare to the Sennheiser RS-110 and RS-120?? Apparently these RS-100
headphones were made specifically for sale only at Tweeter.com so I
haven't found anyone that can give me insight into these headphones
yet... does anyone here have any knowledge or experience with them??
Thanks!!!

Julie

[Rich Clark]

"Julie" > wrote in message
om...

> Hello, thanks for all the responses. I still haven't decided which
> headphones I'll get but I was also looking into getting those
> Sennheiser RS-100 wireless headphones that Tweeter.com has on sale for
> $50... was wondering if anyone knows anything about them and how they
> compare to the Sennheiser RS-110 and RS-120?? Apparently these RS-100
> headphones were made specifically for sale only at Tweeter.com so I
> haven't found anyone that can give me insight into these headphones
> yet... does anyone here have any knowledge or experience with them??
> Thanks!!!

I have never tried wireless headphones, Sennheiser included, that were not
subject to noise and interference. I would strongly suggest wired 'phones
with an extension cable if sound quality matters.

It's true there are times where wireless portability is helpful, as when
watching TV while working out or doing housework. In that situation, since
sound quality will not matter much anyway, choose based on factors like
comfort, how well the 'phones stay on your head, battery life and recharger
convenience, etc. It's possible the Sennheisers will fill the bill in such
applications, but the advice that headphones should be auditioned and "tried
on" for fit and comfort still holds true. If Tweeter offers a satisfaction
guarantee, so you can return them if you don't like them, it might be worth
a try. And $50 isn't that big a gamble.

RichC

[Joseph Oberlander]

Scott Dorsey wrote:

> Bob > wrote:
>
>>Yeah, it's unfortunate that Grado's are so uncomfortable since they are
>>FABULOUS sounding phones. I replaced their pumice-like cushions with some
>>cheap ones from Radio Shack. They still sound great and they're a little
>>more comfortable.
>
>
> The new Grados are much more comfortable. If yours have the older cushions,
> call up Grado and order a pair of the new-style cushions. You will be much,
> much happier.

Definately better now - and the headband has a bit less "squeeze".
You'd have to spend $200 or more to get better sound.