Sneaky-Pete
I'm starting to see new headphones prices that scare the crap out of me.
I've had the same pair of Audio Technica cans for the last ten years, with a
brand-new pair of AKG 271s in reserve.
But yesterday I saw headphones by Dr Dre going for R3500.
Is it the candy apple finish?
Is it the funky-junky graphics?
And for that kind of money, do the phones deliver absolutely flat response?
Or is it just BOOMtishBOOMtish noise for the tragically hip brand-monkeys?
Would YOU buy a pair of these cans at THOSE prices?
Have you already got 'em?
Do tell....
scotty
Hell No.
I've got two pairs of Sennheiser headphones,
- HD 280, bought for R450 in the USA over 5 years ago (now well over R1000)
- PX 30 for (daily) use at the office bought 2 years ago DionWired for R180
I cannot imagine that one could ever pay R3500 for headphones. They can honestly not be that good...
I do believe that the Dr Dre, Marley or whatever brands are highly overpriced and aimed at being "seen" etc. etc. I am sure that they are good headphones, just way too expensive.
I would stick with Sennheiser any day, the company specializes in headphones and audio and it is easy to find replacement parts (the cones had to be replaced due to normal wear). I have not used headphones in a professional sound environment so cannot comment along these lines, just a normal home user.
flatfourfan
I have to agree with Sennheiser, I've had two pairs and the only reason I replaced the first ones was because my daughter stood on them.
Buying a set of beats means that you're in touch with what's hip and fresh, not that you want a set of quality headphones.
Psean
flatfourfan wrote
I have to agree with Sennheiser, I've had two pairs and the only reason I replaced the first ones was because my daughter stood on them.
Buying a set of beats means that you're in touch with what's hip and fresh, not that you want a set of quality headphones.
+1
I love my Sennheisers too.
flatfourfan
Psean wrote
+1
I love my Sennheisers too.
Another brand that looks like good value for money (if you're not a brand snob) is AKG. I had a loaner set for a month while my old Senns were down and I was waiting for a new pair and I was pretty impressed. I think the ones that I had (K-44's) were about R200 new, very comfy and good sound.
Bob-Dubery
I dunno. I got a pair of Sennheisers at home, and I'm not wild about them. I tweaked the tone controls on my hi-fi to give a sound that I like (not thumpa-thumpa-thump in case you were about to ask) but when I put the Sennheiser cans on I find the tops are gone and the mid isn't where I'm used to it and generally everything sounds so different that it's quite distracting to me.
My much cheaper pair of Phillips cans seem to produce a sound I'm more able to live with.
Maybe I have cloth ears. Maybe people kid themselves when they see the word "Sennheiser" on some kit.
Psean
X-rated Bob wrote
I dunno. I got a pair of Sennheisers at home, and I'm not wild about them. I tweaked the tone controls on my hi-fi to give a sound that I like (not thumpa-thumpa-thump in case you were about to ask) but when I put the Sennheiser cans on I find the tops are gone and the mid isn't where I'm used to it and generally everything sounds so different that it's quite distracting to me.
My much cheaper pair of Phillips cans seem to produce a sound I'm more able to live with.
Maybe I have cloth ears. Maybe people kid themselves when they see the word "Sennheiser" on some kit.
Hehe. Could be true. All I know is I like how mine sound and that I'm not paying extra for bright colours and bling.
AlanRatcliffe
Sennheiser have a range, designed for different applications. Some have detail, some have bass oomph, some are designed for studio tracking, while others are designed for hifi listening or simply to be inexpensive.
I miss my old HD250s - they lacked bass, but let me hear every little detail and would made the smallest bad thing jump out and slap me across the ears. The problem was the flimsy cable - replaceable, but expensive to do on a regular basis. The HD280s (IIRC) I got after them were more robust, but more a DJ's set, with tons of bass and no detail.
Bob-Dubery
Alan Ratcliffe wrote
Sennheiser have a range, designed for different applications. Some have detail, some have bass oomph, some are designed for studio tracking, while others are designed for hifi listening or simply to be inexpensive.
I miss my old HD250s - they lacked bass, but let me hear every little detail and would made the smallest bad thing jump out and slap me across the ears. The problem was the flimsy cable - replaceable, but expensive to do on a regular basis. The HD280s (IIRC) I got after them were more robust, but more a DJ's set, with tons of bass and no detail.
Ah. I should check the model number and google it.
Big-G
Generally you can't go wrong with sennheiser, or any of the typical well known AV brands liek Sony, phillips, etc. they tend to be better bang for your buck than all these hip trendy makes, but other makes that are worth their while are AKG (as mentioned) and Grado.
The thing is, that as headphones from the likes of Sennheiser, Grado and AKG become more costly, they tend to be more audiophile focused, and so have a more pure or flat response that most people will find unpleasant or unatural sounding, until they train their ears to hear music as it was intended... Uncoloured. Most manufacturers nowadays gear their equipment to emphasise bass and top end for added impact, but as a result loose the natural feel of the music that the producer intended.
The other issue with these 'higher grade' headphones is that they are generally designed to be used with a dedicated audiophile headphone amp to really get the best out of them.
R3500 is actually only the bottom rung of the 'audiophile headphone' ladder! Sennheisers HD600's which have now been discontinued, but replaced, retailed at around R6000 if I remember correctly, and that was a good few years back now! But when youadd them to a really good optimised system, boy do they sing! So much so, that some audiophiles actually prefer to listen on there phones rather than through floorstanding or standmounted speakers!
Personally, I paid R220 for a set of Senn HD 202's around 6 years ago, which I last saw their replacement priced at R2200, but I am more than happy with them. They are not the best, but they do the job pretty well!
Regards
G!
IceCreamMan
Big G wrote
Generally you can't go wrong with sennheiser, or any of the typical well known AV brands liek Sony, phillips, etc. they tend to be better bang for your buck than all these hip trendy makes, but other makes that are worth their while are AKG (as mentioned) and Grado.
The thing is, that as headphones from the likes of Sennheiser, Grado and AKG become more costly, they tend to be more audiophile focused, and so have a more pure or flat response that most people will find unpleasant or unatural sounding, until they train their ears to hear music as it was intended... Uncoloured. Most manufacturers nowadays gear their equipment to emphasise bass and top end for added impact, but as a result loose the natural feel of the music that the producer intended.
The other issue with these 'higher grade' headphones is that they are generally designed to be used with a dedicated audiophile headphone amp to really get the best out of them.
R3500 is actually only the bottom rung of the 'audiophile headphone' ladder! Sennheisers HD600's which have now been discontinued, but replaced, retailed at around R6000 if I remember correctly, and that was a good few years back now! But when youadd them to a really good optimised system, boy do they sing! So much so, that some audiophiles actually prefer to listen on there phones rather than through floorstanding or standmounted speakers!
Personally, I paid R220 for a set of Senn HD 202's around 6 years ago, which I last saw their replacement priced at R2200, but I am more than happy with them. They are not the best, but they do the job pretty well!
Regards
G!
I paid around 400 3 years ago for 202's ..they around R500 ...cheaper in wired and wholesale stores...around 27 dollars on amazon
Shibbibilybob
I have a pair of Sennheiser Hd500a's which I absolutely love. I would never have purchased as nice a set of headphones, but my mom has some sennheiser agency dealings and she gave me a pair ?
For my ipod I use a pair of Marley ear phones and I must disagree with whoever had said they were over priced.
The Marleys replaced my Sennheiser Cx300s and did so admirably...for half the price. I really like them.
Big-G
IceCreamMan wrote
I paid around 400 3 years ago for 202's ..they around R500 ...cheaper in wired and wholesale stores...around 27 dollars on amazon
I guess then that the price I saw was overly inflated? As mentioned though, that was for their replacements, as I believe they discontinued the 202's about 2 years back? THe prices you saw could even possibly have been clearance prices of the last remanining stock? I dunno? Just guessing?
Regards
G!
Psean
Big G wrote
IceCreamMan wrote
I paid around 400 3 years ago for 202's ..they around R500 ...cheaper in wired and wholesale stores...around 27 dollars on amazon
I guess then that the price I saw was overly inflated? As mentioned though, that was for their replacements, as I believe they discontinued the 202's about 2 years back? THe prices you saw could even possibly have been clearance prices of the last remanining stock? I dunno? Just guessing?
Regards
G!
I think my HD202s were also around that price.
Bob-Dubery
It looks like the Dr Dre cans are actually not bad quality, though bass heavy for some tastes.
They also make a cool party accessory.
The idea behind that range is interesting. They're geared towards people listening to MP3s on tablets and the like.
http://business.time.com/2013/01/16/how-dr-dre-made-300-headphones-a-must-have-accessory/
Arno-West
Sennheiser HD 202's all the way. Best bang for buck cans you can buy. I've had 4 pairs over the last few years. Paid between R300 and R450 for each of them. I also have a pair of HD 555 that I paid close to R2000 for and I actually prefer listening to music on the HD 202's. Allthough, the HD 555 gives a better "true picture" of the mix.
The Dr Dre's are way overpriced IMO, but my buddy, Hylton Brooker, swears by them and even mixes his studio recordings on a set of Dre's. I have listened to his mixes and I can't fault them, so the Dre's must be quite good then.....still, I won't pay R3500 for a set.
Sneaky-Pete
I only use headphones in the studio.
Either for tracking vocals, or to listen to mixes for glitches, pops, clicks etc.
As far as headphones for Studio use goes, the response should be absolutely flat, without adding or subtracting to any part of the frequency range.
PS: not the same aS FLAT vocals....haha
DrGonzo
Sneaky Pete wrote
I'm starting to see new headphones prices that scare the crap out of me.
I've had the same pair of Audio Technica cans for the last ten years, with a
brand-new pair of AKG 271s in reserve.
But yesterday I saw headphones by Dr Dre going for R3500.
Is it the candy apple finish?
Is it the funky-junky graphics?
And for that kind of money, do the phones deliver absolutely flat response?
Or is it just BOOMtishBOOMtish noise for the tragically hip brand-monkeys?
Would YOU buy a pair of these cans at THOSE prices?
Have you already got 'em?
Do tell....
Personally I think the are a marketing Gimmick, all these young Yo Yos and Ooh ha's think they gonna hit up some beatz in the studio kno-wha i mean... I do not beleive they are made for professional studio use...
(haha im only 25 and already im sounding like a grumpy old man hehe!)
But i do not have any facts or first hand experience to back up my claims, all I know is I would not touch them with a 20 foot pole in fear of becoming too "hip" or something like that. :bopping:
I use the Beyer DT880 250 Ohm Semi Open, Which I paid about R3something for and can with all my heart say that I love them to bits and I have mixed on them with it transferring flawlessly to my monitors and my car. Soooper cans and pretty flat response on paper.
exsanguinator
Ok,nobody has mentioned the impedance...anything consumer is 32ohms or less in cheap price ranges
pro studio type can be anything above ...right up to over 250 ohms or more
Now even if i was a spoilt brat and bought a new pair of Beyer DT770's or so to plug into my ipod,would burst out in tears when i could hardly hear my tunes...LOL
Thats what headphone preamps are for I suppose....LOL....I doubt we'll be seeing too many ipodders out on the streets wearing the high end phones and carrying a brick to pump up the volume... LOL
DaFiz
I don't even know how much they would cost... they were given to me.
Ear Pollution... They work so well and I love them so much they stay on my desk instead of going along when I take the dogs for a walk.
Insomnia has me sitting at my desk at silly hour, watching DVDs without waking the dragon... 8)
