A pair of headphones for...HOW MUCH?

Sneaky-Pete · 2013-05-06T08:07:44+00:00

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....

DrGonzo

I think the biggest thing with all playback systems, especially headphones, is allowing your ears to adjust / get used to the way they sound.

I recently bought a pair of HD-25's, which are definately considered high-end / pro headphones. When i first put them on, i was left a little dissapointed, the bass was to thick and lack of clarity across the board... I bought them anyway cause of their practicality for field recording and tracking.
and I was surprised how quicky I got used to how they sounded, after a couple of days, they became one of my favourite sounding headphones.... Super punchy and deep lows, great and clear midrange and not too bright like most closed designs i have heard.
I now prefer listening to them than my Beyer DT880's. :-\

V8

domhatch wrote ...but if i'm listening to one of my modest mixes and want to really pay attention, it's the sennheisers for me.
dh|

Grin, I've also got a pair of HD380 pro's - I think they're great - for exactly the reason you mention, if I want to pay attention to something, they really deliver. My nephew knows, if I've got them on he can sneak up on me, became quite amusing for him (and somewhat heart stopping for me :?).

I've had them for a little over three years and really come to appreciate how well they travel, the folding design and sweet little case work really well for me - and being able to 'lug' around a immersive sound space I'm familiar with has been a unexpected bonus. And everytime I pop them on there's a wow factor (like Bob mentioned when he resurrected this thread) that makes good music that much more enjoyable (though I think this applies to any quality set of headphones).

Charlie4

In 2006 I bought a pair of Sennheiser HD515's for R650. Great value for money, at the time. In 2012 it was time for a new pair - the old one had some serious hours behind it and was basically no more.
So 6 years later I went to the same store for the same pair of cans, this time their best price was R1300!

I get the whole inflation thing, however, to literally double up in price seems a bit excessive. That's economics for you I guess.

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