Headphone question

"McChiken116 - Patrick H." (mcchiken116)
08/08/2014 at 15:11 • Filed to: None

okay, I'm tired of terrible apple and sony earbuds, I am looking to buy a good set. What goes everyone rock?

Budget 100+

Edit: Bonus points if you can buy them from apple's site (I have a gift card)

DISCUSSION (47)

Your boy, BJR > McChiken116 - Patrick H.
08/08/2014 at 15:13

Skullcandy Smokin' Buds. best buds I ever owned, amazing sound quality, cost like $24

Edit- NVM, I had the Ink'd 2. Smokin' buds are cheaper

Edit 2- And kinda shitty. Ink'd 2 is the way to go.

EL_ULY > McChiken116 - Patrick H.
08/08/2014 at 15:13

dang $100? I just have some pink skull candy ones from a store at the airport lol. I'm guessing those Beats ones are good right? Wireless. Not sure on prices though

scoob > McChiken116 - Patrick H.
08/08/2014 at 15:14

I have $20 Sony earbuds and my equalizer makes it sound good, so I suggest you look at some Sony stuff? The more pricey ones.

Also I hear Beats sound like utter shit. This coming from people that know what good headphones sound like.

Alex from Toronto > McChiken116 - Patrick H.
08/08/2014 at 15:15

I use a pair of Sonys only cost me $25, sound quality is good.

Takuro Spirit > Your boy, BJR
08/08/2014 at 15:16

That's what I got, they do sound damn good WHEN THEY STAY IN MY EARS.

#MyEarsAreWeird

n54 & s38 > McChiken116 - Patrick H.
08/08/2014 at 15:16

For the love of god, don't buy those shitty Beats headphones. In terms of sound quality, they're garbage. Are you looking for in-ear (earphones) or over the ear (headphones). For headphones, look at a set of Audio Technicas (ATH 30, I believe). GReat sound for a reasonable price.

Mr. Ontop, No Strokes, No Smokes...Goes Fast. > EL_ULY
08/08/2014 at 15:17

No, beats are overpriced crap for people that don't know any better! For about $100 you can get a nice professional set that should cover your needs more than enough. Try these it is what we use in the studio at work... http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/H…

Your boy, BJR > EL_ULY
08/08/2014 at 15:17

Skullcandy is to headphones what the Corvette is to super cars- the retarded budget cousin that somehow works better.

Alfalfa > McChiken116 - Patrick H.
08/08/2014 at 15:18

Some people like Beats, but most people who are really sound oriented hate them (because they kinda suck). For $100, I would look into Bose or Sony. If you do want to go cheaper, Sony's $20 over ear phones are a pretty good deal fire how good they sound.

Edit: Sony MDR-ZX100 are the ones I use. And they're 15 now on Amazon.com, not 20.

uofime > McChiken116 - Patrick H.
08/08/2014 at 15:19

Sennheiser CX300B can be had for 30$ on amazon. They sound great, also they fit inside your ear so you can lay on the side of your head with them on comfortably.

just be careful if you get them because there area a lot of fakes apparently

EL_ULY > Mr. Ontop, No Strokes, No Smokes...Goes Fast.
08/08/2014 at 15:19

see that's what I was thinking. Going on Musician's Friend or Guitar Center and getting some pro studio headphones.

Party-vi > EL_ULY
08/08/2014 at 15:20

Beats are shit.

EL_ULY > Your boy, BJR
08/08/2014 at 15:20

lol good way of putting. I got them because I though I had packed mine and didn't have any. Pink was the only thing they had :]

Arch Duke Maxyenko, Shit Talk Extraordinaire > McChiken116 - Patrick H.
08/08/2014 at 15:20

These.

Textured Soy Protein > McChiken116 - Patrick H.
08/08/2014 at 15:24

I have some Sony MDR-NC31EM noise-cancelling earbuds, and Sony MDR-ZX600 cans. Each of them were around 50 bucks.

Kinja'd!!!

Yowen - not necessarily not spaghetti and meatballs > McChiken116 - Patrick H.
08/08/2014 at 15:25

Kinja'd!!!

At work, sitting at my desk I like these:
http://www.monoprice.com/Product?p_id=9…

They cost, wait for it... $7.88. They sound FAR BETTER than they should at that price. They are absolutely worthless if you use them on the move, I think, never tried.

But still, a good thing to know if you need a good secondary pair of earbuds.

Anon > McChiken116 - Patrick H.
08/08/2014 at 15:26

Idealy these are what I'd reccomend (because they're what I use), Sennheiser Momentum over the ear headphones. Though because they cost $300, I'll reccomend the next best thing!

Audio Technica ATH-M50x headphones! They honestly sound amazing for only being $90! Hell they even give my Momentums a run for their money!

Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To > Your boy, BJR
08/08/2014 at 15:28

I have O.G. Ink'd buds. Some of the best buds I've used, but the build quality was crap. Cut off the wires and soldered on a much higher-quality cable. Sleeved it, as well. Fantastic now :D

lonestranger > McChiken116 - Patrick H.
08/08/2014 at 15:32

Looking for over-the-ear headphones, or in-the-ear earbuds?

If it's earbuds you're after, I got a pair of Shure E2c maybe 6 or 8 years ago and I still love them. They're my go-to when I'm walking, on transit/plane, or just mowing the lawn. They go right in the ear canal like an earplug, so they block out outside noise but may take some getting used to. Still infinitely more comfortable than something that you kinda have to wedge in the ear like the Apple ones. When sealed in your ear the bass is warm and strong, without distortion or at the expense of clear highs & mids.

They were around $120 CDN. They're discontinued now, and I wouldn't hesitate to buy Shure again.

Decay buys too many beaters > McChiken116 - Patrick H.
08/08/2014 at 15:41

5 years in pro audio and my favorite cans are still my trusty Sony MDR-7506. The sennheiser hd-280 is pretty good too. Both are well under $100

Bandit > Yowen - not necessarily not spaghetti and meatballs
08/08/2014 at 15:42

I have a set of these, I can never get them to feel comfortabl.e Yes I wear them properly (wires kinda upside down).

Bandit > McChiken116 - Patrick H.
08/08/2014 at 15:44

I generally use some $16 sony earbuds. I destroy or lose my so often it isn't worth me buying expensive ones. Also monoprice makes some darn good $20 buds.

Yowen - not necessarily not spaghetti and meatballs > Bandit
08/08/2014 at 15:45

Hmm, my wires are pointing almost straight down right now. Sounding good.

I bought some aftermarket squishy thingies. Might be helping.

Bandit > Yowen - not necessarily not spaghetti and meatballs
08/08/2014 at 15:52

This is how they are suppose to be worn I guess:

Kinja'd!!!

Full of the sound of the Gran Fury, signifying nothing. > McChiken116 - Patrick H.
08/08/2014 at 15:53

Have you tried the Apple EarPods that come with the iPhone 5 and later? Don't let the reputation of the previous earbuds cloud your opinion as this new design are light years ahead of those and are surprisingly comfortable. The sound quality rivals the $250 Sony professional headset I normally use but in a much more compact size. I can't wear the Sony's in most situations because they pinch my glasses, so the EarPods do an impressive job of filling in.

One of the main changes was a reversion back to paper cone material instead of the plastic used in the 'buds and the improvement is quite noticeable. I'm rather picky when it comes to audio quality have tried numerous, more expensive, options, yet I keep going back to these. Even today I am still hearing subtle details in songs I thought I knew inside and out. You really don't need to spend a ton of money to get the quality you seek.

Sam > McChiken116 - Patrick H.
08/08/2014 at 15:56

Steelseries Flux In-Ear Pros are good - http://steelseries.com/us/products/au… - $120

Sennheiser IE80's, the best in-ear hedphones you can get - http://www.amazon.com/Sennheiser-504… - $298

Panasonic In-Ears, the longest lasting set of heaphones I've ever bought - http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00… - $9

Leadbull > McChiken116 - Patrick H.
08/08/2014 at 15:56

You don't need to spend more than $100 on earbuds.

Yowen - not necessarily not spaghetti and meatballs > Bandit
08/08/2014 at 15:58

wow. How strange. They fall out VERY easily when I do that.

HammerheadFistpunch > McChiken116 - Patrick H.
08/08/2014 at 16:11

These will rock your mind

Nibbles > McChiken116 - Patrick H.
08/08/2014 at 16:12

I got a pair of these for free when I bought my L920. They have been, by and large, completely worth the purchase price! Best earbuds I've dealt with in their range. I think the box said they were 80 or 90 bucks.

404usernotfound > McChiken116 - Patrick H.
08/08/2014 at 16:17

There are 2 that I would recomend. First, are the headphones I use now the Sure SE215- ($100 on amazon http://www.amazon.com/Shure-SE215-K-… ) They sound great, have nice thick removable (and therefore replacable) cables, and have some great sound isolation. My second recomendation would be The Klipsch S4-II ($59 on amazon http://www.amazon.com/Klipsch-Image-… ) also great souding, but with flat cables. (It looks like they have replaced these with newer models, so check them out too - http://www.amazon.com/Klipsch-101588… and http://www.amazon.com/Klipsch-R6i-Bl… ) I have owned both and would highly recomend them, and anything else by Klipsch or Shure. If you are looking for over the ear, I would recomend that you look at Grado.

!!! UNKNOWN CONTENT TYPE !!!

NaturallyAspirated > HammerheadFistpunch
08/08/2014 at 16:22

I agree, I have a pair of the K240s and I love 'em. My giant noggin gets sweaty sometimes, so I went with the Mk II because they have the velour earpads included that are much more comfortable when it's hot.

404usernotfound > McChiken116 - Patrick H.
08/08/2014 at 16:26

HammerheadFistpunch > NaturallyAspirated
08/08/2014 at 16:27

I have the mark i 271 and the mark II and I agree on the velour pads v vinyl. Killer sounds though, nothing sounds more realistic and natural.

Jayhawk Jake > Your boy, BJR
08/08/2014 at 16:28

Eh, they're okay. I have a pair, I like them, but they aren't great

GhostZ > McChiken116 - Patrick H.
08/08/2014 at 16:38

Kinja'd!!!

For $100 you can get 5 of these, and your masculinity.

NaturallyAspirated > McChiken116 - Patrick H.
08/08/2014 at 16:39

I'm not an audiophile, but I am a musician and thus I appreciate good quality headphones. I've tried a number of 'phones are here are my favorites:

- In ear monitors / earbuds: Etymotic MC5, $60. If you like the earbud style or in ear monitors (IEMs as they are called), these sound absolutely amazing, block nearly all outside noise, and are fairly comfortable to wear of long periods of time.

- Lightweight on-the-ear headphones: Koss Porta-Pro, $40. These old-school gems sound better than 'phones that cost twice as much. They do have a bit more clamping pressure than other similar phones, but the temple pads prevent them from being uncomfortable.

- Full-size over the ear headphones: Grado SR80e, ~$100. Handmade in New York state, Grado headphones are known for the clarity and accuracy of their mids and highs. Bass-heads will be disappointed with the flat but accurate low end, but I highly recommend these for everyone else.

- Honorable mention: AKG K240, $100. These sound great, are comfortable to wear for extended periods of time, and seem very well built.

- Honorable mention: Monoprice 8323, $23. These sound incredibly good, almost as good as my AKGs. The build quality isn't great - I broke my pair with normal use within 9 months or so - and the vinyl ear pads are hot, but for the price it's hard to complain.

- Honorable mention: Sony MDR-7506, $85. There's a good reason these 1980's staple studio headphones are still sold today. Great sound, portable, and nearly indestructible.

Your boy, BJR > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To
08/08/2014 at 16:39

Modding FTW

McChiken116 - Patrick H. > EL_ULY
08/08/2014 at 17:00

I like skullcandy, they are just sorta fragile for my taste, you know?

McChiken116 - Patrick H. > Your boy, BJR
08/08/2014 at 17:02

The build of skullkandy stuff is what turns me off mostly

ZDMW > McChiken116 - Patrick H.
08/08/2014 at 17:04

Personally I use the $8 monoprice earbuds, only complaint is the cords get tangled much easier than most other ear buds. I would stay away from Beats, you can get much better sounding ones for the same price.

http://lifehacker.com/5959383/five-b…

EL_ULY > McChiken116 - Patrick H.
08/08/2014 at 17:05

lol I have no clue actually, I hardly listen to music :] Go to Guitar Center and get something studio quality

McChiken116 - Patrick H. > EL_ULY
08/08/2014 at 17:09

I think I need to

Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To > Your boy, BJR
08/08/2014 at 17:49

I also have Sennheiser HD201s headphones that I converted to be one-side detachable cable instead of two-side permanent cable. Also toned down the piercing high-end a little. Much more convenient :D

lonestranger > Arch Duke Maxyenko, Shit Talk Extraordinaire
08/09/2014 at 16:59

I have never heard of V-Moda (v-moda, V_MODA?) before. Now that I've clicked that link, this ad plays at the start of most YouTube videos now:

Arch Duke Maxyenko, Shit Talk Extraordinaire > lonestranger
08/09/2014 at 17:14

well sorry about that, but I loved the pair that I had

lonestranger > Arch Duke Maxyenko, Shit Talk Extraordinaire
08/09/2014 at 17:45

It beats the ad I used to always see with the asian bodybuilder dude yammering on about how much he can eat.