Recommended headphones for ~$50 USD?

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Duke

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Got an iPod Shuffle 1 gig recently, basically as an experiment to see if I should invest in a bigger iPod. As with everybody, we hate the earbuds.

I've got a few pairs of cheap $20 lightweight phones sitting around, but I'm hankering for something better - good bass, good isolation, etc. Of course the $175 Bose numbers they have on display sound great, but that's a little rich for my blood.

So I'm looking for good miniplug cans in the $50-$75 range. Any suggestions?
 
Duke
Got an iPod Shuffle 1 gig recently, basically as an experiment to see if I should invest in a bigger iPod. As with everybody, we hate the earbuds.

I've got a few pairs of cheap $20 lightweight phones sitting around, but I'm hankering for something better - good bass, good isolation, etc. Of course the $175 Bose numbers they have on display sound great, but that's a little rich for my blood.

So I'm looking for good miniplug cans in the $50-$75 range. Any suggestions?

Koss UR-29's, or if you can afford 'em, Sony MDR-V500's.
 
Sony MDR-EX71
I paid $75 Canadian for them and they sound damn good for the price. Total sound isolation because they're ear plugs, plus they're discreet. My only complaint is that the bass is a bit over emphasized, but it's nothing major.

As for investing in a bigger iPod, here's my advice. The money is better spent on a Creative or iRiver mp3 player :)
 
I paid $40 for my Aiwa HP-CN5 headphones at Radio Shack. They have held up well (about 2 years old now), have good-to-decent sound quality, fold for storage, arent huge, and have noise cancellation--a nice feature in a car or noisy room. Also nice is that the cord only comes out of one side...less things to get tangled in.

audio-large3-awiacn52.jpg
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emad
Sony MDR-EX71
I paid $75 Canadian for them and they sound damn good for the price. Total sound isolation because they're ear plugs, plus they're discreet. My only complaint is that the bass is a bit over emphasized, but it's nothing major.

As for investing in a bigger iPod, here's my advice. The money is better spent on a Creative or iRiver mp3 player :)

heh, I have all 3 of those brands/variations!

And I'm pretty sure all new headphones have the cord come out of one side...

[edit]

And I think for like $10 more you can get the Sony V600's or 700's, which look amazing (I didn't get to try them).
 
The v600s sound like garbage without a separate amplifier. They were designed for dj equipment, not mp3 players. In fact, 90% of sony's can type headphones are designed for DJ use and not for music listening. There's a big difference 👍
 
emad
The v600s sound like garbage without a separate amplifier. They were designed for dj equipment, not mp3 players. In fact, 90% of sony's can type headphones are designed for DJ use and not for music listening. There's a big difference 👍

I know a mini pc (PC the size of a palm pilot) is not an MP3 player but when I plugged my MDR-V150s in there they sounded just as good when they are plugged into my CD player.
 
emad
The v600s sound like garbage without a separate amplifier. They were designed for dj equipment, not mp3 players. In fact, 90% of sony's can type headphones are designed for DJ use and not for music listening. There's a big difference 👍

I know, that would be what the adapter is for- I only use them for the DJing at the cottage. But they're awesome nonetheless- they have great solid bass reflex and crisp full sound. I'm talking about the V500's, btw. '

I know a mini pc (PC the size of a palm pilot) is not an MP3 player but when I plugged my MDR-V150s in there they sounded just as good when they are plugged into my CD player.

That's because they don't have enough range for you to distinguish the two, or you suck. :lol:
 
icemanshooter23
Sennheiser HD 497 👍.
Craptastic. The build quality feels so crappy, and they are open air and look funny if you wear them properly.
 
Unless you plan on using a separate amplifier to boost your signal, no. The SR80's need a bit more juice going to them to sound their best. Otherwise they're a bit dull and they don't have the bright and airy sound that Grado is so famous for.
 
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