Recommended headphones under $200

Tyson · « **on:** 22 Apr 2004, 06:17 pm »

Figured this topic would come up sooner or later, so I'm starting it off myself. For me it's pretty straightforward:

Closed - BeyerDynamic DT-250-250 ($160) are not only the best under $200 closed cans I've heard, but are the best closed headphones I've heard, period.

Open - Sennheiser HD580 or HD600 (right at $200). Since the HD650 came out, you can find the 600's and under $200 used, and that is a smoking bargain.

BradJudy · « **Reply #1 on:** 22 Apr 2004, 09:30 pm »

Agreed - I grabbed a pair of used HD 600s for $180 shipped - great deal. There are very often used 600s for sale on head-fi.org. Used 580s are less common and sometimes come up for as much as they can be found new ($150).

I"m going to have to try the Beyers sometime.

jgubman · « **Reply #2 on:** 22 Apr 2004, 09:35 pm »

Ditto on the HD-600s. I owned Grado SR-80s and then picked up a used pair of HD-600s for $200.

The HD-600s were so much more comfortable there wasn't even a contest.

I wear headphones all day at work (computer -> x-can -> hd-600) and the Grados gave an entirely new definition to "ear fatigue".

One problem w/ the HD-600s though is you have to factor in some additional money for an amp if you want to get the most out of them

pjchappy · « **Reply #3 on:** 22 Apr 2004, 09:49 pm »

Which would be better, an open or closed design?

p

Figo · « **Reply #4 on:** 22 Apr 2004, 10:54 pm »

depends. Generally open gives better quality while closed gives isolation, not always the case however.(ie, sony R10)

pjchappy · « **Reply #5 on:** 22 Apr 2004, 11:11 pm »

Tyson,

Of the open and closed designs you listed, which do you prefer overall?

p

Jay S · « **Reply #6 on:** 23 Apr 2004, 12:34 am »

The Senn 600s are supremely comfortable! I borrowed a pair that a friend was thinking of selling to try with my Xin portable headphone amp (similar to Tyson's). I found that I didn't listen to headphones much so I ended up not getting the 600s. In fact, I may even sell the headphone amp since I don't use it at all.

Tyson · « **Reply #7 on:** 23 Apr 2004, 12:37 am »

The HD600 is a better sounding headphone than the 250-250. BTW, the first 250 is the model number, the second 250 is its impedance (there is a 250-80 model which is 80 ohms impedance, which is not as good sounding, I'm told).

Generally open cans are better sounding because they don't have to worry or compensate for reflections and resonances from the earcup like a closed design does.

Anyway, the 600's are less compressed sounding, have a better soundstage, are a bit less sibilant, and are overall more natural. But the 250-250's are suprisingly close in sound quality, and of course offer much, much more isolation (ie, other people don't hear your music). The 600's leak sound like a sieve.

mcrespo71 · « **Reply #8 on:** 23 Apr 2004, 02:58 am »

I like my HD580's, which I picked up for $199 with some cheesy processor I sometimes use to watch movies late at night. How much better are the HD600's? Would the improvement in sound quality from the 580 to 600 be enough to warrant all the trouble of selling and then buying used?

Michael

Rob Babcock · « **Reply #9 on:** 23 Apr 2004, 03:27 am »

I might be interested in your Senn's if you upgraded, depending a little on how soon you did it...

BradJudy · « **Reply #10 on:** 23 Apr 2004, 03:45 am »

I've only listened to the 600s and 580s side-by-side once. Naturally this is the world of diminishing returns in audio. I think the 600s are 'the extra 10%' above the 580s for more than 10% more cash. I only went for them because I didn't see used 580s after watching for a while and $180 was a good deal. If I had seen used 580s, I would have been happy with those, but new 580s for $150+ vs used 600s for $180 (shipped) was an easy choice.

ooheadsoo · « **Reply #11 on:** 23 Apr 2004, 03:50 am »

The difference between the 580 and 600, for all intents and purposes, is the plastic grill vs. the metal one. Some guys removed both grills and compared, swapped drivers and compared, and that was what they concluded. Nowhere on any sennheiser site does it say anything about the enclosure of the 600's to be special in any way.

Much to my bitter disappointment, these experiments were conducted the week after I gave my 580's to a friend and picked up a pair of 600's. In any case, the 600's are still better than the 580's, so it's not a total loss. Modifying the 580's to be grill-less is also a rather drastic step. If you're a cable tweaker kind of guy, getting the 600's is rather unavoidable

You just won't be satisfied!

KKM · « **Reply #12 on:** 23 Apr 2004, 03:04 pm »

Can't beat electrostatic 'phones, if you don't mind used, AG has 2 in fairly good condition for around $100:

http://cls.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/cls.pl?accstwek&1087520181

MorningMongrel · « **Reply #13 on:** 26 Apr 2004, 09:13 am »

Denon AH-G500.

Read my post in the thread"Is there anything better than SR-60's @ the price"for a little bit of detail,if you like.

TheeeChosenOne · « **Reply #14 on:** 22 Jun 2004, 12:51 am »

Audio Technica ATH-A900

These, rather recently, are apparently all the rage on Head-Fi.com, and for good reason.

The sound signature is between the laid back Senns and in-your-face Grados. The sound is very balanced from top to bottom. Strong bass, palpable mids and good highs. Its a VERY good all-around performer for all genres of music and movies. They are in the Senn 600 status but with certain attractive features that may appeal to many....such as...

They can be easily driven without a headphone amp, unlike the Senns that need a good amp to be driven well. The drivers are angled so you get a better soundstage than most top headphones. In addition, they are a closed design which seals well and is a blessing to the significant other when you're in the same room. Finally, they are extremely comfortable. Audiophile headphone users have rated them the most comfortable of all cans they're tried.

They are rather big cans, so I wouldn't use an Ipod with them on the street unless you want to be laughed at.

They are very well constructed and aesthetic...a pleasing attribute to the flakily constructed Grado SR line.

Sure there are a few "better" cans....but at a significantly higher price. IMHO, the law of diminishing returns applies at around this range. But for a $200 can that many favorably compare to the ultimate closed can, the Sony MDR-CD3000, well that speaks volumes in and of itself.

.........AudioCubes.com is the one of the only places you can get them. They're shipped straight from Tokyo, Japan as they're not available in the States. Shipping is quick--about a week or so....$211 total cost.

jimmyp58 · « **Reply #15 on:** 29 Aug 2004, 01:38 am »

Ditto on the Senn HD 600's....

superjohnny · « **Reply #16 on:** 16 Sep 2004, 06:41 am »

Ok it just isn't right that nobody has mentioned the Grado SR225's. Listening to mine right now and absolutely love them. In fact I sold my HD600's to buy them. Absolutely satisfied with that decision.

to the person who went with Senn HD600's over the Grado SR80's that's an apples to oranges comparison. The 600's cost 3 times what the 80's go for. Like you I also find the 80's to be bright... much like their older brother the 325. The 225's, on the other hand, are detailed & forward with nice smooth bass. Just the way i like 'em.

<edit> oh damn, i joined another forum.

This is going to get expensive...

ooheadsoo · « **Reply #17 on:** 16 Sep 2004, 06:57 am »

I always considered the 225's to be an option until I couldn't get over the grado ergonomics. However, I recently did a toe to toe with the 225, hp1, and ps1 with a gilmore balanced amp. I didn't like the 225's at all. The bass was smooth like you said, but it was overwhelming. The whole phone felt like it was rushed, forward, and sloppy. Maybe it was the amp? I dunno, the hp1 sounded dandy on it. It's a $2k discrete design headamp. Given the 225's performance (on that amp, which drove the other grados, albeit MUCH more expensive grados GREAT) I would choose the 600's over it. The 600's really sound pretty decent with good front end.

BradJudy · « **Reply #18 on:** 16 Sep 2004, 01:17 pm »

A quick note since I now have a pair of Audio Technica ATH-A900s in my house.

They are definitely a different creature than the HD-600s. My quick generalization (as posted on head-fi) is that:

HD-600: audiophile's headphone, more neutral and detailed
A900: fun music lovers headphone, stronger bass, more lively, better soundstage

Personally, I think the HD-600 is noticably more comfortable than the A900, but headphone comfort is very related to head size/shape and personal preference.

The A900 doesn't have the detail of the HD-600, but is indeed better overall unamped. However, since it is too large and awkward to be a portable headphone, I don't consider it an advantage for those who already own headphone amps.

Aman · « **Reply #19 on:** 28 Oct 2004, 02:42 am »

Best speaker-like headphones = Sennheiser HD595s
Best Closed Headphone = Beyerdynamic DT770 Pro
Best all-round headphone = Audio Technica 9000
Best unamped headphone = Audio Technica 9000
Best improved with an amp = Sennheiser HD580s
Best Rock Headphone = Grado SR225
Best Orchestral/Classical Headphone = HD600s

All of these headphones can be found under 200 dollars or on the 200 dollar mark.