What headphones do you use to listen to music?

What headphones do you use to listen to music and why? And what type of music do you listen to the most? Don't include cans you only use to monitor, record, mix, and/or master. Also, why do you use that specific model/brand (I'm already anticipating the silly responses, such as ''cos I'm strapped')?

I use two, for the most part:

1. German Maestro 8.35D. They do have a flatter response and I happen to have used them for mixing/mastering, but I can hear more details, as the sound is louder or more amplified. It helps me really enjoy all the sounds's nuances.

2. Audio-Technica ATH-M50, which I have used for monitoring. These are a standard, but they give me a warmer sound than the above, so the sound is definitely coloured in that aspect. I listen to it when I want to dive deeper into the music; it's difficult to explain without sounding trite/hackneyed, but it helps me get into the music on an emotional/mood level.

this is either it or close to it: http://store.sony.com/p/Stereo-Headphones/en/p/MDRZX100/BLK

i've been buying sony headphones for a while. besides that i've used apple's earbuds but that was a while ago so mostly sony stuff i think. maybe some other cheap shit too

Sennheiser PX-100 II's

I like over-ear headphones best, and I find the Sennheisers have a pretty good warm sound for the price-range they're in.

I've heard of those, Veg. Are the actual ear pads good size or do they run a little big or small?

they're a good size, abt 2 inches diameter

and they sit nice and firm

Interesting. Darn. I just put a ruler to my ear. They might be a little too small for me, because I have slightly bigger ears than the normal earthling. I might buy them just for fun, though. I want something more portable. But I might buy in-ear ones first for when I am out running. I've never been one to listen to music whilst running, but I figure I might give it a go.

Why would anyone ever want to 'data mine' ILX? o.O

― c21m50nh3x460n, Thursday, March 28, 2013 2:46 AM (Yesterday) Bookmark

hahah

Sennheiser PX-100 II's

― set the controls for the heart of the sun (VegemiteGrrl), Friday, March 29, 2013 4:41 PM (1 hour ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink

I think these ones, definitely Sennheisers, anyway. Occasionally use the in-ear ones that came with my iPod, but I don't like those.

Sennheiser HD-497's

I'm not an audiophile but uh they sound nice. only problem is that the cables break after about a year, and they cost $12 to replace. I've probably spent more money on the cables ($12 X 4 = $48) than on the phones themselves ($45).

thirding the Sennheiser PX-100, love those things

grado sr-60s (just amazing but open design)

beyerdynamic dt 231s (very good for a close full ear headphone)

$9 monoprice earbuds which out perform these fancy $200 ones we got in as a sample at work

ums, I used to have Etymotic MC5's. Are the Monoprice ones really comparable to something of this type?

Dear, oh, dear. If this is true, these are the little gems of posts I hope to find every so often.

Let me look into them, because I would pick these up tonight. What model is it?

bowers and wilkins P5's - they are very very nice but i'm not sure i would have paid $300 retail for them (they were gifted to me)

c21 - i haven't heard the etymontics, but i got a tip on these monoprice from some audiophile boards....i can't remember the high-priced ones i tried out, they were a sample sent to work, but they were super fancy, brushed metal etc....these monoprice are just better sounding flat out

they are $7.57 if you order one pair, goes down if you order another pair...plus shipping i think it was like $9

http://www.monoprice.com/products/product.asp?c_id=108&cp_id=10823&cs_id=1082303&p_id=8320&seq=1&format=2

put it this way, i'll never buy another brand. if these break in a year i'll call it fine and buy another pair (though they seem decently built even though they are kinda cheap plastic, but the cords are decent quality fabric)....if i want to buy something fancy i'll save for a better pair of big over ear phones, but for the price they are close enough to high end that i'm pretty much monoprice for life....just get 'em and see if you like them, it's so cheap...

NOTE: the ear pieces they come with are kind of large if you have smaller ear canals, so it's worth buying a little $2 pack off ear pieces off amazon that comes with three sizes if they don't fit you, i ended up having to replace them with a smaller size...but obv that depends on your ears...so i guess that put my total cost up to like $12

When I decided I wanted some good headphones about ten yrs ago I haunted the forums at http://www.head-fi.org/ for a while, and ended up getting a pair of AKG K701. I loved them, although they didn't turn out to be completely ideal for rock music. They're perfect for jazz, acoustic, classical, and with their wide soundstage, tv and movies. I currently keep them in the living room and use them for TV and movies after a certain time at night to keep noise levels down. And 9 years later they still look pretty.

In the bedroom I have Denon AH-D1001K, which are small enough that they're comfortable when I'm lying back on a pillow and reading. Unfortunately those are discontinued, and the follow-up model is larger. They have surprisingly great low-end for smaller closed headphones. They are nicely sealed and won't bother the person next to you (if you're so lucky to have someone next to you).

I use Audio Technica ATH-M50 at work and for travel, which they're great for as they're extremely sturdy. Their sound is maybe slightly better than the Denons above, but are not as comfortable for extended wear. Just as well, you shouldn't use phones more than hour stretches anyway.

My main workhorse is Denon AH-D2000, which I use in my office at home for the bulk of my night-time listening. Love them. Great bass but not overwhelming, sounds excellent with many genres but especially heavy rock.

Despite all the cans I got over the years, I actually still prefer a good pair of speakers whenever possible. Yes, headphones can give you more intimate details, mainly because you can't always have the same kind of relative volume on speakers. But no headphone can really duplicate the natural crossfeed of the soundwaves coming at your ears from all 360 degrees. The lack of crossfeed is one factor that many experience with "headphone fatigue." Basically your brain has to do extra work to make sense of the sounds that are coming through your ears in an unnatural way.

In order to alleviate that issue, there are headphone amps designed to simulate crossfeed. I use a Meier Audio Corda Cantate.2 amp in the office that has that feature, and a portable Practical Devices XM5 amp. Meier has a good explanation of crossfeed here - http://www.meier-audio.homepage.t-online.de/crossfeed.htm

Some IEMs (inner ear monitors) can sound okay, but for the price, you get much better sound from full-size headphones. I have Logitech Ultimate Ears 500 which I use sparingly, but are good for the price.

Have fun :)

The best IEMs I'd heard so far was the Klipsch X10, which was a gift. Unfortunately they only lasted a couple months until I forgot my normal workout headphones and used those on the treadmill, and my sweat killed 'em :(

another reason i'm totally cool w/these monoprice, if they end up being disposable, so be it

Cheers, ums! I will drive over to Monoprice this weekend, as I just read their shipping leaves a lot to be desired.

To Fastnbulbous's last point, actually, I will be using these to run, so I'm expecting them to fry and electrocute me on the spot, but I'll go for it anyway.

Also, Fastnbulbous, I totally agree with headphone fatigue and speakers being way better. Thing is, due to my living situation, I cannot play music very loudly, so I forgo the idea of speakers altogether. This has been the case for pretty much all of my adult life. Perhaps one day I'll be able to blast my speakers in the comfort of my own home.

Cheers, ums! I will drive over to Monoprice this weekend, as I just read their shipping leaves a lot to be desired.

i got just cheap normal shipping, item arrived i think in like 4-5 days? undamaged, though they just come in a plastic baggie no packaging etc and a padded envelope

I get on head-fi once in a while and end up spending a whole day on there... today was one of those days!

Came out of it ordering these for $30
http://www.head-fi.org/t/632892/review-sony-mh1-the-best-kept-secret

and these:
http://www.head-fi.org/t/577712/yamaha-eph-100

I have the AT-M50s as well. Love them to death but they leak too much sound at work (even tho their closed back) so they are my home/travel cans. Due to sound leakage I have to go with in-ears at work which kinda sucks since that is where I do the majority of listening. Been using these for a while:
http://www.head-fi.org/t/561951/philips-she3580-iem-review-how-can-something-sound-so-good-for-10
but wanted something new cos I am a nerd and always on the hunt for different/better sound.

*they're

Those monoprice IE's are intriguing, might have to try them out at that price.

Nice, Spottie! You can say I'm a bit of a nerd, as well, unfortunately!

I'll give the Philips SHE3580 a whirl, too! Pretty sure I can pick them up at Best Buy.

I have the Yuin pk3's as well but I cant get a good enough seal (small canals) to maximize the sound so I've never fallen in love with them like everyone else.

I'm very fond of the Shure se215 in-ear, after taking a short while to get used to the way they fit (different from what I'm used to: the cables loop around your ears and it seems strange at first but ultimately works very well). I like them better than my old Etys, but am especially happy that the cable separates from the phones and can be replaced. Bass is emphasized somewhat, but in a good way. They're reasonably cheap.

Koss UR-40; got for 40 bucks at Best Buy. Big but light enough, clear enough, warm enough, good stereo depth.

http://media.materiel.net/live/103290.jpg

I have AKG K601s, Alessandro MS1s, and Koss Portapros. The latter are for out and about. I have a pair of cheap Sennheiser sport headphones for running etc too but I barely ever use them.

The 601s live with the main hifi, where I have a Meier Audio Corda Headfive amp to drive them. The MS1s live upstairs with the secondary hifi. I've not used either much in the last three years since I got new speakers (B&W685s) because I love speakers so much. But basically the 601s were great for immersion and the MS1s were great for excitement.

Koss Portapros are amazing for portable. Just wonderful.

Had various Shures, Sennheisers, Sonys etc over the years, but have stuck with this selection now for a long time. Head-Fi cost me a lot of money circa 2005/2006.

sennheiser cx-300 ii in-ear. reasonably cheap, nice bass, decent range.

sennheiser cx-300 ii in-ear. reasonably cheap, nice bass, decent range.

Those are mine for portable listening, too. At home I use the Sennheiser HD-202 which is also fine for the price. Cable is long but that's good for using with the TV if needed, and it has a cable wrap thing so I can keep the desk tidy-ish.

oooh ta, i'll have a look

Man, I am trying out the monoprice buds recommended above and I'm finding them to be really tinny. I'm not really an audiophile either. I usually just pick up a $16 pair of whatever they sell at CBS.

Cvs

Creative Aurvana Live, when on the laptop and playing guitar and bass into multi-track stuff. Also watching films on laptop and general listening to music around the house. I really like them, super clear and really warm bass. I listen to anything from jazz to rock to classic to electronic stuff, all sounds very nice. I paid £55 for them, would pay it again if I broke them.
http://cdn.cnet.com.au/story_media/339286403/creative-aurvana-live_1.jpg
And for when I'm out and about, Creative EP-630. £10 and they're better than the Sennheiser ones (for me anyway)
http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/31oJelI-O2L.jpg

I'm definitely not an audiophile, but I'm happy enough with the monoprices, for the price. I didn't like them much at first, but I think it's about replacing the tips and maybe getting them in your ears right if they aren't already - the wirecutter was saying ppl have problems with them till they seat them correctly.

Oh, so I was wearing the monoprices upside-down, you say? I'll have to try the correct method on the bus ride home later. Thanks!

At home: Sennheiser HD650
On the move: Shure SE535

Please, don't nobody tell my wife I spent over €700 on headphones.

grado sr 80s in the house
shitty sony earbuds on the go

i've got these sony things

inexpensive. like 20 or something. idk

yeah the monoprice are kinda awkward & i definitely had to get replacement tips that fit better, won't get much bass w/o a good seal

at home I use Sennheisers -- I think they're HD429s; if not they're something similar. they've got a nice flat frequency response.

at work I use these $30 Radioshack headphones. they are heavier on the low end, which I like because I can keep the volume down and still feel the fullness in the sound http://www.radioshack.com/product/index.jsp?productId=3905745

senneiser px100's that I take everywhere

Turning them upside down totally worked, btw. Better than anything else in my price range anyway. The whole ride in with these things, I was so disappointed.

still using shure SE215s after about a year, they could stand replacement tips to tighten up the seal a bit, but no problems with the cables (which are still detachable!). best earbuds i've ever owned - everything else sounded worse or was so delicate it broke within a year.

Koss Portapros out and about, Alessandro MS1s and AKG K601s at home.

I like portapros. Mine broke. :-(

Lifetime warranty, dude! I pulled out my old Portapro's after my Bluetooth Senn's broke and damn if they're not still great!

http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a215/DeathseekerWR/PutinsAKGs.jpg

I've used akg k271s for about 6 years. They are studio headphones and i once read they were 'neutral' sounding but the frequency response graph says otherwise.

at home: Sennheiser HD 570
on the move: Sony MDR-E 829V

i really love my grados

Yeah since about April I've been back to the old days of grado über alles. Anything recorded in the analog era sounds so fucking great on them.

Treeship, for out and about try the igrado phones. 50 bucks, small and light, sound like regular grados.

oh, thanks for the tip. i somehow didn't know about their existence.

Tempted by the new Beyer Custom One Pros

Sony MDR ZX600s, at home and when out walking/riding the train.

the green ones. i got them at ross dress for less for $29. marked down from like 70! recommended.

I thought I posted this but guess not. Back in July I got the Beyerdynamic DT 770 Pro's specifically for listening to doom :)

http://fastnbulbous.com/cans-of-doom/

http://fastnbulbous.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/beyerdynamic-dt-770.png

I got a DT 770 set myself that I have had for years. The cloth on the ear phones is shag nasty at this point. I've listened to way more music with Sony MDR-7502 head phones. The plastic ends up breaking on them, but a little duck tape and those Sony's are pretty indestructible. My first set I just put through hell and they lasted for a decade, as I would take them out of the house and on the go.

Aren't the pads replaceable? I gave a little history of Sony phones in my piece above. Aside from relative states of indestructible-ness, how'd you compare the sound?

for earbuds, i use grado iGi's, and they're miles ahead of any other earbud i've used. they've got really rich, but not at all obnoxious, low end. one day i would like to upgrade to one of their higher-end models, but $300 or $400 seems a lot to spend for things i throw in my gym bag and assume i will eventually lose. these ones cost $90, which made just enough sense to me.

for home/studio use, akg k240's, mostly because that's what i've worn all my life and i know exactly how they sound, which is important to me. but also they sound very warm to me. i prefer older ones when i can find them. downside: they break easily.