I need some new headphones. Extra details below. Any help would be nice.?

Question

So I need some new headphone and I have a few things in mind but I have no idea which ones to get. I am pretty new to the world of good quality headphones. Anyways here are some things I want in them.

Over ear
Close backed
Portable (swivel and able to fold up)
I want to be able to listen to them with my ipod with no amp.
Neutral sounding because I listen to music of all genres
My budget is 200-300$

I do NOT want Beats by Dr. dre, Skullcandy, or any other cheap quality crap.

I was looking into brands like Beyerdynamic, Sennheiser, Audio-technica and such. If you know other brands within the same quality I would love to hear about them.

I was really looking into the Beyerdynamic DT 770 PRO's but I cant get past how its completely not portable being unable to fold in or swivel.

Again I am open on different brands but I dont really want to give up on any of the things I listed above.

Thanks! :)

Answer 1

Oh good...a sensible buyer.

Low budget, high performance portable folding phones with good build quality. Open backed but low leakage.

Another winner from the masters

Sennheiser PX100-11....$60 and they beat plenty of $150 phones

http://www.whathifi.com/review/sennheiser-px100-ii

http://www.headphone.com/rightbetweenyourears/?p=1031

http://www.head-fi.org/t/471606/short-sennheiser-px-100-ii-review



High end, top quality, folding, closed back, spacious sound field, true HiFi performance with the right sound source....$300

The Bowers and Wilkins P5....real class and supplied in a good quality lined case.

B&W supply the loudspeakers for the Abbey Road studios where the Beatles made their best recordings.

They also make the $80 000 Nautilus floorstanders.

My own speakers are B&W DM5 and DM6, still excellent performance though many years old and no need to upgrade.

Equipmernt is Acoustic Research pre and main amps and Acoustic Research turntable, Musical Fidelity CD player running the DM6, and the lovely Quad 33/303/FM3 classic vintage HiFi and Lenco GL75 turntable for the DM5

Headphones are Sennheiser HD565 and HD570 for indoors, PX100-11 for travelling.

My PX100 travelled very well for years on five continents of backpacking and I had no intention of upgrading but I got the PX100-11 as a surprise present at Christmas and I'm very very happy with them.

Run them in for a couple of days and then they sing....

The lovely Quad HiFi....not my pic, same equipment

http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c3/JCR33a/DSC_7322.jpg

B&W Company website

http://www.bowers-wilkins.eu/Headphones/Headphones/P5/Overview.html

P5...Independant reviews

http://www.google.com/products/catalog?q=B%26W+P5+review&oe=utf-8&rls=org.mozilla:en-GB:official&client=firefox-a&um=1&ie=UTF-8&tbm=shop&cid=1617698352368482813&sa=X&ei=aNkdT5CLLej04QSMrtGODQ&ved=0CFwQ8wIwBQ

http://news.cnet.com/8301-13645_3-10471433-47.html

http://www.soundandvisionmag.com/article/review-bw-p5-headphones



Happy listening

Answer 2

Personally I have liked Bose, best quality for money you can get for most middle of the pack audiophiles. I have friends who (apparently) can hear things I can't... but how many of us are truly audio engineers to need 600$ earphones?



Check CNET link below. They have a pretty good reivew well within your budget range. My choice is Bose on there.. but you might like something more.



Agree with the Dr Dre thing.. its all about hype with those. The designs are nice, but besides scamming off impressionable teenagers by selling apig with lipstick on.. they serve no real purpose. The quality is poor and the whole thing is designed to maximize profit.



Hope that helps!

Answer 3

im having the same problem myself, personally im looking at the AKG k240 which seem to have the most balanced sound. next is Audio-Technica ATH M50, people say they put more emphasys on bass though, and last is v moda crossfade II, these look cool and are tough, but i cant seem to find any reveiw on the actual sound quality

Answer 4

I am not a huge music guy but i'd look into the company called Bose. i have pair myself and they are quite good