Decent closed headphones?

dancemb · 27-05-2008, 12:34 AM

As the title says, because at the moment I have Sennheiser HD600's, but my family are not happy because as they are open, whenever I listen to my music in the living room (as I use my laptop) they can all hear it above the tv, even when I have it as quiet as I can get it.

That forces me to buy another pair, so rather than rush to Argos and buy the best pair they have available, I want to have closed headphones for my money, and thought I would ask you good people here what you would recommend?

I dont mind if they are wired (as they are the better quality) but the only limiting factor is the price I can afford, hopefully I wouldnt have to pay more than around £50 for them, but I need decent quality sound, especially the bass noise with the kind of songs I have.

tdtm82 · 27-05-2008, 5:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dancemb

As the title says, because at the moment I have Sennheiser HD600's, but my family are not happy because as they are open, whenever I listen to my music in the living room (as I use my laptop) they can all hear it above the tv, even when I have it as quiet as I can get it.

That forces me to buy another pair, so rather than rush to Argos and buy the best pair they have available, I want to have closed headphones for my money, and thought I would ask you good people here what you would recommend?

I dont mind if they are wired (as they are the better quality) but the only limiting factor is the price I can afford, hopefully I wouldnt have to pay more than around £50 for them, but I need decent quality sound, especially the bass noise with the kind of songs I have.

I'm glad I stuck with Shure. They cost £60 for the budget ones and block out sound very well. If you want to listen to anything on the train or at home without disturbing the person next to you get those.

dancemb · 27-05-2008, 7:36 AM

Could you tell me what model Shure that you recommend? And also a link to where you can buy them now for £60 (or less if possible)

mossym · 27-05-2008, 7:52 AM

can well recommend shures if you're okay with in ears. i have the e3c's and love them. if you want proper cans the senn hd280s are pretty good. a bit analytical, but i still like them

dancemb · 28-05-2008, 11:11 AM

I already have some Westone UM2's, with custom made ear moulds, but I only use them for outdoors, as I would prefer proper cans for listening to music indoors.

Any links to these decent headphones?

HiFi Headphones · 29-05-2008, 10:10 AM

Have you considered the Audio-Technica ATH-AXXX range? Maybe the Audio-Technica TH-A500 closed back or Audio-Technica ATH-A700 closed back?

I've got a bit of a soft spot for Audio-Technica headphones. Their sound is somewhere between the smoothness of Sennheiser's and the up-front sound of Grado headphones. In other words nicely balanced.

Shaun

tichtich · 30-05-2008, 11:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mossym

can well recommend shures if you're okay with in ears. i have the e3c's and love them. if you want proper cans the senn hd280s are pretty good. a bit analytical, but i still like them

I bought some Sennheiser HD280s recently, because they were said to be excellent at keeping out ambient sound (I have noisy neighbours). Unfortunately I found them too tight for comfort (maybe I have a big head). So I have a pair available for sale, hardly used (PM me if interested). Would also be interested in suggestions for a pair that are good at keeping out noise AND comfortable AND cheaper (as I don't want to risk paying that much again in case they don't suit me either).

mossym · 30-05-2008, 12:53 PM

the hd280s are tight to start, but they do loosen up a lot..try stretching them over something

tichtich · 30-05-2008, 1:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mossym

the hd280s are tight to start, but they do loosen up a lot..try stretching them over something

Thanks for the suggestion. I left them stretched over some books for a couple of days. Didn't help. Perhaps I need to leave them like that for longer. I was afraid of breaking them if I overdid it.

mossym · 30-05-2008, 1:56 PM

i have a pair about 3 years old. work bought me a new pair last year, putting on the new ones is unbelievably tight compared to the older ones

tichtich · 31-05-2008, 9:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mossym

i have a pair about 3 years old. work bought me a new pair last year, putting on the new ones is unbelievably tight compared to the older ones

OK. I'll give them another try.

Holden4th · 08-06-2008, 10:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tichtich

OK. I'll give them another try.

Try leaving them on a size 5 football for a few days - worked for me.

dancemb · 09-06-2008, 4:22 PM

Any other closed headphones that will work and be really comfortable from the get-go? I just want a pair that can reproduce the sound almost as well as my HD 600's, but without the ludicrous price tag that I paid for these at the time.

TameRacingDriver · 09-06-2008, 7:20 PM

You're asking an awful lot to get something that gets anywhere near the HD600 and closed for £50 or under. The best suggestion I can come up with is the Beyerdynamic DT250 as they sound quite similar but are at least £75...

Colin151 · 10-06-2008, 12:35 PM

If you want some really good closed headphones my advice is save up a bit more and buy some Sennhesier HD250 Linear II's, - I swear by them, - I have had HD600s and the HD250 II sound a lot better IMO. It is not just me who thinks so, - Graham Slee (maker of the Solo headphone amp) thinks they are better sounding than the HD600/HD650 as well. They have increcbile bass yet are very transparent, musical and higly detailed as well. The HD600/HD650s sound darker to me and not as clear.

They would cost around £120 but would last you for years, - my first pair lasted me for ten years before a driver capsule blew, - I immeditely bought another pair and have no doubt they will last as long.

I would not spend any less, - you will not be happy with the sound. The HD250IIs are 300ohms and not very sensitive, - they will not work well with an Ipod, - you won't get enough volume. If you want a heapdhone that is more compatibile and portable look at the hugely popular Sennshier HD25-I, - not bad at all are very sensitive and easier to drive. They are not in HD250/HD600 league but acceptable. However though they will cost £110+ as well. However they are supraaural and not as comfortable as the other bigger models.

Also note the HD250II (like the HD600) are circumaural and are extremely comfortable.

When my first pair of HD250 II broke I replace them with some new HD600s thinking they would be better, - they were not! I quickly sold the HD600's and got another pair of HD250IIs (which are just as brilliant as my first pair). If you don't want to spend too much on a new pair sell your HD600 and put the money towards some HD250II, - if you had some HD250II you would never use the HD600s, - they simply do not sound as good!

if you are near near London you are very welcome to have a listen to my HD250IIs and compare them to your HD600s.

Cheers,
Colin

Quote:

Originally Posted by dancemb

Any other closed headphones that will work and be really comfortable from the get-go? I just want a pair that can reproduce the sound almost as well as my HD 600's, but without the ludicrous price tag that I paid for these at the time.

TameRacingDriver · 10-06-2008, 9:34 PM

Pretty bold claim saying the 250s are better than the 600s, maybe in your system they are, but all reviews i've seen of them suggest that its doubtful the 250s have the same potential as the 600s. Each to their own, though

Colin151 · 11-06-2008, 10:58 AM

Yes I agree there is some diverse opinion on the HD250 vs HD600/HD650. I am aware many people don't rate the HD250s, but they sound better to me and also to Graham Slee, - they are his favourite headphones (and mine too)
Check this:

(half way down the page)
http://216.239.59.104/search?q=cache...lnk&cd=8&gl=uk

(at the bottom of the page)
http://216.239.59.104/search?q=cache...lnk&cd=8&gl=uk

I note that Graham says that the HD250's sound better to his ears with vinyl than the HD600/650's do, -I totally concur and maybe this is the difference. To my ears the HD600/HD650 really do sound darker and not as involving with vinyl (as the HD250) whereas they sound pretty good with CD IMO. The HD250s have a slighty more open/trebly sound than the HD600/650s which seems to be good with vinyl. The HD250's maybe sound a bit too sharp with CD and as CD is in general more rusty/sharp/unnatural in the treble than vinyl, the HD250s can tend to bring this out more with CD and some people will not like this.

The bass performace is similarly excellent on both the HD250's and HD600/650s.

If you want a closed back headphone that are comparable quality to the HD600/HD650 I recommend to try the HD250s, - a slightly different balance but very similar quality and the trademark Sennheiser family sound. Maybe it is wrong for me to say they are better than the 600/650 as many people won't agree, - but I really personally think they are and will always be using a pair as my main listening devices.

Cheers,
Colin