Looking for some $120 hifi/"audiophile" headphones for my dad.

[seany]

you could try sennheiser hd25. there are 2 versions, the normal hd25 and the hd25sp. a lot of tv cameramen and dj's use them, good sound. only thing is they have a short lead, but nothing an extension couldn't sort out.

[sd-cd]

Originally Posted by seany

you could try sennheiser hd25. there are 2 versions, the normal hd25 and the hd25sp. a lot of tv cameramen and dj's use them, good sound. only thing is they have a short lead, but nothing an extension couldn't sort out.

Those are A BIT too expensive

[seany]

Originally Posted by ds-ds

Those are A BIT too expensive

not the sp, they are within budget. or hd25 used, although i wouldn't want to buy used headphones.

[patfont]

Get a pair of Grado SR 60i, $79.00, Universally praised as the best headphone under 100.00 and then some. Also can be driven easily by an ipod if need be. Remember OP is asking for audiophile sound not DJ or Studio phone. You will not be disappointed, a no brainer.

[sd-cd]

Originally Posted by seany

not the sp, they are within budget. or hd25 used, although i wouldn't want to buy used headphones.

My dad wants it new also. Thanks for your opinion.

Originally Posted by patfont

Get a pair of Grado SR 60i, $79.00, Universally praised as the best headphone under 100.00 and then some. Also can be driven easily by an ipod if need be. Remember OP is asking for audiophile sound not DJ or Studio phone. You will not be disappointed, a no brainer.

Thanks, I will check them. Yes he needs something for listening to the music, watch movies. BUT those Grado's are open. I know the sound would probably be better but he wants "not to be heard" I guess he needs a closed ones no?

[Petelebu]

Sennheiser HD280
Audio-Technica ATH-M50
COMPARE
Sony MDR-7506 Headphones

[sd-cd]

Originally Posted by Petelebu

Sennheiser HD280
Audio-Technica ATH-M50
COMPARE
Sony MDR-7506 Headphones

Are they good for listening music purpose? I own ATH-M50 but I produce beats and track vocals with them. And that's my poll:
What are the best vocal tracking headphones - about 120$? Now I need something for my dad.

[sd-cd]

Hmm

[aclarson]

I listen to music with my HD280s on my iPhone all the time and it sounds amazing. The isolation is so good, it's almost surreal while listening, and no one can hear it if they're more than 5 feet away, even if I'm blasting metal. I hear more detail in the music this way than I do on my monitors. People may say that these aren't the most accurate cans, but they do sound really crisp.

[sd-cd]

Thank you. The thing is there are many HD280 fakes around the net and my dad wants to be sure - you know how it is.

Do any of you like Audio-Technica ATH-M40fs or AKG K171 Studio (not - MKII) for music and TV listening?

[tarabok]

get the hd280s from a reputable dealer online or at the store

ive got them and listen to them in class during tests and no one has said anything about the leakage and they sound great

[sd-cd]

OK, so now it's:
ATH-M40fs vs K171 Studio vs HD280.

[reddirt]

I'll post - I bought my first ATM40s when they first came out and they were very good right off the bat in that that don't particularly flatter any area and were simply enjoyable although a later pair I bought needed a lot of breaking in and sounded a bit "quacky" in the lower mids for sometime.

Your father as a "listener" will appreciate their excellent comfort and very good isolation however it wouldn't be correct to call them "audiophile" in the strictest sense - you would probably need to spend significantly more and probably make them open backed.
The combination you speak of - for watching TV and music listening does play to their overall strength however.

I use the HD 280s at work and whilst they have strengths for making music they are way too imposing in the way they clamp on the head and thus are not really suitable for a 'listener" IME.

Hope this helps.
Cheers, Ross

[wrenhunter]

Originally Posted by patfont

Get a pair of Grado SR 60i, $79.00,

I agree, +1

[juscallmemickey]

check out Head-Fi.org: Headphones, iPod earphones, portable audio, MP3 players, high-end audio

tons of information about headphones, etc.

[SkunkWorks]

The HD280 Pro have a complete lack of upper bass/low mid. If you've ever compared them against just about any other high quality can, especially Sennheisers from the HD595 on up, it's quite obvious. Once I realized this it explained why anything I ever mixed on them sounded grossly boxy on anything else the material was played back through (was compensating). They're also a bit overly bright in the highs, not the upper highs but the lower harsher highs. For just listening to music they're not so bad though... the lack of mid bass gives them a sense of extended low end in the more sub frequencies.

A friend of mine who has them in his studio agrees.

Mine have been banished to tracking duties only, because of the isolation.

[sd-cd]

Originally Posted by reddirt

I'll post - I bought my first ATM40s when they first came out and they were very good right off the bat in that that don't particularly flatter any area and were simply enjoyable although a later pair I bought needed a lot of breaking in and sounded a bit "quacky" in the lower mids for sometime.

Your father as a "listener" will appreciate their excellent comfort and very good isolation however it wouldn't be correct to call them "audiophile" in the strictest sense - you would probably need to spend significantly more and probably make them open backed.
The combination you speak of - for watching TV and music listening does play to their overall strength however.

I use the HD 280s at work and whilst they have strengths for making music they are way too imposing in the way they clamp on the head and thus are not really suitable for a 'listener" IME.

Hope this helps.
Cheers, Ross

Thank you bro. Yes I understand, that's why I placed the word audiophile in quotation-marks. And from the opinions I thought the HD280's could be a bit uncomfortable for longer music listening just like you said.

Originally Posted by wrenhunter

I agree, +1

I would buy them but my dad wants them closed. What can I do But I will try to convince him today.

juscallmemickey I need YOUR opinions. The GS guys opinions!

Originally Posted by SkunkWorks

The HD280 Pro have a complete lack of upper bass/low mid. If you've ever compared them against just about any other high quality can, especially Sennheisers from the HD595 on up, it's quite obvious. Once I realized this it explained why anything I ever mixed on them sounded grossly boxy on anything else the material was played back through (was compensating). They're also a bit overly bright in the highs, not the upper highs but the lower harsher highs. For just listening to music they're not so bad though... the lack of mid bass gives them a sense of extended low end in the more sub frequencies.

A friend of mine who has them in his studio agrees.

Mine have been banished to tracking duties only, because of the isolation.

So which would you get?

For now it's ATH-M40fs vs HD280 vs Grado SR60 i.

P.S.
I just found cheaper HD25 SPII but I think I do not like their look.

[SkunkWorks]

Originally Posted by ds-ds

So which would you get?

For now it's ATH-M40fs vs HD280 vs Grado SR60 i.

P.S.
I just found cheaper HD25 SPII but I think I do not like their look.

Hmmm. Unfortunately, I actually don't have a recommendation for something closed in that price range... just saw people mentioning the 280's so thought I should say something... but like I said they're ok if you're just going to listen to music (or track) with them. Like I said, I would never mix with them (and I do/can mix with phones) but that's not what you're asking about anyway. They do fit sort of tight and look kind of funny on your head. The material on the ear cup pads on both mine and my buddy's is desintegrating pretty bad... but they got alot of use in the first year (they're a couple of years old).

[sd-cd]

Thank you all for your opinions. I told him to go to the shop and try HD280, ATH-M40fs, K171 Studio and Grado SR60 i.

[Gharper23]

check the grado sr80. they are 99. and i find alot better than the 60 version. Worth looking into if you don't care for an open design but really you cant hear them that loud outside of wearing them. The hd280 was a nice choice. they get a bit uncomfortable to wear after an hour or so though

[sd-cd]

Originally Posted by Gharper23

check the grado sr80. they are 99. and i find alot better than the 60 version. Worth looking into if you don't care for an open design but really you cant hear them that loud outside of wearing them. The hd280 was a nice choice. they get a bit uncomfortable to wear after an hour or so though

Aight, thank you.

[sd-cd]

Eventually I bought the AKG K171 MKII Studio, so a new version but cheaper...$100.