General use headphones (wired)

[killerteddybear]

My Sennheiser HD340 headphones are pretty much toast, my daughter busted the adjustment strap the other day, the ear foams dissolved years ago, and the plug is getting shakey (shake it to get both channels). All in all, they lasted me 16+ years and I have no complaints, except that they are no longer made.

They are still usable but I'd like to know what's available in the 21st century. Transparency is important; I tried some headphones at GC recently (not all; only 5 of 12 sets were usable) and the coloration was bad, especially the Shure! It had that 'contour switch' tone (accented highs and lows) which is immediately appealing but I think it would wear on you quickly.

Beyers were pretty good, but not double the cost of Sennheiser good...

The Sennheisers (HD280Pro) did well for $100 but were a bit thin on the bass and a touch subdued on the treble; but I think they would wear better for long sessions than other 'phones I tried.

$100 is a good ballpark but I'd double that for something that blows yer socks off...

I have to say, it astounds me that many stores do not have trial 'phones available. At my age I'm on the downside of my pay curve and I'll be damned if I spend more than $20 for untested headphones.

So, suggestions?

Maybe another store? Best Buy?

[tomteriffic]

The HD280's break in nicely in the bass over time. The Sony 7506's are in the same ball park sonically, but with a somewhat hotter top end, same price

[JohnnyB]

Audio Technica ATH-AD700 open air headphones

They are large but fairly light and very comfortable. These were a Stereophile Class A or B recommended component, alongside headphones that cost several times as much.

If you want something that makes it easy to forget about the headphones and simply enjoy the music, pick the Grado on-ears that fit your budget. They're all pretty transparent and neutral. They get more transparent and frequency-extended as you go up in price. I have had the $79 SR60's for twelve years and never tire of them. The Grado SR125i is a worthy step up at $150.

Grado's headphone line saved the company. Their product line was pretty much limited to phono cartridges. By the mid-'90s they were down to 2 fulltime employees and one part-time. Then they came out with their headphone line and it sort of redefined what you could get for the money, and how comfortable headphones could feel.

[burningyen]

Have you looked into having the 340s restored? The ear cushions are $13, and you can get it recabled for not too much $, or DIY by reading up at head-fi.org. I don't know about the adjustment strap, but you could ask this guy: http://www.headphonerepair.com/ .

[zenmindbeginner]

I have used a pair of AKG 240M phones for a while now and they are in the same shape as yours these days. lolz! The new 240S model gets great reviews, the leather pads could get a little hot if you're used to fiber pads, but the 240 series has really good head pressure (great for large heads BTW). The only problem I have with Sennheiser and AKG is that their product lines are all over the map as far as quality is concerned. In the early 90's, both companies had stellar reputations and hadn't yet forayed into the Chinese junk mode that half of their lines have devolved into these days.

Sennheiser's and AKG's budget lines are all really bad. This kind of "junk" hasn't made it's way into their headphone departments yet thank God.

I like Burning Yen's idea though (he always has really good ones).

[Feynman]

Wow - I was going to suggest the Grado and the A-T, but JB beat me to it.

I've had the SR60s and enjoyed them - I'll say they are very good for the money. I was going to move up to higher line Grados but took a chance on the Audio-Technica after all the superb reviews.

I have used the ATH-AD700 for a couple of years now, and they are very good for any amount of money. Don't let the giant space hardware look turn you off; they weigh nothing, are extremely comfortable, and provide a very open and detailed soundstage. They are really something special in my opinion. You won't find hyped bass which may strike you as a weaker low end at first, but you adjust quickly and realize how accurate it all is. They benefit from a bit more juice if you have a headphone amp, but even without it they are exceptional I think. I got mine for all of $80, but I wouldn't have been disappointed if I had paid $200 for them.

At work the open air headphones don't cut it with my coworkers, despite my excellent taste in music - there I use a pair of Sony MDR-V700, but they feel heavy after awhile - good sound though.

[kenjones]

Another vote for the Sony MDR-7506. I have several pairs of these. In all fairness, I don't normally use them for listening to music, but I do use them to record audio for my video productions.

[veatch]

I like the Sony's as well. My go-to's are an old set of AKG K-240-DF. I'm not sure if the MkII version are available with the diffused field or not.

[JohnnyB]

Have you looked into having the 340s restored? The ear cushions are $13, and you can get it recabled for not too much $, or DIY by reading up at head-fi.org. I don't know about the adjustment strap, but you could ask this guy: http://www.headphonerepair.com/ .

That's a really good point. The better Sennheisers are modular and built for maintainability. I have a 14-yr-old pair of HD-580s and the cord got dodgy. Ordered a replacement from Audio Advisor, no problem. Plugged it right in and they're good as new. The foam pads on my Grado SR60s were crumbling and our new Chihuahua finished them off. $10 will take care of it.

I ... took a chance on the Audio-Technica after all the superb reviews.

I have used the ATH-AD700 for a couple of years now, and they are very good for any amount of money. Don't let the giant space hardware look turn you off; they weigh nothing, are extremely comfortable, and provide a very open and detailed soundstage. They are really something special in my opinion. You won't find hyped bass which may strike you as a weaker low end at first, but you adjust quickly and realize how accurate it all is. They benefit from a bit more juice if you have a headphone amp, but even without it they are exceptional I think. I got mine for all of $80, but I wouldn't have been disappointed if I had paid $200 for them.

The original rave reviews I read about these 'phones was in the context of their $250 list price. Everything I've read about them indicates they're competitive with the Sennheiser HD600 and HD650, which go for $400 and $500 respectively.

The AKG K240 series is very good too. I had a pair of K240-DFs until they got stolen out of my car. However, they're harder to drive than many other 'phones and will sound a bit dark without a headphone amp.

[Jimbilly]

The cord on those wonderful HD580s you got for me is now getting a bit 'dodgy' (I used to drive a plymouth valiant, that was dodgy too), I sometimes have to wiggle where the wires go into the earpieces, and I just now looked at AA, those cords are just $39, - do you just pull hard enough and the plugs come out of the earpieces? Or is there some trick to it?

Sennheiser HD580s are extremely nice.

[JohnnyB]

The cord on those wonderful HD580s you got for me is now getting a bit 'dodgy' (I used to drive a plymouth valiant, that was dodgy too), I sometimes have to wiggle where the wires go into the earpieces, and I just now looked at AA, those cords are just $39, - do you just pull hard enough and the plugs come out of the earpieces? Or is there some trick to it?

Sennheiser HD580s are extremely nice.

That's all there is to it. It's a snug fit; you may have to grab tight and wiggle the plugs a bit to get them out of the sockets, and similarly wiggle the new ones in. You have to make sure they completely seat for a good connection. I can't remember for sure, but I think I may have had to slightly shave some of the plastic around one or both of the new cord's plugs for them to fit into their respective sockets.

[LordOfTheThighs]

I picked up a set of Klipsch One headphones. Really dig them. I compared them to several other sets, and they sounded as

good, or better than others costing a good deal more.

[Disturber]

Ultrasone. Beats every Sennheizer I've tried. I have the PRO 750. But the Pro 550 seems nice as well;

On heavy discount on Amazon right now. It's a bargain for a pair of phones in this league:

http://www.amazon.co...s/dp/B000YDYEDW

"The Ultrasone 550s are the company’s entry-level professional headphones. Despite their pecking order within the company, they’re likely to be better than most headphones you’ve ever tried." http://www.icreatema...rasone-pro-550/

[gorch]

Sennheiser HD 598 make me happy for two or so years.

[blackfbiv]

^{Good ole Realistic worked for me...}

^{In 1977... hahahahaha}

^{Sorry for the interruption.}

[hamerhead]

And don't forget Koss. Everybody had Koss headphones.

[killerteddybear]

Thanks, guys, I'm gonna go with a new set of earpads and continue to look for the brands you've mentioned.

[a.bandini]

Koss Pro 4 AA, as I recall. I did a lot of homework with those clamped on my head.

[JohnnyB]

I meant to mention this before. For all the reputation built up by stalwarts such as Stax, Sennheiser, Beyer, Sony, and Grado, there's reportedly a new sheriff in town, and his name is HiFiMan. Their entry-level headphones are at the upper end of your budget, but are probably worth looking into. The drummer in my band just got a pair of one of their higher-up models, and even though he has some nice Magnepan speakers and a sub, he says he's doing all his listening through the headphones. And he previously had top line 'phones from Grado and Stax that cost 2-3 times as much. He likes the HiFiMan 'phones waaayy better.

[Jimbilly]

I pulled the plugs out of my Sennheisers, dabbed on some DeOxit, and they're all better. -thanks John!