Headphone Recommendations, ~ $50

[Michael_B]

My 11-year old son is asking for Beats headphones for Christmas. There's no way I'm shelling out that kind of money for, what I hear, are not-so-great headphones.

I'd welcome recommendations for an over-the-ear set that is ~$50. Since he's looking for Beats, I'm guessing he'd like a set that is biased towards bass (which is what I've heard that Beats are).

[Feynman]

I do believe a big part of the desire for Beats is the look/image/label. I suggest you just buy the Beats and make him happy.

They get slagged by audiophiles but are actually more than decent headphones in general. Certainly you can get better performance for the same money, but they won't be Beats.

It's Christmas - buy him what HE wants, you know, IMO.

[cynic]

^^ What he said. It's like parents back in the day assuming PRO-Ked's were an adequate substitute for the Nike's on the wish list. It was all about the swoosh!

[hamerhead]

Sad but true. Anything but will scar him for life.

[Michael_B]

You guys are probably right. But there are other considerations. So, while I'll consider the Good-Dad advice, please humor me with some headphone recommendations.

BTW, I hope you guys appreciate the irony of the folks on the Hamer forum recommending going for the swank brand regardless of actual sound quality.

[Feynman]

Okay, $69 shipped for the Sennheiser HD449...I think a decent choice in this price range for a sealed basshead machine. They even look a little Beatsish.

You obviously won't get top quality in this budget, but I think you should be able to find plenty of good choices in this range. It's a competitive price point.

http://www.amazon.com/Sennheiser-HD-449-Headphones-Black/dp/B005N8W214/ref=sr_1_1?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1416937875&sr=1-1&keywords=hd+449+sennheiser

[tomteriffic]

Go nuts...

http://www.headphone.com/

[cynic]

I've got a set of Shure SRH440's. They're closer in price to $50 than Beats, but still around double what you're looking to spend. For a sub-$100 headphone I think they're very good.

[dragan]

Not much out there for $50 these aren't too bad http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/ATHM20x

[Feynman]

But still, you know what to do...

[velorush]

Yep, my son is 12 and we've had this same discussion. I took him through the specs and showed him unequivocally that beats are inferior to many less expensive headsets. We read tons of reviews that confirmed what we read in the specs.

His conclusion: "I want the Beats." It's a fashion thing. I told him that his preference was fine, but that he should realize why he wants them - fashion.

In the end, no, I'm not buying a dorky looking $200 set of cans so he can wear them on the bus going to away games.

Lady here at work bought a pair for her daughter. After two weeks they were shelved: compared to ear buds they were heavy, uncomfortable and too much to keep up with.

[hamerhead]

....After two weeks they were shelved.......

And that says it all.

[Michael_B]

Thanks for the recommendations on the headphones and the Art of Gift-Giving.

[Armitage]

If they're too expensive, tell him you'll match him, dollar for dollar and you'll cover and taxes and shipping. If he want's them bad enough he'll come up with a way to earn the extra money.

[Ralph]

Best Buy is supposed to have Beats for $100.

[Jakeboy]

I still buy and love Koss Porta Pros cause they sound GREAT with my IPod and they are what..$38? I wear Bose noise canceling when I fly and I have a swanky set of Shure in-ears for recording.....

I am no help at all. He will hate the dorky Koss. Buy him the Beats.

[mathman]

Not much out there for $50 these aren't too bad http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/ATHM20x

i got the athm50 for $50 last year and they are great with excellent bass

[specialk]

Best of luck in whatever you choose!

Once he gets them, you can go to this site to break them in:

http://www.rock-grotto.co.uk/Headphonebreakin.htm

[JohnnyB]

OK. Since you've already explored the ramifications of what you get for $200 in the name of fashion, and are looking for something better for less money ...

... and acknowleding that you wanted around-the-ear headphones while my recommendation is on-ear ...

if you want the best, most satisfying sound that also works well plugged directly into iPods, iPads, and smart phones, and yet is musically satisfying even when compared to much more expensive headphones,

I've gotta recommend the Grado SR60e. I know they're over budget, but we're talking $29 vs. $150 over budget.

I have Sennheiser HD580s, the basis for Sennheiser HD600s and HD650s, which are much more expensive ($400-500). I switch back and forth between the 580s and the 1st gen. Grado SR60s before the "i" and later the "e" versions (which haven't changed in price). The difference in ultimate resolution between the $300 Sennheisers and $79 Grados is discernible when listening critically for transparency and bandwidth, but the difference in musical satisfaction is barely noticeable. Grado products of all stripes are consistently involving and musical, and really, the SR60's resolution ain't to shabby either.

They aren't hip looking like the Beats. In fact, they're so retro they look like the headphones my brother bought to go with his homemade crystal radio in 1961. So the Grados have a genuinely retro-cool look about them, if you can get into that sort of thing. They are period compatible with those little fedoras that are popular now. The Grados are also crazy comfortable.

The point is, if you're looking for the most headphone for the least money, and which gives you the hi-def linear goods with a big dose of musical satisfaction for small money, the Grado SR60e's stand alone in this market, and hold their own against headphones that cost 3-4x as much. Their $79 is the jumping-off point of diminishing returns. You get most of the musicality, dynamics, transparency, linearity, and bandwidth for a fraction of the money, and they don't require a headphone amp to bring get them into their zone.

I love my 1st-gen version SR60s and use them frequently. If your son can get around (or embrace as retro-hip) the styling, these are total winners.

[Tres Aardvarks]

Those Grados look supercool !

[murkat]

gift card

empower Him with

His purchase

His decision

then your off the hook.

[Feynman]

JohnnyB and I had the same idea!

Who doesn't have a soft spot for the SR60? They were probably a lot of our first 'real' headphones, and they are easy to drive and fairly comfy. My only caution is the open design. My old SR60s went to work with me after I lost my own office and moved into a cubicle farm. One of my coworker neighbors didn't appreciate the modest sound leakage so it was an issue for me. Stupid people.

At home, I'm all open all the time.

I went with the sealed recommendation for getting his bass desires without necessarily bugging you, but if open designs will cut it, I echo the Grado. Be careful as those are powerful gateway drugs.

[alantig]

Will +1 the Grados - there's a sound column in the local paper, and these were very highly recommended. One of the more enthusiastic endorsements this guy has given.

[tomteriffic]

+2 on the Grados, I've got 2 pair and a pair of the SR-80's. In the $50 around the ear range, look at the Shure SRH240's

Mathman, those athm50's for $50 were a steal!

[Michael_B]

Thanks to everyone for the recommendations. I knew I could count on you guys. I'll let you know how I cave what I get him.

[sixesandsevens]

For you Grado and PortaPro lovers, the hiccup is that if he wants isolation from the outside world, they're a non-starter. I have three pairs of PortaPros and a set of Grados, so I wish it wasn't so.

Sad because they're both great value, but just worthless for escaping outside noise.

Lots of great advice from the HFC as usual though.