Need Headphones

[VirusType2]

I need some headphones.

As my hearing is damaged, I don't need anything spectacular, but I want something:

Comfortable for long periods
long sturdy cord
sturdy
sounds decent

I'm using it for watching movies, doing audio editing, playing games. Not using it for music.

I tried some Sony 'cans' I guess you guys call them. They surround the ear - anyway, I could hear my pulse in them, which was annoying. Sounded like someone on the floor above walking. They were also a little bit uncomfortable and hot (kinda made my ears sweaty feeling, which was pretty gross), and didn't seem that sturdy.

Can anyone recommend something? I'm thinking somewhere between $20-$40.

 

[Murray_H]

Sennheiser HD 201s cost about £12/$20 and they meet your criteria.

 

[Schall]

I just ordered these today because they were on sale for 10$. Fairly good, and I needed some cover-ear headphones.

 

[Viperidae]

Could always get a pair with a detachable steel cable.

 

[Krynn72]

At work I use a pair of sony headphones for hours at a time. I use the Sony MDR-V150. You can get that at walmart/bestbuy/target pretty much anywhere for like 20 bucks. They've got a pretty long cord which is nice since I have to plug it into the back of my computer which is under my desk. They're comfy, sound good, cheap, and i've rolled over the wire with my chair hundred of times on accident and they're still perfectly fine, which is more than I can say for the last two pairs ive used.

 

[VirusType2]

double post

 

[VirusType2]

Sennheiser HD 201s cost about £12/$20 and they meet your criteria.

Looks like a good deal, thanks a lot. I'll probably get these.

http://www.google.com/products/catalog?q=Sennheiser+HD+201&hl=en&cid=4610582344989906908&sa=title#p


But are these all different sub models?

http://www.google.com/products?q=Sennheiser+HD+201&hl=en&aq=f

G4ME & DJ are sub models or ... there's a pretty big price discrepancy anyway.

At work I use a pair of sony headphones for hours at a time. I use the Sony MDR-V150.

Nah, I don't like these, that's the model I'm trying out right now. I knew I could get something much better for less. This is Sony we're talking about here.

 

[DreamThrall]

I've got a MDR-V150 set too, they're pretty decent.

 

[CptStern]

if you're doing audio editing you shouldnt go with a cheap pair of headphones. get studio monitor headphones. expensive but worth it

 

[VirusType2]

Nah, I just do editing for games and such. In fact I don't want anything that goes unusually low or high, because most people that will play the game won't have speakers that can reproduce those frequencies .

Also, as I said, my hearing is damaged. I don't notice any difference, but I'm probably missing some frequencies or someshit. I also have a slight ringing in my ear that is kind of annoying.

Nevertheless, I think my hearing is acceptable. Surely it's not as damaged as many musician's hearing, therefore I don't expect it will diminish my ability to create some awesome sounding effects. Anyone who has gone to a concert before knows what musicians must endure.

I have some reference speakers. I just need the headphones for late at night, and for the tedious things, like where I have to repeat the same sound over and over, while making subtle changes. I tend to need to hear it at a loud volume to hear the detail well, and I don't want to bother my neighbors.

 

[VirusType2]

Sennheiser HD 201s cost about £12/$20 and they meet your criteria.

Newegg had them on sale today, with free shipping, so I just ordered a pair. I like free shipping.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produ...-_-HeadphonesandAccessories-_-LE2C-_-26106455

Original Price: $34.99
You Save: $17.00

$17.99
Free Shipping*

Thanks for the help everyone.

The ideal entry into the world of powerful stereo sound: The HD 201 has good attenuation of ambient noise with outstanding wearing comfort at an affordable price.

PRODUCT FEATURES:
Powerful stereo sound;
Rich, crisp bass response;
Light weight and comfortable to wear;
Good attenuation of ambient noise;
Extremely rugged;
High-quality leatherette ear pads;
1D4" ((6.3 mm) jack adapter, gold-plated.

 

[Viperidae]

The only thing that's even remotely careworthy in that description is the part you bolded.

 

[VirusType2]

Lol, careworthy. Yes, exactly.

 

[Stigmata]

I'm going to hijack your thread, Virus.

Are the HD201's good if I care about sound quality? I need new headphones, and I am never wearing another pair of earbuds in my life.

 

[DEATHMASTER]

how'd u get hearing damage?

 

[VirusType2]

Stupidity.

Since I was about 13, I had 8" loudspeakers in my room, and I always cranked that bitch up. My best friend had a competition stereo in his car, so from the time I was about 15, I'd been listening to music at a volume that is sometimes painful. I should have just told him to turn that ****ing shit down.

Every time your ears ring, that's hearing damage. So I was becoming desensitized.

Then I had 4 subwoofers in my car + 6 other woofers + 6 tweeters + 4 amplifiers for a few years.

I also bought Cerwin Vega! loudspeakers at home and maxed them out occasionally over a period of about 12 years.

I figured that over time, I would just need to turn the volume up more and more, because that's the effect that I noticed.

I had no idea your ears can permanently ring. Either I've gotten used to it, or it's not quite as bad any more. People kill themselves over it.

 

[Viperidae]

You're also older than most of us.

 

[DEATHMASTER]

I want to pat your head before smacking it in the back causing blindness.

 

[VirusType2]

Yeah, also I was working in factories for about 10 years. You wear ear plugs, but the machines are louder than ****ing hell and non-stop.


Ok, I got the Sennheiser headphones. I've been listening to them for an hour.

It's amazing that they managed to make these things so lightweight, but that comes at a cost. They don't seem particularly rugged, but they seem like they would last decades if you take care of them and don't sit on them.

The first thing you notice is that these bitches are extremely comfortable when compared to the Sony MDR-V150. Like 10 times the comfort. They melt onto your head.

Next, I noticed that they mute outside noise really well. They surround your ear. This helps with the attenuation and increases their efficiency. You can listen to music quieter and still hear the detail since it blocks out background noise well. While listening to music, I can't hear myself typing right now - at all.

Another problem I had with the Sony was that I could hear my pulse and it sounded like people stomping on the floor above me. Seriously boosted. With the Sennheiser HD210's, I can't even notice my pulse unless I'm concentrating while there is no music playing. Even then, it's faint and not pounding.

Yet another problem with the Sony was that the entire inside of my ear, even the ear canal would sweat. I had never experienced this feeling, and it was as disgusting as it sounds. With the HD210's, I don't have the problem. These things are ****ing comfy and cup your ear.

I'm going to hijack your thread, Virus.

Are the HD201's good if I care about sound quality? I need new headphones, and I am never wearing another pair of earbuds in my life.

Put it this way, I won't be buying any other brand if I need anything else they make. They sound natural; real. It's like if you listened to a real band playing, how the kick drum would sound.

You forget you are wearing them. The highs, mids, and lows sound better and more realistic. Kick drums sound and feel like kick drums in a room - not like you are listening to compressed, digitally altered, frequency boosting headphones, like with the Sonys. For example, if you turn the volume up on the Sony headphones, it will be shaking your ears and sounding really disturbing. The bass is just all wrong. The vocals are wrong. The highs aren't memorable. They don't sound low quality, they just don't sound right. I found the bass really disturbing. They also filter the highs with noise reduction or something. Some people might like that, but it cuts part of the highs out too. Not worth it IMO, use your EQ. Did not like the Sony MDR-V150. ($19.97 Wal-Mart)

Anyway enough about the sound quality. It's good, but you know if you just spend more money and get the next more expensive model Sennheiser it could be even better. It leaves a bit to be desired, while sounding perfectly fine and enjoyable. $17 delivered to my doorstep, I am very happy with them.

The reason it leaves something to be desired is because you don't want to take them off and listen to your house speakers.

In all my years, I had never heard of this brand until recently on these very forums. Best headphones I've ever heard, though I'm not sure I've listened to any headphones costing more than $35.

Added bonus, even after I just got out of the shower, I didn't get the band on my hair when I took them off.