My Headphones Are...Um...

[apt403]

Falling apart. I have a pair of HD455's from Sennheiser. Over the course of the past year ive beat the royal sh*t out of 'em. The cable has a ton of shorts, so i have to screw around with it for like 20 minutes to get any sound. The headband thats used to adjust the cans broke off like 6 months ago, so they kinda just hang off my head by the frame. The actually headphone/can part has popped out of the frame so many times i use super glue to keep them in. Ive stepped on 'em, kicked 'em, crushed 'em, and the audio quality is still great, but, its time for a new pair.

Im looking to spend about $200-$250, they have to be extremely durable, (What i decribed above is just from general use, I take my ipod every where, and i use them for my computer as well.) they need to be able to play really loud for really long, i max out the volume on my ipod whenever i go out, and they need really good sound (obviously). I listen to a bunch of podcasts, along with punk, hard rock, screamo, stuff like that.

[zerotol]

for the money you are willing to give , the headphones will need amplification to sound good.If i were you i would pick up the sennheiser 595 , they are quite cheap and around the best sennheisers that dont need amplification

[apt403]

I was thinking about building a CMoy pocket amp, they seem to be pretty easy to build, and small enough to carry around with me. How much would a good prebuilt amp cost? It would have to be portable.

[SlicerSV]

i've gotten a pretty decent mini-amp from my local radioshack with three outputs and it's extremely small, fits in the same pouch with my headphones. it's 100% analog, run by batteries, and has no shielding, so it's not going to be the best sounding solution available, but it functions, and it's decent.

the mini-amp is also very breakable, but it runs ~30 dollars.

if you're going to be willing to spend a lot of money though, build your own, it'll sound a lot better, and you could build it to put up with the kind of beating you give things.

[apt403]

Im not sure how hot an amo will get, so im not sure this would work, but if i filled the case with foam like this guy (http://www.g-news.ch/articles/nhp200nc/) did with his pc the amp would be virtually shock proof. I would have to leave the battery connectors exposed so i could change the battery, and if something brakes im completely screwed, but besides that i think it would work well. Anybody have a better idea?

[oqvist]

Audio technica headphones don´t need amplification. But they are quite big so if that is an issue...

Otherwise DT 770 PRO it don´t get more sturdy than that. But that yo do want an amp for a Pimeta at least.

[uOpt]

Most headphones run without amp as long as your soundcard has a headphones out.

Notable exceptions are the best AKG and other high-end models.

Oqvist, the Beyerdynamic DT 7700 Pro (which I have) come in three different impedances, for different levels of amplifications. I absolutely love those and they are very robust.

Sennheiser is always good for sound and bad for robustness. They often sound better than the others in the same price range but you trade what is basically indestructible (Beyerdynamic, some AKG) for a lifespan of a couple of years. I am very careful with my phones and my 15 year old AKG set is still as new. My Sennheisers showed wear (ripped earpads etc) after 5 years, to a point where I replaced them with the Beyerdynamics. Sennheiser's cable also suck (robustness and handling wise) but they can be replaced.

[apt403]

Im having some trouble finding the DT 7700 Pro's, i cant find them for sale anywhere, and there doesnt seem to be to much info about them, atleast in english. Where did you get yours?

[uOpt]

They are called "DT 770". It'll improve your search results to leave out the 0 :)

I got mine off ebay. I can dig up the seller if you like.

I took the version with the highest impedance to use them without amp, but my fiance's iPod is still not happy. Oh well.

[apt403]

There kinda big and clunky, but since there $250 they wouldnt be leaving my house for a while, my HD455's can go out into the harsh world. So those paired with a CMoy amp (I need to get a soldering iron anyway.) and i should be set! Thanks!

Im using a P5B Deluxe, and the onboard sound leaves alot to be desired, do you think it would be worth wild to get like a $50 sound card?

[MikalCarbine]

DDT770's f t w.

[Kingcarcas]

I couldn't find those so i went with the hd 280 pros, but it says most parts are replaceable.......

[Slayer2k3]

shoot.....just noticed the date on this last post.....sorry about that....

If you intend to use anything mentioned here, do not rely on only your soundcard to provide you with the best experience. Build the cmoy, and use it along with your devices.

I have had M-Audio cards, and currently have the Creative XF-I Platinum card on my main rig. Without the amp connected, my Sennheiser 595's sound tinny and weak. Pop on the amp, and wow.

In the price range you mentioned, you have quite a few options. I would probly stick with either Sennheiser, Grado, or I already saw them mentioned, AKG.

For gaming, Sennheiser. More bass, way more comfortable, and light. For more crispness, and more robust sound, I would stick with the Grado sr-125's, or the 225's if you can catch a good deal. AKG, eh, they are comfortable, cheap, and comfortable heh. I personally have never owned a pair, but I have used them at a LAN, and demoed them on my Zune, but to me they felt lacking in response, especially in the lower ends of music.

A new purchase I made more out of necessity was a set of earbuds. I hate earbuds, but I needed them as I couldn't see myself lugging my cans around all day at work.

I chose a set of SHURE e2c's, and I would compair them against my Grado 125's. Rich tones, moderate bass, and a TON of differently sized ear pads to fit anyone. They also are way more comfortable than normal buds in the fact that they actually go down into the ear canal, instead of just sitting in your ear. That, combined with the cost of around $100 for the kit, not too shabby. They also come in black n clear, which I thought was neat if you wanted to keep them "hidden from sight". :D

[adamsleath]

i've tried the dt770's they are nice; good bass.

i got dt880's but need amp with them.

alessandro's (grado) are the best cheap hphones i have tried; they are also very light.

i actually use the alessandros for the computer (games) and the 880's or sennheiser600's for music (with amp)

i dont want to send myself deaf with dt770's amped with bf2142 for example :lol:
edit [there is an 80ohm version of dt770pro - bass!! for un amped.]

i'm trying some Audio Technica ad700's next...also cheap to see what they are like.
edit: now have these phones ...they are better than my grado's (capable of higher volume w/o distortion)

edit[AT a900's are supposedly very good for gaming...they are closed /isolated and don't need an amp]

etymotic earbuds i've heard can be excellent but i just dont like having things stuck in my ears.

grado's/alessandro are nice and light....i forget i have them on sometimes.

just got some more comfy pads for my grado's :)

[[XC] Angstrom]

Another vote for Sennheiser HD595 - I wear them for hours and they never get uncomfortable or warm. Great sound for music and games.

They are open though, so you may get lynched for max volume in public.

[apt403]

Wow, new posts. :eek:

Back in early February I realized a 4th computer was in order, so I scrapped the headphone plans and started saving. Fast forward to today and I have a second pair of Sennies (I saw the HD280's on sale and I couldnt resist) strapped to my skull and I'm listening to Year Zero on a replacment iPod.

Although, I still need an awesome pair of headphones for the 4th pc, since it's going to be an HTPC (housed in a 4ft tall, plastic snowman :D ), that's where the DT770's and the amp come in.

Now I just have to figure out how to safely install all the various components of a pc in a snowman that's made out of 50 year old, 1/2cm, plastic. :rolleyes:

[RealTelstar]

Sheogorath;2149596']Another vote for Sennheiser HD595 - I wear them for hours and they never get uncomfortable or warm. Great sound for music and games.

They are open though, so you may get lynched for max volume in public.

Are they loud enough to use with a x-fi for gaming (mostly)?