Help Me

[bertine]

I need help. I want a pair of headphones for work to replace my earbuds. However, I have no idea what sort of headphones to buy nor do I have really want to research it that much. I do know that I have friends that know a lot about this sort of thing so I thought I would ask if any of you would have a good suggestion. I want to spend no more than $50 (less is better, I am still cheapfrugal but I don't want something that will fall apart quickly or be uncomfortable.

I want a pair that sort of looks like this but maybe not so huge:

Comments

I <3 nice cans!

[phoenixredux.livejournal.com]

I wear headphones at work all day, every day. These are the ones you need to order. Trust me. I've tried them all. 90% of the headphones out there are garbage. The pair I have now, I've had for six years. So they're excellent quality, and if you don't abuse them they last forever. I'm due to replace the original ear pads on them, but that's it. I'll probably just order a brand set of cans and kick my old ones down for use in the Audio Booth, since we need some more headphones here anyhow.

Yes, they're just a bit over your $50 budget, but not by much. And they're easily worth it.

Re: I <3 nice cans!

[magicmarmot.livejournal.com]

Agreed on the Sony 7506's.

Re: I <3 nice cans!

[bertine.livejournal.com]

I just made up a number for that budget. I take good care of my stuff so I am willing to spend more money for things since I know it will last a long time.

Re: I <3 nice cans!

[melissa-maples.livejournal.com]

I am a sound engineer and record producer with more than two decades in the music business, and I approve this comment. Dollar for dollar you really cannot do better than the 7506 for consumer/prosumer hi-fi use. And the bottom end will absolutely floor you, with no sacrifice at the top. Great all-around choice if your budget is less than $100.

[magicmarmot.livejournal.com]

I've got the Bose QC3 on-ear headphones. They're expensive, but the noise reduction really works well.

[murun.livejournal.com]

Bose... *drools*

[sterlingphoenix.livejournal.com]

Bose is total snake-oil. I feel the need to tell as many people as possible about this which is why Bertine gets to see it twice! Their marketing is all meaningless buzzwords, and tests have shown they are really no better quality than much much much cheaper brands.

[murun.livejournal.com]

Really? I'm only going on word of mouth from my friend who says they're the best he's had. But now taking your experience into consideration too, I shall have to go back to neutral.

[sterlingphoenix.livejournal.com]

You can always do a google for "bose snake oil" (;

Or search any audiophile forum (;

[433.livejournal.com]

I have the Sony MDR-V150, which were only $20 at Target about 2 years ago, and they're great. I have them at work, where they're good for tuning out office noise, but if someone is speaking directly at me I can still hear them.

They're good for talk (radio and podcasts) and music.

Bose Head Phones

[thetaxena.livejournal.com]

Hey,
I only use my Bose Headphones when I go on airplane trips (about 1 per year). If you wanted to use them I'd be cool with that as long as I could get them back for trips...

And I still have your hat!

[sterlingphoenix.livejournal.com]

Bose are total snake-oil, as in you're paying a ton of money for them to say "Bose". I have much much cheaper noise-cancelling headphones and they work phenomenally well. Keep in mind that noise cancelling only cancels ambient noise, not people being jerks.

I've always liked Koss headphones. One of the only two things the dog ate when she was a puppy that I actually cared about was the Koss headphones I'd had for like 10 years. They had a lifetime warranty (and were replaced like 3 times) but that didn't cover Acts of Dog. You can get pretty cheap Koss headphones at Best Buy, but probably not eat-covering ones

[bubblemonkey.livejournal.com]

I second the Koss recommendation. I got a pair on a whim at Radio Shack years ago because they were on sale and I was pleasantly surprised.

[jayp39.livejournal.com]

For me comfort is the most important thing, my ears get sore really easily and I need to be able to wear headphones for extended periods of time when I'm coding to block out distractions. Obviously something sounding like shit would be unacceptable, but I'm not a complete audiophile.

With that said, these are the best headphones I've ever owned: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16826249034&cm_re=steelseries_5h-_-26-249-034-_-Product

(I have the black ones, but the white ones are in your budget!)

Unlike many other circumaural phones, these actually don't pinch the tips of my ears, and even if they did I wouldn't mind so much because they are made out of a nice, plush, soft foam and covered with fabric rather than vinyl or whatever that material is that they normally cover headphones with. I can wear them for hours and my ears don't get irritated or hot.

The braided cord is a nice bonus, as is the fact that it only comes in on one side. The headphones disassemble into 3 pieces which means they're also good for travel; I've taken them with me on several trips and they have held up quite well.