Grado Prestige Series SR325is Headphones Review

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(More customer reviews)I own the SR80s and wanted to see what you got for the extra money with the 325i. I liked my SR80s and still think they're very good headphones for the money, but the more I listen to the SR-325i's, I realize I'll have to sell my SR80s because I'll never listen to them again. The 325i's are that good!
The SR325i is a NOTICEABLE improvement on the SR80s. I have read reviews on the internet saying they are night-and-day better than the SR80. I didn't originally agree with that statement, but the more I listen to the SR325i's, I realized that they ARE night-and-day better than the SR80 on a good recording.
There is a a definite family resemblance in sound between the two, but the 325i has a lot more bass than the SR80, the midrange area is about as bright as the SR80, but I'd say that voices in the SR325i sound a bit further back in the mix - a little bit more distant than the SR80. I'd also say the SR80 is a little brighter overall than the SR325i. I'm thinking that this is related to the greater sense of space you get with the SR325i.
When I first listened to the SR325i, I was rather overwhelmed by the increased bass. By increased bass, I don't mean just around 20hz. The entire bass and mid-bass area is stronger and fuller than on the SR80. It seemed like the bass overwhelmed the rest of the sound.
After listening to them for a number of months now, the SR325i has a LOT more of a "3d sound" - what audiophiles call "soundstage", and I think that the bass is much more realistic than the SR80s. I never thought the SR80s lacked bass, and still don't, but I like the bigger, more solid bass of the 325i. The SR325i just sounds "bigger" to me. Maybe like a physically larger speaker compared to a smaller speaker? I just can't describe these headphones. They are incredible! They have tons of detail - you can hear everything that's going on in the music - instruments are well separated, you can hear the different tones of, say, the bass guitar, you can hear fingers sliding over the guitar strings, every single detail is revealed!
The midrange is smoother and more detailed than the SR80 midrange. The highs, like cymbals, are more defined too - not brighter, just better defined - you can more easily tell what the instrument is, rather than just a bright "crash" of cymbals. Bass is a lot better defined and more solid and prominent than on the SR80s. What surprised me is that the bass from these headphones has detail! You can hear exactly what the bass guitarist is doing! Bass guitar actually has tones, not just providing bass.
The biggest difference between the SR80 and the SR325i is the soundstage - the sense of space that makes it seem more real, more like you're really there "live" with the performers! The SR325i's really come alive with a good recording and that's when the difference between the 325i's and the 80's really becomes seriously noticeable. By comparison, the SR80's sound flat and uninvolving.
I wasn't sure whether I liked the bigger sound of the SR325i until I listened to Eric Johnson's "Tones" CD. On the SR80s, it sounded thin and not very listenable - kind of harsh - and pretty flat and dull. With the SR325i, this CD comes to life. There is some really solid bass, and more feeling of three-dimensionality in the music. Music sounds just a lot more real - much more like really being there!
I also listened to the song "Walking in Memphis" by Marc Cohn. The piano sounded more like a real piano. I was out at a store the other day where they had a nice Steinway(?) grand piano and a guy playing. I stopped to listen for awhile and thought (before I bought the SR325i), "this doesn't sound like piano on my SR80s". The real piano sounded fuller and stronger lower frequencies compared to my SR80s. So after listening to "Walking in Memphis" on the SR325is, I realized it sounded a lot more like the real piano I heard a few weeks back. I just listened to "Walking in Memphis" with my SR325i again today and then put on my trusty SR80s, and the difference was pretty significant! The SR80s sounded more harsh, thinner, and noticeably less three-dimensional. I couldn't hardly stand to listen to it with my SR80s after listening to it with the SR325i.
I put on some old 80's rock - Foghat "Energized" - expecting to hear greatly improved sound. Well, it sounded about the same overall. Voices sound a little smoother, the background vocals are little more clear and sound better, and there is more bass, but night-and-day different it isn't. The differences are pretty subtle here.
I listened to Tish Hinojosa's "Homeland" CD and felt like the 325i's sounded better than the SR80s. Her voice was smoother, the increased bass was nice, and the overall feel of space in the music seemed better to me.
I listened back and forth with the SR325i's and the SR80's to Ry Cooder's "Bop Till You Drop". After doing comparing back and forth on a couple of tracks I just put the SR80's back on the shelf. They just weren't "alive". They had good highs, nice mids, good bass, plenty of detail, but they just didn't sound "alive". They just couldn't compete with the SR325i's at all.
I just listened to Chris Rea's "The Road to Hell" earlier this evening. I've listened to it a number of times with SR80s and thought it sounded pretty good. I played it for the first time with my SR325i's and it was like I'd never heard this CD before! The entire CD sounded MUCH fuller and MUCH more spacious than with the SR80s. There was more bass but the bass was never boomy - always well controlled. Great highs, especially on the second track. I can tell what the radio announcer's voice is saying on the first track. I was just totally amazed!
These headphones never cease to amaze me after all this time I've had them! It makes listening to music fun and involving again!
It all depends on the recording. The better the recording, the better the SR325i will sound, but they're not going to make a crummy recording sound great. I've listened to some older recordings hoping that the 325i's would bring them to life, but not so. A crummy recording is a crummy recording and, from my listening tests with headphones and other amps and other CD players, no fancy mega-bucks audio gear is going to fix that (I've tried!).
Are the 325i's, as some people claim, "the best in the world"? In a word - NO. But neither are any of the competition - Sennheiser, AKG, etc. If that's what you're looking for, you're going to be looking for a long time. Are they "colored" as some people who don't like Grado headphones claim? Yes, but no more than any other brand of headphones or any other piece of audio equipment. EVERY headphone, EVERY speaker, and to a lesser extent, EVERY piece of electronic equipment makes its own contribution to the overall sound and therefore is "colored". Do you prefer the sound of Thiel speakers over Magneplanar speakers? Do you prefer the sound of Magneplanar speakers vs. the sound of Martin Logans? Tube vs. transistor amps? Guess what? There is NO "absolute sound" by which everything else is judged. The SR325is are no more colored than any other headphone. The ONLY question that's important is: do you like the way they sound or not?
I think they're GREAT headphones and I recommend them! BUT - don't buy based on my recommendation or anyone else's recommendation. Listen to different brands of headphones for yourself and decide what you like best. For me, the SR325i's are definitely worth the money and I love them!

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What does the i stand for in the new SR325is from Grado? Improved, that`s what! Yes, Grado has taken one of the world`s most acclaimed headphones and taken it a few steps further. The new SR325is has an upgraded driver design, and they have enlarged and improved the mass distribution in the metal housing. The way the SR325is new driver and metal housing move air and react to sound vibrations are now less affected by transient distortions. With the SR325is you will notice improved control of the upper and lower range of the frequency spectrum with both better supporting Grado`s world renowned midrange. And why the Gold color? The new SR325is is in honor of their 50th anniversary celebrated recently. The SR325is will produce a sound that is pure Grado, with warm harmonic color, rich full bodied vocals, excellent dynamics and an ultra smooth top end. Listen and Enjoy!

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Ultrasone HFI-780 S-Logic Surround Sound Professional Headphones Review

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(More customer reviews)Firstly, I just want to say that I love these headphones and they are indeed 'different' from other headphones in similar price range. The HFI's come with the Ultrasone's demo CD and OMG!!! You will immediately appreciate what S-Logic can do to 'mimic' natural surround sound in a pair of headphones...you can hear musician's gasping for air, breathing, and other nuances that your 'normal' speakers don't pick up.
Okay, here are some headphones that I own or have tried in no particular order: Audio-Technica ath-m50s, Beyerdynamic dt770, Audio-Technica ath-a700, and others...anyhow, the point is, I would like to say that I know my headphones!!!
Some 'high marks' on these headphones are particularly the Highs and Lows. Highs are crisp and clear, drummers may love this aspect of the headphones as the sounds are very bright...
Low frequencies are somewhat boomy!! These are like mini-subwoofers for your ears...so bass lovers may want to try the HFI-780s cause they do deliver!!
IMHO, the midrange is the headphones 'weakpoint.' I mean, they do not sound all that bad, but unlike traditional headphones, the S-Logic tends to make the midrange, especially, vocals, sound very 'forwarding.' You also may not pick up certain sounds as 'clearly' as 'normal headphones' because of the S-logic feature...it's kinda hard to explain, but if you have an extra pair of headphones without s-logic to compare, you will notice that the s-logic does hinder certain sounds in the mix...
Comfort: 2/5...these are dead-right uncomfortable!! Give it about 30 minutes and the headphones will consume your ears as well as your skull! Really I should've rate these phones 4/5. I really wanted to like these headphones, but after long listening sessions, my ears are not only sweating, but also got very sore!Besides comfort issues, these are very 'bright sounding' headphones...I've heard some pro-musicians mixing with them, but I can see how S-logic may throw off your senses when mixing down. That said, these may have some 'coloring' in your sounds, but like everything else, you just gotta learn your equipments to see what works and what does not.
If you desire a different kinda headphone with great sound, then these are great and worth the money!
P.S. I prefer the sounds of my Audio-Technica-ath m50s over the HFI-780s...I feel like I've found the perfect under $200 headphones (M50s)...
but, I decided to keep the HFI's because they really do compliment my M50s and I like the S-Logic for certain things like movies, drums, etc...
the bass on the HFI-780's is just a tad bit 'better' than the m50s...and the highs on the 780's are also slightly brighter than the m50s....take your pick!

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The exclusive design of the closed-back Ultrasone HFI-780 is accentuated by the polar-silver color. The HFI-780 contains all Ultrasone technologies such as S-Logic Plus, ULE and safer hearing. The HFI-780 is developed from the studio sector and is distinguished by a frequency response that is specifically tuned for DVD and gaming. Sophisticated home theater and music enthusiasts are overwhelmed by the impressive sound that makes it appear as though you are listening to speakers placed meters away. Gamers are impressed by the exact sound reproduction, making the gaming world come alive. The low frequency ranges are raised in order to reach the highest possible synergies with DSP-Systems like Dolby Headphone and Yamaha Silent Cinema. Through S-Logic Natural Surround, the sound moves out of your head and into the room around you. Direction and distance are more easily perceived, giving the illusion of being at a live concert. With just a pair of Ultrasones and your favorite audio device, you can have genuine 3-dimensional aural enjoyment. The HFI-780 is equipped with thicker ear and headphone pads, and comes with a new velvet carrying bag.

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Pioneer SE-M390 High Performance Ported AV Over-Ear Headphones (Black) Review

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(More customer reviews)I use Holosync and purchased the Sony VDR600 as recommended with that program when I started it, years ago. The Sony headset is much more comfortable, the cushion is better and the headband is better. I also like the curled wire of the Sony pair. The Pioneer pair has a straight wire. The Sony pair was also a lot more expensive. But guess what - The sound was just a touch more crisp with the new Pioneer set.
The box was a bloody nightmare to open. It's one of those plastic sealed monsters, so brace yourself. The bass has a separate plug in - be aware of that also. And it comes with about a mile of cord.
I used these on an airplane and for the first time ever, heard the whole movie for the whole flight. WHAT a difference over ear buds and the $3 sets they sell enroute. GREAT for flying. I used them with my iPod and they picked up very very high frequency noise in the MP3. They are really good. But the cord is VERY long, so you wouldn't take these out for a walk with your iPod which is too bad because they are such a huge improvement over ear buds.
Finally we can use them plugged into the tv if one person wants to sleep and the other wants to stay up - it is super convenient to have an extra pair in order to do that.
The design of the Pioneer is very sleek. They look a lot better than the "haven't changed since the 1970's" Sony pair. All in all a great deal for the money and the sound is fantastic. I found them a bit uncomfortable after extended (an hour or two) wear and the cord is ridiculously long - that's why I dinged them a star.

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SE-M390, black High Performance, Ported AV Headphone 40mm Driver Diameter Maximum Input 1,500mWSensitivity 105dB/mW Bass duct delivers deep rich lows Free adjusting headband system DJ Style swivel out ear piece Velour type earpad for comfort 3.5m Ofc litz wire 3.5mm mini-plug, 6.3mm plug adapter 1.5M extension cord

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Panasonic Retro Headphones - White (RP-HTX7-W1) Review

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(More customer reviews)In my extensive experience with headhphones (including expensive models such as Sennheiser 650s, Audio-Technicas, Shures, etc.), I've found that Panasonic has been the brand over the years that has always provided really great sound quality for the price. (Their RP-DJ1210 provides almost perfect sound in an "earpad" DJ model). These are also nearly perfect (especially with a couple of modifications, as below), and most importantly, they can be enjoyed for long periods of time because their departures from perfection in terms of sound quality are not fatiguing.
Essentially, the sound is very clear, lively, colorful, balanced, and realistic, from the deep bass (pretty deep too) all the way through the high treble, with only very small traces of distortion. Due mostly to their enclosure, there is a little too much upper bass and lower mid-range; occasionally, on some kinds of music, this will give them a slightly "boxy" or hollow sound. This can be cured to a great degree if you bend the headset wires to press them more tightly against your ears. (Or, if you live in Asia where another similar model is offered, you can substitute the softer earpads of those, or modify the earpads in some other way.) Bringing the driver closer to your ears eliminates most of the "boxy" sound of the enclosure.
Yes, burn-in on these does help some. Leave them playing for a few hours at slightly higher than normal listening levels. The sound will come into better focus. As for comfort, the shape of these phones may look cool, but they really don't quite fit around the ear in a natural way. Who cares--they sound good.

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Stereo Headphone White

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Sony MDR-V6 Monitor Series Headphones with CCAW Voice Coil Review

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(More customer reviews)I bought these headphones in 1992, and unlike most of the rest of the stuff I squandered my money on back then, these were and continue to be the real deal.
My earpads have flaked off their coating like everyone else. But no need to buy new phones, you can order the earpads from sony.com or some specialty audio stores:
MDR-V6/MDR-7506 Ear Pad
PART: X-2113-124-1
PRICE: $6.00 (US)

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Immerse yourself in high fidelity when you slip on these powerful, professionally-styled studio monitor headphones. Enjoy impressive full-range sound, superior power handling, and plenty of comfort--not to mention portability.
Immerse yourself in high fidelity. Click here for a larger image

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Grado Prestige Series SR225i Headphones Review

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(More customer reviews)I'm a grad student with no money and inexplicably picky tastes in audio equipment. Having acquired a high-end digital stage piano, I've spent the last few months piecing together a suitable setup for home use; in my case, 'suitable' means near-reference grade, but at a cost not exceeding what I can pilfer from Sallie Mae's purse.
Despite the fact that I play and listen mostly at night, I viewed headphones in proportion to their size: reluctantly, I splurged on a $30 pair of Sony oil-barrels.
But after a few weeks of headaches and ringing ears, I headed down to a boutiquey little sound emporium in Boston, having committed myself to spending $100, once and for all, on some SR80s.
Given the opportunity, though, I sat down in a studio and worked my way through the entire three-figure-price spectrum of headphones.
Grado yielded the most promising batch of candidates, but I was surprised at the variance among them: the product specs you read online for Grado really fails to emphasize this. The SR80s were everything I had expected, but then, the SR125s were identifiably more adept at rendering distinct voices within a choir.
Then, foolishly, I clamped on a pair of 225s: bass pours into your head with effortless clarity, background instruments that I never even heard on my old ear-traps were not only present, but warmly textured, etc. When I got them home, $175 later, I decided to baptize them by fire with a mix of Beck and Ben Folds Live, which I find stubbornly muggy at high bass and volume.
The 225s have revealed a completely unknown layer of instrumentation in some of my favorite Beck tracks -- I don't just mean there's a new cello back there: I mean there's a flute, a panpipe, a tapdancer, and a fat booger hanging out of the cellist's nose. As for the live recordings of Ben Folds, not only did the bottom-end piano hold up amidst the hum of the crowd, but you can actually hear people talking to each other in the audience in a couple of tracks that were recorded, it's now evident, in a small theater.
And as for my own piano, I can say that playing through headphones is no longer less desirable than through a set of very commendable Infinity speakers -- especially when I have the phones plugged into my amp instead of the piano itself.
I don't care how broke you are: if you listen attentively to your music -- and you have a quality home amp or receiver to drive these headphones to their potential -- you will not look back,
You might, however, benefit from calling around town... the internet isn't always the best deal for these sorts of products.

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The SR225i has an increased airflow by 50% which is achieved through an improved rear metal screen and closer matched drivers. The result is an enlarged soundstage achieved from closer driver tolerances, while the improved rear screen frees the headphone from colorations.

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Denon AH-D5000 Reference Headphones Review

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(More customer reviews)My perspective is a bit different:
Let me preface this review with a few points that should add to the review's credibility:
1. I am a classical sound engineer primarily, but work exclusively in acoustic genres where audio fidelity and sonic accuracy are paramount.
2. I work in both balance engineering and mastering, where I am often required to perfect the spectral balance (in both dynamic and frequency) of the final mixdown.
3. For over 10 years I have used Bowers and Wilkins loudspeakers in various environments (anechoic and otherwise) in addition to custom EQ'd headphones for my work. B&W is widely believed to manufacture the finest loudspeakers in the world.
4. I regularly attend live classical music concerts, often in ideal seating locations, resulting in a great familiarity of how live music sounds.
I researched a number of headphone options before settling on the Denon AH-D5000. I was curious about the Ultrasone models from Germany, but was wary of a technology that supposedly "corrected" cross feed and phase issues often experienced with headphones. The Denon frequency response curve was generally smooth, and any corrections could be made with a high quality EQ within the DAW.
There are immediately two things that are apparent when you first hear the AH-D5000. They require extensive burn-in. I have been listening to these headphones for approximately 5 days now, attempting to leave as much signal in them overnight as possible. There has been a very apparent change in their sonic character as related to frequency response throughout this period. I can tell you that burn-in is a very real requirement for those of us in the music recording business. Loudspeakers often are very rigid when new, resulting in a limited frequency response and higher than normal distortion-giving you that characteristic "hard", new sound. Headphones present the same challenge, and these Denons require significant burn-in. What appears to be happening over time is a reduction of deviation from a flat frequency response, resulting in a smoother curve as time goes on. I would not be surprised if these phones need at least 300 to 400 hours before they are finally settled.
They are bass heavy, but the curve is very smooth and easily correctable, and again appears to be smoothing out with time.
I knew they were something extraordinary however when I listened to the dynamics. I have never heard dynamic range so clearly represented. More specifically, I have never heard so many poor compression jobs, recordings where the engineers applied too much compression, inconsistently, at both low and high levels. You will actually hear varying degrees of compression used in individual tracks within the mixdown-astounding. You will also be presented with a soundstage that reflects EXACTLY what was happening during the mixdown process. When every recording you audition has easily differentiated characters of depth, compression, spectral balance, and soundstage, you know you have something that exhibits an uncanny level of resolution. I have never heard music so ruthlessly resolved in my life. NO speaker has ever done this for me.
I have to comment on driving these headphones. While for average listening to pop music with little change in dynamic range, you might possibly get by with a mediocre soundcard upgrade, these headphones require real amplification if you want to experience aural nirvana. I have auditioned them with various lower end amplification, and the result is always the same-a hardening of sound during high level transients. This disappears completely with better amping. Additionally, and I have never experienced this before in a headphone, I plainly hear changes in the character of the sound, particularly in soundstage and dynamics, when switching some audio plugins in and out of the mixer that are designed to NOT change the character of the sound. Specifically I'm referring to final stage limiting plugins that are intended to be transparent. Again, to have this so plainly demonstrated is just astonishing, and Denon deserves tremendous credit for this design. I can only guess this is due to the unusually thin transducers used (micro-fiber construction).
These headphones are sending back to mixes I have already done. Suffice it to say that my golden ears have just received a tremendous boost.
Finally, the construction. The mahogany is beautiful, the magnesium finish is of the highest quality, yet the phones are unbelievably light and comfortable.
I HIGHLY recommend the Denon AH-D5000. The listener must be patient with these though, as with regular use it may take up to weeks to get them to settle into their true character.Some further observations (Sun, 4 Jan 2009 20:55:54):
I have already mentioned the tremendous resolving power of these headphones. I would like to supplement on two points, amplification and general resolving ability.
It has become very apparent that these headphones demand the highest quality amplification. Wide spectrum music with tremendous dynamic range suffers terribly with anything but high quality power. You will immediately notice a "collapsing" soundstage and a reduction in the frequency response at the outer ends of the spectrum, with an earbleed quality pushing heavily around 3000hz. When auditioning, make sure you have clean, sufficient amplification.
I have researched a number a specifications for these headphones that clearly demonstrate their superiority. Particularly interesting are the impulse response graphs (available on the Headroom sight). These are some of the cleanest I have seen, and in comparison to other top end cans, are clearly superior. Headroom is overwhelmingly positive about these headphones, even alluding to the outstanding specs. No doubt these specs support my belief that these may be the most highly resolving headphones I have ever heard.
I'd like to add yet another observation. Tracking using a single mic vs. stereo mic during the mixing process is extremely obvious, particularly in multiple mic environments like those in symphonic recording. The monophonic tracks have a flat, airless, and overly focused quality to them in comparison to tracks that had the benefit of stereo microphones. Clearly this is something that Balance engineers will have to deal with as the mediums improve. Pop music engineers often use all their tracks in stereo, then adjust field and panning as necessary, resulting a very open, natural sound, granted sometimes to exaggeration. Classical engineers should really look into spot micing with pairs or stereo mics to really achieve a natural, open stereo sound. That said, all these characteristics are plainly obvious with these headphones.
For those of you interested, I have been researching and testing multiple EQ curves to get this headphone as spectrally accurate as possible. Please let me know if you would like these specs.
By the way, Denon has just released the ah-d7000, and by just about all accounts, it is substandard to the ah-d5000, yet almost twice the price. The preliminary specs show a more jagged frequency response with less extension on both ends, plus less accurate impulses. Get the ah-d5000 while you can.

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Koss UR40 Collapsible Over-Ear Headphones Review

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(More customer reviews)Somehow, just about any set of headphones can get close to a 5 star rating on here, even if they have 15mm earbud drivers that can't play the any bass below about 150 hz. Most mainstream consumer headphones make outrageous claims in the specs, but sound awful and bottom out trying to reproduce anything close to source material.
These Koss phones aren't audiophile quality, and the treble is a little bit muddy, but they're by no means harsh like most cheap headphones, and you hear just about everything in your music. Plus, they're pretty efficient...plenty of volume, even on portables that usually strain to produce audible music in loud settings like an airplane. Bass response is great, and I haven't been able to make the drivers clip, even during pretty loud listening. If you care what your music sounds like, it's almost impossible to find headphones worth hearing that aren't oversized and a little ridiculous looking, as these Koss are. But hey, if you're into image, buy some street style nightmares and listen to popular music that isn't worth hearing anyways.
These Kosses are definitely recommended, espcially since they're relatively portable for the size (being foldable), and they more than hold their own against anything in their price range in the present market. For about $20 more you can get some nice Grado SR60s that are remarkably true to your music, but they don't really travel well, and you can't wear them in anything but totally stationary settings thanks to their oldest-school design. And they don't quite bump like these budget Koss UR40 do. Plus, Koss makes it really easy to take advantage of their lifetime warranty, which I have done twice with other models. And if you buy them, post a review, since the other two reviews on here so far are suspiciously duplicate plant-sounding salespitch-type reviews. Enjoy.

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Home and portable audio take on fresh life with quality headphones, and Koss's lightweight, closed-ear UR40 is designed to keep outside noises out and headphone sound in--perfect for use in busses and libraries alike. With its extended frequency range of 15 to 22,000 Hz, you'll never miss a single bass note or want for high-frequency splash or shimmer.
The UR40's titanium driver elements ensure taut low end and clear treble, while its collapsible headband design further lends it to portable applications and protects the headphone when not in use. The headphone comes with a four-foot, dual-entry cord and a .25-inch stereo adapter for use with hi-fi components.
What's in the Box Headphones, adapter plug, user's manual, warranty information.

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Panasonic RP-HTX7-RS Ryan Sheckler Signature Headphones Review

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(More customer reviews)The people that are saying these headphones are as good as the more expensive ones must be tone deaf or something. They are good headphones but are not worth more than what they cost ~$40. I got mine for around $21 so they are a bargain at that price. Sound quality is good for most people, the headphones do not isolate outside noise as you might imagine, you can easily hear what's going on around you when the volume is low. These do not come with the extension cable so you'll need to buy an extension if you plan to use these with anything other than a portable MP3 player cable is only 4ft enough to go from your head to your waist. These are also very light, which makes them feel cheap but perfect for portable use. They also seem very delicate with the thin metal wires and plastic construction, but I can't judge on that as I've only had them for a few days now. Bottom line if you are looking for audiophile sound quality and something that feels like it's built well spend the money on the expensive stuff. If you want a good set of headphones you won't feel bad about abusing, letting your kids use them or losing them then get these, perfect for work.

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Panasonic RP-HTX7-RS Ryan Sheckler Signature Headphones

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Grado Prestige Series SR-60i Padded Headphones Review

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(More customer reviews)I recently bought these cans for my daughter to use with her iPod mini...I had read good things about these headphones even with the criticism(?) of antiquated styling, uncomfortable headband and open headphone style...Wow! I am so impressed with these headphones that I offered to swap my Bose Quiet Comfort 2 for these. She said NO! The response is so smooth with a dynamic range that allows you to hear every nuance recorded onto the track. Bass is true...not artificially enhanced or boosted...highs are razor crisp and midrange is full and "round." Don't look any further for your headphones...these are worth 4X the price...I know!

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The Grado SR60 Headphones produce brilliant sound and offer outstanding listening comfort for a low cost. The SR60s have a flexible, soft vinyl headband. The headband and earpieces are connected by metal height adjusters, which adjust the height of your head with the center of your ear. These nifty adjusters also allow the earpiece to rotate a full 360 degrees, permitting them to lie flat on a surface perfect when packing in a suitcase. The SR60s come with earpads made of soft, porous, open-cell foam that covers the driver much more comfortably than standard foam earpads.

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Shure SRH240 Professional Quality Headphones (Black) Review

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(More customer reviews)I am comparing these with two other sets...
Logitech G35
Koss UR40
Shure SRH240
Notes:
The G35 allows modification of Bass and Treble levels, so I boosted them as follows: bass: +9 treble: +9.
The RealTek HD Audio headphone jack was used for the other two sets with no sound modifications.
The G35 was tested in stereo mode (surround virtualization off). Now let's begin...
Bass:
G35: 4 koss: 4.5 shure: 3.5
Clarity:
G35: 4 koss: 3.5 shure: 4.5
Brightness:
G35: 4 koss: 3 shure: 4.5
Comfort:
G35: 2.5 koss 4.5 shure 4.5
Construction:
G35: 4.5 koss: 3 shure: 4.5
Now let's run the numbers...
Value:
Logitech G35 - 19
Koss UR40 - 18.5
Shure SR240 - 21.5
With bass and treble maxed out, the G35 has enough bass to satisfy and is tighter sounding than the UR40. The cord is thick, surrounded by a woven material, and feels like it would be very difficult to damage accidentally (short of yanking on it or kicking the USB plug). The headphones themselves seem very sturdy and the adjustment band is metal. With the phones against your head, they seem to hold fast and do not feel like they might slip down. The faux leather pads are cushy but lack the width and pressure distribution of the UR40 and SRH240. Considering that the G35 applies the most pressure around the ears, this can cause comfort issues with prolonged wear. I was able to minimize the discomfort by adjusting the phones downward so that they were pressing against the ears as little as possible. As long as your ears are not terribly large, you should be able to find a reasonably comfortable position. Make sure that if you play with the Voice Morphing Preview option found in the utility program, that you disable it when done, as left on it can cause a slight humming noise. The microphone has a flexible rubber arm that folds conveniently out of the way when not needed and I found the pickup quality to be fine. The voice morph is a gimmick more than useful, unless they decide to add better morphs in an update.
The UR40 seems inherently biased toward the low end and gives the most impressive bass without modifications. Without comparing to other headphones, the sound is very acceptable. However, after listening to the G35 and SRH240, the UR40 sounds muddy in the highs and mids by comparison. I still like the sound, despite that, and it does have exceptional bass response. The deal breaker for me is the flimsy construction quality, despite a lifetime warranty. The entire thing is plastic and the joints that attach the phones to the adjustment bands look unnecessarily fragile. The cord is also on the short side and very thin. Despite appearing closed, the UR40 is vented and quite open to environmental sounds, which can be good or bad depending on what you want. The comfort mesh around the top is notorious for coming loose, thanks to being attached by flimsy little black rubber bands. If you don't mind being prepared to replace them sooner than other headphones, or plan on being careful, these deliver great lows and adequate overall sound for the price.
If you are looking for a clear, bright sound with complimentary lows, the SRH240 delivers just that. The comfort level is on par with the UR40 but the build quality far surpasses it and feels very sturdy. Unlike the G35, it is less physically oppressive and does not apply as much pressure around the ears, which I appreciate. While not as heavy as the UR40, the bass is plentiful and compliments the overall sound very well. It is also a closed back design for good isolation.
If you have access to an equalizer, such as the one found in iTunes, you can compensate for the weaknesses and enhance the strengths of each of these sets to get a great sound, as I am currently proving to myself. I could honestly pick any of these and be happy with the sound, so it's almost more a case of priorities.
update:
I have decided to go with the G35 as I really enjoy the tightness of the sound and the feature set. I decided it is worth sacrificing some long-term comfort over. I like being able to modify bass and treble at the driver level, as this gives me strong, punchy bass, plus clear highs and mids without needing to rely on a third party equalizer. I only ever plan to use these at the computer, so being restricted to USB was not much of a concern.

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Reproducing full bass with detailed highs, the SRH240 is ideal for vivid listening on almost any device. The closed-back, circumaural design rests comfortably over the ears and reduces background noise. The ear cushions on the SRH240 are replaceable and a carrying pouch and threaded ¼-Inch adapter are included.

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Premium Wooden Portable Headphones Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)Okay let me lend my 2 cents about these cans- my main points:
1. Yes, worth the money
2. No significant downside
3. Comfortable
4. Look great
5. Sounds like 250 bucks
On my first point: Once you pull the trigger on these cans, you can be assured you haven't been suckered by inflated reviews. I've tried all its contenders and you simply must pay more to meet its match. If you have a good ear and aren't mislead by the Bose and dr. dre bass subterfuge, you will appreciate every moment these are on your head. If you're worried about sound leakage-don't be. I've had people plug these babies into their iphones at max and there is hardly a peep from them. If you want noise cancellation buy the Bose, but you'll be getting inferior sound. And let me add to that- just placing these over your ears significantly deadens the ambient noise,and with the music on- it won't matter.
Downsides? Ideally, I'd like these to fit completely over the ears, however once you've worn them for a while its not an issue. Another downside I can see is the wood housing succumbing to someone sitting on them. ( get a hard case )
Comfort: Light, and the cushions are just perfect for long durations. Careful, you might fall asleep!
Looks: Wood cans- classy. Not overly large or rediculous looking.
The sound: This is why you're buying them! When you get these delivered, make sure you have a comfortable chair and plenty of music. Let me give you a warning about break in- it sounds like geek gibberish but its not. As I've listened, I've noticed a far deeper tone develope and low frequencies resonating more pleasantly, basically the 'mud/distortion' you think you hear at first actually does disappear.
If you're spending this kind of money, you obviously have quality music to listen to. Great songs that take these around the whole range of frequencies: Beneath Alrischa (DaVinci code soundtrack) -why mention it- the song contains some frequencies so low I was feeling as well as hearing the song. Also 'mad world' donnie darko.
Another mention. Pay 20 bucks for a cheapo headphone amp, I'm using the E5 Fiio- its chinsey but puts that extra bump my iphone doesn't provide without blasting my eardrums.
Enjoy.


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Wooden housings made of African Padauk not only look great?they contribute to the superior acoustic reproduction that these beautiful headphones offer. Audio-Technica?s specially designed 42 mm neodymium drivers project powerfully. Luxurious earpads deliver long-wearing comfort. The headphones fold for compact storage. Wooden housings made of African Padauk for superior acoustic reproduction, Specially designed 42 mm drivers deliver outstanding audio, Soft earpads provide luxurious comfort, Headphones fold for compact portability.Includes protective pouch

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Audio-Technica ATH-M30 Professional Headphones Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)After purchasing an iPod mini, I thought I could use much better headphones to test the quality of the aiff files provided by iTunes. I must emphasize that I am not an expert as the other reviewers. When choosing this pair, I read reviews and looked for high quality under 50 bucks. These headphones put my big stereo speakers to shame. I can hear the background singers and instruments I haven't heard before. They sound completely awesome! (no, really, they do). There is a little bit of leak, not much. and they are extremely comfortable and lightweight on the head. I'll be testing them out extensively this weekend while traveling on airplanes. Update on airplane use: they are not noise canceling headphones, but they did block the noise of a few verbally obnoxious passengers, and while volume was cranked up, no one knew how much the tunes were cranked up. My friends that have tried them out call them *amazing*, like a symphony hall.
Around the house, they block out flushing toilets, dishwashers, and those annoying sounds from the kids' room. The cord is super long, so I can keep my iPod in it's dock on the kitchen counter and walk around and cook dinner and clean. And the connector has a strain relief so I know that the cord won't break off from running around.
I also needed headphones to go with my laptop while watching DVDs and listening to music and other computer things. Unlike my other cd headphones, these are in stereo and pick up amazing sounds. Also, they block out the computer sounds of the dvd spinning.
I suppose they weren't made for household use, but they sound so good, that they will keep me happy for a long time, baby.

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A perfect choice for project studio engineers, home recordists and recording musicians, Audio-Technica's ATH-M30 dynamic stereo headphones offer the highest level of sonic accuracy in a design engineered to provide maximum comfort for hours of listening. The headphones' low-profile, closed-back design provides exceptional clarity and superior isolation in high-volume listening situations. Features include: neodymium magnet structure; lightweight, adjustable cushioned headband; gold-plated stereo 1/8-inch (3.5 mm) connector with strain relief and screw-on 1/4-inch (6.3 mm) adapter; ultra-flexible 11-foot cable with single-side exit.

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Shure SRH440 Professional Studio Headphones (Black) Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)The Shure SRH440 is the best set of over ear monitors I've ever heard for critical listening in the price range. I don't think you can buy a better set of non-noise canceling cans for around $100. I think many headphones that cost $200 or less fall short of the sound quality. The build quality is sturdy, and I can tell I will have these headphones for a lifetime. Even not extended, they hug my very average sized head just right, and there's plenty of slack for people with bigger heads. And they are comfertable for hours at a time, and the pads are soft pleather but, not the cheap stuff. Plus they are replaceable.
They keep a fairly decent amount of sound out, if they were a little more snug they would keep more out, but even so walking down the street you have to try to get distracted by cars going by. If you're from or have ever been on the T in Boston, you know how loud it is. With these things on my head, I can still hear the very muted grinding of the rails, but its hard to care when even on the quietest volume setting on my 80GB ipod classic the music is not only still very audible, it's clear as day.
The highs, mids, and lows are completley balanced like a flat equalizer setting, unbiased on there own and not effecting each others presence. I wouldn't recommend them if you're a bass junkie, because the base is very smooth and even for both electronic music or a big jazzy double bass. Whether on the lowest or highest volume on any device I've used it with, everything is extremely clear and life-like. All genres of music and talk. Listening to rock you can relearn what distortion is supposed to be, listening to classical you can hear the sweat on the soloist fingers as they slide around the strings, listening to stand up has that scratchy, sweaty pickup of a comedy club mono channel microphone.
I bought these for an everything, every day user after enjoying the Shure SE210 in ear monitors for two years. I took a chance because I didnt know a lot about these phones, just that shure had not yet let me down. I must say, I am a customer for life.
I cant even begin to imagine what the SRH840's sound like, but I'm guessing for $200 they blow everything $350 and under out of the water.
*Edit: Great shipping and service from Sarjo Wholesale Group.Thanks!

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Tuned to deliver accurate audio reproduction and featuring an adjustable headband with collapsible construction, the SRH440 offers a mix of professional sound quality and comfort ideal for recording and monitoring. The ear cushions and cable are replaceable and the SRH440 includes a carrying pouch and threaded ¼-Inch adapter.

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Sony MDR-XB700 50mm XB Diaphragm Driver Extra Bass Headphones Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)First off, there really is no way around how big these headphones are. The specs list the cushion diameter at 4.3" and a thickness of 2". While the diameter is measured spot on the thickness itself is shy of the listed measure by about 1/4". To properly visualize the diameter take a look at a standard audio CD (4.7"). The cushions are super soft and conform exquisitely to your head with an adequate amount of clamping force. The headband's padding can be considered non-existent, though this does not detract from the overall comfort as the ear pads appear to support most of the weight. And while on the topic of weight, these do tip the scales more towards a fatiguing weight.

As far as use goes, one generally wouldn't be using these for portable listening. Furthermore unless you had a headphone amp, I think many portable devices would struggle to drive these at a regular listening level. My Sansa c250 provided only muddled and unresponsive sound on bass heavy tracks, but did 'ok' on less bass intensive ones, or with the volume increased. Usage with a laptop seems ideal with the unexpectedly shorter cable which would limit the range of movement one has with a desktop computer or stereo use. These 'phones would have received a 5 star rating but this shorter cord does detract from the appeal. A cable extension can be found easily enough however.

Bass is responsive and rolling, and surprisingly is minimally fatiguing. Even at higher volumes the bass is portrayed accurately with minimal distortion. The ludacris clame by sony of the lower-end range I would argue with however. At the higher volumes with heavier bass the mids and highs decidedly take the back seat in the presentation. Considering the marketing and design intents this is expected.
These are by no means a refference set of cans, and they are far from analytical. For a pleasent listening experience where you can lose yourself in the lower frequencies these are what you're looking for.

On the negative hand they are a tad on the hefty side, rather large, and have a shorter than desirable cord for their ideal usage. Though none of these negatives should be considered a deal killer for the superb comfort, auditory warmth and richness of the bass, and the price at which they pull together. Overall I can easily see these becoming a staple of my audio listening.
Update: So here it is quite a bit later. I've had these 'phones for almost six months. I've got a collection of headphones that some might call obssesive, Including some I dropped a pretty penny or two for. I keep comming back to these Sonys. The tonal color is just perfect for the stuff I listen to, Sasha, Armin Van Buuren, Shpongle, Shastro are just a few data points here. The comfort of these headphones is unsurpassed and I can literally wear them for hours. I've even done the unthinkable and sold off some of my other cans due to lack of use. In short: I love these.

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New Extra Bass Series Headphone - 50mm XB diaphragm driver units for Big Booming Bass - Frequency response: 3-30,000 Hz - Sensibility: 106dB/mW

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Denon AHD2000 High Performance Over-Ear Headphones Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)The Denon AH-D2000 is their second best model below the D5000 in this relatively new series of headphones from Denon, which isn't usually the first brand you think of when you mention "best headphones". But I think that is going to change now. This headphone is fantastic. As you may have noted in my other reviews, I'm not a stranger to nice headphones, spending thousands over many years trying different models (my version of my wife collecting shoes). My previous favorite, the AKG K701 (another $300 headphone) was my previous reference quality headphone but this headphone supercedes it. Whereas the AKG sounded more analytical and exacting, this Denon sounds more fluid and dynamic.
This headphone is a sealed design, so it doesn't leak or let in as much sound as open design headphones (which are most common type among the higher quality designs). It is SUPREMELY comfortable due to the well padded earcups and soft headband with a very light clamping pressure. Big-eggheads rejoice! It may feel a bit loose on those with smaller heads though, so you may want to try before you buy.
The sound:
Holy moly. This is the DO-IT-ALL headphone. Bass is deep and punchy, there is no mistaking that the bass is there, but not in a overbearing way. I compared the tonal balance of the bass to my home theater system which is flat (+/-3dB) down to a low bass limit of 23Hz. And these headphones present the bass in an accurate manner down to the lowest frequencies. It beats out the AKG K701 in that respect which always seemed to lack some impact in the bass. The highs are sparkly, clean and present. The crash of the cymbals are present, the sizzle of the high hats are there. As far as tonal balance, these would definitely rank up any of the other headphones short of the multi-thousand dollar sets. To me, this headphones gets the balance better than the Sennheiser HD650, AKG K701, any Grado, Beyerdynamic DT880 or 990, all the other contenders in this price range that are considered the top players. Soundstage (the positioning and sense of space of the sound) is very good too, expansive but with the sense that you are in a mid-sized venue, sitting about mid-way back. It's not as expansive as the AKG K701 in that respect but far better than a lot of other headphones. The mids are still well balanced with the highs and lows and never sounds disjoint. The highs are quite sparkly, but less sparkly and edgy than most Grado headphones, and nice detail without overdoing it. If you have recordings that sound bright, you may find this headphone does nothing to tame those recordings. But on reference audiophile quality recordings, you should find that these headphones are quite revealing. There are other headphones that might be better if you listen primarily to vocals, this headphone does justice to Dido, Diana Krall, the Carpenters very well. It worked well for jazz, trance, electronic, pop, rock, and orchestral music that I've tried. The sound is rich but yet detailed....the old cliche that you will hear things you never heard are applicable....I was literally pulling out my old recordings to hear stuff that I didn't notice in my previous AKG and Sennheiser models. Some people think the bass is a bit too loose and overpresent, but I think this is often a case of the music mastered as such. Heavy bass music such as trance will come across very strong, but this is no different than if you had a very deeply resolving subwoofer in a real speaker system. Compared to many other headphones, this headphone resolves way down to the lowest frequencies, and you are hearing what you can't hear at all with other headphones. The objective graphs show this, there is strong response down to 20Hz.
The only issue I have with the headphone is that the cord has a "TechFlex" type sheath which makes it very stiff, but it does increase its durability. Not a deal breaker in my opinion.
All in all, a solid FIVE star rating, no questions ifs or buts. You might be wondering if the more expensive D5000 at double the price is worth it. If you like the look of the wood cups and a tiny bit of refinement in the sound, and money is no object, you MIGHT want to consider the D5000, but it's a great example of diminishing returns. The D5000 cable isn't as annoyingly unruly as the D2000 cable, and is of higher quality though. If you want the best $300 headphone around, and are even willing to spend more, you should not overlook this choice. It's little brother model, the D1001 also takes top honors so you might want to check that one out if this one is too spendy.
This headphone is really meant for use for a home stereo, and if you use it with an iPod, the volume level is definitely weaker and may lack some punch. So I'd definitely recommend a separate headphone amplifier for that application. But otherwise, I was very happy with the sound of this headphone plugged into anything I could throw at it. If you have a first class system with high quality recordings, this headphone will really let you hear what you put into your system...it's revealing of bad sources, but yet somehow even lower quality MP3 recordings are still enjoyable due to its do-it-all versatility.
Sound quality: 9.5 out of 10
Comfort: 9.5 out of 10 (does get hot as all closed cup headphones do)
Value: 10 out of 10. Can't be beat in its price range
Build quality: 8 out of 10, some people report that the pivot screw comes loose after while....we'll see if this is still an issue. The headphone does look fragile due to the pivots, so I would be afraid to drop these.
These headphones ended my quest for the "one headphone" that I could happily live with for a long long time
Edit: after a couple of years, I ended up selling my D2000. I upgraded to the new D7000 model. You can read my review of that one. As well, I also have a Shure SRH840 which is a better headphone for monitoring because it blocked outside noise better than the Denons


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Denon's AH-D2000 High-Performance Headphones offer two signature sound-enhancing technologies.First is the latest microfiber diaphragm technology.Microfiber's smaller size results in a denser diaphragmatic material which increases transmission rates for better sound and higher detail, affording maximum presence of acoustic sounds with low distortion.In addition, a special acoustic optimizer adjusts sound pressure balance on both sides of the diaphragm to deliver dynamic bass sound.The AH-D2000 includes a lightweight magnesium frame for maximum comfort during extended listening sessions, as well as aluminum connector covers, gold-plated connectors, and high-purity OFC cables.

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Grado Prestige Series SR80i Stereo Headphone Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)If you are reading this you have probably already read one of the many reviews raving about the perfectly balanced and clear sound of these headphones. [...] Most of those (older) reviews comment on how the older earpads were too hard on the ears, or the headphones themselves were overall just uncomfortable to wear.
I just wanted to add that (at least in the newest incarnation--the pads have been tinkered with by the manufacturer) they are *very* confortable, compared to many other headphones. The earpieces have two pivot points: one allows them to pivot on a vertical axis attached at the headband and another on a horizontal axis running through the earpiece. This combined with the bendable headband allows for a lot of adjustment. I have a pretty large head and they're not overly tight or otherwise uncomfortable. And the apparently-recently-redesigned earpads on this model have some cushion without being mushy-soft on their outer surface (pads like that always made my ears sweat).
Before buying these, I read just one (recent) review that claimed these were comfortable, and I didn't beleive it. Now I do. (I also didn't beleive they would sound appreciably better after a break-in period, but they did after about 30 hours of being attached to my receiver with the radio on nonstop.) Well, that's all I wanted to say. Back to listening.

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Built on the same features as the SR60, but utilizes a 4 conductor connecting cable and larger ear cushions, the result of which gives a more open stage. The SR80 provides an improved bass resonance, which enhances the overall detail. John Grado says he strove for the best sounding phones for the money, and with the glowing reviews the SR80's have received, who can argue.

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