Headphones Recommendation

[g0nt4du]

Hi all,

Looking for a new decent pair of headphones. Moving up from my trusty old Canyon. So anyway, I need them to be of the big kind, where your ears are almost completely inside the ear cans. Budget is R 800-850 at most.

Yes I know budget will mean compromise but I can't spend on Sennheiser, etc now...

So I looked around and I see Corsair Vengeance 1500. Anybody got experience with that?

Also, anyone know the brand Koss?

 

[P924]

I have a set of Koss KSC-75's. Absolutely brilliant for the price. Only problem is only expansys imports them AFAIK, and it took me around 3-4months to finally get them after paying, and having to email them weekly...

 

[Rudimental]

I have a set of Koss KSC-75's.

Those are ear-clip headhones, though, not over-ear headphones. You can get them easily through Takealot, Wantitall, Have2have or any other Amazon importer, btw.

All I know about Koss is that they make good noise-cancelling phones, don't know anything about quality.

Also, do you want pure headphones, or a headset with a mic attached?

 

[P924]

Yes, that is true, but you get over-ear ones that use the same drivers as the KSC75's.

 

[PostmanPot]

Goldring DR150. £29.95 from Superfi.

 

[Rudimental]

Yes, that is true, but you get over-ear ones that use the same drivers as the KSC75's.

Yeah, no worries, just clarifying for the op so that he doesn't start missioning to try find a pair before realising.

I have heard that the Sony MDR-XD200 are great for their price.

 

[Maddmatt]

Yes I know budget will mean compromise but I can't spend on Sennheiser, etc now...

lol wut

Sennheisser make great headphones within that budget, their stuff is better that most of the competition at the same price.
Corsair? Probably made by some random Chinese company and had a Corsair logo stuck on them.

If you don't need closed headphones, the HD518, 558, 598 series is excellent. They cover your ears but don't block outside noise much. Great for home use.
Not good if you want to wear them out though, unless you want people around you hearing the music.

If you want something that blocks noise and keeps the sound in then you sacrifice quality a bit, and you will need someone else's advice because I don't know what's best there.

 

[Deezil]

Goldring DR150. £29.95 from Superfi.

Hey PP, you keep on recommending these DR150's ... all good and well but how do we get them here in good old SA?

P.S also not listed on Superfi any longer

Sent from my HTC Desire using Tapatalk

 

[PostmanPot]

Hey PP, you keep on recommending these DR150's ... all good and well but how do we get them here in good old SA?

P.S also not listed on Superfi any longer

Sent from my HTC Desire using Tapatalk

Sorry man, did not realise the special was over. Back to £79 on Amazon...

OP how about these? Closed design.

http://www.prophecy.co.za/sennheiser-stereo-headphones-p-89003.html
http://www.prophecy.co.za/sennheiser-218i-headphones-p-89022.html

Another option would be saving further for the Asus Xense bundle at around R2k with Sennheiser PC350 (headset) and Xense sound card (basically an Essence ST/X). Closed design, 150Ohm, mic. And you have the bonus of a high quality sound card.

 

[g0nt4du]

I have a set of Koss KSC-75's. Absolutely brilliant for the price. Only problem is only expansys imports them AFAIK, and it took me around 3-4months to finally get them after paying, and having to email them weekly...

No worries about the importing! Koss has lifetime warranty as well! Though some of their headphones will cost less than the shipping cost! Compared them to Sennheiser's?

 

[g0nt4du]

lol wut

Sennheisser make great headphones within that budget, their stuff is better that most of the competition at the same price.
Corsair? Probably made by some random Chinese company and had a Corsair logo stuck on them.

If you don't need closed headphones, the HD518, 558, 598 series is excellent. They cover your ears but don't block outside noise much. Great for home use.
Not good if you want to wear them out though, unless you want people around you hearing the music.

If you want something that blocks noise and keeps the sound in then you sacrifice quality a bit, and you will need someone else's advice because I don't know what's best there.

I see the Sennheiser HD518 is R 1600?

Corsai, well a lot of things are OEM chinese made, e.g. iPad... (although that's Apple designed) but my point is we must just see what the end result is. Good sound, then OK. Bad sound then no buy!

 

[g0nt4du]

Those are ear-clip headhones, though, not over-ear headphones. You can get them easily through Takealot, Wantitall, Have2have or any other Amazon importer, btw.

All I know about Koss is that they make good noise-cancelling phones, don't know anything about quality.

Also, do you want pure headphones, or a headset with a mic attached?

Would prefer pure headphones. Looks better when listening in public and the mic I don't really need. Also broader options then!

Sorry man, did not realise the special was over. Back to £79 on Amazon...

OP how about these? Closed design.

http://www.prophecy.co.za/sennheiser-stereo-headphones-p-89003.html
http://www.prophecy.co.za/sennheiser-218i-headphones-p-89022.html

Another option would be saving further for the Asus Xense bundle at around R2k with Sennheiser PC350 (headset) and Xense sound card (basically an Essence ST/X). Closed design, 150Ohm, mic. And you have the bonus of a high quality sound card.

Those look good! I think I am looking for closed back for times when I just want to drown everything else out! Now with Sennheiser, the number at the back, bigger the better/more expensive?? Anyone knows where I can try them out first?

PC sound card, na... I'd rather get an external DAC and go the full way, someday when I can afford it!

P.S. I finally figured out how multiquote works!

 

[PostmanPot]

Would prefer pure headphones. Looks better when listening in public and the mic I don't really need. Also broader options then!



Those look good! I think I am looking for closed back for times when I just want to drown everything else out! Now with Sennheiser, the number at the back, bigger the better/more expensive?? Anyone knows where I can try them out first?

PC sound card, na... I'd rather get an external DAC and go the full way, someday when I can afford it!

P.S. I finally figured out how multiquote works!

The Xense/Essence has a built-in DAC and up to 300Ohm headphone amplifier. The Essence even has modular OP amps. It's been compared to audiophile equipment R1000's more. Quality stuff. Also have a look at the Essence One - http://www.asus.com/Multimedia/Audio_Cards/Xonar_Essence_One/.

 

[P924]

Compared them to Sennheiser's?

Well, they hold up very well against the HD555's, of course the HDs win, but only by a little. When you are on a budget, I can fully recommend the Koss. I have only been amazed by them so far, just wish I also had a full set (not clip-ons). They do also leak a lot, though.

 

[g0nt4du]

The Xense/Essence has a built-in DAC and up to 300Ohm headphone amplifier. The Essence even has modular OP amps. It's been compared to audiophile equipment R1000's more. Quality stuff. Also have a look at the Essence One - http://www.asus.com/Multimedia/Audio_Cards/Xonar_Essence_One/.

Ok will ask you about these Asus stuff when I am at that point... ! So in short those internal cards are just like the Essence One/other external ones you get? Still have a long way to go learning about sound

Well, they hold up very well against the HD555's, of course the HDs win, but only by a little. When you are on a budget, I can fully recommend the Koss. I have only been amazed by them so far, just wish I also had a full set (not clip-ons). They do also leak a lot, though.

Did you get your Koss ones locally? Yeah I am looking for a Koss suggestion for the full versions, not clipons

 

[PostmanPot]

Ok will ask you about these Asus stuff when I am at that point... ! So in short those internal cards are just like the Essence One/other external ones you get? Still have a long way to go learning about sound

Yup, does everything you need for top sound quality with amplification. No need for DAC and pre-amp costing thousands. I guess the Essence rivals entry audiophile products, which would cost thousands more (of course they are more flexible as they don't need a PC). Plenty detailed reviews if you Google.

 

[g0nt4du]

Yup, does everything you need for top sound quality with amplification. No need for DAC and pre-amp costing thousands. I guess the Essence rivals entry audiophile products, which would cost thousands more (of course they are more flexible as they don't need a PC). Plenty detailed reviews if you Google.

Ah! Will do that!

I've been reading about KRK KNS-6400! Seems awesome for the money! Ever heard of it?

 

[NomNom]

Hi all,

Looking for a new decent pair of headphones. Moving up from my trusty old Canyon. So anyway, I need them to be of the big kind, where your ears are almost completely inside the ear cans. Budget is R 800-850 at most.

Yes I know budget will mean compromise but I can't spend on Sennheiser, etc now...

So I looked around and I see Corsair Vengeance 1500. Anybody got experience with that?

Also, anyone know the brand Koss?

Also around the price range: Coolermaster SGH-6000-KK5R1 Sirus 5.1 Gaming Headset

 

[g0nt4du]

Also around the price range: Coolermaster SGH-6000-KK5R1 Sirus 5.1 Gaming Headset

Thanks! Well out of budget, and focusing a bit more on quality I.e. Sennheiser, grado, Shure, akg and they all seem to have products in my budget. Well at least 1!

EDIT: I tried on 2 sets today ! Sennheiser HD 555 and AKG K77 and the Sennheiser was way better! I am pretty sure I can't talk about prices here so can someone PM me what their HD 555s cost? Can't find them on Prophecy though! Also liked the Sennheiser build quality vs AKG. Turns out that's because the K77 is a low end model and HD 555 can be put as midrange I suppose.

Tomorrow the guy is getting KRK KNS 6400 and I want to hear what they sound like before making my decision!!

And yup they were both tested without any preset EQ values. The 555 was so like open and clean and its amazing to hear all those details!! Maybe its the sound card as well!

EDIT: I just got back to my existing pair and it sounds so whack!!!!

 

[Maddmatt]

I see the Sennheiser HD518 is R 1600?

Corsai, well a lot of things are OEM chinese made, e.g. iPad... (although that's Apple designed) but my point is we must just see what the end result is. Good sound, then OK. Bad sound then no buy!

S**t that's not right. I bought a pair here in NZ a few months ago for $130 = R 800. Although that was a special and they sell for $300 in some stores.
Try a store called Govan Mani: http://www.govanmani.co.za
You'll need to call them up because they don't have prices for everything on the site. Bought my (now broken) HD515s from them for R360 about 5 years ago so maybe their prices are still good.