Wired over-ear headphones

saor

saor

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Need a new pair at my pc for watching movies etc. Needs to be:

1.) Wired to connect to an external audio interface. Don't feel like dealing with BT dongles etc.
2.) Over-ear (I'm not interested in on-ear headphones where the cups sit on top of your ear).
3.) Slightly prefer open back rather than closed but it's not a deal breaker.

Budget: R1500'ish.

Any suggestions?


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I would import a Philips SHP9600. Though Philips aren't everyone's taste. Still IMHO the best priced over-ear stereo cans. Not good at being a monitor, so not studio grade, but excels at media consumption. They sit good too.

Otherwise, look at Sennheiser within the same price bracket.
 
Soundcore q20i are popular around these parts.

www.incredible.co.za

Soundcore Q20i Hybrid Active Noise Cancelling Headphones

40/60 hours of playtime Dual-connections Hybrid active noise cancelling Hi-Res certified audio via the AUX cable 3 modes: ANC, normal, and Ttransparency Cushioned comfort Customized sound via Soundcore App 18 month warranty
www.incredible.co.za www.incredible.co.za

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bwana said:
Soundcore q20i are popular around these parts.

www.incredible.co.za

Soundcore Q20i Hybrid Active Noise Cancelling Headphones

40/60 hours of playtime Dual-connections Hybrid active noise cancelling Hi-Res certified audio via the AUX cable 3 modes: ANC, normal, and Ttransparency Cushioned comfort Customized sound via Soundcore App 18 month warranty
www.incredible.co.za www.incredible.co.za

Takealot.com: Online Shopping | SA's leading online store

South Africa's leading online store. Fast, reliable delivery to your door. Many ways to pay. Shop anything you can imagine: TVs, laptops, cellphones, kitchen appliances, toys, books, beauty & more. Shop the mobile app anytime, anywhere.
www.takealot.com www.takealot.com
Click to expand...
Those are BT
 
Lupus said:
Those are BT
Click to expand...
And wired (if you use the included wire). ;)

Screenshot 2025-05-31 at 16.18.03.png

EDIT: Wired comes in handy if you're flying and don't have a BT transmitter.
EDIT 2: They have several other models worth checking out.
 
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bwana said:
And wired (if you use the incouded wire). ;)

View attachment 1824411
Click to expand...

My only issue with dual-use headphones is that in the low-end, when you bypass the BT DAC (and DSP), then you have a pair that is not well optimised. Drivers are but a single, sorry, dual component.

@saor, you can look at Audio Technica too, their brand escaped my memory, but they have good stereo listening cans in that price range. I have never owned Audio Technica so I can't speak to their value.
 
Fulcrum29 said:
Not good at being a monitor, so not studio grade,
Click to expand...
Yup my previous pair was a set of AKG monitor headphones and I'm definitely not looking for monitoring again. Just something for media.
 
Fulcrum29 said:
My only issue with dual-use headphones is that in the low-end, when you bypass the BT DAC (and DSP), then you have a pair that is not well optimised. Drivers are but a single, sorry, dual component.
Click to expand...
Seems like even the noise cancelling doesn't work when connected via wired on those soundcores.
 
saor said:
Seems like even the noise cancelling doesn't work when connected via wired on those soundcores.
Click to expand...
Not the Q20i but the higher end models like the Q45 do.
 
I tend to prefer the Sennheiser headphones when it comes to wired. These types of headphones tend to last a long time, and Sennheiser has been good so far in providing spares locally. A couple of times I have phoned their agents and they have arranged spares at a shop near me.

One that is near your budget is the HD 280 Pro. The pro means that it is for studio use. They are not open back but rather have a bit more sound isolation than the normal closed back type, basically enough to stop a click track impinging on a microphone. The response is fairly neutral, which some people enjoy but others feel lacks liveliness. One drawback is that they use polymer type ear cushions which will eventually need replacing (similar to all BT headphones). https://www.takealot.com/sennheiser-hd-280-pro-headphones/PLID54536153

My personal favorite quality for the money headphones are the HD 560S, which is what I use at my computer. These tick all your boxes except price, they would be a stretch. https://www.takealot.com/sennheiser-hd-560s-black-open-back-headphone/PLID91095780

There are some, like the HD 400S, which are around your price point, but I have not listened to them yet.
 
Personally, will not get Audio Technica again. The pleather on the cans and band started to deteriorate after a year.

Just check the specs for whatever you get might need a headphone amplifier if you get something descent.
 
I got myself the Sennheiser HD400s https://www.takealot.com/sennheiser-hd400s/PLID54505441 cheaper on Amazon atm

First 2 weeks or so, they were very uncomfortable, very tight, my ears would hurt, but after wearing them for some time and got worn in, I don't even feel them on, and now they are very comfortable. Cable length is 1.4m, so you may need an aux extender.

For movies, music, YouTube, gaming etc they are great, but for voice chat, I would not recommend them because they are closed back, so when you speak to people, it feels like you are underwater due to the noise cancelling.

I would say at this price point (R1500) they are probably the best headphones you can get. Maybe the HD 280 Pro are a bit better as per @garyc recommendation.
 
Some that I am very happy with:

Sennheiser GSP300 - Might be too expensive new
Sennheiser GSP500 - Out of budget
Corsair HS35 (older model, not v2)- Should be within budget.

Also have a wireless Sennheiser HD450 BT - I really hate these. Sound quality is poor.
 
I bought a blue-tooth headphones recently and dislike the delay caused by the blue-tooth connection. I watched some Roland Garros tennis and the delay between sound and picture is irritatingly noticeable. Fortunately the phoned came with a cable which bypasses the blue-tooth connection.
 
i had the Sennheiser HD599 which had the distinction of being the most fun to listen to even though they were not audiophile grade accurate so something from that family would do the job admirably. The biggest problem is the price which is R4200 (which while less than what i should have spent because these retailed at close to R6k when i purchased them) is still way above what you can spend. The smallest model in the range is the HD559 which is a slightly better price and if you can save that wee bit more and get those i think that all your problems will be solved

these Sennheiser models are practcially bulletproof - i had a HD555 which i bought second hand that was already like 10 years old and used it for another 5 years and then i replaced those with the HD599 which i used for 5 years and they were in a practically brand new condition when i just sold them recently

IMHO get the HD559 because from what you want ..... they will be better than anything else described in this thread including the senny HD280 and HD380 (both of which i have owned and used) and i reckon if you can stretch to the price they will be perfect ..... unless it is too financially cheeky to stretch to the price in which case there are plenty others that have been suggested here that you can consider

https://www.takealot.com/sennheiser-hd559-headphones-black/PLID43044943
 
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