Headphone Quality
-
This topic could of fit in a couple different places, but what the hey, it's going here wether you like it or not.
Last weekend I was sitting on a mall bench (i was cohered in going), while my mother was in a store buying some unnecessarily expensive sweat shop clothing. This kid say 16 - 19 came up to me and wanted to talk music (I was listening to music at the time). I guess I give off this: "Talk to me" vibe, while wearing headphones and trying to isolate and not draw attention to myself. Anyway he kept talking to me. I didn't remove the headphones at first, thinking he'd just go away, but he didn't. Eventually I took them off and he asked what I was listening to, before I could answer he started telling me about some "awesome" group I had to check out. I asked what kind of music it was and he said: it's a sorta cross between goth, emo, screamo, and dance. Whatever nonsense that would be.
I have to admit I didn't want to hear what he had to say but he was really cute, so I nodded in agreement, took a Xanax and said something to the effect of: I'm not much into emo but some of the emo stuff from the 80's is inventive. He seemed puzzled and I thought I achieved my goal of him not talking to me anymore. I just wanted to be left alone.
He then asked about my headphones. What kind they were and how much they cost. I told him they were just run-of-the-mill Sennheiser's and cost about $300. I don't know if it was the Xanax kicking in or if he actually said this, but his reply was: why would you spend so much money on crappy headphones, when there were better ones like Beats or Bose for less than that price. I guess he got his headphone information while shopping at Abercromie and Fitch.
I know Sennheiser's aren't the best on the market, but I think they're reasonably priced considering the quality of them. And this isn't the first person who has asked me why I didn't buy Beats or some other shit like that with that money instead.
Do you own Beats or Bose? Do you think you paid too much for mediocre quality? Were you really concerned or educated about the sound reproduction of them or were you merely considering how they would improve your social status?
But seriously, what headphones do you use? Which headphones would you buy if money were no object? Do you believe Beats by Dre or Bose are actually "quality" headphones or just an overpriced brand name?
-
run-of-the-mill
cost about $300
My Dennon headphones cost £80 and they are fine.
-
I admit I am probaly mostly paying for a brand name itself, and I'm probably no better than the kid I'm poking fun at. But with this particular brand, I know I'm getting a certain hardware quality with predictable and excellent performance. And more importantly, I know I can can always get replacement parts on the cheep. Or better yet, I can have them completely rebuilt for a small fee of about $30 (new speakers, lead, and cushions).
I've had nothing but good luck and satisfaction with Sennheiser headphones. Although I've never tried any other form factor other than the plain circumaural style. Nor have I tried the noise cancelling models. Although I have no experience to say otherwise, I believe plan circumaural cans offer the best quality for the dollar. However, I do suspect custom molded canalphones or IEMs would offer superior sound to all others. Unfortunately, I've never had the opportunity to try quality IEMs (just the cheap apple ones).
Which form factor do you use? Do you think you get what you pay for or is their some plateau of sound quality regardless of the amount invested in hardware? Or is the quality of the sound purely subjective and no scientific measurement can accurately determine the quality of headsets?
-
Her's my "laying on the couch listening to music" headphones;
hXXp://hmv.com/hmvweb/displayProductDetails.do?ctx=289;16;-1;-1;-1&sku=860933
They were £80 back in October when I got them for my birthday.
Here's my "going to work" headphones;
hXXp://hmv.com/hmvweb/displayProductDetails.do?ctx=289;16;-1;-1;-1&sku=860717
Again, they were cheaper back in October.
My over the ear headphones are the 2nd best I tried at the shop. The best ones were the Dennon's that cost £250.
Brand name plays a huge factor in cost. Dre, Bose, Sony and some others are well known for adding on a lot to their products. Some of it's out of greed and some of it's out of "if it costs a lot, then it's better" sales tactics. I know someone that shops for wine that way.
Sound quality is subjective. I love Dennon because they make headphones that suit my Music taste and hearing status. Being 44yo and suffering from some hearing loss, especially at the high end, I don't want/need deep bass headphones. Top that off with the fact that I don't listen to dance/trance music, the it makes no sense for me to bother with them.
-
I have some SOL REPLUBIC Headphones in 2 different styles
On ear Tracks HD
http://solrepublic.com/shop/tracks-hd-on-ear-headphones-with-v10-sound-engine-speakers.html?sel=3ear buds for at work, Amps
http://solrepublic.com/shop/amps-in-ear-headphones-with-i4-sound-engine-speakers.html?sel=12#.Uet-h43rxDwOne of the cofounders of the Company is the son of the Person who started Monster Cables, Who originally made the awful "Beats" Headphones. He Started his own company because he didn't like how daddy was screwing people by charging so much for such an inferior product. The SOL headphones are reasonable priced and they have a great support team and very active facebook group.
-
I had to google mine cause I don't pay that much attention to it lol. I have a few 'features' that I zero in on for my headphones
1. under $20
2. have adjustable size, the colour (black, blue, white or orange)
3. Box/Logo looks 'cool'the under 20 is essential cause I like to listen to music on my phone while goin' to bed, and since I toss and turn sometimes… I screw up the chord and one side will quit working due to wire issues >_>. Usually have to buy a new set every 6 months or so. But :: these are the kind I just got (had black before, and just got the blue ones ^^)
hxxps://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash4/p480x480/3604_525900274106722_1210325159_n.jpg
and if the price didn't matter, I'd still get those cause they're the shit -- and other kinds kind of look wierd imo =/
-
I told him they were just run-of-the-mill Sennheiser's and cost about $300.
Are you crazy? That's not just some earplugs. The most expensive ones I've bought were from Skull Candy of €30,- and that's a lot of money when you're a student. Sadly I've lost them while traveling by public transportation. They had a great sound…
Now I have older version of the in-ear plugs (the silecon ones) from Apple. I've bought them for just €10,- and strangely they are even better than the original ones (€79,-) that a friend of mine has. I know that they aren't that good, but they do the job!
