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My current headphones (Audio Technica M50x) are starting to whack out and I might have emergency-buy a new pair.

I want to spend as little as possible, but I don't want to get something that's going to break immediately either. Most of it will be down to if they are comfortable to wear, so I'll find that out on my own. Just looking for some pointers.

These are the headphones sold at my local music store. Divide prices by 10 for dollar/euro amount. The Pulse HP-1600s are the cheapest in stock. Would these be acceptable you think? And in the price range from these to the Yamaha HPH-50s, is there anything significant happening? Would there be a point to putting down that extra sum?

Thanks.

My family have several of these: https://andreassonmusik.se/akg-k52

They weigh nothing and they sound really good. After 5 years of careless daily use the earpads began to disintegrate, but Dekoni can sell you replacements.

We bought a couple pairs of the HIFIMAN Deva Pros (wired) last Christmas, and they’re comfortable and sound amazing—maybe the best-sounding pair I’ve ever owned. They’re now showing up on Amazon for $200, but we paid less, most likely as part of some holiday sale.

Note: they’re open backed, so they might not work if you’re planning to wear them on the train or in the office.

Those m50x of mine started to malfunction about a year after the purchase. Never sounded great anyway.

For a lot less you have the FANTASTIC Roland RH-200 S, bought them just to try a different brand and spending little and I was blown away.

Soundwise they're a bit on the bassier side of the spectrum, but with enough detail.

My headphones are locked in at Beyer 770/990 (I have 2 sets of 770 and a pair of 990) for spendy headphones and Sony ZX110 for light, cheap, toss around the studio headphones. Somewhere had 5 packs of the little sony's for like $89 about 10 years ago and I bought 10 pairs. They all still work and sound fine for tracking guitars in the basement etc... I also have a pair of shooting iso headphones that I shoved the drivers from some old Sony 7506's in for loud shit like drums.

So far nothing has made me look for other headphones. A friend swears by Monoprice headphones.

dfglv wrote: Mon Aug 19, 2024 3:31 am My family have several of these: https://andreassonmusik.se/akg-k52

They weigh nothing and they sound really good. After 5 years of careless daily use the earpads began to disintegrate, but Dekoni can sell you replacements.

Cool! They have good reviews overall, in the upper range of my budget but still within, so I might get those.

I'll save the ZX110s for later though - great price and they look cool, I could use them as keyboard headphones / backup, I prefer over-ears for normal use. Also doesn't look like the "headband" has any padding? That would get irritating.

Turns out some of the problems I experienced with uneven sound levels was because one of the earpieces had cracked at the joint and nearly falling off. Superglued them together - very proud! It's high time though. These are old and unwell maintained. That's a subject for another thread.

kokorodoko wrote: Tue Aug 20, 2024 9:08 am I'll save the ZX110s for later though - great price and they look cool, I could use them as keyboard headphones / backup, I prefer over-ears for normal use. Also doesn't look like the "headband" has any padding? That would get irritating.

They are so light that it isn't an issue, they are not great for isolation, but if I don't need a lot of isolation, I prefer using the smaller ear cup and lighter headphones because people honestly hate wearing large headphones for long periods of time and smaller lighter cans make singers a lot more comfortable. If someone wants something bulkier I hand them the Beyers or one of the multiple, terrible pairs of Sony 7506 that I have in a milk crate collecting dust. The little ZX100's aren't the best headphones in the world at all but on sale they are super cheap, they are light, and they seem to hold up well. They don't sound terrible. I hate the AKG giant basket space antenna head band system. I feel like they are absolutely not one size fits all, they tend to slip off people with smaller heads, and they just feel like you are wearing a space helmet.

Kniferide wrote: Tue Aug 20, 2024 9:27 am smaller lighter cans make singers a lot more comfortable.

I would imagine! I hate the idea of singing with a large pair on. Even when talking to people e.g. on Skype it feels much better to have some leackage. Headset earpads tend to be smaller, must be why.

Kniferide wrote: Tue Aug 20, 2024 9:27 amI hate the AKG giant basket space antenna head band system. I feel like they are absolutely not one size fits all, they tend to slip off people with smaller heads, and they just feel like you are wearing a space helmet.

LOL! Well we'll see. I have a big head.