Headphones.

Lorns · Wed 30 Jan, 2008 17.52

I am need of some new headphones. I currently have JVC ha-d616 and they have been superb for what i use them for for the past 10 years or so. They have only just started to go a bit wafty on me now.

Can anyone recommend a decent set thats not too expensive. I'm prepared to spend up to 50 squid if they are likely to have a long life expectancy.

DAS · Wed 30 Jan, 2008 23.03

Same here actually so any suggestions will be gratefully read. I was considering getting some lower-end-of-the-scale Sennheisers or Beyers, simply because I listen to a hell of a lot of music and headphones are what those two do best. Or would these break/go rubbish as quickly as a cheap pair of Goodmans or whatever from the Argos catalogue?

Gavin Scott · Wed 30 Jan, 2008 23.05

I can do you both any Senheisser headphones at 25% off list.

Don't say I'm not good to you.

Nick Harvey · Wed 30 Jan, 2008 23.09

I'd recommend Beyer DT100s.

If you can afford them, they'll last a lifetime.

My pair, here, are nearly forty years old and still as good as the day I bought them. I've just replaced the earpads once in all that time.

Gavin Scott · Wed 30 Jan, 2008 23.12

Nick Harvey wrote:I'd recommend Beyer DT100s.

If you can afford them, they'll last a lifetime.

My pair, here, are nearly forty years old and still as good as the day I bought them. I've just replaced the earpads once in all that time.

Oh you would, you bugger. I don't know whether my new firm deals direct (so I can offer reasonable discounts, as opposed to going through a margin hungry reselling chain), so I'll have to add that to the list of things to find out and fix tomorrow.

Oh I need a holiday already!

cdd · Wed 30 Jan, 2008 23.13

Gavin Scott wrote:I can do you both any Senheisser headphones at 25% off list.

Don't say I'm not good to you.

This is annoying, I have just bought a pair of the things.

Nick Harvey · Wed 30 Jan, 2008 23.32

Gavin Scott wrote:Oh you would, you bugger.

Hehe! Sorry about that.

Trouble is that in the early days of ILR, if you didn't have your own pair of (high impedence) DT100s, you had to wear somebody else's and catch all their fleas and horrible ear-wax!

By the way, if you want a price to beat, I think I paid about twenty quid for the headphones and then about the same for the replacement pads around twenty years later!

Alexia · Thu 31 Jan, 2008 10.38

I bought a pair of Advent Skype headphones with microphone attached for £20 last year. If I hadn't sat on them they'd still be working now. Superb sound quality and more than adequate for my internet radio broadcasting lark.

Jamez · Thu 31 Jan, 2008 19.35

BeyerDynamic DT100's are shit. The only reason they're 'industry standard' is that you can get parts easily and cheaply if anything goes wrong - and it invariably will because, as I said, they're shit!)

Any conscientious audio producer in today's digital world will avoid these relics from the 1970s well alone. They've been described as 'like wearing two coconut halves over each ear' and I have to agree. They're heavy to wear, the audio is muddy and severely lacking the detailed clarity and richness you need when monitoring digital audio.

If you're serious about getting a decent pair of headphones (also known as 'cans' by numpties) then I recommend any of the following...

Recording / Radio Studio / Audio Producers:
AKG K 271 STUDIO
http://www.dolphinmusic.co.uk/page/shop ... ct_id/2299

Beyerdynamic DT 880 Premium
http://www.dolphinmusic.co.uk/page/shop ... t_id/21768

Computer / Hi-Fi: Technics RPF350
http://www.argos.co.uk/static/Product/p ... chnics.htm

Users with a desktop computer and a swivel chair with castors!!: Sennheiser RS http://www.dolphinmusic.co.uk/page/shop ... ct_id/4066

Sput · Thu 31 Jan, 2008 20.38

YAY. I predicted that Jamez would wade in claiming something's shit as it's vaguely audio related and I'm glad to see I've not been disappointed.

Jamez · Thu 31 Jan, 2008 20.45

Sput wrote:YAY. I predicted that Jamez would wade in claiming something's shit as it's vaguely audio related and I'm glad to see I've not been disappointed.

I have a pair of DT100's hanging on the wall beside me. I used to use them when presenting live on the radio as I thought (rather naively) that they must be the only headphones you can use for live broadcasting. I was wrong.

If anyone wants to buy my DT100's (400ohm, so you'd better have a decent headphone amp!) then let me know. Seeing as my pair are only about 3 years old and cost me nearly £80, you can have them for £25.

I should mention that the connection from the cable to the earpiece is dodgy, and that a folded up bit of cardboard slotted between the connector and the earpiece helps keep the audio going to both channels.

Did I mention they are shit headphones? I did? Okay.