The Gamer's Quarter

Scratchmonkey · . Joined: 02 Mar 2005 Posts: 1439

Apologies if there was already a headphones thread. I couldn't find one and I know that there was some previous discussion, I think it was chunked in the middle of a thread about something else.

So, having just picked up a Micro, I'm thinking about getting a new pair of headphones/earbuds to use with it. I'd like something quality that's still portable, since, uh, it's a portable device and all.

My current owned eardevices are:

- Huge Sony DJ cans. I believe that they're the same ones that dhex has. Audiophile folks talk shit about them; they've worked out pretty good for me. That said, they're really too heavy/clunky to be good carryin'-around listening devices.

- Earbuds that came with the PSP. These are relentlessly shitty.

- Earbuds that came with my old iPod. These are also fairly shitty, although they're way better than the PSP earbuds.

So! Reccomendations? Suggestions? Tales of woe?

extrabastardformula · . Joined: 08 Feb 2007 Posts: 295

Bose has earbuds now which I hear are awesome if you can afford to pay for the Bose name. I use shitty earbuds anyway when I use earbuds.

But for genuine headphone goodness Yamaha has NEVER let me down. Not that they've ever let me down when it comes to speakers either.

simplicio · . Joined: 03 May 2005 Posts: 1091

Sony MDR-EX71s.

About $30-40, partial isolation (so you can listen at low enough levels that you won't blow out your ears and also be that douchebag whose ipod I can hear from halfway down the bus, but you'll still hear cars about to run into you and such) and good enough sound for anything you'll play on your GBA, certainly. They're all I use outside.

If you can find a pair of black ones go with those over the white; the cord on the white ones is a softer, clingier rubber which abrades much more easily.

If you ever buy anything from Bose, you've just spent too much money.

Scratchmonkey · . Joined: 02 Mar 2005 Posts: 1439

I've also heard a lot of good things about Sennheisers, although I forget which small/portable pair was the favored one. It does seem that most of their stuck is on serious sales on Amazon, especially their large can-type audiophile headsets. That isn't what I'm looking for; for those that are, I suggest checking it out because they're known for consistently good cans and I really enjoyed the sound I got from the ones I've listened to.

elvis.shrugged · . Joined: 10 Jan 2006 Posts: 108 Location: Stratford, CT

I've owned a set of Sennheiser HD 497s for just over a year and a half. They've yet to let me down.

I've also found their service reliable--when my cord broke, I was able to order a replacement for about ten bucks. Good deal.

Nana Komatsu · weak sauce Joined: 17 Jul 2006 Posts: 1293

I would avoid Sony headphones, I've had three pairs now (one over the ear, ear-buds and two pairs of studio monitors) and each has failed within a short period of time or were very uncomfortable.
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thatbox · . Joined: 15 Mar 2005 Posts: 99 Location: nashville / nola

I think Grado recently came out with some portable form factor 'phones that are quite nice, so make sure to give them look.
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Joe · . Joined: 27 Nov 2006 Posts: 179

thatbox · . Joined: 15 Mar 2005 Posts: 99 Location: nashville / nola

Shapermc · Hot Sake! Joined: 14 Oct 2004 Posts: 6279

thatbox · . Joined: 15 Mar 2005 Posts: 99 Location: nashville / nola

simplicio · . Joined: 03 May 2005 Posts: 1091

Your Grados are shit for outdoor or otherwise populated environments, though (so are mine!). They're all open, meaning all that sound out there is coming right in with the music, and the music is going right out and bugging the hell out of that guy 10 feet away.

Seriously, after you try some partial isolation stuff (not earbuds, but partial canal-phones, like those Sonys I mentioned) in an active environment you won't want to go back.

Scratchmonkey · . Joined: 02 Mar 2005 Posts: 1439

Shapermc · Hot Sake! Joined: 14 Oct 2004 Posts: 6279

Thatbox: I've tried SR60's and SR80s. They're just a bit too heavy and tight on my head.

Scratchmonkey · . Joined: 02 Mar 2005 Posts: 1439

Yeah, when they get here I'll bust out some Eat Static and blast that for a while.

thatbox · . Joined: 15 Mar 2005 Posts: 99 Location: nashville / nola

simplicio · . Joined: 03 May 2005 Posts: 1091

See, here in NYC it's a bit of a game for me: spot the hipster! He knows those white ipod earbuds are SO 6 years ago, and the Grado SR-60s just exude that indie appeal. But shit! he can't hear a thing from them, so he's just wearing them around his neck, lookin' fresh! Rock on, musicless hipster-dude! I bet that Arcade Fire woulda BLOWN YOUR MIND.

PS: I can't get arstechnica to load for me lately, but I remember they did a round up of portable headphones a while back that you should be able to search for. Google says it starts right here. I remember they compared PX100s & 200s, for one thing.