What standard Stereo Headphones do you use and recommend?

[J. PUPSTER]

My current set of cans are the Bowers & Wilkins P7 Wired Over Ear Headphones, although I believe I'd prefer earbuds after trying out various models. I just haven't tried any that fit me correctly and have an honest neutral sound.

 

[jimfisheye]

Disclaimer:
I don't use headphones for listening to music for enjoyment. Wouldn't even consider it. That's what speakers properly set up in a room are for.
I use headphones for personal monitoring when recording to keep the monitor sound out of the recording microphones.

Sennheiser HD-280 PRO $99 ($80 on sale)

 

[sjcorne]

Sennheiser Momentum M2- Got 'em on sale from Guitar Center last year. Very comfortable and nice sound.

I also have a pair of Audio-Technica ATH-M50x that I use when working on quad conversions.

 

[beerking]

Another owner of the Audio-Technica ATH-M50X headphones here.
Very comfortable and great sounding!!
Usually use them either late at night or early morning to save waking the sleepy household.

I have two of them to get true Quad!!

 

[sjcorne]

I have two of them to get true Quad!!

You'd need a pair of these for that!

 

[Clint Eastwood]

In 2011 I purchased the Sennheiser HD595 phones....the quality was good... but I discovered that headphones weren't for me...so I got rid of them...I had tried some other phones before that and it's just not my bag...

 

[beerking]

You'd need a pair of these for that!

View attachment 38289

There is a existing thread on these, just found it, as you have raised my interest.

https://www.quadraphonicquad.com/forums/index.php?threads/koss-phase-2-2.15107/

 

[filper]

Another ATH-M50x owner here.

 

[hobie1dog]

Beyer DT-990 Pro

I would recommend a set with a low impedance of less than 60 ohms though

 

[windhoek]

I used to own a Lavry DA11 DAC and it made my HD650s sing like they've never sang before or since. That said, they still sound pretty decent when connected to my AVR so it's not all bad

 

[beerking]

My first 'quality' set of headphones were the Grado SR60's...very nice sounding, which I still have. I now prefer cans that surround the ear as opposed to sitting on them.

 

[J. PUPSTER]

My first 'quality' set of headphones were the Grado SR60's...very nice sounding, which I still have. I now prefer cans that surround the ear as opposed to sitting on them.

+1

 

[key_wiz]

Disclaimer:
I don't use headphones for listening to music for enjoyment. Wouldn't even consider it. That's what speakers properly set up in a room are for.
I use headphones for personal monitoring when recording to keep the monitor sound out of the recording microphones.

Sennheiser HD-280 PRO $99 ($80 on sale)

I use the same headphones for the same reason. Nice set of cans.

 

[DennisMabry]

Sennheiser-HD600s. But I rarely use them.

 

[DoctorO]

Life circumstances have made a frequent headphone listener out of me. Love my Audeze LCD-3. Wonderful clarity and impact without coloring the sound, IMHO.

 

[J. PUPSTER]

I'd like to open this thread up just a smidge. This forum for me, is about learning, especially since there are many folks here who are in the Audio/Video business and know this subject much better than myself.

The hardware is no good without the software (I'd hope we'd all agree on that!) Mostly what I use headphones for is late at night when I'm having trouble sleeping, I'll grab some cans hooked up to a wireless Squeezbox and check out some tunes. Now maybe I haven't been exposed to the right system (speakers) that can project the sound image out into the room with extreme discreteness, although I have heard many a high-end system. I like to call it aural spatial definition; and I always get way more of that sort of thing with earbuds fitted just right in my ears. On certain stereo songs, I can hear movement of instruments or vocals that are not just side to side but also front to back and up to down. Of course the way the music is engineered in the studio and mixed/mastered must have substantial effect on this. There is a lot of music that just sounds almost two dimensionally flat even on headphones. So I guess what I'm after here, is for "those in the know", and of course anyone else, to comment on this effect and the part good headphones play in producing a more 3 dimensional sound experience.

I often use this type of sound to help mentally visualize what a stereo song could sound like if mixed in surround.

 

[Eclectic]

I've been a fan of Sony MDR-V6, which are identical to Sony MDR-7506, for over 25 years. They're very neutral sounding, and used extensively in the recording industry. They're also inexpensive (about $60 when they're on sale). They used to be made in Japan, and extremely resilient, except for the earpads. The newer ones are made in Malaysia (?) and are less robust. When the earpads go (which they inevitably do), you can replace them with Beyerdynamic EDT250V velour earpads. These last forever. They used to be reasonably priced (< $20). I'm not sure if you can still get them for that price.

 

[skherbeck]

I love the way these sound, but since getting into surround, I never use headphones any more so I gave them to my son.

 

[kap'n krunch]

I've been a fan of Sony MDR-V6, which are identical to Sony MDR-7506, for over 25 years. They're very neutral sounding, and used extensively in the recording industry. They're also inexpensive (about $60 when they're on sale). They used to be made in Japan, and extremely resilient, except for the earpads. The newer ones are made in Malaysia (?) and are less robust. When they earpads go (which they inevitably do), you can replace them with Beyerdynamic EDT250V velour earpads. These last forever. That used to be reasonably priced (< $20). I'm not sure if you can still get them for that price.

Hear hear!!
another big fan of Sony MDR-V6 /MDR-7506 !!! yes I got my 1st pair in 1988(??) and have not looked back since...cheap too!!!

 

[EHughes]

My current set of cans are the Bowers & Wilkins P7 Wired Over Ear Headphones, although I believe I'd prefer earbuds after trying out various models. I just haven't tried any that fit me correctly and have an honest neutral sound.

I also have the P7s but lately I've been listening to my Sennheiser HD650s