Headphones Help

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AceKaiser

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#38709 3-Aug-2009 20:45

Hey guys,
It's AceKaiser here, and usually I just registered on Geekzone and hope I can get your advice!
Anyway, recently during a business trip overseas my iPod's earphone cable got caught under a restaurant chair while I was getting up, and now they're a bit screwed, I have to twist the jack into my ipod to drop it from squeaking and stuff, and my earphones I guess, are a little old and are the ones I got my precious nano ages years ago.
So yeah, you know. I'm not rich and neither have I been sucked in by consumerism
Right now, I've turned semi-audiophile, with a 16 channel mixer at home and some decent speakers, I also do some work outside for small events etc and I've been encouraged to get some headphones for myself to help me monitor sound levels for my jobs outside and well, ads to my 'pro look' haha :)
The problem is now, I will need this for different sources, and my mate who's an experienced DJ says going for good quality headphones will kill it on my ipod because it doesn't have a good power source, and getting something lower-end will suit my iPod more, but not the sound desk, my amp or anything else (apart form my iPod) the price isn't that far away either, my friend's Sennheiser PX100 cost him $80 while HD415s are $85.
So now, I'm on a relatively tight budget, a no-no to getting two pairs, and to me earphones are flimsy (I don't buy them, I only use those that come with whatever I buy) and both my iPod and my sound involvement out and about are equally important.
What could I do?

I have been eying headphones such as the Sennheiser HD515, 415, eH250, HD465/85 and a few others, many people simply say 'Sennheiser is the best'...
"Which one?"
"dont know whatever, they're all good"
wtf, that's not what I want to know...
so audiophiles & sound experts alike, I'd like to hear all your opinions

EDIT: NO IM NOT A DJ Not for now, at least

[Mod (N8): Removed incorrect smilies]

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#244667 10-Aug-2009 12:29

I run www.headphonereviews.org so I can probably recommend something. Tell me when/where you're going to use them, if you want in ear or full sized headphones, and your budget. Or just try the website out :)

AceKaiser

15 posts

Geek

#244884 10-Aug-2009 18:05

Hi Tim
I think I mentioned in that thread...
Anyways, I'll be using them pretty much everywhere - out and around town, at home, and at studios and places.
The problem is I don't want to buy pairs for every use I need it for, I want to keep it down to just one pair that can do everything :)
I was first inclined at the Sennheiser HD515, but on your page there are many complains in the review...
I might go HD215, I really don't know.

What worries me most is the amount of price markup of NZ's prices compared to those in America :/

timmmay

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#244888 10-Aug-2009 18:14

So buy from America, or Australia! www.headphones.com.au I think it is has better prices than NZ. I've had headphones shipping from the US as well, but it was a while ago so I forget where from. Mostly people send them to me for free now anyway.

The 515 look a bit crap, but the 555's look good. Remember though they're open, so you'll get all the street/ambient noise in them. I'd go with closed headphones most likely, even though they don't sound quite as good as open removing ambient noise is worth it. Senn HD25 are the DJ standard, with good isolation. The Senn 280s are good and cheaper, but the headband tends to break. The Sony V6 is a workhorse.

But for all round use in-ear headphones are probably the way to go. I use them at the gym and when i'm traveling, I use Ultimate Ears SuperFi 5EB sometimes, and the creative EP630 on my recommended page sometimes. The creative ones are fantastic value, even in NZ they're cheap enough.

I prefer big headphones on my iPod Touch, small headphones require less power and I can't get the volume low enough.

Tell me what you reckon about that and I might be able to make more suggestions.

AceKaiser

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#244890 10-Aug-2009 18:18

Hmm...
How cheap do HD555s get, after getting shipped here and stuff though? NZ's price is crazy for a start :/
My friend has them and brags about how good it is all the time

timmmay

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#244967 10-Aug-2009 21:19

About NZ$150 from amazon, but they don't ship electronics overseas. Pricespy shows me this

http://www.pricespy.co.nz/search.php?q=sennheiser+555

Remember the whole open/closed thing, you'd look a bit of a dick walking around town with them on, and you'd get a lot of external noise.

AceKaiser

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Geek

#244970 10-Aug-2009 21:26

yeah well $189 is a bit out of budget...
Unless anyone is willing to get one for me while overseas and I will pay in full (maybe extra) since they're something like NZ$110 after conversion... =/

$120 anyone? :D

AceKaiser

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#244972 10-Aug-2009 21:27

oh regarding being a dick... i don't really mind, well, there'll be exterior noise too, and im not a fan of blasting music out loud, partly because sometimes i'm talking to someone or asking round for directions :)

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timmmay

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#244978 10-Aug-2009 21:33

It'd be polite to take them off if you're talking to someone anyway!

The lower end Sennheiser headphones might be a better idea then, more practical that getting some from overseas. Or like I suggested if you just want to replace the apple buds then get the Creative 630 thingies, better sound and pretty cheap.

AceKaiser

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#244982 10-Aug-2009 21:42

haha, it really depends who I guess.
HD555 seems good though, a lot of people seem to recommend it
But I really dont know, HD205 arent very comfortable, HD212 are a bit :/
It'd be great really to get a HD215 for a decent price :S

Do you work in any sales part of these timmmay? or know anywhere where I can buy them without paying the crazy overpriced markup of them coming to NZ =/

timmmay

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#244983 10-Aug-2009 21:45

Nah sorry I don't work in anything to do with sales or headphones, and I haven't even had Sennhesier send me samples yet despite the #1 ranking for headphone reviews in google and the probably thousands of pairs i've sold via Amazon.

Guess you need to increase your budget or decrease your expectations :(

AceKaiser

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#244993 10-Aug-2009 22:09

:(
you live in NZ dont you?
so uhmm how are you selling over amazon and stuff? o.O

timmmay

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#244994 10-Aug-2009 22:14

I live in NZ, but i'm not constrained by physical location. My website mostly sells headphones to people in the US via amazon.com, but it uses different affiliates depending on the location of the viewer. Amazon does the physical stuff like taking payment and sending the product out, and sends me a cheque. Life's tough eh? :p

AceKaiser

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#244998 10-Aug-2009 22:32

Wow, seems like an interesting job though :3
If only I knew someone going to the states or something =/

AceKaiser

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#245000 10-Aug-2009 22:34

my uncle got transferred back from NY a few months ago :(

damn, im really caught in a bad situation...

If I were to get headphones mostly for my studio work and stuff, ignoring most of my zen, what would you recommend?
How do HD212 fair against HD215 for example?

And what's good and available in NZ for a decent price? All I know is Grados arent here and audio technica are rare...
and shure are just plain :S

timmmay

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#245006 10-Aug-2009 22:54

215/215 are low end consumer headphones, I wouldn't buy them myself, though they're better than some of the stuff out there. Grado aren't meant to be that comfortable, and have a distinctive sound, Audio Technica I have the A900s and they're great but not very portable. For studio the Sony's I recommended are decent, the Senn 280s ok and not expenive so long as you accept they'll only last 2-3 years before the headband breaks. You'd be better off asking studio types though, I think AKG are popular.

And sorry but not a clue about NZ headphones, i'm pretty much US focused. I wouldn't buy from NZ personally.

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