Axiom Home Page Forums General Discussion Stereo Tell us about your headphones and how you use them

My O2 amp cut out the other day (battery ran out because it some how got unplugged).
This got me thinking about how many headphones we actually use everyday and how each had specific uses.

So, here's my list ...

Sennheiser HD650
These are my favorite. Open and airy and always leaves me smiling. I use them exclusively at home when working on the computer while no one else is around (since they are open back and may bother others). Since they are 300ohms I need the O2 amp to drive them (the mac just does deliver the voltage needed to make these shine. I originally used the HD595 which sounded very similar but the HD650 edged them out.

Beyerdynamic DT770 Pro 300ohm version. These are a closed backed headphones which I switch to when my wife is in the office. They also need an amp. Solves the problem of getting complaints to turn down the music and keeps me from hearing all the conference calling she does. They are very good for a closed back but just don't have that airy feel of the Sennheisers. I've also have a pair of Dennon AH-D600 which were a bit too colored but sometimes I switch it up.

Etmotic HF3 and Kilpsch Image X10 earbuds (both discontinued now). Both are great sounding buds (also isolate extremely well) which I use when on the go and sometimes in the office (HF3 more accurate, X10 has a very enjoyable bass bump). I also use these while mowing the lawn or leaf blowing under Ear Protection Muffs (I did try the Sony MDR8506 which has active noise cancelation and it did do an excellent job at killing the mower noise but the sound was at best poor). Lately I've been switching over to wireless Soundcores (below) under the muffs as I found I was constantly getting the wires caught on things, like mower handles (A trade off between great sound and getting the bud pulled out of my ear every so often).

Koss Porta Pro
These are the best value of the all the sets listed here. For the price ($35US) they sound better then some $300 sets I've listen to. We have half a dozen pairs. A couple of pairs stay in each car for the kids (sometimes I use them) and a couple float around the house mainly for TV use when others need quiet (family room tv has a distribution amp attached to it). These are being replaced in the cars as we upgrade to iPhones without jacks. So now we'll have plenty of headphones for the TV.

Apple Beats Studio3 (wireless)
My older kid, now a 18 year old, received a pair of Wireless Beats for his last birthday (didn't like wearing buds) which he wears almost 24 hours a day. The sound if I remember correctly (as I can't get them off his head) is a bit bass heavy but still enjoyable.

Soundcore Spirit X Sports (wireless)
A excellent value for a wireless earbud ($35US). Sound is surprisingly good. They do have a cord which goes behind the neck to connect the buds together. The battery time is excellent. These were originally bought for the kids because their iPhone 7’s didn’t have headphone jacks. I’ve also started using these when on the go. The mic is not good enough for phone use in any noisy environment.

Wow. Great collection.

Can you recommend wireless headphones? I would assume something from Sennheiser but wondering if there are any disruptors out there offering great performance for less. I get asked on this from younger guys at work but I’m not really into headphones as much.

Have ATHM50 and 598se here. Use the Senns daily.

Like your thread idea.

I’m a bit out of touch with what’s currently out there. That said Id go with the wireless buds I mentioned. If they have to be phones the Sennheiser HD 4.40 & HD 4.50 wireless goes on sale for under $70us on Amazon every so often. Never heard them so this is not a recommendation but a data point. These are closed & Bluetooth.

As a reference I have heard some lower priced wired & closed-end Sennheisers. If I had to rate them it would be fair ... maybe a bit better taking price into account (think they were under $50 on sale)

I'm still unpacking from our move and found the inexpensive wired headphones I was talking about above ... Sennheiser HD 439's (since I was in quicken already I did a quick search ... bought these at Newegg for just under $40 on sale from $60. 2014 pricing)

So, I had a listen ... not bad ... I'll raise my sound rating on these to good and maybe very good considering the price ,,, so the sen 4.4 might be worth a listen but check them for sound leakage:

while testing the 439's my wife came over and asked me if my speakers were playing ... these phones were leaking sound that bad. One of the main reasons to have closed back phones is not to disturb others ... these obviously failed. The 439's phones failed with my kids mainly for other reasons: one kid makes short work of cords by chewing on them or walking away form the computer while still wearing the phones (breaking the jack or bending the plug) ... the other just refuses to wear phones if he can get away with it, turn the music lower and lower with each request or finally moving to another room.

Also should have mentioned that the wireless beats studio 3 (above were a promo that came with an educational buy of a Mac for my other son ... I would probably would not have bought them otherwise being $350. They do have a lot of advantages like active noise canceling which seems to do a better job than any other cancelation tech I've used. Given that and the very good sound quality, If you like their sound, they may be worth the $350.

I would love cans while doing yardwork. Mowing the lawn would definitely be better with noise cancellation and some tunes.

Maybe this isn’t in the spirit of the thread totally but I’m looking for opinion on some headphones. The NAD VISO HP50. They’re reg $299 Canadian can get them for $110 until midnight.

The reviews are really good from what I’ve read. I’m likely going to get them but if anybody has a compelling reason not to I’m listening.

This would be the first “ real “ headphones I’ve had. I’d like to have them easy to drive off my phone or computer without a amp but maybe add an amp after or a DAC
I would love an open back like the SENN hd650 but these nads are a good starting point price wise.
Thanks all for any advice.

I started looking at headphones bc my house is full bc everyone’s home from covid closures and all are tired of me playing music on my m60s!! So I’m looking for quality listening without bothering anyone.

And just to be clear, it’s MY house but the kids think it’s theirs.......smirk. ( turns volume knob higher.......). “Oh no he’s playing more Steely Dan! Oh brother!”.

My son liked them. They fell apart in a year. He used them everywhere.