Advice on over ear headphones

[cookiemonsteruk]

Anyone got suggestions for good wired over ear headphones ? Nothing too expensive around £100 maximum £150. I hear sony are good but theres so many to choose from .

 

[SenseiKofi]

Anyone got suggestions for good wired over ear headphones ? Nothing too expensive around £100 maximum £150. I hear sony are good but theres so many to choose from .

This - Sennheiser HD600
or
Sennheiser HD599

 

[Gray]

Anyone got suggestions for good wired over ear headphones ?

Yes, a strong recommendation, but with one slight reservation*.
I bought the Sennheiser HD-560S when it first came out.
I've (very extensively) compared it with much more expensive Sennheisers (including HD-600 and HD-800S) as well other brands, using modest and not so modest headphone amps / laptop output.
I prefer the 560S to all else I've tried.

Even at the £152 price I paid, it's the biggest audio bargain I've ever had - and you can currently buy new for £99.

BUT.
* here's my only reservation.
The model has had some modification since the original launch - maybe to pads, cable length and possibly even the drivers I've seen owners of both versions speculating - even suggesting that Sennheiser may have deliberately downgraded the sound to suit the price.
(I refuse to believe that, but I have always thought that the original model may have turned out better than even Sennheiser expected).

Try before you buy - maybe buy with an easy return option - it could be the best £99 you've spent.

 

[Jasonovich]

Anyone got suggestions for good wired over ear headphones ? Nothing too expensive around £100 maximum £150. I hear sony are good but theres so many to choose from .

Fiio FT1 for around £130 is an excellent headphone.

View: https://youtu.be/IzxHX7vct2U?si=xfTiF3ZrC9H4VUwH

 

[cookiemonsteruk]

@Gray

After resding up on both hd599 and hd560s i noticed the impedence were 50 ohms and 120 ohms respectively. Was a wee bit concerned as to whether the 560s required more oomph to power from my marantz mcr612. How do you find them sound quality wise and whether they would be suitable for my hi fi

 

[cookiemonsteruk]

Fiio FT1 for around £130 is an excellent headphone.

View: https://youtu.be/IzxHX7vct2U?si=xfTiF3ZrC9H4VUwH

I had looked at fiio wired and the solid wood ear cups look fantastic

 

[Jasonovich]

I had looked at fiio wired and the solid wood ear cups look fantastic

They sound fantastic also 🙂 I commute to work with them every Thursday, apart from my Hifiman XS Edition planar headphone, these are the second most used. So I've mapped the sound pretty well, anyone on a budget, shouldn't overlook these.
If you're thinking of planar magnet headphones, Hifiman are always discounting their old models. Check out link below 🙂

HIFIMAN INNOVATING THE ART OF LISTENING

 

[cookiemonsteruk]

@Jasonovich

Now thats really put the cat amongst the pigeons - open back v closed back . My brain is melting 😁

 

[Al ears]

@Jasonovich

Now thats really put the cat amongst the pigeons - open back v closed back . My brain is melting 😁

Depends where you intend to use them. Open backed leak sound and can annoy if used in a crowded space.

 

[cookiemonsteruk]

@Al ears

Indoors, listening by myself. However my understanding would be the open backed hd560s would be good for the mids and highs whilst ft1 would be good for bass. My listening habits would be to toslink my tv to my hifi plus i listen to rock and roll vis a vis springsteen also rem and plan to listen to more classical music as well

 

[Al ears]

@Al ears

Indoors, listening by myself. However my understanding would be the open backed hd560s would be good for the mids and highs whilst ft1 would be good for bass. My listening habits would be to toslink my tv to my hifi plus i listen to rock and roll vis a vis springsteen also rem and plan to listen to more classical music as well

In that case you had better go somewhere you can audition some because I woud go for open backed in your situation.
That said all of mine are closed back because I also use them whilst travelling.

 

[Jasonovich]

Depends where you intend to use them. Open backed leak sound and can annoy if used in a crowded space.

My two open backs Beyerdynamic Amiron and Hifimans are better suited for home listening. The Fiio's are closeback but the sound doesn't feel it's trapped inside, has a lovely airiness about it. Reminds me of my old headphones Focal Elegias, closed design but really expansive sound stage.

 

[Jasonovich]

@Al ears

Indoors, listening by myself. However my understanding would be the open backed hd560s would be good for the mids and highs whilst ft1 would be good for bass. My listening habits would be to toslink my tv to my hifi plus i listen to rock and roll vis a vis springsteen also rem and plan to listen to more classical music as well

Buy both and return the one you don't want to keep 🙂

 

[cookiemonsteruk]

@Al ears
@Jasonovich

I am tending towards the sennheiser hd560s at the minute

 

[cookiemonsteruk]

Buy both and return the one you don't want to keep 🙂

Now that sounds like a good idea 😁

 

[Al ears]

Now that sounds like a good idea 😁

You could but be wary here as many dealers cannot resell headphones that have been worn by someone else and might refuse returns.

 

[cookiemonsteruk]

@Al ears
@Jasonovich


I went for the sennheiser hd560s from amazon. Richer sounds Belfast had it in stock but it 40 miles up the road and i don't like going to The Big Smoke unneccessarily. Thanks for the help 👍

 

[Gray]

@Al ears
@Jasonovich


I went for the sennheiser hd560s from amazon.

You didn't waste any time.
You should find out soon, but to answer your question on the bass - I find it to be great quality. You don't get that overblown warmth that some headphones give - but you miss nothing.

And the middling impedance should give you no problems.

You've also got a future option to use them balanced, which is what I (sometimes) do.

If, like me, you find them just a bit too clampy out of the box - leave them stretched out overnight for a few nights (once you've decided to keep them).
The comfort will improve - I forget mine are on now - and can really get into the music.

Let us know if you're keeping them.
But if you can get a better sound for 99 quid.....tell me about it 👍

 

[nopiano]

@Al ears
@Jasonovich


I went for the sennheiser hd560s from amazon. Richer sounds Belfast had it in stock but it 40 miles up the road and i don't like going to The Big Smoke unneccessarily. Thanks for the help 👍

I hope you like them. I first had some Sennheisers in the1970s, pretty much when they first came to the UK. I’ve never disliked a pair, not that I’ve heard more than a handful of their designs.

You’ve already picked some, but my suggestion would have been to try several brands and types first, because not only are you picking a sound preference, but choosing for comfort. All our heads and ear shapes are different, and such choices are hard to predict. Good luck!

 

[cookiemonsteruk]

@Al ears
@Jasonovich
@nopiano

These are exceptional headphones for the price with full bodied sound can't fault them . Better than listening thru ldac equipped equipment . Clarity and individual instruments are clearer and the bass is good Question ... these are 2.5 mm trrs going into the headphone but need a longer cable . Would a trs work in the trrs socket on the headphone. Also re toslink tv into hifi i take it i would only need a qed pmma toslink and not the extremely expensive quartz

 

[Al ears]

@Al ears
@Jasonovich
@nopiano

These are exceptional headphones for the price with full bodied sound can't fault them . Better than listening thru ldac equipped equipment . Clarity and individual instruments are clearer and the bass is good Question ... these are 2.5 mm trrs going into the headphone but need a longer cable . Would a trs work in the trrs socket on the headphone. Also re toslink tv into hifi i take it i would only need a qed pmma toslink and not the extremely expensive quartz

Simply buy a cable extension for your pre -existing cable.

 

[Jasonovich]

@Al ears
@Jasonovich
@nopiano

These are exceptional headphones for the price with full bodied sound can't fault them . Better than listening thru ldac equipped equipment . Clarity and individual instruments are clearer and the bass is good Question ... these are 2.5 mm trrs going into the headphone but need a longer cable . Would a trs work in the trrs socket on the headphone. Also re toslink tv into hifi i take it i would only need a qed pmma toslink and not the extremely expensive quartz

You cant use a 6.3mm jack into 2.5mm Headphone unfortunately but you should be able to find a replacement cable for the Sennheiser's on AliExpress, check link below.
Hope this helps. If you want something of better quality, they also have that too. 🙂

Kabel gewickeltes aux kabel ersatz für sennheiser hd598 cs hd599 hd569 hd579 hd558 hd518 kopfhörer audio kabel mit 6,35mm adapter - AliExpress 44

Smarter Shopping, Better Living! Aliexpress.com

www.aliexpress.com

 

[cookiemonsteruk]

@Jasonovich

The 6.3mm amp side is detachable . Marantz mcr612 is 3.5m. Its more about trs tip ring sleeve phono cable fitting a tip ring ring sleeve socket

 

[Jasonovich]

You can also customise your cable to meet your need, so if you're plugging in your Sennheiser to your amp, there are various options. 2.5, 3.5, 4.4, 6.3 and XLR

You may also find the same on Amazon or eBay, probably pay a little more but more likely to arrive sooner.

https://www.aliexpress.com/item/100...ene:pcDetailBottomMoreOtherSeller|query_from: