Been done to death but.......

[DavieCee]

I've lost my earphones for the iPhone.

Some will say that is a blessing as it is now time to look for replacements/upgrades.

This has been done before but I am being awkward in my requirements.

I just cannot stand in-ear phones (didn't like the originals either) so I would like on-ear phones. To make matters worse, I often listen in the office where open back phones (ie my Grado 80s) are not appreciated. I would also like to retain functionality.

I realise that this will doubtless compromise on quality but while this is not for serious listening I do want the best possible compromise.

Any thoughts?

 

[idc]

What is your budget and do you want the headphones to be small enough to be used on the move, or will they live at the office?

 

[DavieCee]

Good questions.

The originals stayed in the briefcase for travelling emergencies, my Sennheiser PX100s live at the office and my Grados at home.

If I can get something to match or beat the PX100s then they will be relegated to back-ups and/or sweaty gym use.

Pricewise? Circa £60 but my arm is easily twisted

 

[Anonymous]

I can recommend AKG 430's.

 

[idc]

I can recommend the Goldring NS1000, which I have as well as the PX200s and the Goldrings will sound much bigger with excellent clarity. But, they do leak a bit of noise, an issue if the office works in silence and you sit right next to a work mate.

 

[Anonymous]

i have the goldrings as well and they are brilliant for travelling. best thing you can get for less than £60 and trust me i have tried so many.

use PX100s for the gym and for the office i have Audio Technica ATH-A500 which i can honestly say are the best i've ever had. tried AKGs but did not find them comfortable over long periods of listening.

 

[shafesk]

http://www.amazon.co.uk/AKG-K450BLU-K450-Headphones-Navy/dp/B001F6M5DI/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1291582436&sr=8-1

Owned the older version, you will love them for portable use. A very dynamic sound

 

[DavieCee]

Thanks for the pointers.

The Goldrings and Audio Technicas look a bit on the large size for chucking in a briefcase. The AKGs look a bit smaller or do the pictures not give a true representation of the actual sizes?

Another point. My phone could not properly drive my Grados. Are the suggested earphones responsive enough for phone use?

 

[Lee H]

Interesting thread. I'm in the market for new 'phones too. I was looking up to £250 and a few people recommended the Goldrings even though they are well below what I was prepared to spend. I'm yet to get in anywhere and listen to them though. Had a listen to the B&W P5s though at the weekend. Didn't think the soundstage was all the big TBH.

 

[audioaffair]

NS1000 seconded but these are still worth a proper demo to select which you prefer for your ears.

 

[DavieCee]

audioaffair:NS1000 seconded but these are still worth a proper demo to select which you prefer for your ears.

Good point but it is nice to narrow down the field of potentials prior to demo. Thanks.

 

[shafesk]

The Akg's are very efficient and very compact, you should have no trouble transporting them

 

[DavieCee]

So. for audition the concensus appears to be:-

AKG 430 or 450, Goldring NS1000 or Audio Tecnica ATH-A500 v existing Sennheiser PX-200s. Got to be a noticable upgrade

Any others? Although 3 or 4 seems a nice amount for comparing.

Edit:- New theory. Use the Sennheiser PX-200s for travelling and dock the new ones at the office where they will be used most.

 

[idc]

DavieCee:
Another point. My phone could not properly drive my Grados. Are the suggested earphones responsive enough for phone use?

I am surprised as the Grados are sensitive and easy to drive. However, many do feel that you do not get the best out of a headphone without an amp. For your iphone I would recommend you get a FiiO E5 and line out dock (LOD) cable which goes from the iphones docking port to the amp, so bypassing the iphones puny little amp. Both are on Amazon and ebay and you should be able to both for about £20 - 25. The FiiO is the best bargain in hifi IMO.

 

[DavieCee]

Thanks for the comments.

My Grados sound great at home driven by the Roksan or Caiman but the new headphones will mostly (95%) be at work where I am limited to PC headphone output or iPhone. Health & Safety dictate that I can't plug anything else in. Given that restriction, the Grados don't perform to their best but the main problem is sound leakage. I may love my music but others don't

I know this is a major compromise but I want to get the best I can.

 

[KT66]

EASY

px200

no brainer,.

small, closed and sounds great and you can get in white

 

[DavieCee]

Eh, thanks but as said, I already have the PX-200s

In white? No fashion victim here

 

[KT66]

I think you said you had PX100? different headphones

then you said PX200 ?

I don't think there is a better small, portable, closed phone for reasonable money better than the PX200

and if you're not a fashion victiom, why do you have an I-phone?

DavieCee:

Eh, thanks but as said, I already have the PX-200s

In white? No fashion victim here

 

[DavieCee]

Error on my part. When I started the thread I was away from the office & my headphones and got mixed up with my old PX-100s that I do use for the gym. Looking at the PX-200s just now. They may in fact be the best compromise and I will find out for sure during trials tomorrow!

iPhone because I didn't have an mp3 player, or compact stills or video camera, e-mails on the move etc and I needed a new phone. There are other options out there but it ticked all the boxes at the time. I didn't get a white one

 

[DavieCee]

Turns out not to be very easy to audition headphones. Maybe I should have tried PC World instead of "proper" HiFi shops

Or maybe just stick with the PX-200s.

 

[idc]

My experience of proper hifi shops is they are the ones to claim hygiene reasons for not demoing. Currys, John Lewis and Apple Shops will allow to demo about 30 different headphones of all sorts of makes.

 

[Lee H]

idc:My experience of proper hifi shops is they are the ones to claim hygiene reasons for not demoing. Currys, John Lewis and Apple Shops will allow to demo about 30 different headphones of all sorts of makes.

I went to John Lewis and they had the P5's on display but wouldn't get any others out of the boxes for me. Apple Stores get a lot of mentions as being very good

 

[idc]

The Glasgow John Lewis has a listening post with 4 or 5 headphones in use at anyone time. The problem is more the lack of working ipods, so last time I took my own.

 

[neilmistry]

I've been following this thread with interest and in the end I decided on the Goldring NS1000's. At £50 they have to be worth a punt. I use my Beyerdynamic DTX100's whilst commuting and at work, but was after a good (but reasonably well priced) pair for home. I've yet to hear the Goldrings, but having heard so many positive reviews, I'm sure they will be up to the job!