Headphones for playing music on laptop

[admin_exported]

Hi, I need some headphones to play my music on my laptop. This will be via cd, mp3 and streaming eg youtube.

How much do I need to spend as a minimum for decent ones? Are any in argos any good, they have some sony and panasonic ones.

If anyone can advise it would be much appreciated

 

[Messiah]

As a minimum I would recommend these. Brilliant headphones! £10 more gets you the new and improved version.

 

[Anonymous]

I would recommend the Sennheiser PX100 if you'd prefer the on-ear design. £18 from Amazon.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Sennheiser-PX-100-PX100-Headphones/dp/B00009QH7P/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1239312553&sr=8-1

 

[Anonymous]

So are in-ear phones better than on-ear ones? I have been impressed with the sony in-ear ones with the rubber buds that came with my sony phone... I just thought with a laptop sitting on bed maybe on-ear would be the way to go.

What sort of quality sound can you get from head/earphones compared to hifi speakers?

 

[Anonymous]

Just to add I will be using these indoors with very little background noise

 

[Messiah]

Both types will beat those Sony ones with ease. Although the PX100 will 'leak' sound into the room.

(The PX200 are similar to the PX100 but they are a 'closed back' design and will not leak sound.

 

[Anonymous]

Now there's a big question?! Depends how much you want to pay and, as you say, background noise etc.

On-ear (like the PX100) vs in-ear (like the Sony's you mention and the CX300s) is partly down to comfort - that is, which you feel you'd be happier with - partly about isolating background noise and partly about looks (some people wouldn't like walking around with on-ears on their heads).

If background noise or looks aren't an issue then it's just down to what you'd feel comfortable with. If your budget is under £50 then you wouldn't go wrong with either the CX300s or the PX100s - I have both and both are excellent. For your use I'd personally go for the PX100s.

If budget is less of an option then for in-ears the Shure SE530s are about the best there is (though of course, many different opinions on the matter) and for on-ears there's a load of choice - the Grado SR60s for about £60ish being much better than their price would suggest - but you can pay anything up to £1000.

 

[survivor]

Messiah:As a minimum I would recommend these. Brilliant headphones! £10 more gets you the new and improved version.

£30 well spent. I`d be surprised if you regretted buying these. Word is as Messiah says that the new ones are even better. I lent my mki`s out and although not a priority at the moment I shall be getting some mkii`s and telling my mate the good news that he can keep the mki`s!

 

[Anonymous]

thank you , the px100 's look great. the reviews are excellent. i want to make the most of my music, i like the idea of soundstaging. my mate has some jamo floorstanders and one of my cd's sounded twice as good through his system.

what sort of comparison can be made between headphones like the px100 and proper hifi speakers in terms of quality/soundstaging etc?

i was intending on buying some hi fi seperates, cd player, amp and speakers, but if i can get comparative quality through headphones then that could save me some money. not to mention avoiding complaints from my above neighbour!

 

[survivor]

You`ll get an improvement by upgrading your headphones but bear in mind your source is a laptop which won`t trouble decent separates for sound quality.

How about grabbing some good quality headphones to get you started but don`t give up on the dream of a separates system. You could save up and buy one component at a time. If you really don`t want to fall out with your neighbours another option would be at a later date to buy a portable headphone amp to use with your laptop which should improve the sound somewhat.

 

[Messiah]

You could certainly get a decent headphone based set up and there are many routes to go down. However, you will also be treading onto the first step of the path to hifi nirvana which can be fraught with dangers, expense and the biggest issue of all the 'upgrade itch'. You should progress with caution

But seriously, maybe try the headphones first and see what you think.....

 

[Anonymous]

Well, short answer is - avoid getting into comparisons - just plug something like the PX100s into your laptop and enjoy the music! Otherwise you'll be on the upgrading escalator like the rest of us before you know it!

Longer answer is that it's said a really good pair of head/earphones - maybe starting with the Grado SR60, give you some of the effect of a decent Hi-Fi and if you go up to something like the Shure SE530s (about £200+ worth) or Grado SR325s (£300?) then you're getting closer to a reasonably good Hi-Fi set up. Though I'm sure many people would say that standing in front of a good Hi-Fi set up will always out do sitting on a bed with a pair of headphones as regards soundstaging etc. - but you'll be getting the idea of a comparison. It then depends what kbps you've ripped your CDs to on your laptop (and there's a whole debate about how much this matters) - but say 320kbps min. and lossless format better, and then if you play the music from your laptop through an external DAC which has a decent headphone amp in it. All of this will then get you closer to that hi-fi sound. If you do all of this then you need to spend a decent amount on headphones otherwise it's like buying a Ferrari and sticking Ford Mondeo tyres on it.

If all of this is out of your budget then see the short answer!

 

[Anonymous]

thanks for the answers, i've ordered some px100's from amazon and will see how i get on with them. looking forward to trying them out

 

[Anonymous]

Don't think you'll be disappointed and shouldn't take too much running in either; seem to recall mine were fine straight out of the box. The norm though is to give them about 25-50hrs use before assessing them - if you're in a hurry just leaving them playing at medium volume from your laptop overnight for a few nights. Wouldn't say it's a big issue though. Enjoy!