Nothing beats the Sennheiser HD-280 as an awesome pair of hacker headphones. For ~$80 you get terrific sounds, great noise reduction and amazing comfort.
I've tried previous iterations of the Bose QC line but I was disappointed by a) the battery requirement, b) the sound quality (poor and muddled by active noise cancellation) and c) the build quality---my pair died after a year and those things never did anything but sit at my desk.
I'm going on five years with my HD280s and I don't have a single complaint.
edit: I should add that I do end up using my iPod earbuds a lot. I should really buy another set of HD280s for work.
I love my 280's, but I have trouble hacking with them unless I leave one ear partially off. Their around-ear noise-canceling design puts the music front and center, and I prefer to hear the music in the background farther away when hacking.
That said, they've lasted 3+ years extraordinarily well, far better then the Sony MDR-7506's I've seen die in that time frame.
Same here, I've been using the same pair of HD280s for years, and they've been absolutely wonderful. The only issues I can think of are:
1) They're heavy, so they cause cranial irritation.
2) The padding at the top has come loose, though that's easily fixable with some glue or tape.
3) They're not wireless. This is the biggest thing for me. After getting some LG Bluetooth headphones to use with my Android phone for listening to music on the go, wired headphones are really starting to bug me. However, wireless isn't practical for the hours-on-end of music listening that goes on while working, since the battery would probably run out (not sure about that though - the LG's are supposed to last 10 hours).
> you get terrific sounds, great noise reduction and amazing comfort.
I've been using 280s at work for a few weeks now and I'm not really digging them. At home I have Shure SRH-440s, but replaced the stock pads with pads from the 840s (about $20 off amazon). They're monitor headphones so the response is meant to be flatter; the net result is notably quieter bass that sounds more "present" than pounding your ears. At first I disliked it but once you start listening for a bit you grow to appreciate it.
I have this exact pair with those pads. Really great but they get warm after a long while as all over-the-ears models do. Great sound though and very portable.
Meh, for closed over the ear headphones I prefer Beyerdynamic's DT 770 Pro. The only problem is that they put quite some pressure on your head. You have to like it and best should test them for an extended period of time before you buy them. For me it's not an issue.
Agreed, though I've always thought the pressure from the DT770 was fairly light - maybe I'm just used to heavier stuff. Isolation from outside sound is about as good as you'll get short of specialized headphones, or ones using active cancellation.
What I like most about them is that they don't touch my ears at all, so for me as well there's no long term discomfort whatsoever.
I love my 280s. However, lugging them around is a bit of a bother so I usually leave them at my desk.
When I'm on the move, I pack in-ear buds. Skullcandy makes the best: inexpensive and really great bass. My favorite are the Titans (http://www.amazon.com/Skullcandy-Titan-S2TTCB-047-Black-Chro...) but even the entry level Ink'd are a huge step above any other buds at that price point.
And people actually use the white Apple buds? I can't even keep those in my ears as they just fall out constantly.
When I'm coding the last thing I want is bass. My goals in that situation are:
a) Block out everything around me.
b) Play music that helps me concentrate.
I find that bass is counterproductive WRT #2.
As for the Apple earbuds, they fit me and I can wear them for about an hour before my ears start to hurt. I keep them around when I need to be on-the-move. Personally I've never been a big fan of Skullcandy.
I do have a pair of Etymotic ER-6i canalphones. I don't use them unless I'll be using them for a while at a time since taking them in/out is a bit of a process but the sound quality is superb and they do a terrific job of blocking out my environment. They're magic on a plane.
Sennheiser in ear buds are the only thing that make mass transit survivable. The almost completely block out ambient sound, and I can listen to podcasts enven in loud environments.
The only caveat is that buds, especially when thrown into jackets and pant pockets, only last 6 months to a year, but are completely worth the 40$.
I have a pair of shure se315 and, I love them. They block out ambient noise really well, and have a really nice even response. I would recommend them if you want an IEM with an even tone. Only downside is they are a bit on the expensive side.
The HD-280's are great headphones, but the HD-380's are a significant upgrade. Better bass response and more open sounding. They sound extremely similar to my HD-595's.
After a bit of research the 380's do indeed seem to have a good rating. I believe both the 280's and 380's are collapsible but the 380's have an easier to replace cable.
Very good reviews online but a bit hard to get in shops (UK), most places seem to order them in.
Is Sennheiser really that hard to spell? Quick Germanic spelling tip - if it sounds like "eye" it's "-ei-", if it sounds like "ee" it's "-ie". So the last letter of the pair is the phonetic sound it makes.
This is the case for many popular headphones because a lot of them are priced low. This almost happened to me, but luckily I was too suspicious of a $90 drop in a pair of $150 monitor headphones. Once I did a google search, I found a thread that mentioned many fake ones and showed people how to check if a pair they got was real.
I tried the Custom 2 and didn't like them at all. The right eartip wouldn't stay in my ear, the cords were easily damaged, and they were incredibly bright. I like a bright sound, but this was ridiculous.
Fully agree. X10s are so comfortable & tiny that they almost feel like an implant, without compromising sound quality or noise isolation. It's amazing how much bass such a miniature speaker can produce, when fitting properly.
Only disadvantage is that people don't realize you are wearing headphones and you don't hear them yelling at you.
I am shocked that the Sony MDR-V6 cans are so low on the list. Those headphones are legendary and there is still none that can top them in the price range (got mine for $65 on Amazon). Sennheiser is great, but I cannot put the 280 over the V6 after having both, and this is coming from a bass head.
I still use the V300's; I've had them since middle school and they're still ridiculously comfortable. The pleather's started to fray, but a new pair is only like $40.
I love mine too, but only after I replaced the pleather pads with velour pads. I liked the soundstage and smoother high end of the 280s, but they just weren't comfortable. Wish I had a door on my office so that I could use Grados...
ive had mechanical issues with every headphone ever. V6 has a flimsy folding hinge mechanism with tiny plastic tabs that break off, Beyer 770's cable has split in half and frayed open several times, and earbuds 3.5mm connectors with crap strain relief that lose connectivity after a few dozen pocketing cycles of your phone/musicplayer.
i just use cheap throwaway earbuds in girly colors on commute and FM radio for music into solid Advent loudspeakers that have been going strong since the 70s
I'm a longtime Head-fi member, first set of workplace cans were HD-280s about 10 years ago. This article is a decent start, but there are many better options in these respective price ranges. Head-fi is there to help - http://www.head-fi.org/
I've moved considerably upmarket over the years and won't talk about the rest of my setup, but my main cans now are Ultrasone Editions 8s. They're very pricey (retail $1500 for the basic model, but you can get them used under $1k if you spend enough time on the Head-fi classifieds). They're considered by many to be the best sounding _closed_ cans out there, and they actually isolate almost as well as good iems. Plus they're very light and comfortable at 260 grams.
So yeah, that's quite a bit of money and I am certainly an audiophile. OTOH, I use them an average of 4 hours a day and bought them used, so when the time comes I can sell them at little to no loss. I get a great deal of enjoyment out of my rig and it helps me to do my work, so I consider it a good investment. Same with my Knoll Life Chair. YMMV. I actually made a profit on limited edition headphones in the past, purchased a used pair of Audio-Technica L3000s for $1500 in 2005, sold them for $2000 in 2007. Today they tend to go in the $2500 range.
They straddle between casual and reference. You really can't get solid reference/monitor in a closed phone. For open phones,a good starter reference would be the AKG701, but that is difficult to drive and anemic down low. For true ref tt seems you have to move up to things like the Senn HD800/Beyer T1 to get near ruler flat frequency.
For monitor use, and by that term I'm talking about actual pro-audio where isolation is a plus, really the high end custom IEM (IEM = in ear monitor) is where it's at.
But as with most things, be careful what you wish for. A true reference can be boring unless you're using well mastered source material. Most pop/rock/electronica doesn't fall into that category, and with that notion it's best to listen to a bunch of cans and let your ears be your guide.
The components in my chain cater to my preferences. It's not the most uber-accurate, but for my purposes emotional engagement is key - it let's me tune out from my environment and focus on my work.
Wow, I didn't even know they made custom IEMs, vs. just custom earmolds for the standard Etymotics, Shure, UE, etc. IEMs. This is like a whole additional level of audio geekery :)
AKG K701s are not difficult to drive - 64 ohm is not that much - but they leak sound so bad, I don't think I'd ever recommend anyone using those in an office (unless you want to hear everything around you or listen to music at deafening volume in which case everyone around you is forced to listen to it as well).
You're asking the wrong question. Nearly all "audiophile-class" headphones are used for what most would consider casual listening. The distinction you want is "fun" vs. "neutral," and depending on who you ask you'll get very different answers on preferences.
I've been using some Denon D-2000's for my work usage for a while. Were about $250 when I bought them 5 or 6 years ago, looks like they run closer to $350 these days.
They're closed, but not super-isolating, a good tradeoff between not leaking sound, and being able to hear my phone ring.
They're very comfortable, more so than other phones I own (At home I have a couple different pairs of Grados, Beyers, and AKG 301s).
They also drive well of a standard headphone output, when many audiophile grade phones (the AKGs and most higher-end Sennheisers, for intance), don't.
Could not agree more. No-frills styling (i.e. kinda fug but durable plastic), extremely comfortable for long periods of time, over-ear doesn't leak a lot of sound into your surroundings, nice low-end punch, and otherwise flat enough for basic multitrack mixing work.
While I agree on all of the other points, they are most definitely not extremely comfortable. Especially if you have a larger head, you'll feel like your skull is in a clamp quite fast.
Other than that (and the headband cracking) those are one of the best headphones I've ever had.
My $0.02. The Bose QuietComfort 15 (over-the-ear, closed, noise canceling) are fantastic to code with. With no audio playing, low bassy sounds are entirely cancelled out unless extremely loud. Highs are reduced in volume, but still come through. Add earplugs and the highs almost go away too. Lastly, turn on some music or pink noise and you're not going to hear a thing.
For $18 + headphone speakers, can't beat the price. Worked so well I made two to keep at different locations and also carry one when flying. There's an instructable too http://www.instructables.com/id/Jackhammer-Headphones/
The difference to mine is that I drilled a hole to pass the wires and used hot glue to make sure there's no way sound can come through there.
That's awesome. I actually have a set of ear muffs, different brand. Compared to the Bose QC15's, they let in a lot more bass, where the noise-canceling gets rid of that. Coupling them with earplugs works really well though.
They're less comfortable to wear since they squeeze your head harder than headphones (maybe I could adjust mine by stretching the metal headband with two vice's or something), and they have a bit more weight. But for $20 instead of $300, and hack factor, you win hands down! :)
I have a pair of their older on-ear model (replaced by the OE1). At the time, they were the most readily available pair of head phones where the main cable separated from the head phones. Most of my headphone failures over the years were from the stress at the device end of the cable. I have fixed this a few times but it's easier to get a replacement cable. So for the 199 I spent on the Bose, these are the best value for money head phones I have so far.
Also they are more portable than most head phones, pretty comfortable, and they use a single cable rather than a y-cable.
Simply because Bose provides poor value for money. They have some good products but they're overpriced. They charge you extra for the brand reputation they've spent millions on cultivating in the unwashed masses.
My workplace has become absolutely impossible without headphones, so I recently went on a search for something better than what I had on hand, and ended up with three pairs. Specifically I wanted closed 'phones so that I don't drive my coworkers as insane as they drive me, but I didn't want noise cancellation.
* Shure SRH-640. Amazing sound, but a bit heavy and annoyingly prone to creak every time I move my head a millimeter. I keep these at home for light use.
* Beyerdynamic DT-235. By far the tinniest sound of the three, light and comfortable for short period, but boy do they make my ears feel hot after a while. I might start taking them on planes; otherwise I don't use them.
* KRK KNS-8400. A noticeable step below the Shures in quality, but still better e.g. than the HD-280 which I've also tried. No creaking and comfortable even for long-term wear. These are my every-day phones at work, even though the extra-wide headband does look kind of goofy.
I'm no audiophile by any stretch of the imagination, but even I can tell that some of the popular brands are absolute crap. It's too bad more people haven't heard of brands like Beyerdynamic and KRK, because they actually do make much better-sounding 'phones at prices that any geek should consider quite reasonable.
For a real geeky good time, go to http://www.headphone.com (no relationship except that I bought the Beyerdynamic and KRK from them) to check out the frequency response curves and such.
> but boy do they make my ears feel hot after a while
I love the sound of over the ear headphones. Also, I get way too hot. (I also swap shoes for sandals, Mr Rogers style, once I get to work. Can't program with hot feet.)
I alternate between Sony and Shure SE 215 earbuds when I need to work heads down. The Shure's are really effective.
I was hoping someone else would mention the Shure earbuds. They really are amazing. They manage to block out all of the noise around me, except for one particular co-worker...
I second the recommendation for any Shure IEMs or cans, and add Senn HD25-IIs for portable use (closed back, high sensitivity, small, light, short cord, built like a tank, German :D ) and Beyerdynamic DT 770 Pros for awesome isolation and all-day comfort for your desk.
I'm running a Behringer USB DAC (because it's the cheapest thing that has optical out) via TOSLINK into a Behringer Ultracurve DEQ2496 (using that as my DAC) running balanced XLR into a Henry Engineering Matchbox HD (found used on ebay for $30 mis-listed as "usb headphone amp" lololol -- they're ~$200 new) running unbalanced RCA into a SOHA tube amp that I built. All the stuff that requires mains power is on a OneAC isolater that is built to reduce hum on telecom gear.
I tried out the "audiophile" headphones by Grado on display at a neat little audio store near MIT[1].
While the sound quality was phenomenal, they were really loud outside the headphones, meaning I wouldn't be able to wear them at a quiet workspace. Does anyone know if other audiophile headphones have that issue?
The term you're looking for is "open" vs. "closed" headphones. "Open" headphones are generally considered to have better sound quality for the price if you're listening in an empty quiet room, but they
a) leak sound to the room
b) let sound in from the room
If you're thinking about getting those grados be forewarned they have huge noise bleed that your coworkers are not going to appreciate. They sound fantastic and are really reasonably priced but I leave mine at home for hacking in solitary only.
I've been exceptionally happy with the "Beyerdynamic DT 770 PRO" ($179). It has lovely padded ear cups and I wear it all day. With the sound off, it even acts as reasonable ear muffs helping to reduce distractions. The sound is great for classical and operatic works. A disclaimer -- I'm not an audiophile.
I second this: The DT770 are very comfortable to wear, and being of "closed" design both isolate yourself from the environment and prevent your sound leaking out annoying your coworkers. Currently they are my favourite headphones! Strongly recommended, sound quality is excellent.
If you want a little less isolation, the AKG K240 MKii are a good choice, but your coworkers might complain that sound leaks out (semi-open design). Their padding is fake-leather (but you can get fuzzy replacement pads) that tends to get sweaty after longer use. Sound quality is also very good.
I can second these headphones. They are one of the best values for your dollar that you can get right now. They're also particularly good for electronic music (they have quite good bass).
DT770s are one of the "standard" studio monitoring headphones, and seen pretty often among touring sound techs (esp the M version which is the one meant for drummers due to higher volume and isolation).
I've used a pair of them since 2005 for office work and for serious front-of-house mixing. They sound great and hold up great.
I have the Pioneer SE-MJ71 steel wheel series headphones. I've used Pioneer headphones for a long time as a DJ, they have excellent response and range and for daily wear work perfectly. One thing I have noticed is that when I am wearing them while working that you need to pump very little volume into them (slide the volume slider all the way down) to get large and expressive sound. I've thought about getting an external volume control in line with the 3.5mm to be able to control it even better.
At home I also have an older Sennheiser headset that I don't use nearly as much anymore because the foam has deteriorated so bad that the plastic casing is pressing into my head when I have them on (which frankly is uncomfortable). I've wanted to get a replacement for a while. The one thing I absolutely love about the Sennheiser cans is that they came with a REALLY long headphone wire, and can be unplugged from the headphones and from the computer (So when I've accidentally stepped on the cord or spin around in my chair I don't send stuff flying!). They have gone through years of use, I've had them since I was 12... I am now 25. If I could get new foam pads for it I would do so in a heartbeat.
I went through a search for quality headphones that can also work for Skype calls a while back. I ended up going with what is marketed as a gaming headset. While I'm not a gamer, I've found the SteelSeries Siberia V2 to be pretty great.
Personally I use a pair of Shure SE-215-K in-ear monitors with the "Shure CBL-M+-K" cable that includes in-cord mic and volume adjustment. That cord will work with any in-ear monitor in the Shure SE line. I highly recommend this route if you're looking to spend within in the $150 to $500 range.
Happy to see someone else mention steelseries. The headphones I love are the 5H V2 though. They sound great to me, but more important for long sessions is that they are fantastically comfortable. Not only do they fit completely over my ears but the foam is marvelously soft and supple, unlike anything I've seen on other headphones.
I'm happy with my trusty Nokia BH-503 Bluetooth stereo headphones - I could never go back to wired ones, unless I really need high fidelity. Wish there was more choice on the market, though - Bluetooth headphones are really under-appreciated...
And if you're spending big money on good cans... buy an amp. You'll be pleasantly surprised. I'm running a NuForce Icon with Senn HD650s (a Woo WA6 on the way, yes!). Definitely the way forward.
I have a variety of ear buds and cans from AKG. However when I need real silence, it's not good enough. And simply turning up the volume can be damaging to your hearing.
So get a set of proper ear muffs, they are not expensive. I use HL Leightning's (http://www.howardleight.com/ear-muffs/leightning) in combination with ear buds on low volume. The world could end and you wouldn't notice it.
I swear by Sennheiser CX-300s - they are cheap, easily replaceable and work very well for my non-discerning ears.
Plenty of bass (compared to Apple earbuds at the very least) and shut out all exterior noise to the point of being dangerously approached from behind while working.
“Even when I'm not listening to music, people don't bother me when I'm wearing them.”
I've never found this to be true. In fact, I find it less annoying if I don't bother wearing them and deal with the interruptions rather than put mine on and have someone come up to my desk every 10 minutes.
That being said, the article is spot on. The only way to get into flow in an open office situation is to minimize ambient noise.
The ATH M50s are the first pair of proper over-head headphones that I've owned. I think they sound fantastic with just my iPod, desktop or laptop (via headphone output) and they come alive when connected to my amplifier. I own a pair of Shure SE115 which work very well to block outside noise.
I do recommend at least trying to physically examine a pair of over-ear headphones before buying them. A music shop will probably have monitor headphones and they should be okay with you taking them out of the box. I was also considering Shure SRH840 but they were so heavy I just went with the ATH M50s. Great headphones are worth owning if you have high quality music and an effective delivery system.
I have V-Moda Crossfades LP2
They have been fantastic so far. They look awesome and sound great.
During my research I found that the headphones you buy really depends on the type of music you listen.
187 comments
[ 4.9 ms ] story [ 236 ms ] threadI've tried previous iterations of the Bose QC line but I was disappointed by a) the battery requirement, b) the sound quality (poor and muddled by active noise cancellation) and c) the build quality---my pair died after a year and those things never did anything but sit at my desk.
I'm going on five years with my HD280s and I don't have a single complaint.
edit: I should add that I do end up using my iPod earbuds a lot. I should really buy another set of HD280s for work.
That said, they've lasted 3+ years extraordinarily well, far better then the Sony MDR-7506's I've seen die in that time frame.
1) They're heavy, so they cause cranial irritation.
2) The padding at the top has come loose, though that's easily fixable with some glue or tape.
3) They're not wireless. This is the biggest thing for me. After getting some LG Bluetooth headphones to use with my Android phone for listening to music on the go, wired headphones are really starting to bug me. However, wireless isn't practical for the hours-on-end of music listening that goes on while working, since the battery would probably run out (not sure about that though - the LG's are supposed to last 10 hours).
I've been using 280s at work for a few weeks now and I'm not really digging them. At home I have Shure SRH-440s, but replaced the stock pads with pads from the 840s (about $20 off amazon). They're monitor headphones so the response is meant to be flatter; the net result is notably quieter bass that sounds more "present" than pounding your ears. At first I disliked it but once you start listening for a bit you grow to appreciate it.
What I like most about them is that they don't touch my ears at all, so for me as well there's no long term discomfort whatsoever.
When I'm on the move, I pack in-ear buds. Skullcandy makes the best: inexpensive and really great bass. My favorite are the Titans (http://www.amazon.com/Skullcandy-Titan-S2TTCB-047-Black-Chro...) but even the entry level Ink'd are a huge step above any other buds at that price point.
And people actually use the white Apple buds? I can't even keep those in my ears as they just fall out constantly.
a) Block out everything around me. b) Play music that helps me concentrate.
I find that bass is counterproductive WRT #2.
As for the Apple earbuds, they fit me and I can wear them for about an hour before my ears start to hurt. I keep them around when I need to be on-the-move. Personally I've never been a big fan of Skullcandy.
I do have a pair of Etymotic ER-6i canalphones. I don't use them unless I'll be using them for a while at a time since taking them in/out is a bit of a process but the sound quality is superb and they do a terrific job of blocking out my environment. They're magic on a plane.
The only caveat is that buds, especially when thrown into jackets and pant pockets, only last 6 months to a year, but are completely worth the 40$.
I used to have Shures, then Etymotics, but the Etys broke. Now those made a plane sound like a quiet car ride.
Very good reviews online but a bit hard to get in shops (UK), most places seem to order them in.
I was able to reinforce them and they are better than ever.
I greatly prefer Etymotics.
Only disadvantage is that people don't realize you are wearing headphones and you don't hear them yelling at you.
Edit: Oh and they are comfortable. Which for long listening is essential to me.
i just use cheap throwaway earbuds in girly colors on commute and FM radio for music into solid Advent loudspeakers that have been going strong since the 70s
I've moved considerably upmarket over the years and won't talk about the rest of my setup, but my main cans now are Ultrasone Editions 8s. They're very pricey (retail $1500 for the basic model, but you can get them used under $1k if you spend enough time on the Head-fi classifieds). They're considered by many to be the best sounding _closed_ cans out there, and they actually isolate almost as well as good iems. Plus they're very light and comfortable at 260 grams.
So yeah, that's quite a bit of money and I am certainly an audiophile. OTOH, I use them an average of 4 hours a day and bought them used, so when the time comes I can sell them at little to no loss. I get a great deal of enjoyment out of my rig and it helps me to do my work, so I consider it a good investment. Same with my Knoll Life Chair. YMMV. I actually made a profit on limited edition headphones in the past, purchased a used pair of Audio-Technica L3000s for $1500 in 2005, sold them for $2000 in 2007. Today they tend to go in the $2500 range.
For monitor use, and by that term I'm talking about actual pro-audio where isolation is a plus, really the high end custom IEM (IEM = in ear monitor) is where it's at.
But as with most things, be careful what you wish for. A true reference can be boring unless you're using well mastered source material. Most pop/rock/electronica doesn't fall into that category, and with that notion it's best to listen to a bunch of cans and let your ears be your guide.
The components in my chain cater to my preferences. It's not the most uber-accurate, but for my purposes emotional engagement is key - it let's me tune out from my environment and focus on my work.
They're closed, but not super-isolating, a good tradeoff between not leaking sound, and being able to hear my phone ring.
They're very comfortable, more so than other phones I own (At home I have a couple different pairs of Grados, Beyers, and AKG 301s).
They also drive well of a standard headphone output, when many audiophile grade phones (the AKGs and most higher-end Sennheisers, for intance), don't.
Other than that (and the headband cracking) those are one of the best headphones I've ever had.
BUT, they were poorly tested. Both sides have broken where they slide out of the headpiece to extend.
Spent $5 at home depot and with a bit of drilling they are now reinforced and back together.
For $18 + headphone speakers, can't beat the price. Worked so well I made two to keep at different locations and also carry one when flying. There's an instructable too http://www.instructables.com/id/Jackhammer-Headphones/
The difference to mine is that I drilled a hole to pass the wires and used hot glue to make sure there's no way sound can come through there.
They're less comfortable to wear since they squeeze your head harder than headphones (maybe I could adjust mine by stretching the metal headband with two vice's or something), and they have a bit more weight. But for $20 instead of $300, and hack factor, you win hands down! :)
I have a pair of their older on-ear model (replaced by the OE1). At the time, they were the most readily available pair of head phones where the main cable separated from the head phones. Most of my headphone failures over the years were from the stress at the device end of the cable. I have fixed this a few times but it's easier to get a replacement cable. So for the 199 I spent on the Bose, these are the best value for money head phones I have so far.
Also they are more portable than most head phones, pretty comfortable, and they use a single cable rather than a y-cable.
* Shure SRH-640. Amazing sound, but a bit heavy and annoyingly prone to creak every time I move my head a millimeter. I keep these at home for light use.
* Beyerdynamic DT-235. By far the tinniest sound of the three, light and comfortable for short period, but boy do they make my ears feel hot after a while. I might start taking them on planes; otherwise I don't use them.
* KRK KNS-8400. A noticeable step below the Shures in quality, but still better e.g. than the HD-280 which I've also tried. No creaking and comfortable even for long-term wear. These are my every-day phones at work, even though the extra-wide headband does look kind of goofy.
I'm no audiophile by any stretch of the imagination, but even I can tell that some of the popular brands are absolute crap. It's too bad more people haven't heard of brands like Beyerdynamic and KRK, because they actually do make much better-sounding 'phones at prices that any geek should consider quite reasonable.
For a real geeky good time, go to http://www.headphone.com (no relationship except that I bought the Beyerdynamic and KRK from them) to check out the frequency response curves and such.
I love the sound of over the ear headphones. Also, I get way too hot. (I also swap shoes for sandals, Mr Rogers style, once I get to work. Can't program with hot feet.)
I alternate between Sony and Shure SE 215 earbuds when I need to work heads down. The Shure's are really effective.
I'm running a Behringer USB DAC (because it's the cheapest thing that has optical out) via TOSLINK into a Behringer Ultracurve DEQ2496 (using that as my DAC) running balanced XLR into a Henry Engineering Matchbox HD (found used on ebay for $30 mis-listed as "usb headphone amp" lololol -- they're ~$200 new) running unbalanced RCA into a SOHA tube amp that I built. All the stuff that requires mains power is on a OneAC isolater that is built to reduce hum on telecom gear.
And that's my work desk :)
While the sound quality was phenomenal, they were really loud outside the headphones, meaning I wouldn't be able to wear them at a quiet workspace. Does anyone know if other audiophile headphones have that issue?
[1] http://www.qaudio.com/
a) leak sound to the room b) let sound in from the room
If you want a little less isolation, the AKG K240 MKii are a good choice, but your coworkers might complain that sound leaks out (semi-open design). Their padding is fake-leather (but you can get fuzzy replacement pads) that tends to get sweaty after longer use. Sound quality is also very good.
I've used a pair of them since 2005 for office work and for serious front-of-house mixing. They sound great and hold up great.
I have the Pioneer SE-MJ71 steel wheel series headphones. I've used Pioneer headphones for a long time as a DJ, they have excellent response and range and for daily wear work perfectly. One thing I have noticed is that when I am wearing them while working that you need to pump very little volume into them (slide the volume slider all the way down) to get large and expressive sound. I've thought about getting an external volume control in line with the 3.5mm to be able to control it even better.
At home I also have an older Sennheiser headset that I don't use nearly as much anymore because the foam has deteriorated so bad that the plastic casing is pressing into my head when I have them on (which frankly is uncomfortable). I've wanted to get a replacement for a while. The one thing I absolutely love about the Sennheiser cans is that they came with a REALLY long headphone wire, and can be unplugged from the headphones and from the computer (So when I've accidentally stepped on the cord or spin around in my chair I don't send stuff flying!). They have gone through years of use, I've had them since I was 12... I am now 25. If I could get new foam pads for it I would do so in a heartbeat.
That shouldn't be too hard, unless you have a very rare model:
http://www.custom-cable.co.uk/headphone-spares/sennheiser-en...
It may just be time to bite the bullet and purchase a new pair of headphones. It is not like they haven't given me my moneys worth and then some!
http://www.thinkdigital.co.nz//product_info.php?products_id=...
An ebay listing:
http://compare.ebay.co.uk/like/200713566650?ltyp=AllFixedPri...
There may be others.
Good luck!
The pull-out mic is by far my favorite feature.
http://steelseries.com/products/audio/steelseries-siberia-v2
I need something pocket-sized for hacking on the go.
Any suggestions for high-end buds with an in-cord mic a la iPhone buds?
Next: frying and sauce pans for hackers. Hack your eggs.
PS: The only music I listen to while working is the beat of my fingers on the keyboard.
Heroku should have a badge in their footer 'powered by Beyerdynamic'
So get a set of proper ear muffs, they are not expensive. I use HL Leightning's (http://www.howardleight.com/ear-muffs/leightning) in combination with ear buds on low volume. The world could end and you wouldn't notice it.
Plenty of bass (compared to Apple earbuds at the very least) and shut out all exterior noise to the point of being dangerously approached from behind while working.
I've never found this to be true. In fact, I find it less annoying if I don't bother wearing them and deal with the interruptions rather than put mine on and have someone come up to my desk every 10 minutes.
That being said, the article is spot on. The only way to get into flow in an open office situation is to minimize ambient noise.
I do recommend at least trying to physically examine a pair of over-ear headphones before buying them. A music shop will probably have monitor headphones and they should be okay with you taking them out of the box. I was also considering Shure SRH840 but they were so heavy I just went with the ATH M50s. Great headphones are worth owning if you have high quality music and an effective delivery system.