flb_78 wrote:gigag04 wrote:Beats by Dre are kind of like Bose to me - all marketing.
Most people never experience studio or audiophile level headphones so they are impressed by the mass marketed ones.
For half that price you can get better, less fad, brands.
That said, if I got a pair free I wouldn't refuse them.
This also accurately depicts my thoughts on Kimber...
WildBill wrote:gigag04 wrote:Beats by Dre are kind of like Bose to me - all marketing.
Bose has mostly quality stuff, but it is waaaaaay overpriced. Much more so than even Kimber. Bose equipment is marketed to the home decorator [read wife] rather than the audiophile.
So what do you 2 audiophiles recommend?
I am not sure I qualify as an audiophile, but I recommend that you listen and find out what you like. I can't recommend many particular models or brands, because I haven't listened to many of the newer headphones because I have had mine for many years.
First all, let me say that my comments refer to "serious listening", i.e. not mobile or casual listening. Unless I am posting to the "What Song Says Something" thread or editing a CD I don't listen to music through my computer. Unless it's on a DVD I don't listen to music through my AV surround sound system and I don't own an iPHone, iPod or other mp3 player. Most of you can probably stop reading at this point.
I prefer headphones that seal around the ear, but most people can't stand them. The Koss Pro 4AA is a good example. At $100, they are relatively inexpensive, but they have excellent sound. They are very heavy and the seal around the ear can become hot and unfortable after wearing them for a long time.
For more open headphones with foam pads, I like the Sony MDR-V6. For the price, they are pretty good. I don't use bud type earplugs. I have never felt comfortable or liked the sound. It may be like choosing a gun and hoslter combination.
When I used to travel a lot I considered the Bose noise cancelling headphones, but never got to try a pair. I also had the concern that the noise-cancelling would also alter the sound of the music. There are always compromises when designing something.
It also depends on the type of music you listen to. Many people seem to like a lot of bass in their music. I don't. I prefer a cleaner sound in the mid to high ranges. I have a pair of Magneplaner speakers. The heavy rock people don't like them because they don't have a bone crushing bass. I like them because they have a clean and transparent sound from the mid-range to the high frequencies.
As Gigag04 says you don't know what good sound is until you have something to compare it to. It's eating and McDonald's all of your life and then having a real hambuger.