headphone recommendations needed

[Gordon]

Looking for recommendations on some new cans.  My trusty sennheiser hd 280 pro have developed a pretty nasty crackle.  Not looking to break the bank.  Thought about just getting another set of the same but there are some AKG's at the same price point. They get light use editing and sometimes listening to vinyl.  I have never needed a headphone amp in the past and would like to keep it that way....

[noahbickart]

I enjoy my AKG k701, Beyer 880's, and Hifiman HE-4XX, but I use headphone amps....

[goodcooker]

I replaced my hd280 that i'd used for 15 years with a pair of Beyerdynamic DT880. I like them a lot  Same use - some track splitting and listening to records late at night. My interface for my desktop drives them alright but not to high levels which is fine with me.

[Gordon]

Lots of folks on the FB group recommended the Sony MDR 7506 so that's what I went with.

[Gutbucket]

I used Sony MDR-V6 (more or less identical predecessor to 7506) for years since the mid 80's.  They are good reliable headphones, more or less an industry standard, and provide some isolation.  Nice that they fold up relatively compactly for over-ear type closed-back phones.  I still have them stored away somewhere although in need of new pads, primarily because all my other over-ears are open-backed.

Headphone preference is a very personal thing.  The AKG K701 has too much treble peak for me, for example.  Just not a good fit with my ear-canal resonance I suppose.  I'm more of a Sennheiser house sound guy.  The Mass-drop HD-6XX is what I'd look at if shopping for a replacement for my open-backed Senns today.  Have been long curious about Beyer 880 and Hifiman HE-4XX but haven't found the chance to really give them a good listen.

[Liquid Meat]

I have several of the ones mentioned above. I enjoy all of them for different functions.

I use my MDR7506 for critical listening, Hifiman HE400 for casual listening as I like the openness they have. The 880s I use for casual listening as well. They are more bottom-end heavy in the system I use them on, and are my go-to with jazz stuff personally.

I don't think I'd feel bad about any of these are my only pair.

[morst]

I used Sony MDR-V6 (more or less identical predecessor to 7506) for years since the mid 80's.  They are good reliable headphones, more or less an industry standard, and provide some isolation.  Nice that they fold up relatively compactly for over-ear type closed-back phones.  I still have them stored away somewhere although in need of new pads, primarily because all my other over-ears are open-backed.

Headphone preference is a very personal thing.  The AKG K701 has too much treble peak for me, for example.  Just not a good fit with my ear-canal resonance I suppose.  I'm more of a Sennheiser house sound guy.  The Mass-drop HD-6XX is what I'd look at if shopping for a replacement for my open-backed Senns today.  Have been long curious about Beyer 880 and Hifiman HE-4XX but haven't found the chance to really give them a good listen.

I'm on my second pair of V6's (first got stolen) and I love them for critical monitoring, but don't find them to be overly "pleasant" for recreational listening.
Had a pair of old AKG K44 which I found more pleasant, but a bit less accurate than the V6 sets. One side conked out though and they don't seem easy to repair.
Sony V600 are smaller "on the ear" phones if you don't want as much isolation, I used them in the field for a few years before deciding that I can't monitor in the field with headphones anyhow.
Had a pair of old Sennheiser 414 "on the ear" phones which were a favorite for pleasure listening, although they don't mask outside noises due to the on-ear design.

Lots of folks on the FB group recommended the Sony MDR 7506 so that's what I went with.

I thought 7506 was a V6 with juiced bass for DJs but it looks like it's got less bass in some reviews?

[Gutbucket]

The Senn 414 is a classic I've never heard, but have heard good things about from folks who's opinion I value.  I've long wondered how it compares to the later Senn HD5XX through HD6XX range currently in production.

Classic yellow foam pads on your 414's morst?

[morst]

The Senn 414 is a classic I've never heard, but have heard good things about from folks who's opinion I value.  I've long wondered how it compares to the later Senn HD5XX through HD6XX range currently in production.

Classic yellow foam pads on your 414's morst?

They're long gone but yes, yellow ear pads. WAIT sorry they were the 424's not 414's, I now believe.

I may have bought them along with a yellow plastic Sports Walkman in December 1984, and picked up King Crimson Three Of A Perfect Pair to listen over and over until I got home, since they all matched.


https://twitter.com/KLatremouille/status/1146042792306569216/photo/1



(Mine was the pushbutton unit lower left.)

[Gutbucket]

I can almost hear it now.
..and imagine an adjacent cabinet containing Busman mics.

Still rockin' one of these on occasion-

[328]

The Senn 414 is a classic I've never heard, but have heard good things about from folks who's opinion I value.  I've long wondered how it compares to the later Senn HD5XX through HD6XX range currently in production.

Classic yellow foam pads on your 414's morst?

They're long gone but yes, yellow ear pads. WAIT sorry they were the 424's not 414's, I now believe.

I may have bought them along with a yellow plastic Sports Walkman in December 1984, and picked up King Crimson Three Of A Perfect Pair to listen over and over until I got home, since they all matched.


https://twitter.com/KLatremouille/status/1146042792306569216/photo/1



(Mine was the pushbutton unit lower left.)

Si'

https://www.tonepublications.com/old-school/sennheiser-hd-414-and-424/

I had a few of both, they had a repair Depot somewhere near Broadway and Canal St. in downtown.
I remember a pair which was ....shock! ... Blue foam on white band
The drivers pop out with a small screw driver.

Try Grado SR-80 if you have the chance, they have a sound that some find irresistible.

[morst]

I have heard that Grado are not comfortable to wear.

Try Grado SR-80 if you have the chance, they have a sound that some find irresistible.

[DavidPuddy]

I have heard that Grado are not comfortable to wear.

Try Grado SR-80 if you have the chance, they have a sound that some find irresistible.

You can bend the headband to reduce the clamping force and add a pad, which helps. I don't like their ear pads though. Very itchy.

[voltronic]

I owned first-gen Grado SR60s for a long time, and they were not comfortable until I bought a set of replacement foam ear cups (not pads) intended for the 80s. Opened the highs up a bit also.

Nothing beats the comfort of my Senn HD650s and they are outstanding cans. They need a good deal of juice to drive them loud though, so maybe not what Gordon is looking for.

[jbell]

I have the MDR V6 and the have been great for the money!

Lots of folks on the FB group recommended the Sony MDR 7506 so that's what I went with.