Topic: Open Back Sennheiser headphones question

[Shawn]

I was thinking about picking a up pair of Sennheiser HD580, but none of their dealers around me actually carry them so I'll probably have to pick them up online. I'll mostly being using them in my cubicle at work and I'm afraid the open back design will let a lot of sound out and could bother the people around me. Can anybody that's used these (or other open back sennheiser cans) comment on how loud they are to people around you. thanks

[George]

Yeha, they leak quite a bit.  Maybe you should look into comfy closed cans...what will the cans be plugged into?  If its a laptop or desktop, I cannot recommend the HD580's...they need an amp to shine.

[Shawn]

thanks for the info... I was afraid of that. I was thinking of picking up a headphone amp of some sort to run in front of them.

any suggesstions on good closed cans that are comfortable. I will be wearing them 4-6 hours a day so comfort is a big deal to me. don't want to spend more than $125-$150. I've heard good things about the sound quality of grados, but I've also heard their construction can be a little weak and all of their designs are open air as far as I know.

[Evil Taper]

I just picked up the Beyerdynamic DT 770 phones and I've been enjoying them, they're very comfortable.  If you look online you might be able to find a deal.

[Gutbucket]

any suggesstions on good closed cans that are comfortable. I will be wearing them 4-6 hours a day so comfort is a big deal to me. don't want to spend more than $125-$150. I've heard good things about the sound quality of grados, but I've also heard their construction can be a little weak and all of their designs are open air as far as I know.

Yup, all the Grado's are open back, and since they sit 'on' your ears they can get uncomfortable for long sessions.  People buy 'em for their sound not comfort.

[George]

ShawnSmith, take a look at all the cans headphone.com offers.  I would recommend the DT770's, but their may be other options available to you on the site.  I personally own the Sony 7506's and they are closed, offer good sound (no amp required) and are built to last.  I've had my pair for 5 years and they are still cranking like the day I bought them.  The pads can be changed out to velour pads which gives them some great comfort for long listening sessions.  Although, the cord can sometimes drag the left earcup down a little too much for me.  I found the headband on the DT770's to be a little too short (the cord was on the short side too, from what I recall)...I had to remove the leather padding on the headband to get enough space to fit my noggin in there (I owned an older version).

Evil Taper, how's the headband on your DT770's?  I know your model (DT770-80) was re-modeled a bit compared to the version I had (DT770-250).  What about the cord?  Is there more give with it?  I remember mine being coiled up a little too tight.

[Evil Taper]

The headband is metal with a snap on cover that you can change when it gets worn out.  They're big enough and comfortable on my head, and I barely have the ears extended.  The one complaint that I have is that the cord is permanently attatched to the earpiece, I really liked the breakaway cord on my Sennheisers.  I've been running them on a gold connector rat shack extension cable and they sound fantastic.

[nihilistic0]

I have the open back HD485's


anyway, yea they do leak sound, but I don't think it would be enough to bother other people, unless you really cranked up the volume

[Brian Skalinder]

FWIW, if someone near my desk wore open headphones, it wouldn't take long for me to rip them off their head and smash them to smithereens.  IME, even low to medium volume would leak enough would drive me nuts.  $0.02

[RebelRebel]

I lucked out and found a pair of Stax SR-404 electrostatics  and the amp to go with it for under 1G on ebay. Those are some serious, serious phones. I got mine new...I see them fairly regularly unused.

they are supposed to be the cream of the crop.

http://www.stax.co.jp/index-E.html

[Brian Skalinder]

Stax SR-404 electrostatics  and the amp to go with it

 

[George]

I lucked out and found a pair of Stax SR-404 electrostatics  and the amp to go with it for under 1G on ebay. Those are some serious, serious phones. I got mine new...I see them fairly regularly unused.

they are supposed to be the cream of the crop.

http://www.stax.co.jp/index-E.html

Actually, the SR-007 's are the cream of the crop (aka Omega II) for the Stax line.

[RebelRebel]

 I meant(and what I didnt clarify) that Stax were supposed to be the cream of the crop in General. Of course you could buy the least expensive of the Stax line and notice an immediate difference from most cans. They are just amazing. I jumped from HD600s(senn) to Stax for pleasure listening, and was blown away. I wouldnt use them for monitoring(Use etys for that) but for leisure...

Actually, the SR-007 's are the cream of the crop (aka Omega II) for the Stax line.

[George]

Oh yeah, i definitely agree with that.  The midrange is on a different scale even with my cheapie SR44's or SR84's.  Try running some vinyl thru them   

-George

I meant(and what I didnt clarify) that Stax were supposed to be the cream of the crop in General. Of course you could buy the least expensive of the Stax line and notice an immediate difference from most cans. They are just amazing. I jumped from HD600s(senn) to Stax for pleasure listening, and was blown away. I wouldnt use them for monitoring(Use etys for that) but for leisure...

Actually, the SR-007 's are the cream of the crop (aka Omega II) for the Stax line.

[Gutbucket]

Any of you guys ever try those AKG K1000's? They look to me like dynamic Stax wannabe's.  Curious.
http://www.akg.com/products/powerslave,mynodeid,90,id,249,pid,249,_language,EN.html