Headphone Recommendations Please

[Beezer]

I'm looking to get a new set of headphones. I'd like to use them both for gaming and music (about 50% each way).
Any recommendations out there? Comfort is a big consideration for me as well as sound quality. Looking to spend about $100 - 150.

[Beezer]

Thanks for the info Turbo. I like the idea of not being attached with a cord, but have been skepical of the sound quality.
What didn't you like about the Sennheiser phones. I've heard a lot of good things about them for music listening.

[Brian R.]

Go for the Sennheiser HD-570 or HD-580.
http://www.1cache.com/1cache/senhdsymcirw.html

has the HD-570s for $125.

I have seen the HD-580s for $200.

They won't do the job with many DVDs or portable players, too high of impedance. For these uses, buy a headphone amplifier such as Shure FP22.

Lower impedance headphones are Grado. These are supposed to also be top-notch in sound.

I can vouch for the sound from the HD-600 Sennheisers. They are great.

[This message has been edited by Brian R. (edited 24 January 2000).]

[Beezer]

How do the high impedence phones sound when plugged into the sound card? Is volume any issue?

[TnT]

How does cordless headphones work? Do you have to plug something into the headphone jack and it sends the signal? If you do go for cordless make sure you don't plan on using the headphones elsewere.

[Brian R.]

The high impedance headphones sound fine. The whole issue is volume. You need more gain to obtain a similar sound level in a high impedance headphone than in a low impedance one. The Sennheiser HD-570s have a 120 Ohm impedance. The Sennheiser HD-600s have an impedance of 300 Ohms. So you can expect a higher sound level (~8 db) from the 570s at the same gain.

The Grados are lower impedance than the Sennheisers, but I don't recommend them since I've never heard them in a 1:1 comparison with the Sennheisers. I know the Sennheisers sound great.

[This message has been edited by Brian R. (edited 25 January 2000).]

[Beezer]

Brian R - Thanks for your input. I checked out the link you suggested in the Grail's thread... http://members.aol.com/headphone2/index.htm
In an email exchange with them, they highly recommended the Grado SR80 over the Senn HD570 for quality (also price is about $40 US less), but go with the Sennheiser for comfort.
But they also pointed out, that if used on a computer system, the Grado may reveal weaknesses in the source more so than the Sennheiser would.
I haven't yet decided which way to go.....

[Cellular Mitosis]

try the beyerdynamic DT 770's (about $130 ish). A little too bright but a good value (good bass extension too, almost too much bass).

Also, the AKG 240M are decent. You should find those for around $90. They don't sound great but sound better than anything else i have heard for under $100.

I second the suggestion for the HD 580's. 800.com has a deal with them for $200, and they throw in the DSP pro for free.

I ordered both the HD 600's and the HD580's a while back with the idea of keeping one and sending the other back. To my ears, they sound nearly identical (I like the HD580's ever so slightly more). The HD 600's have a little more treble, which appears as more detail for classical type music, but appears as harshness for any type of rock. The HD580's sound a little smoother for most popular music. And they have slightly better bass extension. I would not recommend spending and extra $150 to get the HD600's unless you solely listen to classical.