Headphone recommendations

[elf69]

I am bit of a bass junkie but not want annoy my fiancee and father in law while listening to my music.

I have recently discovered boom 2 and love how can use a graphic equalizer in my macs now.
So I have tweaked the bass up a little, not stupidly high though as still want listen to rest of the music without bass trashing it.

Anyway I have some Sennheiser HD205 headphones and are good for the money.
It cannot handle the lower end bass and the higher end is little off too.

Without spending absurd money what would some of you audio guys recommend?

I want same style as the HD205 so large over ear type.

 

[keysofanxiety]

I am bit of a bass junkie but not want annoy my fiancee and father in law while listening to my music.

I have recently discovered boom 2 and love how can use a graphic equalizer in my macs now.
So I have tweaked the bass up a little, not stupidly high though as still want listen to rest of the music without bass trashing it.

Anyway I have some Sennheiser HD205 headphones and are good for the money.
It cannot handle the lower end bass and the higher end is little off too.

Without spending absurd money what would some of you audio guys recommend?

I want same style as the HD205 so large over ear type.

Sony MDR-7506. But don't change the EQ on the songs; ensure the songs are balanced without any tweaks on your end. They're dynamic range headphones which means all frequencies are designed to be as balanced as they can be -- whilst things like Beats would be bass-heavy and Sennheiser's will be sculpted to make the music sound 'warmer'.

The 7506s are frequently used for mixing music, though don't get me wrong; it's bitterly enjoyable to listen to decent music through them. Unparalleled for the price as well and incredibly sturdy -- I would argue those points until I'm blue in the face.

One thing you will notice: poorly mixed music or music mastered for rubbish speakers will be evident. Autotune/pitch correction on vox will be a lot more noticable. Heavy compression will also sound odd, as the vocals will sound almost 'underwater'.

However beautiful dynamic music like Floyd & Dire Straits will just sound gorgeous. It's like having a smoke. Good stuff will sound better. Bad stuff will sound worse

EDIT: You can pick them up for about £65 on eBay.

Again, even if you like bass heavy stuff, don't touch the EQ. You'll be surprised how deep and bassy they will sound when listening to bass-heavy music, as the frequency seperation and balance on those headphones are unmatched for the price.

Listening to decently produced Dubstep through them is mindblowing. The bass will tear your face off.

 

[elf69]

thanks but as i like my base would the 7560s not be good for me?

im no audiophile but a bit of bass I like but too much is awful!

most my tracks are mp3 ripped from my old CD collections
but still have pink floyd/queen/quo LPs, just need hook up my record deck to imac

 

[keysofanxiety]

thanks but as i like my base would the 7560s not be good for me?

im no audiophile but a bit of bass I like but too much is awful!

most my tracks are mp3 ripped from my old CD collections
but still have pink floyd/queen/quo LPs, just need hook up my record deck to imac

Sorry, just edited to make a point about that.

If you like bass-heavy music, it will have been mixed and mastered with the bass heavy in the first instance. These headphones are so, so good that the balance across all frequencies and crispness even at very high volumes will truly bring that out. Bassy stuff will never sound bassier; a clear, fresh, invigorating, deep rumble as the other instruments sit on top, rather than a muddy flatulence that soaks up the ears.

Urrggh I really really love these headphones.

Again I must make the point that it depends how well the music has been mixed and mastered in the first place. Decently produced things will sound better. Poorly produced albums will sound worse or even unlistenable.

 

[elf69]

thanks, been googling them
[doublepost=1470302757][/doublepost]As I am googling the MDR V6 keeps coming up.

It is claimed the V6 is more bass tuned with a softer treble.

But alot more expensive, at about £129
But if they good then I might be tempted to splash out.

 

[keysofanxiety]

thanks, been googling them
[doublepost=1470302757][/doublepost]As I am googling the MDR V6 keeps coming up.

It is claimed the V6 is more bass tuned with a softer treble.

But alot more expensive, at about £129
But if they good then I might be tempted to splash out.

The MDR-7506 were the next gen of the V6, I think. The 7506s do sound bassier than the V6s, though; well, from what I recall... Now I'm doubting myself after you say that.

Either model would be fine to be honest. However the V6s were 80s I think. The 7506s really came into their own in the early '90s and that's when a lot of the digital bass music and style of production began. So as you listen to that style of music through those headphones, it's pretty much close to 'as the author intended' than most other headphones, IMO.

Boy, I wish I could just get a pair around your head! Listen to Seal's "Crazy" (not the grim remaster where dynamic range goes out the window, but the original mix) -- urrgh, they're delightful.

I can only go on my experience and I would push you more towards the 7506s as they're newer, plus I haven't extensive knowledge of the V6s. And if you're not really an audiophile, it's likely the sound difference between the V6s (for better or worse) wouldn't justify the price difference. Honestly, the 7506s sound stunning.

 

[elf69]

I cannot use earphones for too long.

I can spend 4-5 hours on my imac after work doing stuff and updating websites.
all the while got music going, so it has to be headphones.

I only use earphones when mobile, on train, etc

 

[cbautis2]

Can't go wrong with Sony MDRXB950BT IMO. Good bass thump with non-fatiguing highs, and sweet mids.

IMO, Sony MDR V6 and 7506's are too accurate that it makes you hear how bad recordings are, and engineers made thse mixes to sound like that to compensate for the "warm" timbre that most consumer headphones reproduce. If those engineers warmed up the sound in the 7506 and V6, those mixes will sound extremely dull in a regular headphones.

TLDR, never get a studio headphone for casual listening unless you prefer to analyze rather than enjoy music.

 

[elf69]

thanks but do not want wireless.

I want wired on my desktop.

 

[UBS28]

Can't go wrong with Sony MDRXB950BT IMO. Good bass thump with non-fatiguing highs, and sweet mids.

IMO, Sony MDR V6 and 7506's are too accurate that it makes you hear how bad recordings are, and engineers made thse mixes to sound like that to compensate for the "warm" timbre that most consumer headphones reproduce. If those engineers warmed up the sound in the 7506 and V6, those mixes will sound extremely dull in a regular headphones.

TLDR, never get a studio headphone for casual listening unless you prefer to analyze rather than enjoy music.

Why not? The HD 600, HD 650 and HD 800 S are great to enjoy music and they are studio headphones.

 

[cbautis2]

Why not? The HD 600, HD 650 and HD 800 S are great to enjoy music and they are studio headphones.

I don't consider them as studio grade headphones IMO, more like audiophile headphones. They are colored sounding IMO and mixing on those will get mixed results (some of your mixes will sound good while others will sound completely off). HD 800 original is more accurate than the HD 800 S and people complain of how fatiguing it sounds, hence the Sennheiser made the HD 800 S which has a more "audiophile" sound signature on it (IMO audiophile sound signature = warm to neutral sound (i.e. non-peaky upper mids/lower treble), and transparent, non-fatiguing, ultra clear treble with incredible pacing, rhythm and timing across all frequencies). Studio sound is usually mid and lower treble centric in order to reveal any mixing flaws while sounding "analytical and sterile".

 

[Orizence]

In all fairness the HD600 is considered a reference headphone.

 

[elf69]

I am not an audiophile.

I just want a good headphone that sounds good and handle low end.

I am bit of a bass junkie.
But not so deep it over powers the rest of the audio.

My current headphones just distorts badly even with very mild bass that it ruins the mid range and badly affects the high range.
[doublepost=1472026272][/doublepost]I am not an audiophile.

I just want a good headphone that sounds good and handle low end.

I am bit of a bass junkie.
But not so deep it over powers the rest of the audio.

My current headphones just distorts badly even with very mild bass that it ruins the mid range and badly affects the high range.

 

[UBS28]

I don't consider them as studio grade headphones IMO, more like audiophile headphones. They are colored sounding IMO and mixing on those will get mixed results (some of your mixes will sound good while others will sound completely off). HD 800 original is more accurate than the HD 800 S and people complain of how fatiguing it sounds, hence the Sennheiser made the HD 800 S which has a more "audiophile" sound signature on it (IMO audiophile sound signature = warm to neutral sound (i.e. non-peaky upper mids/lower treble), and transparent, non-fatiguing, ultra clear treble with incredible pacing, rhythm and timing across all frequencies). Studio sound is usually mid and lower treble centric in order to reveal any mixing flaws while sounding "analytical and sterile".

Plenty of audio engineers are using the HD 600, HD 650 and HD 800. They are studio headphones.

And no headphone is better at revealing flaws than the HD 800 and HD 800 S.

 

[Orizence]

I am not an audiophile.

I just want a good headphone that sounds good and handle low end.

I am bit of a bass junkie.
But not so deep it over powers the rest of the audio.

My current headphones just distorts badly even with very mild bass that it ruins the mid range and badly affects the high range.
[doublepost=1472026272][/doublepost]I am not an audiophile.

I just want a good headphone that sounds good and handle low end.

I am bit of a bass junkie.
But not so deep it over powers the rest of the audio.

My current headphones just distorts badly even with very mild bass that it ruins the mid range and badly affects the high range.

Have you considered checking out the Head-Fi buying guide? On head-fi there are tons of threads based on "Bass head" headphones.

 

[elf69]

thank you will look at head-fi

 

[96-HUDSON-96]

I'm not an expert or an audiophile but I love my Sennheiser Momentums, depending on how much you want to spend you can either get the small version (kinda hurts your earlobes for the first week) or the larger one. Plus there is a very expensive 2.0 with wireless stuff

 

[Scepticalscribe]

I am bit of a bass junkie but not want annoy my fiancee and father in law while listening to my music.

I have recently discovered boom 2 and love how can use a graphic equalizer in my macs now.
So I have tweaked the bass up a little, not stupidly high though as still want listen to rest of the music without bass trashing it.

Anyway I have some Sennheiser HD205 headphones and are good for the money.
It cannot handle the lower end bass and the higher end is little off too.

Without spending absurd money what would some of you audio guys recommend?

I want same style as the HD205 so large over ear type.

Have you considered the Bowers & Wilkins P7s? Beautifully constructed headphones (with real leather), comfortable, powerful, stylish, and offering superb sound quality.

 

[M. Gustave]

OP wanted bassy, so the MDR-7506/V6 are non-starters. And being pro audio studio headphones they're somewhat inefficient, so you'll have the volume turned up a good deal on your iPhone.

I know Sony used to make an ultra bass range of 'phones with giant ear pads?

 

[CSpackler]

Try Grado 225s. Great rock headphone with tight bass. Also use a good amp if you're not already.

 

[i_love_polt_havemybabies]

Since your desired application is clearly not critical or reference listening, any apparent disagreements about how this-or-that set of $100 headphones blows another out of the water can be discarded.

If you make the jump to even low-end professional headphones, you'll notice a dramatic increase in the sets' ability to "handle" additional bass. Cans in the $100 range really come down to your preference of curve and physical comfort. Out of the Grado, Sony, and Sennheiser models available for $100ish, the HD280s are my cup of tea when it comes to isolation and comfort, even though they sound the "worst" (i.e. the most colored, non-flat, blatant scoops/shelves of the three). They all have decent bass handling (nothing like, for example, my Denon AH-D5000's, but apples & oranges).

One thing you should become more aware of is how the EQ of these "boost" programs (and EQ in general) works. I've always hated, and therefore never used, any of the EQ curves on my iPhone, even though I would've liked to. Reason being, iOS' built-in EQ offers no "Preamp" or "Master Gain" functionality. It may seem like your current headphones can't handle bass due to distortion. But I'd venture to guess you could milk more bass from them if you lowered the preamp, boosted your lows, and improved isolation, either ergonomically or environmentally.

Just be informed that if you're clipping your output itself by bringing up your lows - but not at the expense of your overall gain - the distortion you hear on cheap cans will also be present in any brand of nicer headphones.

 

[elf69]

I am bit of a bass junkie and even in my windows machine turned the bass up a little in the settings.

Its for my music collection but some headphones will amp bass without me playing with settings which of course is much better then me playing with boost settings.

I got a set of sports clip of ear headphones which do this but not really suitable for my needs want on ear while at my imac.

 

[M. Gustave]

Here are the "extra bass" Sony headphones I was talking about.

They also have several extra bass Bluetooth models.

 

[elf69]

Well I have not bought a set yet but my wonderful fiancee tried to help.

Not knowing what to get she went to a hifi shop and bought a set for me.

Before I say what they are, I gonna tell a bit about them.

They have a really low frequency of 9Hz right up to 23,500Hz
103dB, I have no idea what this means.

they have some quite nice sounding 32mm drivers.

Compared to the HD205 I had (the original not HD205II) they are great.

Very little distortion with the bass levels I have, Like i said im no audiophile.
Quite impressed with them, only down side is short cable compared to the HD205 so bit limited at my desk, need extension lead.

Bigger ear pads than the HD205 and very comfy for long period use.
pads go fully over ears covering them fully not just sat on top them.
but padding on band not as good so that not as comfy.
Also cables goes into both sides not just one like the HD205.

Im happy for moment but will get better ones.

So what are they?

Philips SHP2600 at £29.99

 

[elf69]

First of all yes know it's an old thread.

I'm looking again for headphones as after a year need upgrade again.
Still looking for something that can cope with bass.

I use boom2 with the bass turned up a bit (not maxed as sounds bad and distorts as the mac sound card not best) and is good but the headphones distort sometimes.

This is the sort of thing I listen too if it helps:

I know decent units not cheap so starting to look now as birthday in feb...