Headphones for ~$100

[MacAnkka]

Personally I don't see why so many so-called audiophiles or headphonophiles have such a problem with the Triports.

I guess the main problem is that audiophiles either don't care that much about what they look like in the public or don't mind suffering (head clamping force, bulkyness...) to achieve better audio quality.

Besides, most people don't need closed headphones. IEMs and open headphones do the trick for most people. And there are many alternatives in these categories that can rival the TriPorts' sound quality with a lot cheaper price.

But in the closed heaphones that are good-looking, comfortable and portable -category, there isn't that much choice.

 

[thegoldenmackid]

it's either Grado SR60 or Shure e2s... the one note with Shures is that you have to be very careful when moving up after the e2's because those headphones are made for specific purposes, for example the e4s are made purely for acoustic's and have almost no bass, but the e2's are a nice all around iem especially for the price, and you can get them much cheaper via eBay and Amazon, if you need a good eBay dealer, just PM me....

 

[zelmo]

You either like Bose sound or you hate it. There seems to be no middle ground. Personally, I like Bose, but I'm on my second replacement Tri-Port, because they are flimsy. I don't take them anywhere, just use them at home to watch movies or listen to iTunes on my PB, but the headband slides into a cheap plastic housing which does not hold up well. After I bought mine, I learned that this is a notoriously common issue with the Tri-Port design.

 

[Sesshi]

I guess the main problem is that audiophiles either don't care that much about what they look like in the public or don't mind suffering (head clamping force, bulkyness...) to achieve better audio quality.

Besides, most people don't need closed headphones. IEMs and open headphones do the trick for most people. And there are many alternatives in these categories that can rival the TriPorts' sound quality with a lot cheaper price.

But in the closed heaphones that are good-looking, comfortable and portable -category, there isn't that much choice.

In terms of a portable headphone though, with an open phone it could be argued that what's the point of higher quality if you can't hear what's going on, or have to turn up the volume to potentially hazardous levels (which are surprisingly easily reached) to hear the music intelligibly. This is especially true of the Grados on which the design actually helps to funnel outside sound into the ear!

And if we're talking sound quality, most IEM's offer very poor sonic bang for the buck when compared to headphones... the Triports comfortably exceeds the capability of the likes of the E2c for example.