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Want some really good headphones!! (beats??)

backinblack875

backinblack875

macrumors 6502a
Original poster
Aug 23, 2010
614
46
USA
I'm looking to get some real nice head phones with fantastic clarity and deep bass and overall quality. I've mostly just had the apple stock headphones and apples in ear ones which are great but i really want some amazing quality ones. i think id like the over the ear headphones styled ones since it seems they'd have the best quality. Beats come to mind but ive heard mixed things, some say they are amazing and other say they are crap. So are beats the way to go, if so which one?? anyother recommendations welcome! willing to spend around $200...maybe $300

also i have a very wide variety of music, not sure if that should affect it much... i like indie, rock, classic rock, alternative, rap, some pop.. etc.. basically everything except country :p
 
The only two times I tried Beats (ear buds), they both went back. Too much bass and too muddy. The two earbuds I own are both Monster and they sound much better than the Beats.

Hopefully, others with more brand experience can help.
 
For that budget i cant recommend the V-Moda M-100's enough. Better sound quality then beats but still has a nice Bassy sound signature, build quality is top notch and they are portable. I own many higher end cans but i always find myself listening to these :)
 
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jbachandouris said:
The only two times I tried Beats (ear buds), they both went back. Too much bass and too muddy. The two earbuds I own are both Monster and they sound much better than the Beats.

Hopefully, others with more brand experience can help.
Click to expand...

yes i tried beats earbuds before and i as well sold them. never have tried there over the ear styled ones though

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torana355 said:
For that budget i cant recommend some V-Moda M-100's enough.
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hmm look promising, ill have to look into it
 
I went with a pair of Shure earbuds because they sound great. The cable is kelvar. I don't have to turn up the volume. There are some decent Sony earbuds too. Also, Sennhiser is good brand. The Beats are heavy bass and not very balanced.
 
torana355 said:
For that budget i cant recommend the V-Moda M-100's enough. Better sound quality then beats but still has a nice Bassy sound signature, build quality is top notch and they are portable. I own many higher end cans but i always find myself listening to these :)
Click to expand...

very nice. honestly after looking on that site and some amazon reviews they look very promising. as of now top contender! thanks!! do they sell these anywhere or do i have to order online??
 
backinblack875 said:
very nice. honestly after looking on that site and some amazon reviews they look very promising. as of now top contender! thanks!! do they sell these anywhere or do i have to order online??
Click to expand...

Im in Australia so i had to order them online, if you are in the USA i would advise to order off their site as they offer a great warranty and return policy and you can also order custom shields and larger ear cushions if you have big ears.

Also don't be mislead into thinking the over ear headphones are better sounding, a good pair of IEMs will be just as good if not better for the price. My VSonic GR07 BE's will give most Over Ear headphones a run for their money.
 
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Beats are really just not a good option. Terrible sound quality compared to other headphones in their price range. I own Audio-Technica ATH-M50's, they're super nice, half the price of Beats, and have great all-around sound. I personally prefer them over the V-Moda's. However, the V-Moda M-100's have deeper bass (ATH-M50's are a little light). Since you specified bass I'd say pick up some V-Modas and try them out.
 
For that kind of budget, you have quite a few options. I have one question for you though..

Do you like Bass? From your musical genre choices, it seems that you do. If you in fact do, then you only have one option.

JVC HA-sz2000

Earth shattering bass. Bass that reaches deep into your soul and DROPS THE BEAT inside of it without muddling the highs or mids.

I'm more of a fan of custom ear molds (JH Audio, Melody Music, and 1964 Ears), but the only over-the-ear cans I've fallen for are the JVCs.

Look into it and you won't regret it.
 
73b said:
Beats are really just not a good option. Terrible sound quality compared to other headphones in their price range. I own Audio-Technica ATH-M50's, they're super nice, half the price of Beats, and have great all-around sound. I personally prefer them over the V-Moda's. However, the V-Moda M-100's have deeper bass (ATH-M50's are a little light). Since you specified bass I'd say pick up some V-Modas and try them out.
Click to expand...

I agree, beats are a fashion statement in some places.
 
cebseb said:
For that kind of budget, you have quite a few options. I have one question for you though..

Do you like Bass? From your musical genre choices, it seems that you do. If you in fact do, then you only have one option.

JVC HA-sz2000

Earth shattering bass. Bass that reaches deep into your soul and DROPS THE BEAT inside of it without muddling the highs or mids.

I'm more of a fan of custom ear molds (JH Audio, Melody Music, and 1964 Ears), but the only over-the-ear cans I've fallen for are the JVCs.

Look into it and you won't regret it.
Click to expand...

Those things have a subwoofer them aswell as a regular driver, even sparked my interest.
 
I think my next pair will be the NAD Viso HP50's. If they don't work out I'll get the H6's. Anyone try the HP50's before?
 
aawil said:
I think my next pair will be the NAD Viso HP50's. If they don't work out I'll get the H6's. Anyone try the HP50's before?
Click to expand...

I was given a pair to audition. The sound was exceptional for its price tier, but the comfort and fit was kind of lacking for me. I think my head just did not suit the headphones. I felt a lot more pressure on the top of my head than around my ears. Very uncomfortable for long listening sessions.
 
torana355 said:
For that budget i cant recommend the V-Moda M-100's enough. Better sound quality then beats but still has a nice Bassy sound signature, build quality is top notch and they are portable. I own many higher end cans but i always find myself listening to these :)
Click to expand...

V-Moda and Jays were two of my favorite in ear units, in fact I went through two set of V-Moda's in one year. All three went bad after a small while, for some reason they just arent reliable with simple normal daily use. Over the ear cans are a better option. I'll have to say that the best thing beats contributed to is the influx of competition which means more to chose from in the market so take you time.
 
torana355 said:
For that budget i cant recommend the V-Moda M-100's enough. Better sound quality then beats but still has a nice Bassy sound signature, build quality is top notch and they are portable. I own many higher end cans but i always find myself listening to these :)
Click to expand...

Zmanbaseball2 said:
I recommend:
Audio-Technica ATH-M50x Professional Headphones https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00HVLUR86/ref=cm_sw_r_awd_D5u.tb0AH64PP
Higher end:
BeoPlay H6 Natural Leather https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00C4VFYRC/ref=cm_sw_r_awd_-6u.tb1C3J0KD

I have both!
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The V-Moda M100 and Audio Technica M50 (or M50x) are excellent suggestions. In the audiophile world, the Beats line of headphones has a particularly bad reputation for altering the frequency response of their headphones in all of the wrong ways.
 
As an Amazon Associate, MacRumors earns a commission from qualifying purchases made through links in this post.
backinblack875 said:
I'm looking to get some real nice head phones with fantastic clarity and deep bass and overall quality. I've mostly just had the apple stock headphones and apples in ear ones which are great but i really want some amazing quality ones. i think id like the over the ear headphones styled ones since it seems they'd have the best quality. Beats come to mind but ive heard mixed things, some say they are amazing and other say they are crap. So are beats the way to go, if so which one?? anyother recommendations welcome! willing to spend around $200...maybe $300

also i have a very wide variety of music, not sure if that should affect it much... i like indie, rock, classic rock, alternative, rap, some pop.. etc.. basically everything except country :p
Click to expand...

Please check out the forums at head-fi.org.

This is a very loaded question...

Anyway, my setup is:

1. Monster Miles Davis Tributes (not the trumpets).
2. Etymotic ER4
3. AKG k701
4. BOSE ie2

Each are very different and have a unique sound signature. The monsters are great for rock..things with deep but clean bass and has very nice mids. I listen to a lot of classical, and the etys are spectacular for it on the go. They have a more balanced sound signature (ok, it's maybe biased a little more towards the highs) - but it's strings and acoustic instruments sound the most natural on them. They sound very anemic with rock/electric instruments, and leave things feeling a bit lacking. It's a balanced armature driver, and that's simply the nature of BA. Although I had a pair of their HF5 (also balanced armature), which had a little more bass to them, they did ok with rock (not in the league of the Monsters though). The Bose are my "cheap" exercise set. They're "open" so still allow you to hear your surroundings (needed for jogging). They're pretty warm, but don't have the clarity of the others. I mainly listen to podcasts with them, when around the house.

The AKG's are open circumaural headphones and require an amp for best sound. They sound the most natural, and have a wide open soundstage. They are VERY detail oriented, and can sound sometimes like they're taking apart a song. If you need to follow an instrument's line - these are what you want. Choral music/acoustic instruments sound like they're in the room with you. These definitely aren't bass exaggerated, and sound bass-lacking when not amped. These are by far my favorite, and have the most addicting sound sig.

So as you can see - its a loaded question!
 
Audio Technica ath-m150x (I believe they're called.) you should be able to find them on Amazon, or at your local guitar center for around $150 and they blow away the highest model pair of Beats audio. Now, I'm not quite as knowledgeable about headphones as some of the others here, but I had to throw my favorite pair's name into the mix. Check them out, hear them for yourself at guitar center. I think you'll find that they're exactly what you're after. Especially for about half the price of the top beats model.
 
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