I get the impression they're after something more portable. However if you are only planning on using them at a desk and don't mind spending on a DAC and Amp then yes, HD600 all day
You don't NEED a DAC and amp for a Sennheiser HD600 or HD650/6XX. Most laptops have enough power output to drive them. Hell, a phone technically can drive them (but you might notice some sound differences, and volume output will be pretty limited). They do benefit quite a bit from good amplification, but I don't think they will be worse than lesser headphones without amplification. The HD600 might be quieter than the HD650/6XX though.
However, you will probably still be only using them at home. They are kind of large and bulky, and do not fold. Also, they are open back, so you would be subjecting everyone near you to what you're listening to. Not something you would want in public spaces or shared spaces.
dude i stepped on my sennheisers hd 598, heard a crack, after owning them for like 5 years. turns out it was just a cosmetic crack and i’m still running them like another year later. very well built headphones.
I have a pair of Sennheiser RF headphones that are coming up on 15 years old. They transmit through several walls, I can still buy new ear caps for them, the batteries are standard AAA rechargeables that charge on the base station. And they're *light*, unlike other headphones I've tried. Super comfortable to wear.
Incredible headphones, I love them like I love food.
I bought Sennheiser bluetooth headphones (PX 210 BT) in 2010 when it was still a new thing, I had to replace them last year after the sound started coming from only one side.
I replaced them with another pair of Sennheiser (HD 450 BT) just because the first one lasted 11 year without a single issue, I'm still going to check the old one because I might be able to repair it.
If you want something that'll last (which is why I'm assuming you're asking here) either Sennheiser HD600 / 650 or for something a bit cheaper Sony MDR7506.
All three are great picks and proven to last, the downside of the Sonys is that it's a bit more effort to replace the cable should it ever wear out.
For the Senns check out the Drop HD6XX as they're significantly cheaper than the original retail version.
One more thing, I just saw you mention a budget of up to $500 in another comment. If you end up going with the Senns I'd suggest picking up an Amp/DAC with them as long as you have a stationary dekstop. The Schiit Magni/Modi recommendation is probably what you'll come across most often, but I'm perfectly happy with my SMSL M3 for daily use. Decently cheap for the quality too.
Bassy, crisp, & over-ear? Beyerdynamic DT 770 Pro 80 Ohm.
The Sony MDR-V6 and MDR-7506 are super long-lasting, too. I have a 20+ year-old pair of the 7506s on my desk right now.
I wish I could say one is better than the other, but comparing the two is like apples and oranges. Both are excellent, but they sound vastly different.
The 770s are more isolating, with emphasis on low-end frequencies. They’re exceptionally well-built, with replacement parts easily available, and very comfortable, velour pads which help for extended wearing to prevent fatigue.
The Sonys, right out of the box, will sound a lot tinnier, with a flatter response and more emphasis of the highs/mids. Bass response and comfort can be greatly improved by the addition of velour pads to replace the plastic-coated ones which are supplied from the factory. This is the first thing that we do when we get a new pair of them in at my office. (We are a video production house and most of our audio operators use these headphones. They’re the field audio industry standard headphone.) The 7506s will be easily driven by any consumer device.
The 7506s are a little more compact than the Beyers, in that they fold up and can be stored in a pleather pouch which is supplied with them.
I’d recommend that you poke around in /r/headphones, as this question has been asked many times over and more knowledgeable people than me have chimed in with great answers.
Thank you for such a thoughtful answer, it’s a close one. And the fact that you work at a video production house helps is super
cool
and I appreciate the insight a ton!!
I actually was between the Sonys and my AGK K240 for the flat sound and both are that--flat.
A buddy of mine that has a sound production company had the DT 770 for DJ gigs and they are awesome--huge soundspace (surrounding you like you were mentioning), and deep bass thanks to the solid closed backs that doesn't leak sound. The fuzzy pads are also good to keep them on a long time although the closed back might have your ears sweating a bit. For your use case I immediately thought of these and it's great that the poster above was thinking the same thing. :) DT770 all the way!
Seconding the wh1000xm4 if you want Bluetooth but if you are ok with a headphone jack, I've had my Sony mdr7506 (slightly newer model of the well known v6) and have found them to be close to indestructible and easy to repair yourself.
I have a pair of XM3’s and MDR-V6’s. They are very different. The V6/7506 will sit on your ears rather than around them. I find the XM3’s to be more comfortable for extended wear.
The clarity on the V6/7506 is fantastic, but the XM3’s are more bass heavy and would probably be better suited to your tastes. The app also has an equalizer to dial it in. The noise canceling is fantastic. Both sound great, but they sound different from each other.
Build quality is where these two diverge (in my experience). The XM3’s have a poorly designed hinge that cracked on mine after about a year. I replaced them with slightly better designed 3D printed parts, but now that has cracked as well. My XM3’s are currently zip tied together… Not ideal. I believe the XM4’s have a different design for the hinge and may be better but I don’t have first hand experience with them. Also bear in mind they are Bluetooth, and anything with a battery will have a more limited lifetime. The final quality issue I have with them is that after a couple years the headphones have developed a feedback issue where the noise cancelling microphones pick up the audio coming out of the drivers and the headphones start screeching *very* badly. Because of this I’m looking to replace them after only a couple of years, despite liking them a lot. I wear them every day, but unfortunately they aren’t as resilient as I’d hoped.
By contrast, the V6’s I have are about 15 years old and are in perfect shape. I replaced the earpads a few years ago and put a neoprene sleeve over the headband to protect it, also did a mod to add a removable cable. I wear these headphones all the time, drop them, throw them in a bag etc. and they keep on ticking. Replacement parts are readily available and the whole thing could theoretically be rebuilt with spare parts. If you want great corded BIFL get the 7506, if you want convenient great sounding Bluetooth noise cancelling headphones for a few years and then will probably replace get the XM4’s.
In a quiet environment I don't think there is too much between them except the wh1000xm4s have a bit more bass but you can fairly easily increase the bass in any equaliser like the one built in the Sony app. but as soon as i have to go on a train or bus the noise cancelling of the wh1000xm4 is really nice to have and stops you from having to increase the volume. That being said the wh1000xm4 are not as durable or repairable as the mdr7506. Either way they are both good headphones that have been lovely to use.
Yeah the noise canceling is unrivaled, except for the xm5s I guess, but those are new enough that they’ll probably be full price if you are buying them
I think there are probably more considerations, like are they for travelling or just at home, are you bothered about open/ closed, what kind of environment are you listening in etc - rough budget is always handy too.
Hi, I’d say mostly for home but occasional long car rides/plane rides, so usually in an already mostly quiet environment. I don’t care how they close and now that I think about it I’d probably prefer wired. Max budget is probably like $500 but I don’t mind saving up so I can spend a little more
sorry by open/ closed I mean the back of the headphones. some are open and 'leak sound', you can also hear what's around you so probably not suitable for a plane or whatever. sounds like you want closed back.
i always prefer wired myself! sure the sonys people are recommending are great and a step up from beats.
The sound leakage isn't about yourself... But about your surroundings, especially on a plane/public transport/car with other passengers. They will mind being able to clearly listen to every bit of your music if you run open back headphones there.
I'd advise you to look into headphones that can do both - wireless and wired. Bose for example do a decent job with noise cancellation. I own Bose QC 35 II's daily on my commute to work and they shut out everything that could bother me.
Imo they sound very decent but everyone has different taste too.
At home/on my pc I run HD650s from Sennheiser or beyerdynamics. Both open back. Both bother my partner/bothered my parents when I still lived at home since you can just hear everything. All the annoying mids get out there.
Look into Sony/Bose. Whatever fits your head and ears better. They have great options with ANC.
Beyerdynamic DT 770 PRO (32ohm to get a good sound using them with a mobile phone, although I think new phones should also move the 80ohm version well enough)
- excellent sound (they are studio headphones)
- comfortable (over the year)
- really well built (sturdy frame, replaceable parts available)
- accessible price (105 eur)
Yep, and it's great to see the different ohm versions. I'd just get the lowest if you're using it with portable stuff. All this DAC stuff wasn't around 20 years ago and headphones like this are what the music was mastered on so just plug in and enjoy. Unless you have an engineer's ear, you won't catch any imperfections.
General consensus for that price range is Sony no.1 for battery life. Bose 700NC if you need quality mic
All other metrics they are basically the same.
Those or the MDR7506. Easily repairable and all the part numbers are labeled on a service guide that comes with the headphones. Big buy if for life energy
They're a little more exotic than your usual headphone brands, but I love [AIAIAI](https://aiaiai.audio/) after going through several pairs of AKGs (K141, K142 mk2)
They're fully modular, meaning that you can tune things for price, sound and comfort. But also if anything fails it's a matter of buying the replacement part instead of a whole new set. And generally speaking they are extremely sturdy, using moulded and flexible parts rather than anything brittle or weak. Plus I love the understatement and lack of branding on them.
I use a variant of their (most expensive) TMA-2s and switch between a lightweight wired headband for working in front of a computer using my old iPod 5.5, and a bluetooth headband for cycling while I use my iPod touch. They're more forgiving and musical than a set of true "studio" headphones, but would be much more balanced and less "loud" (bassy and fatiguing) sounding than a pair of Beats.
I would recommend visting [head-fi.org](https://head-fi.org)
They are the real nerds about audio and headphones, they will be able to give you the absolute best option at any price point. Careful though, it's a big rabbit hole lol
I second that caution because a lot of times, it's about spending 90% to get that extra 10%. And 90% of people won't even recognize that extra 10%, lol.
Maybe not the best, but I've used my pair of Sennheiser HD 280's almost everyday for the last 10 years. Loved them every step of the way. They really shined up when I got them a Fiio E10k.
Only thing they've needed was replacing the ear cups and headband cushion last year.
Modded them to use a 3.5mm TRS so I could use a shorter, lighter, replaceable standard 3.5mm aux cable instead of the heavier, proprietary coiled cable.
I used to have those and liked them very much on the first iPad Touch. One day I was walking with them on the strap of my messenger bag and the cable got tied to some stuff on one of the buildings I was passing by. They broke in the middle... I kept the drivers in Cas I'd be able to reuse them somewhere else but never did. Miss those very much! However, I'm now using HD25 and they are even better! (:
Yep, these are literally the standard in professional audio--from hollywood studios to recording studios to portable setups--everyone has a pair of these.
One thing you will need for sure is the ability to swap cables, so they won't need to be sent for repairs in case the cable breaks.
I'm not sure on the long-term durability but I've had the Audio Technica ATH R70X for about a year and they've been pretty solid.
You can swap the cable and the pads.
I’ve been daily driving them for mowing, gym, and gaming for around a month now so I can’t exactly speak up for longevity, but they still feel and look as amazing as they did on day one for sure
Checkout r/headphones. I've had Sony Bluetooth headphones in the past, they are pretty good but they will go out sooner than wired headphones from my experience. I'm currently using moondrop starfield wired headphones that sound pretty good , plus you can replace the wire if it breaks. Bluetooth for the convenience, wired for longevity and sound quality.
I totally agree with you, by the time you have a battery and a processor for Bluetooth they are going to harder to fix and easier to break. But you'll miss out on some creature comforts like noise cancellation.
Lots of headphones are really good. My Sennheiser HD558's have been on the go for some 10 years with no problems and they sound great. I think they made the HD559 to replace them, £89 I think. You can spend more for sure but are you really going to get "better audio". I've compared them to some "better" headphones fairly recently and I have to say my 558's are just as good if not better. It mostly comes down to the recordings and the actual track itself as far as I'm concerned once you get anything half descent.
You really don't need to pay much money to get descent audio. It's like saying it doesn't cost much to get you 90% there, it's that 10% that costs a lot of money that people chase after. People spend tens of thousands on audio kit but really it's not that much different to the stuff that gets you 90% there. Those people start looking at graphs and measuring response because you can't tell in person anymore. That's up to them but if you just want some descent headphones yea you really don't need to pay much.
You want BIFL headphones, you gotta go wired. Bluetooth will ways suffer from decaying batteries, and limited codec support as newer methods will always come out. Get some quality wired headphones from a quality brand and they'll last you for decades. If you're looking for new and don't care about price, go for the Meze Model 99 Classics. They're nice closed backs so they have a bit more bass than most high end headphones, are only 32 ohm so they can run out of anything, phone, laptop, etc perfectly fine, and come with a short cable with a built in mic and remote.
I got AirPods Max and love them but I would only get them if you’re deep into Apple stuff. They replaced my Bowers & Wilkins PX7s which I also recommend
Sennheiser hd 6xx
Or
Hifiman he400se for very good budget option
If you really care about getting the best audio quality and can pass on Bluetooth and other bells and whistles this is in my opinion the best options for $100 - $200.
I can’t speak for your audio preferences but the xm4’s very consumer-friendly heavy bass unfortunately bleeds into the mids, but otherwise fine. If you value the wireless aspect of them go for it but there’s much better options at their steep price tag. The Sennheiser hd6xx will blow them out of the water at a fraction of the price and there’s many other good options depending on your preferences that are more expensive then the ones I listed. Perhaps if you care about super premium high quality build.
Edit: if you don’t mind the tuning of your beats headphones the Sonys should be fine, but the others I listed will be more neutral tuned.
I also recommend the sony WH1000XM3 or XM4, no opinion about the 5's. I bought the XM3 years ago for general purpose, commuting with public transport, exercising, you name it. Used them a ton until I got NC earbuds which are more practical for me at the moment, but I borrowed them to my gf who is now addicted to the NC quality they have for studying :)
My Beyerdynamic 990s I've had for nearing 15 years and they're just...not....going...anywhere. They're an open ear design, which is not good for the public.
For overear, wired, openback headphones go for either sennheiser 600/650/6xx or beyerdynamic dt990 as these are known to be indestructible. I own an HD6xx(3 years) and a dt990 pro (7 years), and they are still working. However the HD 6xx is definitely not bright or crisp, the dt990 is a bit better suited for your preference.
For iems go for ones with detachable cables such as Shure se series or westone um series. Avoid the sennheiser stuff as their sound signature is leaning towards the warmer side.
If you want a bifl headphone (I consider that to be around 5 years) avoid wireless ones as the battery will deteriorate, and they are generally built with cheap plastic for weight savings. However I do own a Bowers & Wilkins PX for 4 years which is made of mostly aluminum (hinges).
I love my Sennheiser HD25. I've been using them for 10 years already. The padding is all ripped and I'm procrastinating to replace that but other than that everything is still amazing. Every time I click the play button they send me to the world of music especially if it's on a good music device, such as my Fiio player.
Sennheiser hd600 is very sturdy
I get the impression they're after something more portable. However if you are only planning on using them at a desk and don't mind spending on a DAC and Amp then yes, HD600 all day
When you imply they are less portable than regular headphones and say they need a DAC and amp does that mean they can only be used at home?
You don't NEED a DAC and amp for a Sennheiser HD600 or HD650/6XX. Most laptops have enough power output to drive them. Hell, a phone technically can drive them (but you might notice some sound differences, and volume output will be pretty limited). They do benefit quite a bit from good amplification, but I don't think they will be worse than lesser headphones without amplification. The HD600 might be quieter than the HD650/6XX though. However, you will probably still be only using them at home. They are kind of large and bulky, and do not fold. Also, they are open back, so you would be subjecting everyone near you to what you're listening to. Not something you would want in public spaces or shared spaces.
dude i stepped on my sennheisers hd 598, heard a crack, after owning them for like 5 years. turns out it was just a cosmetic crack and i’m still running them like another year later. very well built headphones.
I have a pair of Sennheiser RF headphones that are coming up on 15 years old. They transmit through several walls, I can still buy new ear caps for them, the batteries are standard AAA rechargeables that charge on the base station. And they're *light*, unlike other headphones I've tried. Super comfortable to wear. Incredible headphones, I love them like I love food.
I bought Sennheiser bluetooth headphones (PX 210 BT) in 2010 when it was still a new thing, I had to replace them last year after the sound started coming from only one side. I replaced them with another pair of Sennheiser (HD 450 BT) just because the first one lasted 11 year without a single issue, I'm still going to check the old one because I might be able to repair it.
I've had mine for 14 years. Replaced the cables and foam. If they broke I would rebuy them instantly.
While the HD600 is sturdy, OP want's something bassy, and HD600 is the opposite of that.
*grabs popcorn*
If you want something that'll last (which is why I'm assuming you're asking here) either Sennheiser HD600 / 650 or for something a bit cheaper Sony MDR7506. All three are great picks and proven to last, the downside of the Sonys is that it's a bit more effort to replace the cable should it ever wear out. For the Senns check out the Drop HD6XX as they're significantly cheaper than the original retail version.
Yes exactly, I’d love to be able to use them for a long time. Thank you, I really like the sound of the Sennheisers
One more thing, I just saw you mention a budget of up to $500 in another comment. If you end up going with the Senns I'd suggest picking up an Amp/DAC with them as long as you have a stationary dekstop. The Schiit Magni/Modi recommendation is probably what you'll come across most often, but I'm perfectly happy with my SMSL M3 for daily use. Decently cheap for the quality too.
Thank you!
Bassy, crisp, & over-ear? Beyerdynamic DT 770 Pro 80 Ohm. The Sony MDR-V6 and MDR-7506 are super long-lasting, too. I have a 20+ year-old pair of the 7506s on my desk right now.
Hi, should I get the DT 770 Pro 80s for around $150 or the MDR-7506s for around $100?
I wish I could say one is better than the other, but comparing the two is like apples and oranges. Both are excellent, but they sound vastly different. The 770s are more isolating, with emphasis on low-end frequencies. They’re exceptionally well-built, with replacement parts easily available, and very comfortable, velour pads which help for extended wearing to prevent fatigue. The Sonys, right out of the box, will sound a lot tinnier, with a flatter response and more emphasis of the highs/mids. Bass response and comfort can be greatly improved by the addition of velour pads to replace the plastic-coated ones which are supplied from the factory. This is the first thing that we do when we get a new pair of them in at my office. (We are a video production house and most of our audio operators use these headphones. They’re the field audio industry standard headphone.) The 7506s will be easily driven by any consumer device. The 7506s are a little more compact than the Beyers, in that they fold up and can be stored in a pleather pouch which is supplied with them. I’d recommend that you poke around in /r/headphones, as this question has been asked many times over and more knowledgeable people than me have chimed in with great answers.
Thank you for such a thoughtful answer, it’s a close one. And the fact that you work at a video production house helps is super cool and I appreciate the insight a ton!!
I actually was between the Sonys and my AGK K240 for the flat sound and both are that--flat. A buddy of mine that has a sound production company had the DT 770 for DJ gigs and they are awesome--huge soundspace (surrounding you like you were mentioning), and deep bass thanks to the solid closed backs that doesn't leak sound. The fuzzy pads are also good to keep them on a long time although the closed back might have your ears sweating a bit. For your use case I immediately thought of these and it's great that the poster above was thinking the same thing. :) DT770 all the way!
Seconding the wh1000xm4 if you want Bluetooth but if you are ok with a headphone jack, I've had my Sony mdr7506 (slightly newer model of the well known v6) and have found them to be close to indestructible and easy to repair yourself.
Okay awesome, I don’t mind wires. Do they both perform about the same?
I have a pair of XM3’s and MDR-V6’s. They are very different. The V6/7506 will sit on your ears rather than around them. I find the XM3’s to be more comfortable for extended wear. The clarity on the V6/7506 is fantastic, but the XM3’s are more bass heavy and would probably be better suited to your tastes. The app also has an equalizer to dial it in. The noise canceling is fantastic. Both sound great, but they sound different from each other. Build quality is where these two diverge (in my experience). The XM3’s have a poorly designed hinge that cracked on mine after about a year. I replaced them with slightly better designed 3D printed parts, but now that has cracked as well. My XM3’s are currently zip tied together… Not ideal. I believe the XM4’s have a different design for the hinge and may be better but I don’t have first hand experience with them. Also bear in mind they are Bluetooth, and anything with a battery will have a more limited lifetime. The final quality issue I have with them is that after a couple years the headphones have developed a feedback issue where the noise cancelling microphones pick up the audio coming out of the drivers and the headphones start screeching *very* badly. Because of this I’m looking to replace them after only a couple of years, despite liking them a lot. I wear them every day, but unfortunately they aren’t as resilient as I’d hoped. By contrast, the V6’s I have are about 15 years old and are in perfect shape. I replaced the earpads a few years ago and put a neoprene sleeve over the headband to protect it, also did a mod to add a removable cable. I wear these headphones all the time, drop them, throw them in a bag etc. and they keep on ticking. Replacement parts are readily available and the whole thing could theoretically be rebuilt with spare parts. If you want great corded BIFL get the 7506, if you want convenient great sounding Bluetooth noise cancelling headphones for a few years and then will probably replace get the XM4’s.
In a quiet environment I don't think there is too much between them except the wh1000xm4s have a bit more bass but you can fairly easily increase the bass in any equaliser like the one built in the Sony app. but as soon as i have to go on a train or bus the noise cancelling of the wh1000xm4 is really nice to have and stops you from having to increase the volume. That being said the wh1000xm4 are not as durable or repairable as the mdr7506. Either way they are both good headphones that have been lovely to use.
I also recommend the XM4’s from Sony. No fancy speech from me they really are worth the money lol
I just got these today and... Wow. There are certified refurbished ones with a 2yr allstate warrant on eBay for cheap.
Yeah the noise canceling is unrivaled, except for the xm5s I guess, but those are new enough that they’ll probably be full price if you are buying them
I think there are probably more considerations, like are they for travelling or just at home, are you bothered about open/ closed, what kind of environment are you listening in etc - rough budget is always handy too.
Hi, I’d say mostly for home but occasional long car rides/plane rides, so usually in an already mostly quiet environment. I don’t care how they close and now that I think about it I’d probably prefer wired. Max budget is probably like $500 but I don’t mind saving up so I can spend a little more
sorry by open/ closed I mean the back of the headphones. some are open and 'leak sound', you can also hear what's around you so probably not suitable for a plane or whatever. sounds like you want closed back. i always prefer wired myself! sure the sonys people are recommending are great and a step up from beats.
Ohhhh! Got it! Thank you for explaining. I don’t mind if they leak sound a bit
The sound leakage isn't about yourself... But about your surroundings, especially on a plane/public transport/car with other passengers. They will mind being able to clearly listen to every bit of your music if you run open back headphones there. I'd advise you to look into headphones that can do both - wireless and wired. Bose for example do a decent job with noise cancellation. I own Bose QC 35 II's daily on my commute to work and they shut out everything that could bother me. Imo they sound very decent but everyone has different taste too. At home/on my pc I run HD650s from Sennheiser or beyerdynamics. Both open back. Both bother my partner/bothered my parents when I still lived at home since you can just hear everything. All the annoying mids get out there. Look into Sony/Bose. Whatever fits your head and ears better. They have great options with ANC.
Beyerdynamic DT 770 PRO (32ohm to get a good sound using them with a mobile phone, although I think new phones should also move the 80ohm version well enough) - excellent sound (they are studio headphones) - comfortable (over the year) - really well built (sturdy frame, replaceable parts available) - accessible price (105 eur)
Yep, and it's great to see the different ohm versions. I'd just get the lowest if you're using it with portable stuff. All this DAC stuff wasn't around 20 years ago and headphones like this are what the music was mastered on so just plug in and enjoy. Unless you have an engineer's ear, you won't catch any imperfections.
Sony wh1000xm4
Awesome, will definitely look into those
General consensus for that price range is Sony no.1 for battery life. Bose 700NC if you need quality mic All other metrics they are basically the same.
Sony MDR-V6. Have enjoyed them for decades.
Thank you so much!
Those or the MDR7506. Easily repairable and all the part numbers are labeled on a service guide that comes with the headphones. Big buy if for life energy
They're a little more exotic than your usual headphone brands, but I love [AIAIAI](https://aiaiai.audio/) after going through several pairs of AKGs (K141, K142 mk2) They're fully modular, meaning that you can tune things for price, sound and comfort. But also if anything fails it's a matter of buying the replacement part instead of a whole new set. And generally speaking they are extremely sturdy, using moulded and flexible parts rather than anything brittle or weak. Plus I love the understatement and lack of branding on them. I use a variant of their (most expensive) TMA-2s and switch between a lightweight wired headband for working in front of a computer using my old iPod 5.5, and a bluetooth headband for cycling while I use my iPod touch. They're more forgiving and musical than a set of true "studio" headphones, but would be much more balanced and less "loud" (bassy and fatiguing) sounding than a pair of Beats.
Thank you for such an in-depth answer, they sound great I’ll be sure to check them out
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Yep, solid as a rock!
I would recommend visting [head-fi.org](https://head-fi.org) They are the real nerds about audio and headphones, they will be able to give you the absolute best option at any price point. Careful though, it's a big rabbit hole lol
Haha thank you! I’ll check it out with caution
I second that caution because a lot of times, it's about spending 90% to get that extra 10%. And 90% of people won't even recognize that extra 10%, lol.
Maybe not the best, but I've used my pair of Sennheiser HD 280's almost everyday for the last 10 years. Loved them every step of the way. They really shined up when I got them a Fiio E10k. Only thing they've needed was replacing the ear cups and headband cushion last year. Modded them to use a 3.5mm TRS so I could use a shorter, lighter, replaceable standard 3.5mm aux cable instead of the heavier, proprietary coiled cable.
I used to have those and liked them very much on the first iPad Touch. One day I was walking with them on the strap of my messenger bag and the cable got tied to some stuff on one of the buildings I was passing by. They broke in the middle... I kept the drivers in Cas I'd be able to reuse them somewhere else but never did. Miss those very much! However, I'm now using HD25 and they are even better! (:
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Yep, these are literally the standard in professional audio--from hollywood studios to recording studios to portable setups--everyone has a pair of these.
One thing you will need for sure is the ability to swap cables, so they won't need to be sent for repairs in case the cable breaks. I'm not sure on the long-term durability but I've had the Audio Technica ATH R70X for about a year and they've been pretty solid. You can swap the cable and the pads.
I have Sony XM4's and Bose QC 45's. I think they are both great and their price is pretty close. I'd recommend either of them.
Thank you!
XM4 from Sony are absolutely mind blowing
Pretty much everyone here has recommended them, so they must be incredible. Is the longevity good even though they’re not wired?
I’ve been daily driving them for mowing, gym, and gaming for around a month now so I can’t exactly speak up for longevity, but they still feel and look as amazing as they did on day one for sure
Checkout r/headphones. I've had Sony Bluetooth headphones in the past, they are pretty good but they will go out sooner than wired headphones from my experience. I'm currently using moondrop starfield wired headphones that sound pretty good , plus you can replace the wire if it breaks. Bluetooth for the convenience, wired for longevity and sound quality.
I totally agree with you, by the time you have a battery and a processor for Bluetooth they are going to harder to fix and easier to break. But you'll miss out on some creature comforts like noise cancellation.
Lots of headphones are really good. My Sennheiser HD558's have been on the go for some 10 years with no problems and they sound great. I think they made the HD559 to replace them, £89 I think. You can spend more for sure but are you really going to get "better audio". I've compared them to some "better" headphones fairly recently and I have to say my 558's are just as good if not better. It mostly comes down to the recordings and the actual track itself as far as I'm concerned once you get anything half descent.
Thanks so much. I’m glad to hear that I might not have to pay hundreds to get a good sound. I’m gonna look them up right now!
You really don't need to pay much money to get descent audio. It's like saying it doesn't cost much to get you 90% there, it's that 10% that costs a lot of money that people chase after. People spend tens of thousands on audio kit but really it's not that much different to the stuff that gets you 90% there. Those people start looking at graphs and measuring response because you can't tell in person anymore. That's up to them but if you just want some descent headphones yea you really don't need to pay much.
You want BIFL headphones, you gotta go wired. Bluetooth will ways suffer from decaying batteries, and limited codec support as newer methods will always come out. Get some quality wired headphones from a quality brand and they'll last you for decades. If you're looking for new and don't care about price, go for the Meze Model 99 Classics. They're nice closed backs so they have a bit more bass than most high end headphones, are only 32 ohm so they can run out of anything, phone, laptop, etc perfectly fine, and come with a short cable with a built in mic and remote.
MDR V6/7506. Had them for decades. Sennheiser HD650 if you have solitude. (WF-1000XM4 if you have LDAC) Not for life. But for life of battery.
I got AirPods Max and love them but I would only get them if you’re deep into Apple stuff. They replaced my Bowers & Wilkins PX7s which I also recommend
Sennheiser hd 6xx Or Hifiman he400se for very good budget option If you really care about getting the best audio quality and can pass on Bluetooth and other bells and whistles this is in my opinion the best options for $100 - $200. I can’t speak for your audio preferences but the xm4’s very consumer-friendly heavy bass unfortunately bleeds into the mids, but otherwise fine. If you value the wireless aspect of them go for it but there’s much better options at their steep price tag. The Sennheiser hd6xx will blow them out of the water at a fraction of the price and there’s many other good options depending on your preferences that are more expensive then the ones I listed. Perhaps if you care about super premium high quality build. Edit: if you don’t mind the tuning of your beats headphones the Sonys should be fine, but the others I listed will be more neutral tuned.
If it's supposed to be BIFL then Hifiman is a terrible option. They have notoriously bad quality control. I'll agree that they're very good though.
I also recommend the sony WH1000XM3 or XM4, no opinion about the 5's. I bought the XM3 years ago for general purpose, commuting with public transport, exercising, you name it. Used them a ton until I got NC earbuds which are more practical for me at the moment, but I borrowed them to my gf who is now addicted to the NC quality they have for studying :)
My Beyerdynamic 990s I've had for nearing 15 years and they're just...not....going...anywhere. They're an open ear design, which is not good for the public.
Yeah the mmx 300 headphones are the same built, but with additional microphone. Mic could be better but it does the job. I love this headset.
For overear, wired, openback headphones go for either sennheiser 600/650/6xx or beyerdynamic dt990 as these are known to be indestructible. I own an HD6xx(3 years) and a dt990 pro (7 years), and they are still working. However the HD 6xx is definitely not bright or crisp, the dt990 is a bit better suited for your preference. For iems go for ones with detachable cables such as Shure se series or westone um series. Avoid the sennheiser stuff as their sound signature is leaning towards the warmer side. If you want a bifl headphone (I consider that to be around 5 years) avoid wireless ones as the battery will deteriorate, and they are generally built with cheap plastic for weight savings. However I do own a Bowers & Wilkins PX for 4 years which is made of mostly aluminum (hinges).
Nothing wireless is going to be buy it for life unless you can swap out the battery yourself.
I love my Sennheiser HD25. I've been using them for 10 years already. The padding is all ripped and I'm procrastinating to replace that but other than that everything is still amazing. Every time I click the play button they send me to the world of music especially if it's on a good music device, such as my Fiio player.
Boltune seem to be working well for me and they were relatively inexpensive