Best Cheap Headphones

[cliefan7]

Not sure where your price cut-off is to be considered "cheap" but the Sennheiser PX100 are very nice.

http://www.sennheiser.com/sennheiser/icm_eng.nsf/root/05206

[Gizmo]

Not to hijack this thread, BUT, would these PX 40's also be good at the gym?

[NJL!2016]

The Sennheiser PMX 60s look good to me. I like neckband headphones better than the over the head ones. Target has them for $25 so I'll think I'll pick a pair up.
http://www.ipodlounge.com/reviews_more.php?id=4261_0_6_0_M

[JackAxe]

Not to hijack this thread, BUT, would these PX 40's also be good at the gym?

They're over the ear street style, so good for activity. The only draw back, is that other peeps might hear yoru music. But Sennhieser in general sound great. I'm seeing my friend in the morning, so I'll ask which pair he bought.

My PX100s provide a very rich and dynamic sound. They don't crap out with any of my music and really pickup on the subtitles.

<]=)

[RMCF]

I like "fun" (meaning exaggerated bass) earphones, plus to overcome noise problems I have bought the Sony EX71's. Would not recommend them for an audiophile when listening in a quiet enviroment, but on train/plane they really make the time fly-by :)

[NJL!2016]

With the Sennheisers, how much sound leakage are we talking about?

[JackAxe]

If someone is about 3 or 4 feet from you, they'll be able to hear what you're listening to. At least for the PX100s. (Don't know about the others.) These are not even close to my open ear Sony's though. The weef could hear my music clearly from the other room and they weren't turned up that high when I used them.

I love my Sennheisers. :)

<]=)

[cliefan7]

I bought a pair of the Sennheiser PX100 for my niece for Christmas. She was amazed at how well they sounded. I own a pair of Sennheiser PXC250. The 250s are noise-cancelling. They are not "cheap" but I needed the noise cancelling feature. I use them for general listening as well. Very good sound. I don't think you would go wrong with the Sennheiser brand.

[zackepceo]

I currently have the EX71s and they are much better than most headphones in the cheap range. They block sound well, although the audio is not high-end. I'm going to be buying some Etymotic 6i earbuds soon, which are much better in all respects except price.

[JackAxe]

Eeeewwwww. I can't believe you just listed Sonys. ;)

They look like a white version of my earbuds, which well... I'll just say the $50 I paid was about 90% more then they're worth. :o

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[JackAxe]

Behold me lil Sony buds, they tremble in fear next to the superior audio quality of Sennheisner. :)

http://bainne.com/fun/sonybuds.jpg

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[treffmeister]

Yeah I'd have to say the MDR-EX71sl as they are cheap and great quality. A terrific investment.

[zackepceo]

It may just be the difference between our ears. Having the right fit and position is absolutely essential.

[JackAxe]

After some tinkering, I was able to find a good fit with the small buds, so that things weren't muffled and overly based. This gave them good audio for the Clié and they were OK for a couple of my songs on the iPod, but in comparison to the Sennheisners they sounded absolutely awful. Not even in the same class. The difference is night and day. Like I've rambled about before, not even my larger and more expesive open ear Sony's I bought a few years back sound as good. My PX100s can play any type of music thrown at it, where as the Sony's would crap out on certain songs when set at certain volumes.

<]=)

[VicAjax]

sony ex71's have boomy, bloated bass and shrill highs... but they still sound better than most of sony's ultra-garbage consumer line.

if you need isolation, i'd recommend the sharp md33 for about 40 bucks. you could also try the shure e2c, which can be had for as low as $60 if you look around. a little recessed high end and bloated bass... but FAR better than sony crap. good for rock and pop.

the sennheiser px100, while open, are fantastic for the price. and very satisfying for the non-audiophile who likes a little exagerrated bass without comprising the rest of the FR.

i'd advise staying away from the sennheiser street style line, like the pmx60... they really aren't worthy of the senn name. if you must have street styles, i'd recommend the koss ksc-55. if your head is really big, they might be uncomfortable, but they have really good sound for the price. also try the koss ksc-75 clip ons... for 20 bucks, the sound can't be beat.

i

[LanMan]

I would like all of your sagely advice. I am looking for some "comfortable" ear buds. I have the really cheap ($10) Sony ear buds with the case. I think that they sound okay (I'm not an audiophile) and I love the case for pocketability. However, they hurt my ears after a short while and they don't fit very well. They pop out when I am just eating lunch. I am looking for something inexpensive ($40 is the high end) and comfortable that will fit in my ear without popping out easily. What do you think?

[SamuraiCatJB]

*sigh* every headphone discussion always drifts to earbuds... and I still can't wear them.... :(

[LanMan]

Sorry, Cat. Perhaps my ? was OT? Maybe I should start another thread dealing specifically with buds? Frankly, I may not be able to wear them either. They seem to hurt my ears. What kind of problems do you have with them?

[SamuraiCatJB]

Sorry, Cat. Perhaps my ? was OT? Maybe I should start another thread dealing specifically with buds? Frankly, I may not be able to wear them either. They seem to hurt my ears. What kind of problems do you have with them?

basically any pressure on the inside of my ear at all, even the minor pressure of a foam earbud (I tried the super soft foam) results in intense pain to the ear. I even have to watch how much elastic pressure presses inward to the head on headphones. Best for me are surround ear headphones (bulky and ugly, bugly?), I can wear those for hours if they only put pressure on the skull, no problem. Behind the head or over head small disk headphones like the PMX 60s I can wear for about an hour, less or more depending on amount of tension on the ear cartiledge.

And yes, even wearing a ski mask hurts my ears. :) that is all the pressure it takes.

[LanMan]

Well, you have to be careful about where you wear those ski masks anyway. ;)

[VicAjax]

hey LanMan...

do you want something that isolates or not? $40 or below, i'd say the best traditional style earbud you can get is the sennheiser mx400 or mx500 (they're exactly the same, except the 500 has an inline volume control). they can be had for 10-15 dollars, but splurge on a pair of $2 foamie covers from radio shack... they smooth out the highs and round out the bass. great bang for the buck.

if you want isolation and better sound, try the sharp MD33 canalphones. they're a definite step up from the sennheiser earbuds, and they'll cut about 15-20dB of ambient noise.

if you can do clip-ons, the koss ksc-75 give fantastic, fun sound for only 20 bucks.

[Gizmo]

i'd advise staying away from the sennheiser street style line, like the pmx60... they really aren't worthy of the senn name. if you must have street styles, i'd recommend the koss ksc-55. if your head is really big, they might be uncomfortable, but they have really good sound for the price. also try the koss ksc-75 clip ons... for 20 bucks, the sound can't be beat.
Just want to respectfully, and I do mean respectfully :) disagree with the statement that the PMX60's are not a worthy headphone to consider. I mean, they're not THAT bad. In fact I think they sound pretty good.

Now, as far as how they compare to the Koss KCS-55's, I do not know. And I take Vics word that for the money they are a good deal. In fact, I wish I had known about them before I bought my Senns. Sounds like I could have saved some money for the same quality. But don't cross the PMX-60's off your list until you've had a chance to listen to them. You might be surprised.

[JackAxe]

My friend really loves his 60s. The reason he didn't go with the Koss(I told him about them, becases V had recomended them prior. :)), was quite a few reviews on-line mentioned that they break too easily. Before he bought the 60's, he tried a Sony street style and returned them promptly, because they sounded really bad. He says my 100's sound better, but his 60s still sound really good.

<]=)

[VicAjax]

Just want to respectfully, and I do mean respectfully :) disagree with the statement that the PMX60's are not a worthy headphone to consider. I mean, they're not THAT bad. In fact I think they sound pretty good.

actually, with the exception of the ksc-55, i've never heard a pair of streetstyle that i thought was worth the money. i will say that the build quality ain't great, but in that price range you're either getting build quality or sound quality... and neither one in spades.

everybody's got their own ears and whatnot, so that's cool if you like the PMX60... personally, i found them to have an exagerrated version of the dark sennheiser sound, but unengaging, bloated and muddy. (i'm not trying to piss on them, i'm just describing my impressions of their sound :p ) granted, they're marginally better than sony garbage... but by the thinnest of hairs.

personally, i'd go with over-the-head or clip ons, just because there are better options.

[VicAjax]

My friend really loves his 60s. The reason he didn't go with the Koss(I told him about them, becases V had recomended them prior. :)), was quite a few reviews on-line mentioned that they break too easily. Before he bought the 60's, he tried a Sony street style and returned them promptly, because they sounded really bad. He says my 100's sound better, but his 60s still sound really good.

<]=)

hey man... what's the story behind your avatar? (you can pm me if you don't want to offend the delicate political sensibilities of the ever-diminishing population here. :rolleyes: )

[JackAxe]

Here are a few links: ( It's quite funny. :) )

Yep, Don't want to offend any peeps that support our President spending $40 million on a party during wartime. :rolleyes:

QT Stream; (Just skip the add if it pops up.)
http://www.ifilm.com/ifilmdetail/2663486?htv=12&htv=12

WMV version; (No adds.)
http://www.milkandcookies.com/links/24912/

I've been meaning to update my sig with a link, but have been too lazy.

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And back to heaphones, I like my PX100s, Thanks for the recommendation again. :)

<]=)

[LanMan]

Thanks for the suggestions, VicAjax. However the sennheiser mx400 looks like they would hurt my ears just as much as the Sony earbuds. I might look at the Sharp HP-MD33's. As for as clips-ons, I'm looking for something very pocketable with a case if possible.

[Gizmo]

... granted, they're marginally better than sony garbage... but by the thinnest of hairs.

I probably should have noted that I owned a Sony pair of clip-ons before I bought the 60's. And they don't sound marginally better, they sound A LOT better (At least to my old monkey ears) :)

[JackAxe]

That's what my friend said. And when I say promptly on a return, he bought the Sonys during lunch and returned them after work. The only reason he had bought them in the first place, is because he wanted something he could just pick up locally. The Sennheisners he had to order on-line.

Here's the crapphones he had bought that were Sony. (http://www.thegoodguys.com/adtemplate.asp?invky=519892&catky=162625)

<]=)

[VicAjax]

Here's the crapphones he had bought that were Sony. (http://www.thegoodguys.com/adtemplate.asp?invky=519892&catky=162625)


oh man... i've heard those... it's like clipping a dog whistle onto your ear.
tooth shatteringly shrill.

[VicAjax]

I probably should have noted that I owned a Sony pair of clip-ons before I bought the 60's. And they don't sound marginally better, they sound A LOT better (At least to my old monkey ears) :)

yes, you're right... they do sound a lot better... i think i was in a surly mood when i wrote that.


(still don't like 'em, though. ;) :p )

[VicAjax]

Thanks for the suggestions, VicAjax. However the sennheiser mx400 looks like they would hurt my ears just as much as the Sony earbuds. I might look at the Sharp HP-MD33's. As for as clips-ons, I'm looking for something very pocketable with a case if possible.

the koss ksc-75 clip-ons are very pocketable... and i think they come with a pouch. they really sound great for the money.

and definitely check out those sharps. there are also the sony ex51 and ex71, which some people like... personally i don't.