Which Headphones for under £100?

[mp10]

Hello there,

I'm after a set of headphones (Over the ear), but i'm not sure what to go for. My budget is £100 and open to any advice.

I've tried some Bose headphones in my local store (HMV), but they lacked Bass. Oh yeah and nearly forgot, i like my bass
Gave the Beats headphones a test and well to be honest i don't think they were worth it, sounded no different to the Bose one's i checked out.

Another question is regarding the Sound Cancelling, is it worth it, should i spend the extra cash for them?

Thanks for reading, all help is more than welcome.

 

[Shoogar]

I'd recommend checking out some Sennheiser stuff! I got a pair of really good headphones with plenty of bass from them for around $60 AUD (Around 40 pounds)

I'm having a look on their UK website but I can't find any pricing information.

But it depends what you're looking for. And to clarify for everyone else, are you looking for earbud type headphones? Or over-ear ones?

 

[Skython]

@'Round the bend.

You are absolutely right, I got some Sennheisers recently for about the same price and they are very good. Good sound quality, good build quality and even comfortable.

 

[mp10]

I'd recommend checking out some Sennheiser stuff! I got a pair of really good headphones with plenty of bass from them for around $60 AUD (Around 40 pounds)

I'm having a look on their UK website but I can't find any pricing information.

But it depends what you're looking for. And to clarify for everyone else, are you looking for earbud type headphones? Or over-ear ones?

@'Round the bend.

You are absolutely right, I got some Sennheisers recently for about the same price and they are very good. Good sound quality, good build quality and even comfortable.

Thanks for the help, Sennheiser do seem to have good products.I'm loo for ver the ear headphones.

Thanks

 

[Tesla]

First things first, you don't need active noise cancelling. It often degrades the sound quality and is an unnecessary feature for most people as the effects of passive noise cancelling and music playing will often block out most other sounds at moderate volumes.

So do you plan to use these in the office, at home or travelling? Do you mind not having much isolation and leakage? What sort of music do you listen to? Can your budget stretch or is that the maximum?

 

[mp10]

First things first, you don't need active noise cancelling. It often degrades the sound quality and is an unnecessary feature for most people as the effects of passive noise cancelling and music playing will often block out most other sounds at moderate volumes.

So do you plan to use these in the office, at home or travelling? Do you mind not having much isolation and leakage? What sort of music do you listen to? Can your budget stretch or is that the maximum?

Thanks for clearing that up for me.

Well i'll be on the go most of the time, but will also be listening to music at home. i'm not too fussed about sound isolation, however i wouldn't mind it. my taste in music pretty diverse, house, dubstep, rap, dance, drum n bass, classic pop. I'm not too keen on Metal, RnB, Country or classical. speaking of genre's what type of genre would you call this song?


Hope this helps, thanks.

 

[Shoogar]

Thanks for clearing that up for me.

Well i'll be on the go most of the time, but will also be listening to music at home. i'm not too fussed about sound isolation, however i wouldn't mind it. my taste in music pretty diverse, house, dubstep, rap, dance, drum n bass, classic pop. I'm not too keen on Metal, RnB, Country or classical. speaking of genre's what type of genre would you call this song?

*VIDEO HERE*

Hope this helps, thanks.

I'd call that genre of music; Synth Pop. 👍

We also have a reasonably close taste in music! I have/had a pair of Sennheiser HD201's and they were really good for listening to music like that. Cheap and effective. I suggest looking at those, or maybe the newer models.

 

[Tesla]

Creative Aurvana Live!, AKG K518 DJ, Skullcandy Aviators (their best product by far), AKG K240, or maybe the Sony XB500 if you just want massive bass (and if you can find a pair).

 

[Luminis]

I've been through all kinds of headphones through the last few years and I'd agree that, in that price range, AKG and Sennheiser would be good choices, generally speaking. To my own suprise, though, I found that Sony's MDR-series headphones have been great allrounders.

I would've gone with the MDR XB500s myself, but I wanted something a bit less focused on bass... For now, I went with another Sonyy product, as I've been highly satisfied with their headphones. I've just recently ordered the Sony MDRPQ2Z, but I have a nagging feeling that it's more stiylish than of good quality, soundwise. I'll report back as soon as they arrive, though

One more set of headphones to consider, maybe. The Teufel Aureol Massive. Teufel's been the favourite brand of my father since, well, as long as I can think. I have no personal experience with these, though, but he's claiming them to be just about the best headsets for less then 100€.

 

[Tesla]

I've seen someone round my school wearing those I haven't heard them but apparently they sound decent enough for the price.

 

[Azuremen]

Skullcandy Aviators (their best product by far)

And likely worse than anything else on the market. Skullcandy makes garbage for products.

Garbage.

 

[Luminis]

I'm not a fan of Skullcandys or similar brands, either. Dunno, from what I've heard myself, they seem to be more about looks and image than anything.The moment I saw them getting sold at a skater shop, I started to doubt their quality.

Then again, they might produce some quality stuff that doesn't fall into the "look at these headphones, they look uber cool sso buy 'em!" category

I've seen someone round my school wearing those I haven't heard them but apparently they sound decent enough for the price.

That kinda puts my mind at ease, a bit. I mean, it's not like I've been disappointed with the Sony headphones I've owned so far. Soundwise, they've all been very good for the price. And for my taste of music, obviously. Their in-ear headphones have been what I've been using for the most part for the last two years and they did sound good, after all.

Turning this thread into a general headphones thread wouldn't be a bad idea, would it?

 

[Alex.]

Get some Audio Technicas with flat frequency response. Avoid anything by any rapper or pop star.

 

[mp10]

Thanks for the help, I might go for the MDR XB500, going to my local store to test them soon. I'll also see what else is on offer, But at least now i have an idea of what to go for and which brands to stay away from.

Thanks again 👍

 

[Tesla]

And likely worse than anything else on the market. Skullcandy makes garbage for products.

Garbage.

Not at all. Yes, for £100 there are a few better options, but for someone who needs something that sounds good and looks good, the Aviators fit that bill.

I think we can all agree that everything else they make is total garbage though. I think their Hesh line-up had a frequency response of 100 - 18000hz or something ridiculous

 

[Nasadus]

The Sony MDR-XB500 are some of the best headphones i've had in years. I've gone up and down the Sennheiser range, had several AKG's and my advice would be to stay away from Sennheiser unless you're willing to spend upwards of €130 because everything below that pricepoint is not ideal for that type of music (they lack in the bass department). The AKG's are good but also relatively expensive. I listen to pretty much the same sort of music and my advice would be to go for the Sony (if you can find it) or get a pair of Shure SRH240's. They are cheaper and better that 90% of comparable headphones.

 

[roylan101]

I can vouch to the Creative Aurvana Live! sounding great for the price, especially when i got them on sale for 59$ USD. They have pretty good soundstage despite being closed and just enough bass for me, the bass is there if it was in the recording, it doesnt add bass to everything. They also clamp really lightly (dont squeeze your head) and the earcups are pretty soft, although they can get sort of hot. Also if you have HUGE ears the earcups might be sort of small, but then again not a problem for me. Another thing is the headband might be sort of bothersome after awhile because its pretty thin and doesnt have much padding, but you could add some foam or like what i did was wrap the provided carrying pouch around the headband for some extra cushion (i wear them at home so i dont care if they look a bit silly). All in all very good pair of cans with good bass and mids, and non fatiguing highs.

You should check out head-fi.org if you havent, they deal with these kinds of questions everyday.

 

[NissanSkylineN1]

Aviators sound great. Tried them at BestBuy the other day. They were one of the best headphones I've tried in that price range.

 

[Casio]

Aviators sound great. Tried them at BestBuy the other day. They were one of the best headphones I've tried in that price range.

What else have to listened to in that price range?

I could name 20 examples, but my personal, portable budget pick is the Audio-Technica FC700 for half the price which sound 4 times as good as Skullcandy's. For a similar price you can get a pair of ATH-ES7 which are 10 times as good (Though slightly more than 100 pounds I believe).

 

[Tesla]

But have you listened to the Aviators? I preferred them to the M50's, only losing out on build.

 

[Casio]

But have you listened to the Aviators? I preferred them to the M50's, only losing out on build.

Admittedly I have only listened to them in-store (As my girlfriend thought they looked 'cool' and wanted a pair).

But based on my listening and what I read on the net, I would Aviators may sound better for a bass heavy, undetailed music. But that doesn't stop the M50 being a vastly better headphone.

I actually own a pair of Skullcandy's and they're trash for the price.

 

[Tesla]

The M50's used to be an absolute bargain until the price came back up again. For their current price, they're merely 'average'. The Aviators, on the other hand, are 30 pounds less, at the very least sound equal to the M50's, have more bass (which is what the OP is looking for) and you won't look like a knob wearing them outside.

 

[Casio]

The M50's used to be an absolute bargain until the price came back up again. For their current price, they're merely 'average'. The Aviators, on the other hand, are 30 pounds less, at the very least sound equal to the M50's, have more bass (which is what the OP is looking for)

Aviators are less than M50s??? M50s are $169 and Aviators are 200+.

and you won't look like a knob wearing them outside.

...

 

[Tesla]

Amazon.co.uk prices.

 

[NissanSkylineN1]

Aviators sell on Newegg for $139. They aren't bass heavy at all either. The treble and mids are great.

 

[Juiposa]

If you are using them just for a desktop, laptop or something else stationary, I recommend what I'm using. Turtle Beach PX21's. $100 and they have great sound quality. Also a mic, that's a plus. They have two channels, therefore volume controls for each channel. Downside, is they need a separate power source from the RCA jack in the way of a USB. So if your going to using your headphones for on the move, don't get these.

If you need them agian for a stationary job then I highly recommend them.

 

[NissanSkylineN1]

Turtle Beaches are for gaming.


Question: Do you happen to be a teenager that plays Halo, BF3, CoD, or other FPS games?

 

[Juiposa]

Turtle Beaches are for gaming.


Question: Do you happen to be a teenager that plays Halo, BF3, CoD, or other FPS games?

No to all 4 but I do game, and am a teenager, and I do use the headset for things other than gaming. Despite the gaming focus, I find them quite versatile. While the second channel is meant for voice chat I have changed where it gets the output from to use it for other things. Just because it is a gaming headset, does not mean I can't be used for other things.

 

[NissanSkylineN1]

What else have to listened to in that price range?.

AKG K99 (Semi-open, pretty decent. They kinda look funny though), Shure SRH240 (Not bad, I own its bigger brother, the 440s.) , Beats Solo (sounds like you're listening through a cardboard box), Sennheiser 280 (What you would expect for that price. They don't look nice though).

No to all 4 but I do game, and am a teenager, and I do use the headset for things other than gaming. Despite the gaming focus, I find them quite versatile. While the second channel is meant for voice chat I have changed where it gets the output from to use it for other things. Just because it is a gaming headset, does not mean I can't be used for other things.

I'm not saying that Turtle Beaches are bad, but they're definately not meant for music listening. They're cinematic headphones, meaning that they don't play all of the range that a song would clearly. Yes, footsteps can be heard clearly and their directions. Yes, grenades do sound real with Turtle Beaches, but its like going to a Cinema to listen to a song in high quality. Just doesn't work that way.

 

[NissanSkylineN1]

Woops, double post. Mods, please delete.