Picked up a new pair of cans...

[Quattro Pete]

Nothing very high end, but still, my first set of real studio monitor headphones - Audio-Technica ATH-M50. Supposedly they need a few hours of break-in time, so I don't want to judge audio quality yet since I just got them, but so far I like the sound... very well-balanced, full, and detailed.

I'm planning to get back to composing (got a midi keyboard on the way), so these will hopefully come in handy.

I also have a pair of noise-canceling Panasonic RP-H500 phones. They do an amazing job eliminating outside noises (especially useful when on a plane), but the M50s sound quite a bit better when outside noise is not an issue.

 

[Nick R]

Nice! These are mine. I got them for $25 with free shipping.

 

[DieselTech]

I have some INK ear buds...LMAO

 

[d00df00d]

I'm wearing some ATH-M50s right now. Great headphones.

They definitely get better with break-in. Expect a more natural sound and better bass.

If you have any leather conditioner or something similar, use it on the earcups. It helps to keep them from drying out and cracking up.

 

[Quattro Pete]

Originally Posted By: d00df00d
I'm wearing some ATH-M50s right now. Great headphones.

Do you find their clamping force to be a bit too much?

Right now they're rather tight - put significant pressure on the sides of my head, but I've read that they'll eventually loosen up.

 

[Nick R]

The Sennheisers aren't noise cancelling, but they do a great job of it anyway. The sound isn't quite as nice as my $35 Plantronics headset (those have GREAT sound, bass is excellent) but it is still really good. And I'm not positive, as I cannot find any markings on them or the packaging, but I'm fairly sure Sennheiser manufactures there stuff in the US. Not 100% on that though.

 

[d00df00d]

They do loosen up a bit. For me, they get hot long before the pressure gets annoying.

I only use mine for maybe 30-40 minutes at a stretch or 2-3 hours with breaks, and they are fine for that.

 

[Nick R]

See, you don't have to spend tons of money to get good headphones. Great choices are available in the $20 to $40 range.

 

[d00df00d]

rudolphna, if you want to tell us all how happy you are with your HD-202s, why not make another thread?

 

[Nick R]

Quattro you gonna be the next Hans Zimmer?

 

[silverrat]

Originally Posted By: rudolphna
See, you don't have to spend tons of money to get good headphones. Great choices are available in the $20 to $40 range.


They are talking about units in the $200 range, I don't think they are comparable with ones in that range.

 

[d00df00d]

You can get the ATH-M50 with a coiled cord for $90-$100. With a straight cord it's $150-$160.

 

[Quattro Pete]

Yeah, actually, I got the ATH-M50 with a straight cord new for $90 from an authorized dealer.

 

[d00df00d]

Oh dang. Nice. Guess they dropped the price in the past year. I had to pay the big bucks...

 

[97tbird]

Nice cans QP !!
- I've been salivating over some Bayerdynamics lately - but might settle for Grado S-60...

I already have a speaker upgrade coming (got a great deal, and couldn't resist) so I might have to curb my lust for cans right now...The rather low-mid end pair of Yamaha HP's do a decent job so far...