muliple issues (advice/hearing issues)

[remixedcat]

I can spend 35-45USD on a pair of headphones.

I have maximo imetal im390's that allready sound good.

I am wondering if these circumaural type's are good for the price range:
SENNHEISER HD201 3.5mm/ 6.3mm Connector Circumaural Closed Back Headphone
Newegg link: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16826106455

I also would like to know if IEMs damage hearing over long terms faster then using circumaural type headphones. I do agree that CA types are more comfy, however for hotter sumemr temperatures they hold in sweat and make me feel hot.

I want to know what my options are.

I am using a sana fuze 4GB with my EQ values as follows:
+8/+8/-5/+2/+9

with 128Kbps WMA transcoded files.

I mostly listen to trance/electro.

Thanks very much for your help.

This will suffice till I get my cowon player this early summer (when I will have 200 dollars for my namesday gift)

[The DarkSide]

remixedcat, the HD201's suck. I'd suggest getting the HD202 instead, as their so much better for the price.

[Marvin the Martian]

remixedcat, I had the 201's, and with a Sansa, you really need an additional amp.....they sound crappy unless you got some power running to them, despite what their specs on paper would suggest. I would not recommend them.

[remixedcat]

looks good so far.... any other advice anyone...

would prefer to get from a brick and mortar so I can easily return and pick up... but I can go with online retailers

[lestatar]

@RemixedCat:

My own limited understanding of IEMs is as follows:

With proper fit/isolation, IEM usage will allow you to listen comfortably to your music at LOWER volume levels. So theoretically, they could be better for one's long term hearing than wearing 'cans and blasting the music...

But still, this is determined by individual user's and how [ir]responsible they will be...

but i'm a newbie with this stuff..

[The DarkSide]

Originally Posted by remixedcat

looks good so far.... any other advice anyone...

would prefer to get from a brick and mortar so I can easily return and pick up... but I can go with online retailers

The HD202 is available at quite a few stores, though they tend to run for less cash online. Besides, I have no idea WHAT STORES are located near you.

[remixedcat]

allrighty then. thanks much anyone else's thoughts?

[remixedcat]

radio shack, walmart, sears, several mom and pop shops. so like the best from the first three stores would be nice. it sucks not haveing a circuit city anymore around here. the choices for gear are so limited locally. You don't HAVE to look but it would be nice.

I gotta depend on online stores and returning headphones is harder since the return policy is short (like only 15 days for some stores and that isn't enough time to really guage it. so they will have to be really really good. I come here since people listen to 'anything but ipod' and that means they have much better tastes.

[lestatar]

Originally Posted by remixedcat

....SNIPPED...I come here since people listen to 'anything but ipod' and that means they have much better tastes.

Not necessarily...

[remixedcat]

LOL like how?? who here has bad taste?

[lestatar]

Originally Posted by remixedcat

LOL like how?? who here has bad taste?

Was just kidding! Am so new here and anyway, would never cast stones at anyone...

Actually, I started coming here for pretty much the exact same reason as you.

[jiamenguk]

While HD202 might be better than the 201's, and it most likely is, the HD201's are not necessarily that bad either, they're very passable for their price.

And about the earing damage thing, it's more about which headphones offer better isolation, which in turn would prevent you from turning the volume up. The primary cause of hearing damage, as far as my still somewhat limited knowledge goes (pre-GCSE science at work here), is the received loudness from your headphones, regardless of your headphones being IEM's or Headphones. Because in the end, hearing loss can be attributed to the breakage of cilia within the <insert correct body part here>, or at times the destruction of your eardrums. So if you were to receive the same loudness of sound, it doesn't matter whether you have IEM's or Headphones.

However, what does matter is the amount of isolation you get from your headphones. If, say, you're walking on the street, with good isolation, you'd receive and perceive pretty much the same amount of sound. However, with poor isolation, while you'd receive the same amount of sound, but perceive very little. This means that you'll have to turn the volume up, so that you'd perceive the same amount you would with headphones with good isolation, but at the same time, your ears are actually receiving a much louder sound, which would cause tired eardrums and cilia's breaking.

PS: the above might be a load of rubbish, but I can't tell because it's 12 here in Blighty and I'm not even sure if I can actually write a proper sentence

[lestatar]

@jiamenguk: Well said! Not to worry, your ability to cobble coherent sentences together is clearly not impacted by the local time...

And your info confirms what my own non-scientific/inexpert research has revealed when I looked into this issue briefly. Thanks!

[remixedcat]

ok then what is the best under 30 since I got a better price budget in stone. my sonys are getting worse by the day it seems and I cannot get my IEMs to fit into my ears without falling out if I move my head just a little. I even put gorilla tape around the outer metal part to keep it inside and it did not do much. I hate IEMs they never sem to fit inside my very short ear canal.

My ears are strange shaped. I want to enjoy my IEMs but they never stay in my ear.

Please continue this discussion. I have about 3 weeks to decide. remeber my budget is low since I am remodelling a house and I am saving up alot of money for a game engine technology (since I am a game dev).

I wanna avoid sony's but if you can actually find a proven good pair I miiiiiight consider as a LAST RESORT.

remeber, this is also a really damn good challenge you all would enjoy and spark some interesting conversations.

[Marvin the Martian]

I like these with my Clip+, they were $20 at Walmart. The Crystal Method sounds pretty bangin' on them, I think.

[JxK]

Originally Posted by Marvin the Martian

I like these with my Clip+, they were $20 at Walmart. The Crystal Method sounds pretty bangin' on them, I think.

If you're looking for JVC Flats, you can find them for as little as $5.00 on ebay. They may not sound as good as ksc75s, but for that price they represent just as good a value.

[remixedcat]

My list so far for you all to evauluate.

marvin:your pick looks good so far. is it good for deep trance music like ATB to sound wide and crisp, but have good bass that doesnt grind? I need to have something not su muuudyyy! LOL.

JVC HA-X570 (newegg)
Panasonic RP-HG20 (newegg)
SENNHEISER EH150 (newegg)
skullcandy hesh (newegg)
audio-technica ATH-T22 (newegg)
Logitech Elite 835B (tigerdirect)
SkullCandy S5LWBZ-BB Lowrider Headphones (tigerdirect)
Philips Surround Sound Headphone, Black, SHE5910/27 (walmart)

[Marvin the Martian]

Originally Posted by remixedcat

My list so far for you all to evauluate.

marvin:your pick looks good so far. is it good for deep trance music like ATB to sound wide and crisp, but have good bass that doesnt grind? I need to have something not su muuudyyy! LOL.

JVC HA-X570 (newegg)
Panasonic RP-HG20 (newegg)
SENNHEISER EH150 (newegg)
skullcandy hesh (newegg)
audio-technica ATH-T22 (newegg)
Logitech Elite 835B (tigerdirect)
SkullCandy S5LWBZ-BB Lowrider Headphones (tigerdirect)
Philips Surround Sound Headphone, Black, SHE5910/27 (walmart)

If you don't want muddy, then cross Skullcandy off your list.
The Flats, I just tried with some psytrance, and they did a pretty good job, once I EQ'd them a little bit. That's to be expected when listening to my computer though....it even gives my Grados thumpin' bass. I haven't tried any of the other ones on your list, but I've never heard a Skullcandy sound even as good as your current Sony MDR-V150, which I used to have.

[Adub]

Originally Posted by remixedcat

skullcandy hesh (newegg)
SkullCandy S5LWBZ-BB Lowrider Headphones (tigerdirect)

I have a pair of lowriders in a drawer, the bass is slow and muddy so if you listen to electronic music you will not like them at all. The hesh are horrible in build quality, i have gone thru 3 pairs and i am getting my 4th RMA pair in the mail soon which i am selling lol. The headband breaks extremely easily, the sound isn't bad, at high volume without an amp they are a little muddy and the highs and mid highs are recessed, with my E5 they actually sound decent, but they break at the drop of a hat lol.

I used the EH150 daily for almost 2 years, they were great sounding phones and i listened to a lot of hip hop and electronic music in those years. I still have them too, they just need a re-cableing i think, i highly recommend them.

[skip252]

JVC HA-X570 (newegg)-Really poor in every way. Over priced when I got them for $7.99 at a local discount store. Makes Sony mdr v150 sound audiophile grade. Hard to describe how poorly made these are or how bad they sound. Hard to believe the same company that makes the Flats makes these.

Panasonic RP-HG20 (newegg)- No knowledge.

SENNHEISER EH150 (newegg)- Best of all you've mentioned so far, good bass, isolation and comfort.

skullcandy hesh (newegg)- The only time I heard these was at at listening station at a local mom and pop store. All I could hear was a sloppy, bloated bass. Build quality was awful. I would steer clear.

audio-technica ATH-T22 (newegg)- No direct knowledge but everything audio technica I've had was at least decent. I've got a couple pair way past your current budget that are very good.

Logitech Elite 835B (tigerdirect)- No knowledge.

SkullCandy S5LWBZ-BB Lowrider Headphones (tigerdirect)- See Skullcandy Hesh. While I was in the store a guy mentioned he was on his 3rd pair in 5 months. The headband kept snapping.

Philips Surround Sound Headphone, Black, SHE5910/27 (walmart)- Flat out the worst IEM I've ever had. The virtual surroundsound was unlistenable. The silicone eartips hurt and tore after 2 months. After multiple inquiries found that Philips most definitely does not sell replacements and I could not find any 3rd party replacements.

I had Senn EH150's. I sold them for more than I paid for them. I should have kept them. The HD202's I now have are low end decent but not nearly as good as the EH150's. Just so you know the EH150 are actually supra aural (on the ear) unless you've got really tiny ears. They're larger than your Sonys but not large enough to be considered circumaural.

BTW I've had both the iMetal Maximo im490 and im390. I would be sure to keep my receipt available. Maximo's Customer service will accept a scan copy. I know because every pair I've received in replacement has failed just like the original. The lack of any strain relief and sharp metal edges has caused all of them I've had to stop working after a short period of time. I originally bought the 490's but they were out one of the times I sent them in so I accepted the 390's instead. Same problem. One pair came out of the box with the left driver producing much less volume than the the right. Once the shipping charges exceeded the original purchase price I gave up. I kept trying because they were very nice sounding phones when they were working but I had them crap out on me just listening at home while sitting down. I hope yours last forever but I would be prepared.