Need recommendations for full-size boomy headphones under 40 USD for clip zip

[casper^]

I'd like to know what over-the-ear (full-size) headphones would be good in the 30-40 USD range to go with the clip zip, rockboxed?

I want great, deep boomy ones, but am unable to decide between closed style, circum-aural and supra-aural. I'd be using them at home only so which would be better for me? They should be wearable at least for 2 hours at a time, i.e., they should be comfy and at the same time boomy. Also, somewhere I read that low impedance cuts or takes away the bass. So would I need high impedance headphones?

The media would be at least 192 kbps MP3s or flacs.

I've read dfkt's IEM comparision chart and the good inexpensive phones thread, but it would be very helpful if some of you having more than one of these phones would respond with their experiences. Also, some of those phones aren't available now.

Lastly, would I need to buy an amp for getting better and richer bass or would just getting some better headphones do for me?
Would adding a good amp like Digizoid O2, Fiio E11/E17 etc increase the bass to make the music sound heavenly? Please advise.

I only have these Weile 304-MV headphones which I got for 10 USD 2 years ago. They seem to sound nice but I don't have any other ones so can't compare.

Kind Regards,
Casper

P.S.: dfkt - on your inexpensive phones' original post, all the Sennheiser links point to the webpage and ask for login info. Just wanted to let you know.

[CrowdAds]

[JK98]

JVC HARX700
Panasonic RP-HTF600

[casper^]

Originally Posted by JK98

JVC HARX700
Panasonic RP-HTF600

Both seem very difficult to get in India. I read a really nice review of the JVC HA RX700 at head-fi but someone on amazon stated such:

I love the sound that these produce. Deep punchy bass, and the muffs are oversized (I have a big head, and these cover my ears completely) very comfortable, etc. The only real drawback is that these get really hot within ten minutes of wearing them. I bought these to use for editing podcasts, and they work perfectly for that.. but I wouldn't want to game in these since it gets alittle too hot in a short amount of time wearing them.

A+ quality, sound
D+ on heat

Does the above guy mean that they also make your ears hot in 10 minutes?

Kind Regards,
Casper

[Syndrome]

Yes, closed headphones tend to hold your body heat in, and though we humans aren't elephants, we do lose alot of heat through our ears. You hold that heat in and you feel hot and begin to sweat.

[The DarkSide]

Cortex CHP-2500,...look them up.

[IDvsEGO]

Originally Posted by The DarkSide

Cortex CHP-2500,...look them up.

ditto, love mine. I hear good things about the sony xb300 as well.

[The DarkSide]

The Sony XB500 are a bit better than the XB300,...well worth a few extra $$$ IMO. But, I think the CHP-2500 beats 'em both.

[Marvin the Martian]

I tried the XB500's at a store.....not the greatest setting to try them, but they sounded like a big muddy mess to me.

[The DarkSide]

Then you would REALLY hate the XB700's I had,...

[Marvin the Martian]

Originally Posted by The DarkSide

Then you would REALLY hate the XB700's I had,...

I don't doubt it.....lol. And I would never have left the house with them on.

[The DarkSide]

Well, they made the Panasonic RP-HTX7 sound crystal clear.

PS: That's another recommendation for the OP BTW.

[Marvin the Martian]

Originally Posted by The DarkSide

Well, they made the Panasonic RP-HTX7 sound crystal clear.

PS: That's another recommendation for the OP BTW.

Good point! The HTX7's will take a beating as well, but they do need some EQ adjustment.

[IDvsEGO]

OP specifically asked for boomy so XB series fits the bill exactly. I had to eq some of the bass out of the 500 and still took it back because it wasnt a good all arounder. Great for specific usages though. ugly as sin but comfy

[The DarkSide]

Then the Cortex or HTX7 would be a better choice.

[skip252]

Do the big pads on the Sony XB series seem to trap more heat? The OP asked about heat buildup the JVC HA RX700. I didn't find the JVC to be hotter or cooler than any other full size over ears. Full size closed headphones trap heat. It's just a part of them covering your ears.

[The DarkSide]

Full size hp's are just hotter - and that's just the way it is. You get used to it.

[casper^]

Originally Posted by The DarkSide

Full size hp's are just hotter - and that's just the way it is. You get used to it.

Yes, even the Weile HPs that I have are full-sized closed ones and get hot but I can't wear them after about an hour's use.

The JVC has really nice reviews and I liked the Cortex CHP-2500's 2000mW max output power.

Thanks for everyone for the suggestions though. It seems that none of these headphones are available in India without importing which adds at least 35 USD for S&H and Import fees. If that is my only option, which out of the five phones above would you guys suggest as the best?


1. JVC HARX700
2. Panasonic RP-HTF600
3. Cortex CHP-2500
4. Sony xb300/xb500
5. Panasonic RP-HTX7 (These are available in 4-5 colors on ebay and there's a huge price difference between them due to just the different color.)

Kind Regards,
Casper

[Syndrome]

From what I've heard in headphones, if you want cheap bass then you can't really beat the Cortex... Though they're far from my favorite bass headphones, for the money they really are pretty good.

I'm not sure how the market is there, but if your getting close to the price of the AudioTechnica ATH-M50 then you should go for them. They are some of the funnest headphones I've seen for the money(around 115USD in the usa)

[dgb52]

Originally Posted by Syndrome

From what I've heard in headphones, if you want cheap bass then you can't really beat the Cortex... Though they're far from my favorite bass headphones, for the money they really are pretty good.

I'm not sure how the market is there, but if your getting close to the price of the AudioTechnica ATH-M50 then you should go for them. They are some of the funnest headphones I've seen for the money(around 115USD in the usa)

Where have you seen the Ath-M50's for 115.00? the cheapest i have seen is around 150.00

[Marvin the Martian]

Originally Posted by dgb52

Where have you seen the Ath-M50's for 115.00? the cheapest i have seen is around 150.00

I remember a while ago there was a bunch of prices just over $100 like Syndrome references, but they jumped back up to the $150 and have been that way for a while now.

I wonder if anyone has both M50's and WS55's.....I'd love to compare. The WS55's are so good at around $100 that I could care less about getting an M50, to be honest.