Poll: Headphone Appreciation Thread - Summer '09

[300lb. Samoan]

I was checking out the Escapist music library that was just posted and the last line was "put on your headphones and enjoy!" or something similar. It reminded me of a love affair I once had with a great pair of headphones from a company called Grado. Just curious if anyone else here is fanatical about their headphones, what cans do you use and what are your favorites you have ever had, or what ones would you get had you the money to throw down? Also, does anyone here play games using a headphone amp, or do you just plug straight into your sound card/stereo system?

Me: I have Bose Triports, their ok once you wear them in but they sounded tinny when I first had them. I had Grado SR-60s and SR-80s before and the sound was fucking immaculate, even running straight from my Creative Audigy Gamer card. Too bad they are built so damn cheap! Everyone I've ever known that had a pair broke them sometime in the first year. If I had the money, I would either buy Grado SR-350s or higher, or I would talk to someone at Grado about making a pair with better construction and a microphone attached. That would be bitchin!

PS I did search to see if there was an existing thread like this, and there was from Nov '08 but it has been dead since so I didn't want to resurrect it. I was happy to see the first poster there had a similar experience:

I recently received a pair of Grado SR-60 headphones, and they have pretty much changed the way I listen to music

 

[Grayjack]

Grado? As in the military giant in FE8?

On topic, I only use cheap and crappy headphones so I don't have an informed opinion.

 

[Calobi]

I love my headphones, but in my room I just use some nice speakers. They're better for some things since my headphones get loud very, very fast.

 

[GodsOneMistake]

I haven't been able to use them cause my Ipods acting fucking weird.

The left earplug doesn't work on any of the 4 headphones I've used, I have to hold the wire connected to the Ipod in a certain direction for it to work, its a pain in the ass..

BY the by if anyone has any idea what's wrong with it...

 

[The_Echo]

I only use headphones when I don't want to bother people. When my brother is over, he sleeps in the room next to where we keep the computer, so I plug in headphones. I never use headphones outside of iPods and such, normally. The headphones I bought are cheap, but they aren't crappy.

 

[pantsoffdanceoff]

I love my headphones, they're made for audio editing so the cord is a bit too long. I love my over the ear headphones that pretty much say "don't try and talk to me".

 

[zoozilla]

GRADO!

I've got a pair of SR-60's myself, and they are definitely sweet. The only problem is that they leak sound in and out, so to really get all the details you need to be in a pretty quiet place. When that's possible, though, damn they're good.

EDIT: I was about to say that I made a similar thread a while back, but it seems you saw that.

 

[SYSTEM-J]

Good headphones are a life-changing experience. Once you've heard them, you can never go back.

I have a pair of Sennheiser CX300IIs. Cost me almost £50 but well worth it. If I ever have the money I'll invest in some top quality DJing headphones from them too.

 

[Troublesome Lagomorph]

Only had some good (but short lived) head phones. Love them though.

 

[300lb. Samoan]

Good headphones are a life-changing experience. Once you've heard them, you can never go back.

Quoted for truth! It's not like i'll ever have my own place where I could have a big kick-ass speaker set-up without everyone in the building getting completely pissed-off, but great headphones are a whole different experience and more accessible!

GRADO!

I've got a pair of SR-60's myself, and they are definitely sweet. The only problem is that they leak sound in and out, so to really get all the details you need to be in a pretty quiet place. When that's possible, though, damn they're good.

That open design is my favorite thing, though. When I had those on for playing Counter-Strike, I could hear enemy locations better than I could see them since the stereo field was so open and precise. Everything else sounds stuffy and closed-up to me.

The left earplug doesn't work on any of the 4 headphones I've used, I have to hold the wire connected to the Ipod in a certain direction for it to work, its a pain in the ass..

BY the by if anyone has any idea what's wrong with it...

If you've tried different cans )presumably with different wires) then the only answer is the iPod. Somehow try cleaning out the headphone port, otherwise it's probably a short-out or a defective contact - probably unfixable without serious surgery.