I'm currently looking around the interwebs for a new pair of headphones. I wanted to get something a little pricier this time around, the suggested price of the ones I like is around $150 and I'm finding them for as low as $70 in certain corners. So naturally I'm thinking that they're bogus. Anybody know a good way to make sure that I'm buying legit stuff while still getting a nice price? Also if anyone knows a good pair of portable headphones they can recommend that would be cool too...

Are you looking for portable headphones only (earbud's), or also a pair of larger ear piece headphones for more audiophile pleasures?

I can recommend several different from each category. Also some information about your normal wear and tear some headphones have great sound but are fragile, so if you usually drop them that should be taken into account

As a taste, if you are looking for headphones for home use I have always been partial to the sound of Grado. Around the 150 range you can find a pair of SR125i. But they can be fragile. Some people prefer the sound of Sennheiser or another higher end headphone manufacturers.

As for portable headphones do you prefer flat ear, or ear buds?

A decent cheap earbuds (example) would be the Sennheiser MM50IP Headset. Or flat style Grado iGrado.

You can also check your local listings for a professional audio shop in your area if you want to try different brands, as each have there own unique sound when you buy a quality headphone. Just stay away from Bose Or best buy or major stores

Yea, I have my eye on the Audio-Technica ATH-ES7's. I've heard Grado are really kick ass, but I guess they don't have any closed phones. I want something that is portable, closed, with good sound and is good looking. I like that bigger look and feel. Most earbuds really bug me.

These are the ones I'm considering (in black):

Check out skull candy, buds+headsets are great quality

you pay a bit for the look of the headphone over the sound on that model, but not by much. I have also noticed the finished sides are a fingerprint and scratch magnet if you do not keep them spic and span.

They are comparable in sound to the more known Sony MDR-V700DJ , thow the Audio-Technica is far more streamlined and less bulky overall. Any full size full cup or on ear headphone will not make a good jogging headphone, but for casual commute and walking they hold up nicely; and also can totally remove you from your surroundings. So be careful when crossing streets

The Grado's are pretty much not portable as they are very fragile, and not really meant to be josseled around. But for a stationary headphone I stand by they are the best sounding can on the market.

Since you have mentioned you want something portable, I would be miss not to also suggest the Sony MDR7506 Studio Monitors. You may recognise them from any movie or shot in a sound booth, or control room. They have an accurate sound reproduction, but there main point is ressiliancy. They can basically withstand a nuclear attack They might be an option for traveling as they can take quite a pounding and keep on ticking. The Audio-Technica is gonna be a little more fragile, but not to bad for travel.

Also a very popular small framed portable headphone is the Sennheiser HD 238 around the price range.

Thanks for all the great info man

Yea, I would love to go with something like those Grado's or Sony MDR's, unfortunately I need to get something that allows me to move around outdoors as well as chill in the house. I'm sure they sound kick ass though. Those Sennheiser's look great. Portable and good looking, I'll assume they sound pretty nice because you obviously know a lot about this stuff. I'll definitely give those some consideration

Also, in your other post you mentioned that I should stay away from Bose, I was curious why? I'm not gonna buy a pair or anything, it's just that I always thought Bose was a real popular product, it'll be good to know why for future reference. And are you talking strictly about their headphones or are you including home stereo equipment as well?

Btw, I absolutely love that sig

Bose I would group the same as Monster Cables, just over priced. I would have nothing against Bose products if they were 2/3 the price. I would have nothing against Monster cables if they were 2/3 the price. Its marketing and branding, you pay so much for the brand name and marketing the product you get is inferior compared to the products you can get from a true headphone company.

An example is the Bose® around-ear headphones, 139 dollars my ass. Should be 49.99 maximum, and you still might be able to find a better sounding can for that price. As for general home theater speakers I dont have as much knowledge about, but I do now for the same price as Bose speakers you can buy the low end speakers at a real high end audio store that blow anything that best buy would sell out of the water.

Same with Monster Cable, 100 dollars for a cable my ass, when I can go to home depot and get one off the reel for a nickle and a handshake

Beyer make some of the best, take a look at their range....

Skullcandy is having a limited time sale of all their 2008 products. They are really good headphones and everything is half off. You may wanna hurry though, the sale is in its last 12 hours I think.

I know that I am posting late but I love my Bose on ear headphones. I also have the Bose in ear phones, but I think that they are probably too pricey for the quality. Plus my ears are almost 58 years old and they don't hear as well as they used to. Must have been jet engines, and heavy metal that did it.

Falcore, I'm also looking for some headphones. They would be used at home with my computer for audio and occasionally for gaming. The last pair I owned was in the 60s. That's 1960s, not $60s. At the time the biggest problem was listening fatigue and pain/heat on the skin of the outside of the ear. I have briefly used the tiny ear buds with a portable player and found they did not make a good seal with one of my ears. Are there lightweight full sized headphones that do not end up hurting your exterior ear after a while or is that just part of the package? And can you get good bass with the tiny buds? Thanks for any information.

There are many comfortable headphones on the market, depending on what size and use you want out of them. I would ask what you are planning on doing with them (where you will be using them). Whether you prefer the feel of on ear, full size, or street style headphones. And a price range

Probably not with ear buds, but with in ear (ear canal) headphones. Price range for anything decent start at around 60$, and naturally can go very very high. I would not reccomend them if you are only going to be using them as stationary headphones, as the price is influenced by size. The better technology in a small package = Money $$.

Falcore, I will be using them sitting at my computer. What I want to avoid is the feeling of my ears being squeezed so hard that it hurts after a while. Also, I don't want something that will cause my ears to heat up. As I mentioned earlier I have not used any headphones for decades so many those problems no long exist. Whatever I get has to have good fidelity, taking into consideration that I am way on the wrong side of 50 so I can probably can't hear any high notes like I once did, and be comfortable for use over several hours. Thanks.

I would recommend a nice Studio Monitor like the Sony MDR-V700DJ / Sony MDR7506 Studio Monitors I linked above. You might be hard pressed to find them in a regular retailer like bestbuy or equivalent, but you should be able to try a pair of either of these two at a music store. A store that sells musical instruments and recording equipment will usually have a good selection of studio monitors, and they are usually very comfortable.

If you want a step up in audio quality and still retain a comfort level I would suggest something like Audio-Technica ATH-M50 , or Sennheiser HD 595. These headphones go over a varied price range, as I was not sure the range you were looking at.

Just been looking for a pair of reference cans (to be used primarily for mixing/mastering) and was wondering if anyone had any experience with AKG 701s and if they were worth the money or there was something comparable for cheaper. Seems like the sennheiser 595's could be just as good for half the price perhaps?

I have the SkullCandy headphones w/ in-line bass boost. I LOVE them, this actually my second pair. My 15 yr old son took over my first pair. I bought them on E-Bay for about $50. I really don't like earbuds, I think my ears must be abmormal...earbuds just plain hurt my ears. I use my SkullCandy headphones for watching movies on my laptop to riding my bike down the road. They sound great, they're comfortable, & the price is really reasonable.

Sennheiser are always reliable, and an excelent head/earhhone manafactureer
I bought the Sennheiser HD 202 for £18 (14 % off at amazon) They are very comfortable, great bass, and i was stunned by the flawless overall quality.
I suppose you could spend more and try to get better quality, but i would reccomend these!

I was searching woot the other day and caught the Original Steel siberia headphones on sale for 15 bucks. They are by far the best investment i've made in this category.

I have had the Skull Candy Ink'd headphones. They are actually really good for 25$

I also have the Skull Candy G.I's they are over ear DJ quality headphones, sound quality isnt great for the 100$ you pay. But they are pretty sexy.

Right now im using my Beats by Dr. Dre, 350$ feels like to much to pay but once you have listened to these you will think different the sound quality is just amazing

I can definitely recommend AKG Headphones. I've been in bands for years and do a lot of home & studio recording so I have used a lot of different brands of headphone and for a long time was a fan of Roland, Shure and Sennheiser but then I bought a cheap $120 pair of AKG K99's and couldn't believe the quality as they are as good if not better than my expensive Sennheiser sets. Since then I've recently got some AKG K702's for home use and they are truly amazing headphones for $600 and from my experience are comparable to $2000+ headphones like Alessandro or Audio Technica.