New headphones

[Correction]

My 2 year old Sennheiser 595s have finally cracked on the right earcup and I'm not about to go on an endless treadmill of replacing them whenever this happens. I need a replacement, even if it's just another similar model from Sennheiser. Those in the know will be aware of the price range, but generally speaking I'm looking for pretty high quality, low noise, lightweight headphones I can wear for hours and hours on a big head. The key here is DURABILITY.

[thestalkmore]

I'm a slave to Grados, and own a pair of 325i's that are slobber worthy. They get my vote.

[Correction]

How long have you had them?

[thestalkmore]

Hm. 9 months now?

[viperlasson]

I love my 595's, I've had them for over four years now.

[Correction]

I love my 595's, I've had them for over four years now.

No cracks? Mine started cracking after less than a year.

[viperlasson]

Been the same way since I got them. I don't use them very often (maybe 2-4 hours a week), which might play a role in their wear though...

[wop]

New
QuietComfort 15 - Noise Cancelling Headphones - Bose Headsets and Headphones

[Norellicus]

Bose, lol

I guarantee you get a better product for the same price anywhere else.

A friend of mine swears by AKG, namely the K240. He had them in use at least thrice weekly for production work (~4 hours each day), sometimes more, and used them for a good 5 years (maybe more, they were already there when I knew him) before he had to even look at repairs...and even then the repairs were only for the leather earcups starting to crack. Really solid sound, and comfortable for prolonged use; being circumaural they also did a good job of isolating what you wanted to hear, while not making you completely deaf to the outside world.

They're definitely studio phones though, so they're designed for accurate waveform reproduction more than casual listening; but I'm guessing that's what you're interested in since you're coming from HD-595s.

[dejet]

Dont say boss are bad at all. Would I get a 2nd pair? maybe not, only because I wont pay 125 for a pair of headphones, they have lasted me 3 years now sound as good as the 1st day.

Edit: for price they might be up there, msotly because they are the *name brand* for people at home, does not make them bad or anything.

[Norellicus]

I didn't say they were bad, I said they were overpriced. You can get the same quality at a lower price, or a better product at the same cost, unilaterally.

[Amastacia]

I'll say Bose are bad.

Bose are bad.

"Good" implies competitive quality at a competitive price. That is the antithesis of everything Bose.

Shame the Senn 650s are so much more expensive, I've heard nothing but good about them.

I've been thinking hard about upgrading my old 280s to 595s or 650s, kind of sad to hear the 595s have the same cracking issues as the 280s.

[Correction]

I've been thinking hard about upgrading my old 280s to 595s or 650s, kind of sad to hear the 595s have the same cracking issues as the 280s.

What really breaks my heart is that the old 590s were just about indestructible, they made them out of this super flexible plastic and you could twist the cups around and they never complained about it once. My 590s lasted me the full five years and fucks sake they stopped making them or making parts for them so when the driver in the left earmuff failed I had to 'upgrade' to the 595s, even though I'd heard about their durability problems.

[Tythera]

I just got a pair of 555s since I found a good deal on them, I wonder if I'll run into the same durability problems over time.

[zoobernut]

LOL Bose is what I have to contribute to every audio related thread.

Also we have several headphone related threads if you do a search that have some great information. Though if you don't feel like searching most people either choose Sennheiser or Grado for seriously good value in price vs. quality in headphones. Grado in my opinion have some of the best sounding headphones that also happen to be some of the most uncomfortable to wear.

I use Sennheiser HD 570's that I have had for almost 7 years now and I love them, they sound good and are very comfortable to wear. Though if I could get something that sounded like the Grado's that felt like the Sennheisers when on I would buy those in a hear beat.


Edit: Hmm searching Headphones yields nothing so I am not sure what happened to the other three or so threads but we had some very long headphone threads full of great information. Maybe someone else has a link to them or knows how to find them.

[Correction]

I should have probably named the thread 'durable headphones' because really the other threads don't seem to come from people who've owned their headphones for longer than a year. Since value for my dollar is paramount here I was really hoping to hear from folks who'd had the same pair for 3 years or longer. I have earbuds covered, but finding an ample replacement for the 590s I owned for 5 years requires a narrower focus than the other threads provided.

[Akucaen]

I'm using a pair of Sennheiser HD650 and they are honestly the best sounding headphones I've every heard. On top of that they are also the most comfortable I've ever used. I can wear these things for hours without the slightest discomfort.

I highly suggest you take a look at them. I snagged a pair off amazon for $330 shipped overnight new from factory.

[Akucaen]

Oh, just read your last post. For durability I've had my JVC HAR-900s for two years now. Those things have taken all sorts of abuse without the first sign of damage, cracking, or degradation. I don't know if that's much of a high point since you said your 550s last 5 years, heh.

The most durable headphones I've *ever* seen are the Sony MDR-G52s. I've had those things for ten years and they're still working like they were new. I've always been impressed with the oddly good high-range of those as well. That particular model has been out of production for a long time, but I would imagine the decedents of those are of the same high quality [durability.]

[zoobernut]

I should have probably named the thread 'durable headphones' because really the other threads don't seem to come from people who've owned their headphones for longer than a year. Since value for my dollar is paramount here I was really hoping to hear from folks who'd had the same pair for 3 years or longer. I have earbuds covered, but finding an ample replacement for the 590s I owned for 5 years requires a narrower focus than the other threads provided.

Well then the HD570's I have had for about 7 years still work and sound great and the drivers are still in good condition. The only thing I have had to replace a couple times is the cable but since the cable plugs into the side of the headphones it is an easy $6 fix. I probably go through a cable once every 2 years or maybe 3 depending on how much I am listening to them.

[Correction]

It might just be the size of my head, I took a good hard look at the construction of my 595s and there is considerable torque on the hooked plastic arm that connects to the swivel joint to the ear cup when I open the band to the size where it fits around my head; this is what cracked in two a week ago. The phones still work fine, I think I'm going to put something together with superglue and rubberbands until I have enough money saved for either a Grados or find a good bargain on the HD600s, which use a different joint construction and look sturdier overall.