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Ask HN: Non-audiophile looking for first quality headphones

2 points by caseyw 7y ago

In a recent HN post I saw people mention Bose as a less desirable brand for headphones. I’ve always thought it was the better brand likely due to marketing. I’m not looking for any brand bashing, but more of what I should look for that will help make an educated decision when purchasing a nice set of cans. Thanks HN!

Finnucane 7y ago
Do you have a budget? I got pair of Audio-Technica headphones that weren’t very expensive and suit me pretty well. Do you care about noise-cancelling or other fancy features?
- caseyw 7y ago
  I'd like to spend under 300, and noise cancelling would be nice.
ansgri 7y ago
Go read guides at head-fi.org, there are multiple budget-conscious (as well as very hi-end) discussions for all kinds of applications. Very good forum. Start here: https://www.head-fi.org/articles/headphone-buying-guide.14163/ https://www.head-fi.org/articles/headphone-buying-guide.1416... My personal favorite for price/convenience/sound currently is Fiio F9 Pro.
pettycashstash2 7y ago
For Bluetooth I’ve enjoyed Sony Mx wireless version. Has Boise cancelling and quite good from a sound perspective
eightothree 7y ago
I like Panasonic ErgoFit RP-HJE120 Earbud Headphones. It's super cheap, sounds incredible and nearly indestructible. Great for gym or any outdoors work.
dfraser992 7y ago
If you are concerned about technical details, try [1]. I spent hours on this site when looking for a pair of wireless headphones - I got tired of dealing with the myriad of other (pseudo)review sites plugging specific brands that were more just marketing copy and so obviously untrustworthy. In the process, I learned about features I had no idea existed and ended up buying something slightly more expensive than I normally would buy, but it will cover all my possible needs. [1] https://www.rtings.com/ https://www.rtings.com/
- caseyw 7y ago
  What did you end up going with?
  - dfraser992 7y ago
    I got the HD 4.40 BT from Sennheiser. I thought I'd buy something cheap (under $40) but ended up wanting NFC connectivity, cable connectivity, low enough latency to watch videos (did not realize that was a big issue)...
karmakaze 7y ago
I concur that Bose isn't great for sound quality. Their noise-cancellation is quite good although others have caught up/surpassed them. I'm a bit of an audio snob so don't do wireless. The Sony MDR-7506 is my default go-to. It's light and has the best midrange/mid-high detail and tone. I do keep a pair of Bose QuietComfort for plane trips and office privacy (wearing better quality earbuds underneath). I can't deny the convenience of wireless and will likely get the Sony which offers a wireless/wired combo in the same model.

2 points by caseyw 7y ago

Finnucane 7y ago

Do you have a budget? I got pair of Audio-Technica headphones that weren’t very expensive and suit me pretty well. Do you care about noise-cancelling or other fancy features?

caseyw 7y ago
I'd like to spend under 300, and noise cancelling would be nice.

ansgri 7y ago

Go read guides at head-fi.org, there are multiple budget-conscious (as well as very hi-end) discussions for all kinds of applications. Very good forum. Start here: https://www.head-fi.org/articles/headphone-buying-guide.14163/ https://www.head-fi.org/articles/headphone-buying-guide.1416... My personal favorite for price/convenience/sound currently is Fiio F9 Pro.

pettycashstash2 7y ago

For Bluetooth I’ve enjoyed Sony Mx wireless version. Has Boise cancelling and quite good from a sound perspective

eightothree 7y ago

I like Panasonic ErgoFit RP-HJE120 Earbud Headphones. It's super cheap, sounds incredible and nearly indestructible. Great for gym or any outdoors work.

dfraser992 7y ago

If you are concerned about technical details, try [1]. I spent hours on this site when looking for a pair of wireless headphones - I got tired of dealing with the myriad of other (pseudo)review sites plugging specific brands that were more just marketing copy and so obviously untrustworthy. In the process, I learned about features I had no idea existed and ended up buying something slightly more expensive than I normally would buy, but it will cover all my possible needs. [1] https://www.rtings.com/ https://www.rtings.com/

caseyw 7y ago
What did you end up going with?
- dfraser992 7y ago
  I got the HD 4.40 BT from Sennheiser. I thought I'd buy something cheap (under $40) but ended up wanting NFC connectivity, cable connectivity, low enough latency to watch videos (did not realize that was a big issue)...

karmakaze 7y ago

I concur that Bose isn't great for sound quality. Their noise-cancellation is quite good although others have caught up/surpassed them. I'm a bit of an audio snob so don't do wireless. The Sony MDR-7506 is my default go-to. It's light and has the best midrange/mid-high detail and tone. I do keep a pair of Bose QuietComfort for plane trips and office privacy (wearing better quality earbuds underneath). I can't deny the convenience of wireless and will likely get the Sony which offers a wireless/wired combo in the same model.