Low-profile over-ear headphones?

January 29, 2020 12:25 PM

Yes, another headphone recommendation thread. I'm looking for over-ear headphones that are not noise-cancelling and are smallish relative to what a professional DJ would wear. Basically, I want quality sounding over-ear headphones, but I want to look approachable and be able to hear when someone is talking to me in my office.
posted by Think_Long to Technology (10 answers total)

So, something like a current version of the Sennheiser HD424? (or HD400, HD414, HD420).
posted by Stoneshop at 1:00 PM on January 29, 2020

You're either going to want open-back headphones, or else on-ear headphones. Closed-back over-ear headphones are going to cut out all external noise. And to be honest, if you have your sound turned down so low that you can clearly hear people talking to you, sound quality needn't be much of a consideration, because most headphones don't sound great at really low volumes anyway.

That aside, AKG K451s are good-sounding, small, on-ear (but very comfortable) headphones that I use for a similar purpose, and I'd recommend them. Also, anything by Sennheiser.
posted by pipeski at 1:11 PM on January 29, 2020 [1 favorite]

I have a pair of Skullcandy Grind wireless headphones that I use in the office. They're lightweight and pretty comfortable and definitely do not block out all noise. I use them mainly to listen to podcasts so I'm not too terribly concerned with sound quality, but they're pretty well reviewed. Plus they're cheap.
posted by Fuego at 1:52 PM on January 29, 2020

Best answer: Koss ksc 75 are cheap, sound fantastic, let you hear, and are unobtrusive.
posted by smoke at 2:54 PM on January 29, 2020 [1 favorite]

Sony MDR 7506s are cheap and sound pretty good, and the funny teal stripe should make you extremely approachable.
posted by q*ben at 3:13 PM on January 29, 2020

Best answer: Agree with smoke that anything from the Koss over-ear series is going to be good. The KSC75 are ear-clip headphones, but if you want something more traditionally over-ear look at the PortaPros, the SportaPros, or the KPH30i, which have the same (great-sounding) driver and open characteristics. I have the KSC75 and the SportaPros, and they're perfect for when I need to be interrupt-able or when I'm walking around outside and need to hear the street.
posted by Polycarp at 5:48 PM on January 29, 2020 [1 favorite]

Best answer: I have used Koss Porta Pro and KPH30i in this kind of circumstance. I like the sound and retro 80s-y styling. I don't like how quickly the cords short out with normal use. They have a lifetime warranty, so you can send them back and pay something like $9 for replacements when this inevitably happens. I have sent a pair of Porta Pros back maybe once a year since 2013. I keep getting replacements so the warranty is for real, but it does feel wasteful.

These days I'm mostly using these Zero One Audio Tempo Bluetooth headphones, but it appears they're no longer available. I will be very sad when mine die.
posted by doift at 7:59 PM on January 29, 2020 [1 favorite]

I have some Aftershokz for running, but I also use them around the apartment where I need to be aware of my kid. The sound quality is surprisingly good! And they don't have an I Am Not To Be Disturbed look.
posted by Jon Mitchell at 9:58 PM on January 29, 2020

Agree that I think open backs are a good choice for you. My under $100 suggestion would be these Grados.
posted by Lutoslawski at 12:41 PM on January 30, 2020

Response by poster: Great advice, thanks everyone. I'm going with the Koss KPH30iK for now based on the semi-consensus and also for aesthetic reasons - I am a millennial after all.
posted by Think_Long at 7:39 AM on January 31, 2020