Headphones for a Marantz 2270 Receiver

April 7, 2007 8:55 PM

I just picked up a Marantz 2270 receiver to go with my JBL L100 speakers from the late 70s. I'm looking to buy a headphones for the receiver when I'm not listening to the speakers. Since I haven't shopped for headphones in decades, could someone tell me "the best" that's out there? Thanks!
posted by america4 to shopping (13 comments total)

Grados would look classy with the Marantz, and they sound great too.
posted by pullayup at 9:07 PM on April 7, 2007

For your generation of equipment, accept nothing less than the classic Stax Electrostatic Earspeakers. Absolutely transparent sound.

However, if you want something more modern in a dynamic set of headphones, you basically have to choose between canalphones (buds you wear in your ear), closed cans, or open phones. For blocking ambient noise, canalphones or closed cans are best, but for lightness and general comfort over many hours of listening, open phones are good. I like Sennheisers myself. But Grado headphones are often recommended, too.

I have a set of inexpensive folding Sennheiser PX 100, that go with my laptop, and that I wear for hours at a time. I'm consistently impressed with their neutrality, clarity, and comfort, especially for the small price I paid for them. My 595's have about 2 octaves better bass, and maybe some highs that are less important as I grow older, but they are great phones. But considering price/performance, not 5 times better than the PX 100s.
posted by paulsc at 9:16 PM on April 7, 2007 [1 favorite]

Wow, the Grados GS-1000 is one very cool looking set of headphones, but at $995 is it THAT good...thanks for the suggestions!
posted by america4 at 9:21 PM on April 7, 2007

I second Grados.

If you like open cans (you'll be able to hear ambient noise in the room, and people right around you will be able to hear what you're listening to), you can't do better than the Grados.

And they have a full product line, from some $70ish imported model all the way up to the $1000 hand-carved-by-virgins one. I have the SR80s, which is the least-expensive model that's actually made in their factory in Brooklyn, and runs a little over $100 from most reputable dealers.

The best (and only good, IMO) way to buy headphones is to go to a real audio equipment store and 'audition' (test-drive) a few. Bring a few CDs that you really like, and listen to some selections through each and buy what sounds good. I thought that I could hear a difference between the SR60s and 80s, but it seemed like a diminishing-returns proposition higher than that, so that's what I bought. All depends on how sensitive your ears are.

The other nice thing about the Grados is that they're not a very tough load for most equipment to drive; they'll sound pretty decent off of battery-powered devices without a ton of add-on amplifiers.
posted by Kadin2048 at 9:43 PM on April 7, 2007 [1 favorite]

A standard recommendation for entry level headphones is the Koss Porta Pro. Also, check out headwize.

Marantz slays foul sound!
posted by Chuckles at 9:56 PM on April 7, 2007

Grados. I've got the SR60s which are raved about almost to the point of tedium, but truth is, they're pure old school and should suit the Marantz to the ground. They do leak sound, but it seems (to me, at least) that it's a small price to pay for getting detail without ever feeling tired by the headphone experience.

(What are you planning to run off the Marantz, btw? Vinyl, radio, your MP3 collection?)
posted by holgate at 10:22 PM on April 7, 2007

the place i would go for this would be head-fi. There are a bunch of headphone junkies there, of which i used to be, and you'll probably find your answer. It really depends on how much you want to spend - headphones have a huge range in price. I have no clue if you're looking for a $25 pair or a $1500 pair.

I like my Sennheiser HD580's that i got 8 years ago (for around $100 on ebay, it looks like the price has gone up). The Sennheiser HD650's ($338 on amazon) and the Beyerdynamic dt880's ($299 at headphone.com) are very good at their price point as well.
posted by escher at 10:23 PM on April 7, 2007 [1 favorite]

GRADOS. they're unbelievably good.
posted by tremspeed at 11:03 PM on April 7, 2007

GRADOS! Don't bother with the more expensive one's though - the cheap models are better than any other headphone anywhere.
posted by phrontist at 11:09 PM on April 7, 2007

Depends on whether you want open-ear or closed. I have a pair of Grado SR60's that I bought after everyone and their aunt recommended Grados. After using them for a while, I have to say that I'm really, really not fond of the foam they use, nor the lack of "shape" to conform to the ear. Unfortunately, that's kind-of Grado's trademark design, and you'll find it in even their top-of-the-line studio series. If you're looking for audio isolation, these are not the phones to get. And while the claim is a fairly neutral response curve, I've found I'm always having to turn down the upper frequencies if I want to play anything loud. They're good for the price, but I was not blown away.
posted by Civil_Disobedient at 6:36 AM on April 8, 2007

Oh, and as for my recommendation, I'd go with the Shure e4 lineup if you don't mind ear-canal phones, or if you want a more traditional design, the Sennheiser 280 Pro or Beyerdynamic 250-80. The 280's are about half the price of the Beyerdynamics.
posted by Civil_Disobedient at 6:50 AM on April 8, 2007

I love my Grados, but note that a lot of people find them uncomfortable. A lot of people love Sennheisers, and I find most of them uncomfortable. Both brands sound different, both sound fantastic, and both fit different heads. I strongly recommend wearing a pair of whatever interests you for an entire album or two before buying.
posted by ardgedee at 9:23 AM on April 8, 2007

Radio people (at least in the UK, where you'll basically never find any other pair of headphones ever) use and evangelise Beyerdynamic DT-100s (from about $140, also available in black).

They're closed-ear cans. Every single component part can be removed and replaced, which appeals to radio engineers and the budget-conscious medium-term thinker.

(Actually, come to think of it, I spent months of my life as a child sitting quietly in dozens of recording studios while my mother was working and every single one of those used these headphones too. Yes, they've been around for a while.)
posted by genghis at 9:56 AM on April 8, 2007