Ask MetaFilter questions tagged with headphones

Good headphones for blocking out all work chatter

Salamandrous — Mon, 17 Jun 2013 05:31:42 -0800

I'm currently working in a smallish office where people arrayed around a group of tables chat to each other during the day. I'm hoping to find very comfortable headphones for listening to music (mostly just soft wordless music - my base station is Pandora's 'classical for studying' station) that will let me not hear voices, but also will not leak and be obnoxious for my colleagues. (I've read previous related AskMe's and I'm hoping to find recommendations more on target to my needs and price range, if possible).

I don't need to be able to hear *anything*. I'm also not a big music expert so I probably won't hear or appreciate or miss having the absolute best music quality. My real interest is to, when I choose, shut out as completely as possible the voices of people who are actually sitting fairly close to me.

This is what I've tried so far:

Monoprice noise cancelling headphones. I like them a lot and they're super comfortable. But they're pretty leaky. I didn't my homework before buying them, which revealed that active noise cancelling is probably actually less good for blocking people who are talking than passive would be. (Although these are not bad for that, I'm hoping to do better).

Sony MDR-7506. These were very highly recommended on the Wirecutter. But they were nowhere near as comfortable as the Monoprice ones, didn't seem substantially better at blocking out sound, and seemed a bit leaky too.

I think I want headphones that go over the ear since my impression is that these will be more comfortable and better at blocking out sound (also I think my ears are on the small side and I don't really like the feel of things in my ear). On the other hand my head seems to be slightly on the large side and I don't want them to be too tight.

I'd rather pay under $100 (and the less the better) but I'm willing to go somewhat higher if it's worth it.

They will sit on my desk all the time and not generally travel often so I don't really care about cases or accessories. I'd prefer if they weren't too flashy or showy.

Thank you!

Are there comfortable earbuds?

radioamy — Fri, 24 May 2013 20:00:08 -0800

I have always used over-the-head headphones, but they're a bit cumbersome and not very practical for riding the bus, taking a walk, keeping in my purse, etc. I really want a pair of earbuds (canalphones?) but I need comfortable ones. Advice? I hatehatehate Apple earbuds. I can't even wear them for a minute, they are so uncomfortable. I tried a pair of SkullCandys a while ago that had multiple tips but those were also uncomfortable. I don't know if my ears are small or it's because I am generally "sensitive" (low pain threshold, sensitive skin, etc).

I'm willing to shell out up to $100 or so. Can you recommend some comfortable earbuds/canalphones, or at least tell me what features to look for.

How can I get my earbuds to last longer than 3 months before they break?

Nelsormensch — Thu, 18 Apr 2013 09:29:48 -0800

I replaced my earbud headphones for the third time in six months yesterday. I'm not particularly rough on them (I don't think), yet after three months, inevitably one of the ears will get all static-y and then completely die about a day later. I'm buying pretty mid-range headphones and while they're not amazing, they should bloody last longer than three months. So what is it that I am doing that's apparently so beyond the wear and tear expected of these headphones? Is it how I'm wrapping the cord? Where I'm keeping them? Gah! I have these Turtle Beach ones, mostly because they have a remote and mic that work with my phone.

Generally, I'll put them in when I walk to work, wrap up the cord like this when I get there and unwrap them and use them for the walk home. That's about it really. If that cord wrapping is the problem, is there another way to wrap the cord without it turning into a Gordian mess?

NRR-rated in-ear headphones?

tirade — Wed, 10 Apr 2013 10:58:07 -0800

I'm looking to find out whether any brand of in-ear headphones also carry a noise reduction rating (NRR). I'm not so much shopping for headphones as for earplugs with a headphone feature. NRR is important because I'm also trying to understand objectively how much I'd be giving up in noise protection compared with standard earplugs.

Best over-the-ear headphones for techno listening?

likeapen — Thu, 04 Apr 2013 10:06:48 -0800

I am looking to purchase an over-the-ear headphone under $100 for daily techno and deep house music listening. Which headphone would you recommend?

Looking for under-$60 headphones with detachable cord

shoyu — Sat, 23 Mar 2013 11:40:31 -0800

I'm looking for an under $60 set of headphones with a detachable cord/cable. Every corded headset I've bought has failed because of the cord, so being able to replace it is important. I would be using this mainly with a laptop and tablet, and possibly with a phone, to listen to music and videos, and some games.
Microphone not important.
I prefer over the ears or on the ears.
Portability is nice, but not that necessary.
I mainly listen to pop and electronic music.
Headphones I am considering now: RHA SA950i, Koss R-80, Superlux HD668B, Skullcandy Hesh.

TripleFi cables can rot in hell

Rory Marinich — Mon, 11 Mar 2013 09:34:17 -0800

I need replacement cables for my TripleFi 10 earphones. Problem is, the default ones by Logitech are kind of crappy, and the only alternative I see online looks even worse. Are there any durable, modestly-priced cables I can get that'll fit my TripleFis? (I'm hoping for something in the $30-40 range if possible – I have no idea if it's too much to hope for cables that cheap that won't also break.)

What's wrong? jacking mic and headphones for Frankenstein headset

cheesyburgercheese — Fri, 08 Mar 2013 07:26:57 -0800

I really want to combine my headphones with my microphone so that I can use it as a headset on my home phone. So I got a 3.5mm splitter and a 3.5mm to 2.5mm adapter so that I can plug the mic and headset together, then reduce it to 2.5mm so it can plug into my phone. It doesn't work. Why? More details inside... I did all this and I can hear calls great over the headphones, but sadly the microphone is not feeding through at all. I tried switching plugs, and I've tested the mic on my computer so it is not faulty. Clearly since I can hear callers the headphones are not faulty so I suspect that it may be a problem with the jack or splitter....

I have used a cheap crappy headset/mic combo on my phone and that works - but that is what I was trying to replace so I can still make and hear calls easily when my kids are happily playing (and making noise). I also wanted to do it this way so that if a component breaks I can replace it... of course since the components don't seem to be playing together well it's kinda a mute point.

I'm kind of at a loss as to what is wrong - shouldn't it just work?

Headphone recommendations: give me the sound without the research

StephenF — Tue, 19 Feb 2013 13:36:23 -0800

I was at some live classical music the other night (Philip Glass, if it matters) and the experiencing was life-changing. I've got the music from iTunes but it doesn't sound that great over my normal cheapo headphones. I have never cared about audio quality before and it's not something I'm likely to get seriously into. But say I had up to 250 euro or so to spend on getting the sounds that's closest to what I heard in the concert hall - what should I buy or do?

Earphones that sound as good as Etymotics without the cord noise?

seanmpuckett — Tue, 29 Jan 2013 14:17:46 -0800

So I love my Etymotic hf2 headphones. The sound is crisp, lush, and only just a little light in the bass. The problem is cord noise. Is there another brand or model of in-ear phones that doesn't have this problem? Every time I move my head or my body and cords brush against anything, I hear a rustling sound as the sound from the cord is conducted into the body of the 'phones and thence into my ears. It's particularly bad when I have the volume down low and am using the 'phones as both earplugs to kill sound and earphones to listen to music. It's all rustle-rustle-rustle anytime I move.

I had some Sony in-ear 'phones like ten years ago and I don't remember them having this problem or at least to such a severe degree. It's really bad when I'm wearing a hat or a hood as one tends to do in the winter.

To be specific, I want sealed in-ear 'phones with great sound and a minimum level of cord noise. Apple iPod remote compatibility is a distinct second, but I'll take it if it's available as an upgrade.

Where to find tech-friendly fashion

lord_yo — Fri, 28 Dec 2012 13:31:33 -0800

Where can I find tech-friendly fashion that looks good? E.g. sweaters or hoodies that help you with headphone cables, storage for gadgets etc. Shouldn't be too exclusive or pricey. If you found something via search, let me know what terms you were looking for.

Why are my headphones not playing vocals?

cyml — Thu, 27 Dec 2012 18:55:00 -0800

I have a pair of Monster Inspiration. I'm trying to play Madness by Muse but if I plug the headphones completely into the iPod or computer, I can't hear the vocal parts at all. If the jack isn't completely in, then I can hear it perfectly. Why is this happening?? The back-up vocal parts remain intact - it's just the main parts. This is the only song that does this. I tried different equalizer settings but nothing works. Is this just a quirk of the headphones or is this not normal?

I tried it with other songs and I've noticed that if I plug in the entire jack, it gets duller sounding. The bass doesn't get any louder... the entire volume just comes down and it sounds less punchy.

I just got them so I don't think I broke anything yet. I've had other high-end headphones and this is the first pair I've had something like this happen on. Should I return it?

Dad, my Headphones don't work...again

thanotopsis — Wed, 05 Dec 2012 16:30:54 -0800

Cheap headphones that can survive children...are there such things? We go through headphones like a hot knife through butter. Mostly it's because anyone younger than my 20 year old son (of which there are three other members of the family that fit that description) can't seem to keep a set healthy enough to use for more than a few months at a time.

Anyone have suggestions for what headphones to buy that aren't too expensive that might be hearty enough to survive, or some way of trying to preserve the cheap ones we do buy (reinforcing with tape, or something)?

How can I get headphones to work with my hearing aids?

Lescha — Wed, 05 Dec 2012 12:32:40 -0800

How can I get headphones to work with my hearing aids? The noise leaking out of them is making my fellow commuters (and me) unhappy. I wear hearing aids and without them my hearing is very limited. I also like to listen to music and podcasts on my way to work. But it’s proving to be very difficult.

I have been searching – for years – for headphones that will work well for me, but I’ve yet to have any luck. I am wondering if there is some way to modify the headphones I have or if there is something I don’t know about that will work.

My hearing aids actually have Bluetooth connectivity and I have a device (an ICOM) that sends the signals from my iPhone to my hearing aids. The only trouble is that the volume is not loud at all. My audiologist has turned the volume up as high as it can go but it’s still far too quiet. Also, as a safety feature, the sound I get comes from both my aids (i.e. the outside world) and the iPhone – therefore loud sounds from the outside world – of which there are many – totally drown out the sounds of the music/podcasts. This setting has been adjusted to the absolute minimum of outside sound, but it’s still not workable.

I thought that using around-the-ear headphones with a big cup would work. But that has two drawbacks: a) feedback noise as a result of the pad being too close to the aid – this in, oddly, just one of the aids and b) I need to have the volume very, very loud and the sound really leaks out for all to hear…I know this because someone told me on public transit. I had no idea this was happening and I stopped wearing them on the way work as I don’t want to annoy my fellow commuters.

I am at a loss. I have tried so many things and I have not been able to find (online or off) anything that might address this. Any suggestions for a) a way to make my headphones stop leaking noise -- besides duct tape and some foam, which crossed my mind for a nanosecond or b) something new that will actually work, would be most appreciated.

Oh, I can wear in-the-ear ones – and do on planes and such, but it’s a huge pain to use them on my commute as I have to take my hearing aids out and put them back in whenever I need to hear since I can’t hear much without them and it can be dangerous– i.e. changing buses, hearing announcements, avoiding cars whizzing by, people trying to tell me my headphones are leaking a lot of noise etc.

It sounded great until I used headphones

urethra_spanklin — Sun, 02 Dec 2012 15:16:27 -0800

Looking for examples of music made less enjoyable by headphones. Personally, I've always found that music I already like is enhanced by decent headphones. It's great to hear a favorite song or album with headphones for the first time and discover a richness that was previously less apparent.

I'm looking for examples of music made less enjoyable by headphones. Ideally, this would be a song or album that you had previously enjoyed but headphones made less appealing (resulting in you either dismissing it completely or resolving to avoid headphones for future listening). Please be as specific as possible. I'm not looking for genres, and I'm not looking for music that doesn't suit your taste. Assume that the headphones are decent quality and without product-specific issues (well fitting, comfortable, etc).

When discussing this with my girlfriend, she said that she found it difficult to enjoy punk music with headphones. Although she enjoys some punk music, she explained that she generally felt that the punk ideology is diminished with headphone use. While I understand her point, I'm not exactly looking for examples of conflicting ideologies or philosophies. I also understand that music which is overly loud, energetic, or dischordant might not appeal to headphone users. The best answers would probably be related to a change in perception of sound quality as a direct result of an intimate listening.

Wireless headphones without the headphones

primethyme — Mon, 19 Nov 2012 09:47:46 -0800

Is there such a thing as a wireless headphone amp (wireless headphones without the headphone)? I'm looking for a solution to get audio from a TV on one side of the room to headphones on the other side of the room, without running a cord. There are many types of wireless/cordless headphones, and I read through all the previous threads about them here. But what I really want is something that I can plug my own headphones into. Basically the transmitter and receiver part, but with an output jack instead of built-in headphones. My wife and I both have specific (and very different) headphones we like to use, so even if we could find a wireless pair that works for one of us, the other would be unsatisfied.

Does this exist?

Headphone pitch phenomenon

facetious — Tue, 30 Oct 2012 15:18:03 -0800

If you take off a pair of headphones and lay them down somewhere, the music sounds like it's in a different pitch than when they're on your head. Why?

Look for good but durable earbuds.

cthuljew — Mon, 29 Oct 2012 02:01:05 -0800

These earbuds are basically the best headphones I've ever used. However, their cord is way too thin, and I've broken at least half a dozen pairs of these over the last few years, usually by having the wire tear straight off of the plug. I've never broken any other kind of headphones this consistently. These are my back-up pair, and are tough and sound okay, but I'd really like ones as durable as the Skullcandies and as crisp and rich as the Thinksounds. The 30-50 dollar price range is preferable. Any suggestions?

Looking for what amounts to Apple's earpods in black.

unsound — Fri, 28 Sep 2012 10:05:43 -0800

I'm looking for non-sealing earbuds with iPhone controls that aren't white, and I can't find them. Do you have any recommendations? I commute on foot and by public transit, and feel extremely uncomfortable when I can't hear at least some of what's going on around me. I dislike large headphones, and instead prefer earbuds - both for comfort and for pocket-friendly storage options. I had my phone stolen from me at a bus stop a little over a month ago, because I was holding it in my hand and not paying attention, so the ability to play/pause/skip tracks and adjust volume via the cord is important.

I'd use Apple's earbuds, but given my recent theft experience and the fact that I'm in the #5 city for smartphone theft and the rate is on the rise, I'd like something non-white so that I'm more inconspicuous still.

Do any of you know of such a thing? I've googled extensively, but have had no luck finding something non-sealing with an inline controller/mic in non-white. I can't be the only one looking for something like this, right?

Headphones for laptop music monitoring

preparat — Fri, 07 Sep 2012 14:08:34 -0800

I have questions about monitoring audio on a laptop using headphones. I would like to get back into hobby music making on a Macbook running Ableton Live, a version of NI Komplete from a few years ago, Bias Peak Studio (R.I.P.), and a few other apps. I need a good pair of circumaural headphones and came across Beyer Dynamic DT990s which come in various flavors of impedance.

Right now I'm leaning toward the 600 ohm version, although at the very high end of my budget. Is that overkill? Can I drive them with a USB audio interface, or is a dedicated headphone amp the best way to go?

I have not decided on the Beyers so any other suggestions of various impedance, can design (open, semi-open, closed), amp/no amp, are appreciated.

Durable/Replaceable Cable Earbud Headphones with a Microphone?

jeffch — Wed, 05 Sep 2012 09:10:00 -0800

I'm looking for iPhone headphones that will hold up to daily use while walking. Every pair I've owned has problems with the 1/8" connector after a few months, or less, of use (while walking, usually in a pocket, but often getting taken out to check an email, respond to a text, etc...). More details inside. I've been using Sennheiser MM 50's, which are actually perfect for my needs. They sound fine (for podcasts), are comfortable and have a mic. I don't find that the start/stop/advance button works too well, but I could live with that. But, both pairs I've owned have stopped working or gotten really crackly after a few short months of use. iPhone earbuds also stop working far too quickly. I've got a pair of the Monoprice earbuds but they don't have a mic and the part of the earbud that's outside the ear is awfully bulky and oddly shaped.

So, I'm looking for earbud headphones with the following characteristics:

1. Either an extremely durable cord/connector or with a detachable/replaceable cord.
2. Mic for iPhone. Stop/Start/Advance controls would be nice, too.
3. Around ~100, if possible. Could go a bit higher for the right pair.
4. Good sound quality (but again, I'm mostly listening to well-recorded podcasts so no need to go crazy here). I do greatly prefer the Sennheisers to Apple's earbuds.

The Shure 215's seem like my next step (they've got the detachable cable), but it seems like the replacement cable that includes a mic is $50 (more expensive than the Sennheisers).

Alternatively, could anyone point me to a short extension cable that would handle the Mic/Stop/Start controls and make it so the headphone plug connects to the extension cord just outside my pocket?

Bluetooth headphone recommendation with Windows 7

hokie409 — Wed, 15 Aug 2012 15:41:37 -0800

Looking for Bluetooth headphone recommendation to replace Motorola S305 which don't work with Windows 7 I really like the Motorola S305 Bluetooth headphones. But I cannot pair them with my Dell running Windows 7. I found a Microsoft site which stated that they are not Windows 7 compatible.
MS page

These are worn over the ear, behind the head. They are comfortable, reasonably small and light. Here is a link: Motorola S305

Ideally, I'd like my new headphones to support pairing to more than one device at a time. This is an available option but the ones that offer it seem to be too large.

I like the look of this very small Plantronics BackBeat Go headphones:
BackBeat Go
But they don't support paring multiple devices and I can't find any statement that they support Windows 7.

Does anyone have a recommendation?

Are my Sennheiser headphones fixable or should I replace them?

Lutoslawski — Mon, 06 Aug 2012 18:16:33 -0800

Help me figure out what's wrong with my headphones (Sennheiser HD 280 pros) and how to fix them, or decide on a replacement pair. I have a pair of Sennheiser HD 280s. I've had them for years and I really do love them.

But for some reason, they are shorting out on the right side. The left side works just fine, but no sound comes from the right side unless I shift them around, generally moving the left side up or down in relation to the right side. Unfortunately, to make the right side work, the left side has to be lifted far above or below my left ear, thus rendering the left side useless. I'm assuming this is because a wire is broken inside the band connecting the two sides (wire comes off the left side).

Is there any way to fix this? I'm not handy with electronics, but I'd be willing to try something as I have nothing to lose.

Alternatively, if they have kicked the bucket, what would you recommend to replace them with? I've been really happy with them, but I'd be willing to try out something new. I know the Sony MDR-V6s and the Audio Technica ATH-M50s get recommended here a lot. How do they compare? Is there something better on the market now that I don't know of? I mostly listen to music on them, but I do use them for recording now and then. I'd definitely want to stick with this basic type of headphone and stay in a similar price range (~$100-$150).

Thanks everyone.

Soften the softphone blow

rosa — Thu, 19 Jul 2012 06:10:27 -0800

How can I make the move to softphones work best for my team? My office is transitioning from our current VOIP handsets to softphones for everyone. We're starting with a pilot program with one of my teams, and I want to make it as comfortable and easy as possible.

Several people who have tried softphones in the past have complained that the headsets were uncomfortable, and one person pointed out that it will be clunky to switch between music headphones and phone headphones.

So... I'm looking for recommendations for great, comfortable phone headsets AND wondering if there is an easy "switch" to plug two kinds of headphones into a computer and just toggle back and forth between the headphones you're using? We'll still have to change what headphones we're wearing, but it would be nice not to have to change at the plug, too.

OR, is there some awesome solution to this that I don't know about?

Best sites for Canadians to buy headphones?

GlassHeart — Thu, 19 Jul 2012 02:03:26 -0800

Best sites for Canadians to buy headphones? Out of the headphone sites I've come across, they either: 1. Have extremely high shipping prices when shipping to Canada (I refuse to pay $30 or $40 for shipping . . . which is what the shipping costs are often like on the headphone sites I've visited). 2. Don't ship to Canada.

Also, I'm a little worried about duty fees. If you could recommend sites that don't hit Canadians with hefty duty fees, that would be great.

Thanks.