Headphones purchase advice

[kolestonin]

Hi everyone,

I’m looking to buy my first pair of over ear headphones and would really appreciate your advice.
My budget is up to €200, and I’ll be using them in two main scenarios:

1) Office Use

• Connected to my laptop in an open desk environment.
• Mostly for listening to music via YouTube or web radios, since Tidal is blocked at work.
• I suspect there are bandwidth limitations too – streaming from my phone often results in distorted sound, cracks, and pops after 5 minutes.

2) Workout Use

• While on my elliptical trainer at home, listening to Tidal via my smartphone.

I’m a bit torn on a few things:

• Closed-back vs Open-back: Closed-back seems more suitable for the noisy office, but I’m worried they might feel too warm or uncomfortable during workouts.
• Wired vs Bluetooth: I’d prefer wired for sound quality, but I’m not sure it matters much for YouTube/web radio or during intense workouts. Bluetooth seems more practical for exercise, but I’m unsure if my work laptop even has Bluetooth enabled.

For context, I’m used to speakers like JBL LSR305, Elac Debut Reference DBR62, KEF R3 Meta, and currently Monitor Audio Silver 500 7G. So I do appreciate neutral and accurate sound reproduction.

Any suggestions for models that could suit both use cases — or should I consider getting two different pairs?

Thanks in advance!

 

[DVDdoug]

If possible, visit an audio video store and listen and check the comfort. The important thing is how comfortable they are to YOU. Even if you don't buy from them, or if you don't buy anything they are selling, it will still be educational.

The main characteristic of sound quality is frequency response. The review index here still seems to be down but the reviews here show the frequency response superimposed with the Harman Preference Curve. The preference curve is an average but it ends-up closely matching what you hear from good speakers in a good room. Your preferences may be different!

With headphones there is almost no correlation between price and sound quality but of course the bigger your budget the more choice you have.

You might want to hold-off until the server here is fixed and then you can sort by "recommended" or "price".

Don't consider this a "recommendation" but the AKG K371 (closed) closely matches the Harman target (with a bit of exaggerated bass). It costs about $150 USD. It does have a reputation of being "fragile" but mine haven't broken yet. (I don't use headphones a lot and I don't tote the K371 around so it's not abused.)

Another bargain headphone that's "not bad" is the famous Koss Porta Pro (open, and about $50 USD). I do keep a pair of those in my laptop bag.

Closed-back vs Open-back:

That's a personal choice. I'm more comfortable being able to hear what's going-on around me and in an office I wouldn't want to be isolated.

Wired vs Bluetooth: I’d prefer wired for sound quality,

The frequency response will affect sound quality MORE than Bluetooth/wired. Some Bluetooth headphones will sound better than some wired headphones and vice-versa. There is a potential advantage with Bluetooth... There are active electronics inside so EQ can be built-in to improve the "raw" sound. I don't know how often that's done. (It's the same with active speakers which often have DSP or analog EQ to boost & extend the bass and sometimes to smooth-out other variations.) Of course with Bluetooth there are batteries that have to be replaced or re-charged.

Any suggestions for models that could suit both use cases — or should I consider getting two different pairs?

I'd start with one pair first to see what you like or don't like about them and to see if you prefer them in one location over the other. You may find that you simply don't like wearing headphones all day... I don't...

I have a pair of cheap headphones (from the grocery store) at work but they are for when I have to watch a video at work for training, etc., not for music. I have almost 20,000 MP3s on my hard drive at work but at my current job I can't listen to music. I used to have speakers at work and I'd listen when I was working late when no one else was working in my area.

 

[kolestonin]

I would like your comments on below models I have on my shortlist after some research.
Which one you would prefer based on my usage scenarios and value for money wise?

Wireless:
JBL Tune 760 NC: 49euros
Anker Soundcore Space Q45: 93euros
Sennheiser Accentum SE: 125euros

Wired:
Shure SRH440A: 96euros
Sennheiser HD560S: 146euros
Beyerdynamic DT 770 PRO: 149euros
Sennheiser HD 599: 166euros

I lean more towards the wired models with the Shure one looking an excellent value for the money. Not sure if the offerings from Sennheiser and Beyerdynamic worth the extra cost though.

 

[Robbo99999]

Well reviewed here on ASR and inexpensive IEM's (that follow the Harman Curve) are your best bet for portability and sound quality & noise isolation & also related to working out in the gym - that's if you can stomach having IEM's pushed in your ears. They're really phenomenal sound quality but I don't use them because it pushes earwax back in, but I did buy the orginial Truthear Blue that was reviewed here on ASR and it was excellent. If you can get on with IEM's there's not really any reason to buy any other headphones. For over ear headphones without EQ that don't cost an arm & a leg then I'd recommend Sennheiser HD560s (it's open back).

(Closed back Over Ears are a different game I think and the good ones are more expensive, but K371 measured alright and is not expensive.)

 

[Berwhale]

1More Sonoflow...

1More Sonoflow NC Headphone Review

This is a review, listening tests, EQ an detailed measurements of 1More Sonoflow Noise Cancelling Bluetooth headphones. It is on kind loan from a member and costs US $99 although goes on sale for $79. The look and feel of the unit belies its low cost. The plastic seems stout and good quality...

www.audiosciencereview.com

The newer Sonoflow Pro's are £70 on Amazon UK at the moment.

 

[AryaStealth]

Sennheiser HD560S: 146euros

Deserves a demo at a Hi-Fi store (if they fit you and seal good on your head the sound will be excellent, if they don't fit you the clamp force will be very strong or even painfull with a poor seal and some bass lost).

Planar Fiio FT1 pro cost $200 (open back), have neutral sound with linear bass, but can't take a low shelf EQ (bass clipping and distortion issues at high SPLs, begins to clip around 98–100dB in the bass), also poor quality control - some customers complain that headphones broke within a week or arrived broken with no sound from right or left cup. If you don't listen very loud, deserves a demo.

 

[kolestonin]

Following suggestion from @Berwhale I read the whole thread of @amirm review on Sonoflow Pro's.

I found the basic version for 49euros and the Pro version for 65euros on german Amazon.

I ordered the pro version so to give them a try. I understand that Shennheiser 560s are a different level but I will need first to see if I will stick with headphones. Then I can consider more expensive options in the future.

Thank you all for your help.

 

[Berwhale]

Following suggestion from @Berwhale I read the whole thread of @amirm review on Sonoflow Pro's.

I found the basic version for 49euros and the Pro version for 65euros on german Amazon.

I ordered the pro version so to give them a try. I understand that Shennheiser 560s are a different level but I will need first to see if I will stick with headphones. Then I can consider more expensive options in the future.

Thank you all for your help.

The really are very good, I bought two pairs. I also own the HD 560S, and i'd say that the feel quite similar on the head to the Sonoflows (similar cup size, clamping force, etc.).

However, the Sonoflows are much more suitable for use in a shared office space (being closed back with noise cancelling) and whilst working out (no cable to catch). If you have source that supports the Bluetooth LDAC codec (like certain Android phones), then the sound quality can be as good as wired.

I use the Sonoflows with my Nothing Phone (2) with the PowerAmp music player which can automatically apply PEQ based on the device connected...

 

[zonk]

Refurbished HD560S at Sennheiser Outlet for 99€

 

[Robbo99999]

1More Sonoflow...

1More Sonoflow NC Headphone Review

This is a review, listening tests, EQ an detailed measurements of 1More Sonoflow Noise Cancelling Bluetooth headphones. It is on kind loan from a member and costs US $99 although goes on sale for $79. The look and feel of the unit belies its low cost. The plastic seems stout and good quality...

www.audiosciencereview.com

The newer Sonoflow Pro's are £70 on Amazon UK at the moment.

Following suggestion from @Berwhale I read the whole thread of @amirm review on Sonoflow Pro's.

I found the basic version for 49euros and the Pro version for 65euros on german Amazon.

I ordered the pro version so to give them a try. I understand that Shennheiser 560s are a different level but I will need first to see if I will stick with headphones. Then I can consider more expensive options in the future.

Thank you all for your help.

It's a pretty horrible frequency response though:

 

[kolestonin]

Refurbished HD560S at Sennheiser Outlet for 99€

Seriously tempted to give them a try as well.
Both Sennheiser, and Amazon(from where I ordered 1More Sonoflow), offer a 30 days return window.

It's a pretty horrible frequency response though.

I saw your post on their review thread and and took it under serious consideration. As all other comments, especially from owners, were praising them though I decided to give them a try.
I need to admit you bring the data and not just commenting of course.
But keep in mind that the 65euros of the 1More are almost the 1/3 of Sennheiser's price.
The refurbished model at 99 proposed by @zonk change the situation and I will most possibly try both so to see which one is more suitable for me. Keeping both can also be possible, so to use the wireless one with my trainer and the wired one in my office.

 

[Bleib]

Closed budget not heavy budget bomb: Moondrop Joker

 

[Gitfiddle]

I briefly owned the hd560's and here is my experience.

The hd560's are very light; but for me, with a 7.5 hat size, they were the most uncomfortable thing I have ever put on my head. They were very tight. Even after 2 weeks of constant use they were still to tight and developed a terrible plastic creak that ruined the listening experience.

The clamping force would eventually become bearable, but there is no way to know if they would ever stop creaking every time I slightly moved my head. Thankfully I was able to send them back.

When sitting completely still they did sound quite nice though. Hopefully if you try them they don't develop that same creak that mine did.

 

[AryaStealth]

What about Bose QuietComfort Wireless? They should be ideal for an office use. They are now on Amazon.de for €216. Rtings measurments show very good Harman complience, only minor issue is a narrow 6khz peak.

 

[Berwhale]

I briefly owned the hd560's and here is my experience.

The hd560's are very light; but for me, with a 7.5 hat size, they were the most uncomfortable thing I have ever put on my head. They were very tight. Even after 2 weeks of constant use they were still to tight and developed a terrible plastic creak that ruined the listening experience.

The clamping force would eventually become bearable, but there is no way to know if they would ever stop creaking every time I slightly moved my head. Thankfully I was able to send them back.

When sitting completely still they did sound quite nice though. Hopefully if you try them they don't develop that same creak that mine did.

You can carefully bend the head band to reduce the clamping force. Hold the metal part of the headband to do this, don't try doing it by holding the ear cups or the plastic part of the headband.

I did this on my HD 660S when I got them 5 years ago and i've just done it on my HD 560S. It's best to do it a little bit at a time, try the headphones on and repeat until they are more comfortable. I found a video showing the process on some HD 6XX here:

 

[Gitfiddle]

You can carefully bend the head band to reduce the clamping force. Hold the metal part of the headband to do this, don't try doing it by holding the ear cups or the plastic part of the headband.

I did this on my HD 660S when I got them 5 years ago and i've just done it on my HD 560S. It's best to do it a little bit at a time, try the headphones on and repeat until they are more comfortable. I found a video showing the process on some HD 6XX here:

As I stated on my post, I expected the clamping force to correct itself over time. I did the "leave the headphones on the box overnight approach" and that did help some over the 2 week period.

That is for sure a good video reference for people that have the comfort problem I did. One major point is that the HD560's and 600 series have different headbands and the 600 series headband has a metal layer and not just plastic (like the 560's) as far as I know. So it feels better to stretch them out. Maybe I'm wrong about the 600 series and 560's? I have only owned the 560's.

The problem that made me send them back was the plastic creaking sound that developed over time. It was audibly louder than the music I was listening to. It happened any time I moved my head even a few degrees.

Maybe the creaking sound could be solved with some silicon spray or wd-40, but that is not ideal for me personally.

 

[Berwhale]

and not just plastic (like the 560's)

The bit of the headband that is just metal on the HD 6XX is covered in plastic on the HD 560S, but there is still seems to be metal under there. I was able to use the same approach for reducing the clamping force, but I had to be more careful with the amount of pressure applied and the plastic covering will creak when you do this.

 

[kolestonin]

So, I already received and tried both pairs.
Both with no eq, Sonoflow via bluetooth and Sennheiser with the wire.

The winner and keeper is Sennheiser in both comfort and sound quality.
Not by far, but also not subtly.

I will return the Sonoflow, use the Sennheiser in my office, and find another solution(maybe the earbuds I currently own for phone calls) for my elliptical trainer.

Now I want your help suggestion regarding my eq options for the Sennheiser HD560S pair.
My mobile phone is a Xiaomi Poco M3 Pro 5G.
I installed wavelet and had to use legacy mode for the app to work.
Found the auto eq preset for my headphones which is not working with Tidal. Is that because I use max quality and Tidal bypass Android audio mixer? But then I knew that Tidal does not officially support bit-perfect output on Android. Can you clarify that to me?

Wavelets Auto eq seems to work with web radio or YouTube but the change is subtle. I would say there is an improvement but I am not sure if I could tell in a blind test.

I could easily live without eq as the headphones sound great to my not used to headphones ears.
But what are my options if I would like to use any kind of eq with my current phone?
If I can apply eq globally(for both Tidal and web) it would be even better.

 

[Robbo99999]

So, I already received and tried both pairs.
Both with no eq, Sonoflow via bluetooth and Sennheiser with the wire.

The winner and keeper is Sennheiser in both comfort and sound quality.
Not by far, but also not subtly.

I will return the Sonoflow, use the Sennheiser in my office, and find another solution(maybe the earbuds I currently own for phone calls) for my elliptical trainer.

Now I want your help suggestion regarding my eq options for the Sennheiser HD560S pair.
My mobile phone is a Xiaomi Poco M3 Pro 5G.
I installed wavelet and had to use legacy mode for the app to work.
Found the auto eq preset for my headphones which is not working with Tidal. Is that because I use max quality and Tidal bypass Android audio mixer? But then I knew that Tidal does not officially support bit-perfect output on Android. Can you clarify that to me?

Wavelets Auto eq seems to work with web radio or YouTube but the change is subtle. I would say there is an improvement but I am not sure if I could tell in a blind test.

I could easily live without eq as the headphones sound great to my not used to headphones ears.
But what are my options if I would like to use any kind of eq with my current phone?
If I can apply eq globally(for both Tidal and web) it would be even better.

It's good that the HD560s purchase advice worked out for you; people seem to like that headphone quite a lot nowadays, might be something to do with Sennheiser updating that headphone slightly since it's original inception. For New Version HD560s (which is all the ones you buy new now since a few years) then I'd recommend the following EQ:

New version of Sennheiser HD 560S (!)

Hey again! I used the AutoEQ import tool available in EqualizerAPO w/ the Peace UI - looks like it is quite jank. Here is attempt #2! I hope I got this right this time! Should I move your settings to the front bands (1, 2, 3), or leave oratory1990's settings as bands 1-10? Does that make a...

www.audiosciencereview.com

I don't know if you can apply it using whatever options you have available to you, I guess you'd have to look into that. Neutron Player is good to use on Android phones and allows you to apply parametric EQ, but it's a bit clunky to use when you first use it and you're not used to it.