Ok, I'll go into details then


I need two pairs of headphones to replace my 10-year old Philips HP890 and a normal sony MDR earphones (not IEM). Looking for something exactly like the 890 (or maybe another 890 if possible). Things I want from the new headphone are:


1. closed with good sound isolation. Will be using this in the house and don't want to disturb everyone else in the house.
2. Over-ear- I think over-ear is comfortable and has no sound leakage? Correct me if I'm wrong.
3. Must be very comfortable and not sweat.
4. Priced $200/£150/RM500-600? or around there max. Cheaper better
5. Must be able to handle wide range of music from classical to pop and also games.
6. Microphone unnecessary. I don't play online shooters though I do appreciate bass.


Next, I need a pair of earphone/headphone to use at work. I currently have a pair of Sony MDREX310LPB IEM. They have acceptable sound quality. However as they are IEM's they provide good isolation. I need to be able to hear background noise, though I don't want people to hear my music. I am able to do that now with some cheap sony earphones. Sound quality on those are not great but as I don't turn the volume on loud. I am able to hear the music and background noise if needed. Max price of this is around £50/$70. Cheaper is better. They too have to be comfortable, though unlike the headpones, I will not have them on 3 hours straight. This one does not have to be expensive, since I'll be placing them at the office anyway.

Music I listen to include works from but not limited to:
pop, pop rock (jap artist: Y..)
Baroque pop, Contemporary classical music, World music (Jap composer Y.K.)
Orchestra music

Sound has to be neutral or slightly warm. Bass must be there but also be neutral. I am not a fan of beats audio. With my cheap sony MDR earphones, I can't hear lows, well I can hear something, but it does not reproduce well. Currently I hook my PC to either a Creative Gigaworks T20 SII or my Panasonic SA-PM11 stereo. The Sony MDREX310LPB IEM's have a warm signature. I can hear lows and mids well, however I noticed that I need to increase the treble at the high end depending on sound source just to hear proper sound reproduction. The Gigaworks and Panasonic have neutral sound, though with the Hi-Fi, too neutral that I have to turn on the eq setting but on flat setting just to get more punch.

BTW, both need to work well without an amp.

Headphones I have looked at but not heard include:
Sopny Mdr-V6
Skullcandy Aviator
Creative Aurvana Live!
Audio Technica ATH- M50
Sennheiser HD558 (not sure how much sound leaking this is)
SounMAGIC HP100
Cresyn C720H
Audio-Technica ATH AD700 (not sure how much sound leaking)
Philips Citiscape Uptown
Philips Citiscape Downtown

This post has been edited by mystvearn: Feb 7 2013, 10:35 AM

Wao...very detailed!

For me,I think Soundmagic HP100 is the best for you,but they are really difficult to find in Malaysia.

Personally I owned a Creative Aurvana Live!,sound quality is very good,bass wise,it is there but not in really refine quality,but it is enjoyable.

Short say,I can say (Although I never listened to Philips 890),CAL! should be better,come from open back,anything in 'closed sound' should be avoid,but CAL! is different kind as it provide some good and spacious sound,soundstage is good as well,and the TONING OF SOUND is real great,I can't find in other headphone.

Good piece of headphone that I sincerely recommended to you.

I don't mind open, I just don't want leaking of sound. If not people in the house tension. I think can get the soundmagic from ebay

Thanks for the help

This post has been edited by mystvearn: Feb 7 2013, 12:16 PM

Sennheiser HD558 have sound leaking? damn.. too bad for me.. this one is on my shortlist too..

thanks for quick reply
does jaben sell it?

you can find Red Ape,the cheapest in Malaysia I know,haha

0173886966

ATH CKS55, CKM55, Denon C360, or the very famous Klipsch Image S4.

if both my player and system volume is max out (pc) and the headphones is still at a reasonable listening volume does it mean i need to amp it??

Yes, could be. My previous headphones was like that too. But don't expect night and day differences.

My Rig: sony walkman phone, laptop
- Type of usage: Music, Movies and games. But mostly music
- File format: mp3,mp4, flac
- Music genre: instrumental (post rock), rock, synthpop, alternative, electronic..
- Budget: below RM200
- Headphone/ earphone type: Medium size headphones not so big but not too small
- Other requirements (if any): prefer to have some bass and can provide detailed sound since i'm into instrumental music

This post has been edited by pakram: Feb 8 2013, 11:15 PM

Medium size + Budget RM200 headphones:

[+] Audio-Technica ATH-SJ33
[+] JVC HA-S400 / HA-S500

*Edited

This post has been edited by rulmufc: Feb 9 2013, 08:03 PM

thanx for replying
but between this three which one you recommend the most

JVC HA-S500, you can find lot of good review about it on the net

thanx alot
will check em out later

- My Rig: Samsung Galaxy S
- Type of usage: Music
- File format: mp3 / mp4 / flac
- Music genre: Rock , Pop rock , any song
- Budget: rm150-200
- Earphone type: prefer in-ear and noise cancelling Earphone
- Other requirements (if any): comfortable, Good noise cancelling, durable, no mic

Thanks in advance

This post has been edited by Trans_Fires: Feb 10 2013, 03:21 PM

Wah, not possible to get noise cancellation earphone for RM150 la bro...
I think you mean noise isolation? For RM150, i'll say go for the Hippo Black/White/Pearl. If you dont mind bumping up your budget a lil bit, you can try get the Feelspro 900, UE 500 and even the Beyer XP!

If I raise my budget to RM200, which is more better? Feelspro 900, UE 500 or Beyer XP?

Feelspro 900 is a BA driver earphone and from what i listened to them last time, this is a quite decent earphone. Very fast bass and awesome treble.

UE500 is a dynamic driver one, with very balanced sound signature. Quite good across all kind of genre. It is warm but not too boomy and crisp highs.

Beyer XP series come in 3 different version, XP1,2,3 each has different sound signature and they are quite good too.

So it is down to your personal preference now.

- My Rig: ipod/ laptop/ htc 8s
- Type of usage: Music
- File format: mp3,mp4,flac
- Music genre: jazz/ hip hop rap/ dubstep
- Budget: Less than Rm300
- Headphone/ earphone type: IEM
- Other requirements (if any): Good Bass and Durable

i currently have sony xb700.. love it..would love an IEMwith similar sound profile..