Headphones

Skullcandy Full Metal Jacket

MSRP $69.95 Released July, 2008

Pros

come with three different sizes of rubber covers
Comes with travel bag
affordable

Cons

many similarly priced alternatives will sound better
Skullcandy is mostly marketing and distribution - poor headphones
expensive for what they sound like

ProSCORE
5 reviews

46

Ultimate Ears Triple.Fi 10vi

MSRP $419.99 Released December, 2008

Pros

superior sound quality to stock buds and the majority of buds found on the market
fair amount of isolation - perfect for use in louder places without completely being taken out of your surroundings
can be used with any range of sources and amplification - including every day personal media players such as iPods

Cons

very expensive
not as comfortable or as isolating as a custom fitted IEM (such as the much more expensive UE-10, or a similarly priced Freq)
Hard to insert into the ears, requires both hands to insert. Fit is not comfortable even with different buds.

ProSCORE
8 reviews

53

Grado SR80i

MSRP $95.00 Released March, 2009

Pros

best sound for your buck
very fun sound signature - clear highs, powerful bass and lively midrange
open design lets your ears breath, not as stuffy as closed headphones

Cons

poor for use on the go - thick cable, open design and the fact that you can't throw it in your bag
can be sibilant - especially if driven poorly, by a bad source, or too loudly
potential comfort issues

ProSCORE
4 reviews

71

Astro A40 Audio System

MSRP $249.95 Released August, 2008

Pros

Very comfortable to wear
Built in 5.1 decoding
Adjustable mixing of voice chat and game sounds

Cons

Pricey
They're wired
too many wires

ProSCORE
4 reviews

72

Grado SR60i

MSRP $69.00 Released March, 2009

Pros

best headphone for the price
pads are more comfortable than the standard grado bowl pad
many claim it can be upgraded to the likes of the SR80i by using the bowl pads

Cons

not good for use outside or on the go - thick cable, open design
can be sibilant - especially if driven poorly, by a bad source, or too loudly
Too bright and over blown bass below 100 Hz. May soften with running in.

ProSCORE
3 reviews

70

Shure SE115

MSRP $119.99 Released March, 2009

Pros

available in 4 colours
utilizes a dynamic driver for added bass/punch
affordable price

Cons

not as neutral as the SE110 or SE210
requires extension for normal use
larger headphone body than most

ProSCORE
2 reviews

71

Sennheiser CX 300 - II Precision

MSRP $75.00 Released February, 2009

Pros

solid construction
3 sets of earbud covers (S/M/L)
high power handling

Cons

noise when jostling the cord
slightly rolled off high frequency response
no carrying case

ProSCORE
2 reviews

89

Audio-Technica ATH-ANC7 QuietPoint

MSRP $220.00 Released --

Pros

circumaural design, more comfort
Good price for the quality ($220)
Effective active noise cancelling up to 20 db

Cons

Could use more bass
requires AAA batteries for noise canceling operation
doesn't sound half as good with noise canceling off

ProSCORE
5 reviews

85

Able Planet TL300

MSRP $59.99 Released December, 2008

Pros

microphone works well for voice chat
microphone is very flexible
sound quality is surprisingly good when listening to music

Cons

height adjustment mechanism isn't smooth and difficult to get into the right position
supra-aural cup design is extremely uncomfortable
microphone is fixed to the left side

ProSCORE
2 reviews

54

Skullcandy INK'D

MSRP $19.99 Released March, 2008

Pros

Excellent sound quality
Great price
Comes with 3 different sized foam ear piece attachments to ensure comfort and fit
passive noise canceling - ie ear plug

Cons

require you insert them into a facial orifice which can be uncomfortable for some
tangle easily

ProSCORE
2 reviews

67

Audio-Technica ATH-M20

MSRP $69.00 Released --

Pros

Good build quality, comfortable, good isolation.
Very good budget monitor phones. Clear detailed sound without heavy bassy interference. Good general monitoring cans.
Has been with me for at least 3 years now;

Cons

The foam padding degraded fairly quickly in the tropical Singaporean climate but replacements were obtainable for $10SG
Awful sound! Huge bass boost that swamps the minimal mid and non descript treble frequencies
somewhat low volume

ProSCORE
3 reviews

71

Logitech G35

MSRP $129.99 Released March, 2009

Pros

unidirectional, noise canceling microphone make it easy to communicate in game - even in loud environments
doesn't require a user to have a sound card (just a USB port)
interchangeable pads make it easy to get the best possible fit

Cons

cord is stiff and can be annoying
cannot implement EAX 4/5
it's wired

ProSCORE
6 reviews

86

Sony MDR-ED12LP

MSRP $14.99 Released May, 2006

Pros

fit in good
It certainly offers excellent quality sound..for a small price..
It uses the same driver(16mm-the largest for any closed type headfone)as in $299 sony MDR-EX700LP
have the best sound

Cons

C'mmon at d price..u cant get better than this..no cons

ProSCORE
3 reviews

78

Audio-Technica ATH-AD700

MSRP $100.00 Released December, 2005

Pros

quality build
affordable price
work with less powerful sources/amplifiers such as iPods

Cons

potential lack of bass for some listeners
might be large or heavy for some users
not the best for small-sized heads

ProSCORE
3 reviews

79

Sennheiser HD 202

MSRP $39.95 Released May, 2002

Pros

Modest price-point
Good sound quality for the price point
Closed/sealed design provides decent isolation from environment

Cons

Not fully collapsible
Honkiness in the mids, rolled-off upper treble
Boomy bass

ProSCORE
3 reviews

65

iBasso D2 Viper

MSRP $200.00 Released --

Pros

customizable sound with interchangeable opamps
great price:performance ratio compared to more expensive devices
smaller than it looks in images

Cons

power LED is sporadic and a bit too bright
cheaper construction/parts, noisy pot
cheap interconnect cable shipped with unit

ProSCORE
2 reviews

63

Meier-Audio Corda 2Move

MSRP $240.00 Released --

Pros

Stunning SQ
Good quality DAC
Very good price/performance ratio
Good battery life

Cons

No rechargeable battery
Aux in/out do not secure the cable plugs quite as good as they should

ProSCORE
1 review

67

Shure SE530

MSRP $549.00 Released December, 2007

Pros

Very good build quality
Stellar SQ overall
Fantastic bass impact for IEMs
Good soundstage

Cons

"l" and "r" hard to see
They are only headphones and the price of a small car!

ProSCORE
5 reviews

82

Sennheiser PX 100

MSRP $40.00 Released --

Pros

Near audiophile quality mids and highs
easy to fold up and store in a carrying pouch for use on the go
Compared with price, is't a pretty good deal. Clear sound with powerful bass.

Cons

open design is not ideal for use in public - quite a lot of noise leakage in and out
powerful bass but bloted at times

ProSCORE
4 reviews

60

Sennheiser HD 435

MSRP $70.00 Released May, 2006

Pros

Extremely comfortable
Awesome Bass response for an open set
Detachable cable with in-line volume control

Cons

Distorted highs
Plastic design sounds when moving
bass tightens after burn in - but remains somewhat flabby

ProSCORE
2 reviews

73

Able Planet NC200

MSRP $99.99 Released January, 2008

Pros

Affordable compared to other noise-canceling headphones
Noise canceling technology actually works
Decent sound isolation from environmental noise

Cons

Sound quality probably won't satisfy audiophiles
An audible hiss is introduced when using the noise cancelling
Compared to non-noise canceling headphones build quality isn't as good

ProSCORE
3 reviews

67

NuForce NE-7M

MSRP $49.00 Released March, 2009

Pros

Phenomenally full sound, smooth controlled bass
More comfortable than full IEMs
Incredible value

Cons

Incompatible with Creative Zen
Mic button takes practice to locate and press

ProSCORE
1 review

75

Beats by Dr. Dre

MSRP $350.00 Released January, 2008

Pros

Integrated iPhone answer button and microphone
Deep bass while still maintaining vocals and highs
Comfortable

Cons

Expensive
Made by Monster Cable
Chinsy 3.5mm cable

ProSCORE
7 reviews

37

Sennheiser HD 555

MSRP $130.00 Released --

Pros

Fantastic audio clarity.
Velour ear and over-the-head pads are very comfortable.
Good bass response, and balanced all around. No need for equalizers.
Nice, long cord (good for home, not that good for portable music players).

Cons

Open design, leaks sound both to and from your environment (not suitable for public places)
Needs power (i.e. an amplifier). They don't sound as good on portable music players.

ProSCORE
5 reviews

65

Shure E3

MSRP $179.00 Released --

Pros

Passive noise cancelling with fitted sleeves
Good value for the price. Less expensive than competitors
Comfortable foam inserts

Cons

Wires near the ear tend to wear down over time and become exposed

ProSCORE
2 reviews

100

AKG K 430

MSRP $79.99 Released August, 2005

Pros

affordable price
includes carrying case
foldable design

Cons

poor availability
large physical size - poor for use on the go
cheap looking build

ProSCORE
2 reviews

75

Etymotic ER4P

MSRP $200.00 Released January, 1991

Pros

audiophile quality sound
neutral and balanced frequency response
many quality accessories

Cons

potential for comfort issues
potential lack of bass
potential for high maintenance

ProSCORE
3 reviews

61

Creative Labs EP-630

MSRP $39.99 Released --

Pros

affordable price
good amount of isolation - improves sound quality and allows users to listen at lower volume levels
can sometimes be found at amazing prices ($12-20)

Cons

beware that EP-630 with amazing prices are duds, cheap rip-offs!
isolation is far from as good as higher end canalphones
Cable noise when worn.

ProSCORE
4 reviews

65

Sennheiser PMX 80 Sport II

MSRP $70.00 Released October, 2008

Pros

great for use while exercising
comfortable
lightweight

Cons

instructions are hidden in the packaging
sound quality is still lacking for discerning listeners
bad colors

ProSCORE
2 reviews

67

Sony Q010-MDR1 Qualia 010

MSRP $2,400.00 Released January, 2004

Pros

Electrostatic levels of detail and resolution.
Good bass quality and quantity.
Great for electronic genre of music.

Cons

Proper fitting required to get the best sound quality.
become harsh and sibilant if not listened to at low volume
extremely expensive

ProSCORE
3 reviews

62

AKG K 701

MSRP $400.00 Released --

Pros

was the top-of-the-line AKG headphone until the recent addition of the K702
some of the best highs of any headphone
Very detailed sound.

Cons

Needs a dedicated headphone amp to shine.
1000+ hours of break-in time.
The auto adjusting headband is great but has a plastic strip which threatins to break.

ProSCORE
2 reviews

69

Sennheiser HE90

MSRP $14,900.00 Released January, 2002

Pros

extremely durable and long-lasting
A milestone in the art of headphone manufacture.
Considered among the best sounding headphones to date.

Cons

Most expensive headphones ever produced.
like all electrostatic headphones, bass punch is lacking
quite heavy

ProSCORE
3 reviews

57

Sennheiser CX 380 Sport II

MSRP $100.00 Released October, 2008

Pros

sweat/water resistant
2-year warranty
three sizes of ear adapter included for best fit and comfort

Cons

the wire material is tacky and does tangle
noise cancellation is dangerous when exercising outside - ideal for working out on loud equipment such as treadmills
wire coating makes them noisy when they rub together during movement

ProSCORE
3 reviews

57

Shure SE210

MSRP $149.00 Released February, 2007

Pros

Sound isolating design with your choice of fitted sleeves
Comfortable foam sleeves
Excellent sound quality and clarity
Modular cable design

Cons

New foam buds don't retain their shape as well as the old ones.
Lacking bass

ProSCORE
3 reviews

82

Koss PortaPro

MSRP $49.99 Released January, 1984

Pros

no-questions-asked lifetime warranty
snug fitting, with adjustable temple pads
crystal clear sound compared to other phones in it's price segment

Cons

strictly mid-fi
snags hair
somewhat odd looking

ProSCORE
2 reviews

62

Sennheiser HD 800

MSRP $1,399.95 Released January, 2009

Pros

a further improvement of one of the worlds most popular high end headphone series
largest dynamic driver - extended frequency response
cable is detachable and easy to replace

Cons

extremely expensive
far from the first to use tilted drivers (Stax, AKG)
requires high end sources and amplification to sound its best

ProSCORE
4 reviews

47

Sennheiser MX 460

MSRP $25.00 Released January, 2009

Pros

Affordable Price.
Excellent Bass.
Good Audio Clarity at peak volumes.

Cons

Asymmetrical Cable.
Left Ear Plug keeps popping out off ear if your the fussy type.
Cable length from Left Ear piece to the plug is only 1m instead off the usual 1.2m on most earphones.

ProSCORE
2 reviews

62

Creative Fatal1ty Professional Series Gaming Headset

MSRP $99.99 Released January, 2006

Pros

Very comfortable
Great mic
Good positional recognition

Cons

SQ not very good for music
Hard to come by

ProSCORE
2 reviews

71

AKG K 530

MSRP $100.00 Released January, 2008

Pros

very distinct aesthetic - similar but more streamlined/futuristic than the K701
highly accurate - an AKG characteristic
good entry point into high fidelity headphones

Cons

open style lets all outside sound in - good for air but poor for when listening in a high noise environment
slightly cheap build
not the most refined headphone money can buy

ProSCORE
3 reviews

75

AKG K 480 NC

MSRP $199.99 Released August, 2005

Pros

Fold and Go Design
Traveling Case Included
Can be used for hands-free calls.

Cons

Pricey
active noise canceling introduces noise and artifacts
active noise canceling requires a separate power supply

ProSCORE
2 reviews

79

Ultrasone HFI-780

MSRP $249.95 Released --

Pros

Very portable for full size headphones
Light weight
Respond very well to modification
Good SQ

Cons

Cushioning is too hard and uncomfortable

ProSCORE
1 review

80

Sennheiser HD 650

MSRP $549.00 Released --

Pros

Detailed sound.
Bass response is perfect for casual or analytical listening.
Fantastic mid range response.
No too bright so as to make them fatiguing in long sessions.
Needs an amp to shine but does not a must.

Cons

Not the best looking headphones out there.

ProSCORE
1 review

86

Coby CV123

MSRP $14.99 Released September, 2004

Pros

3 for the price of one (very affordable)
Great for kids. Make them think you spent a fortune, when you only spent 15 bucks!

Cons

Affordable, but CHEAP: Horrible Quality, Uncomfortable to Wear, and they Die Quickly

ProSCORE
1 review

67

Plantronics Gamecom 777

MSRP $99.99 Released August, 2008

Pros

appears very comfortable and made of quality materials
features in line volume and microphone controls
does not have to be used as a USB headset (comes with 3.5mm stereo headphone and microphone jacks)
good isolation for playing in louder environments like LAN parties

Cons

as a USB headset it cannot implement EAX (requires advanced audio devices)
impossible to find

ProSCORE
3 reviews

75

Welcome to Sennheiser's new 500 series.The HD 595 is the premier headphone of the range, boasting a new level of comfort and sound quality. Features include our E.A.R. technology and a highly constant,compressed cellulose fleece to reduce total harmonic distortion. Velour ear pads and high-quality leatherette headband both provide outstanding comfort.FeaturesOpen-Aire ,circumaural,dynamic,stereo headphonesHig...

ProSCORE
0 reviews

N/A

Denon AH-D7000

MSRP $999.00 Released August, 2008

Pros

closed style helps isolate the listener from their world - where external noise may ruin the listening experience
like the D-5000 can be found much cheaper than official MSRP
more refined than the AH-D5000 - possible candidate to challenge the best of the best?

Cons

much more expensive than the D-5000! Almost double!
may still be poorly put together much like the AH-D5000
Still non-suiteble for classical and acoustic music. Despite of having more tremble and providing larger stage, than AH-D5000, it's still lack of it in comparison with Audio-Technica ATH-W5000.

ProSCORE
2 reviews

50