Speaker/head phone manufacturers delibrety making defect stuff?

[Sairon]

Okay, pretty much every piece of audio equipment I've ever owned which is somehow connected using a cord always seems to get glitchy after a while. It kind of pisses me off because the phones/speakers themselves always work fine. I know that some people use duct tape, some even the instant they buy their equipment.

So, anyone know of any good head phones with quality sounds which doesn't break and doesn't cost a fortune? I know that KOSS for example have life time warranty, but I'd rather get stuff that works dandy in the first place instead of fiddling with warranty when stuff breaks.

[SnakeCharmer]

Been using Plantronics 770's the last 4-6 months.  So far they've held up to my use (1-2 hours a day), as well as a toddler getting a hold of them about twice a week. 

I figure that if anything can withstand the destructive power of my 16 month old son, it has to be pretty solid.  Other than Cheerios in one of the ear cup things which was solved with a vacuum, no problems.

[Righ]

Grado. They have good (and somewhat heavy) cables on even their cheapest models, the $70 SR60. The lower priced Grados are giant-killers sound-wise.

However, if you want absolute immunity, you would want to consider models with removable cables so that they could be easily and cheaply replaced. For Grado, that starts at the $299 325i. With Sennheiser, you can get models with removable cables for much less - the $85 HD465 for example, though the sound quality doesn't match the Grados in the same price bracket. Sennheiser competes favorably with Grado at the higher end, though you would be looking at $180 for the HD555 for what I consider good sound and replaceable cables - still cheaper than Grado (though the similarly priced HD595 is the real sonic competitor to the Grado 325i). AKG also make headphones with removable cables... but you wanted good sound not acceptable. :)

[lamaros]

I've had my Grado and Sennheisers for 8 years and they still work completely fine.

[K9]

I inherited a pair of Sennheiser HD447 headphones from my sister a few years ago and they seem to be pretty indestructible, and they're both very comfortable for extended periods and have very good sounds quality. They're also reasonably priced.

So I'd vote Sennheiser.

[Sairon]

Probably gonna be a pair of Sennheisers, Grado also looked good but I can't seem to find them in any stores here.

[Phildo]

I'll throw in my recommendation for Sennheiser as well.

Edit for the following: Some electronics companies will make the initial run of a product very high-end.  Then, once the initial reviews are out and word of mouth has had a chance to propogate, they greatly scale back the quality of the product to save money.  I can't remember a specific example, but I seem to recall one of the major manufacturers getting in trouble for this a few years ago.

[Tale]

Beyerdynamic. Can you get them where you are?

I don't own a pair of these, but I've just done my research and almost all the people who had done their research recommended this brand. Here is some info from an Aussie site:

http://www.headphones.com.au/pbrowse?catID=1&brand=Beyerdynamic&sort=recommended

[Sky]

I'm using a set of Sennheiser HD280s for monitoring my mixer and for my ipod, they're pretty nice. I guess it depends on what you call a 'fortune'. I think these were well worth $100, I love 'em.

http://www.musiciansfriend.com/product/Sennheiser-HD280-Pro-ClosedBack-Headphones?sku=242411

[Phildo]

Sky, those are the same Sennheisers that my school gives all its students.  I like them too, although they're a little poor on bass response.

[Baldrake]

No kidding, Sairon. I seem to have to buy a new piece of Logitech junk every 3 months or so. Thanks all for the recommendations.

[Sky]

Sky, those are the same Sennheisers that my school gives all its students.  I like them too, although they're a little poor on bass response.

I believe that's intentional.

Also, what kind of school? That seems a bit steep for elementary kids :P

[Phildo]

I'm going to Full Sail, technical college that masquerades as an art program.  Learning to be a recording engineer or some such.

[Sky]

Cool. Wicked fun job. Wish I had stayed in school for studio engineering.

[Nebu]

I will agree that Grado and Sennheiser are the way to go.  They cost more up front, but reward you with quality sound and durability.

[Special J]

Beyerdynamic. Can you get them where you are?

I don't own a pair of these, but I've just done my research and almost all the people who had done their research recommended this brand. Here is some info from an Aussie site:

http://www.headphones.com.au/pbrowse?catID=1&brand=Beyerdynamic&sort=recommended

I've tried the DT-234s with the mic and they're very good; the mic is very good too.  The Sennheisers are solid and most of them have pretty good isolation.

My weapon of choice Sony MDR-7506, which is a very popular industry standard and the ones we use at work (radio).  They're very flat, which you may or may not find to be a good thing (personally I do).  Pretty rugged and you can crank them loud as all hell.  They don't isolate as well as the Sennheisers, though. Set you back around $100.

[Ookii]

AKG K701s baby!

They are a little light on the bass though, they're great hooked into one of these babies:

[Prospero]

I'm not sure if you are anti-earbuds, but I've been using the Etymotic ER-4 and have been really happy. The ER-6 are half the price and I suspect just as good. By big complaint is you have to change out the ear wax filters every so often, which is a pain in the ass.

I've gotten tired of cables though, so my current plan is to switch to these in May. The audio quality will suck in comparison, but there will be much less self strangulation.

[Wasted]

The quality of Logitech headphones has certainly gone down hill the past few years.

I have to buy headphones every few months, its the one thing my kids can't seem to avoid breaking if I happen to leave them out.

[Chimpy]

Really depends on what you are using them for/listening to would be all I have to add here.

Anything with decent quality cords/connections will run you around 100 bucks regardless of the brand. Avoid anything with an inline volume control, as those tend to be cheap and are liable to have their soldered connections inside come undone after a moderate amount of twisting on the cord.

www.head-fi.org  is the place to go if you want the reviews/opinions of people who take their headphones REALLY seriously.

[Baldrake]

I've gotten tired of cables though, so my current plan is to switch to these in May.

2.4 GHz? Won't that conflict with your wireless network?

[Prospero]

I don't know. Hopefully not. My mouse is wireless and running on the 2.4 band and it doesn't have any problems with my wireless network. I'm more worried about it conflicting with the headset. Theoretically it's pretty easy to make the the signal unique in such a away that the receiver will only pick up the thing it is looking for, but it's been a long time since I did antennae  design/DSP in school, so what the hell do I know.

[Baldrake]

Ok, cool. I only speak from anecdotal experience, specifically that my old 2.4 GHz cordless phones wreaked havoc on my wireless network. Please post your results and if they're good, I'll buy one too.

[Baldrake]

I've gotten tired of cables though, so my current plan is to switch to these in May. The audio quality will suck in comparison, but there will be much less self strangulation.

Since the headset question has a habit of resurfacing from time to time, I thought I'd necro here to say that I recently purchased on of these wireless Logitech dealios. I'm very happy with it.

• Range: Very good. I have a three story brick house with lath and plaster throughout (murder for wireless signals). The computer is on the third floor, and I can still use the headset on the first.
• Sound quality: definitely lower than a standard stereo headset, but (for me at least) good enough.
• Reliability: If I walk out of range, it beeps and stops transmitting. When I walk back into range, it picks up with no problem.

Despite it using 2.4 GHz, I have so far not seen any interference with my wireless network (which I admittedly don't use that much.)

[Prospero]

Fuckers! They were supposed to email me when it came out.  I'm glad to hear it is good. I'm popping it in my cart now.

[Furiously]

Damn - I've been waiting for a wireless stereo headset forever. Now I will wait for you to test them further!

[Hawkbit]

I bought a pair of Sennheiser 595s about a year ago, they've been 100% perfect.  The only issue I had was the cats ate the cord, fuckers. 

[Prospero]

Cords are the devil. The only thing I don't mind having cords for is power, and only because I'm pretty sure a tesla coil is hard to childproof. Or me-proof for that matter.

[Prospero]

These things are rad. Mind you, the sound quality does not in anyway compare with my Etymotics, but I could listen to the Three Singing Cowboys bellowing while getting a beer from the kitchen three rooms from my office. 

Also the red light on the mic is rad.

[MahrinSkel]

I'm using a Radio Shack 2.4ghz headphone system (insert Audiophile laughtrack/sputters of rage at the dabbler's RS referral here).  It does interfere with the wireless network a little, the only place that turned out to be significant was in my daughter's room, then I fitted her computer with a large antenna and it's all good.  I use it so I can watch TV at night without disturbing anyone and without dragging cords around.  Sound quality is fine, not much bass but I didn't expect much.  If I walk outside to the far end of the lawn it starts dropping out, but if I'm further than the kitchen I pause the TV anyway.  Unlike the IR-based ones I used before they don't interfere with the remote, they don't need line of sight, they never generate any static, they fit my head better, and they seem to last longer on a charge.  Spring for NiMH based batteries with a 700maH rating or better, it's 20 bucks worth of batteries but you'll get 8+ hour sessions out of them, and leaving them turned on until the charge is completely drained won't kill their ability to hold a charge.

I will say this: Anything based on 900MHz is crap.  Fine for cordless telephones, absolute crap for anything else.

--Dave

[Falwell]

I've been using the same set of Medusa gaming headphones / mic for... going on two years now. Pricey, but haven't had a single defect and nothing has started to act glitchey in the least. Easily the best headset I've ever owned, bar none.

http://www.medusa-usa.com/medusa-51-progamer-edition-v2-p-896.html?osCsid=700072ccd18d07253518579f5cff433c

[Engels]

I just purchased a pair of Shure earbuds w/microphone . Any of you audiophiles have an opinion on these?

[ClydeJr]

I've been using a set of $9.99 headphones I got at Radio Shack for the past 6 years or so. Never had a single issue!

[Jeff Kelly]

Headphones and Headsets constantly break around me. Most often the wires or the connections to the plugs get wobbly or the plastic breaks.

I am still looking for a decent wireless solution that is not analog and doesn't cost 600 dollars however

[Tale]

Beyerdynamic. Can you get them where you are?

I don't own a pair of these, but I've just done my research and almost all the people who had done their research recommended this brand. Here is some info from an Aussie site:

http://www.headphones.com.au/pbrowse?catID=1&brand=Beyerdynamic&sort=recommended

I've tried the DT-234s with the mic and they're very good; the mic is very good too.  The Sennheisers are solid and most of them have pretty good isolation.

My weapon of choice Sony MDR-7506, which is a very popular industry standard and the ones we use at work (radio).  They're very flat, which you may or may not find to be a good thing (personally I do).  Pretty rugged and you can crank them loud as all hell.  They don't isolate as well as the Sennheisers, though. Set you back around $100.

I just bought a pair of Beyerdynamic DT-231s (DT-234s without the mic) and can confirm they are indeed very good. Listening to music through them is an experience way above the Sennheisers they replaced, and the bass is big and beautiful in games. Very comfortable headphones to wear also.