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Dr. Dre Beats

Ok, so I really don't know where to post this question. PC Audio seemed reasonable but these are essentially speakers so it's going here.

The new Dr. Dre Beats. I had the pleasure of listening to these today at the local big-box store at ultra-high volume because I guess everyone is deaf and there was no way to turn it down. Anywho. I'm referring to the noise-cancelling headphones in particular. The on-ear headphones sounded a little dark. The around-the-ear noise cancelling ones had a bigger mid-range which was quite pleasant.

And then I walked over to the Bose noise cancelling headphones and it was a guy just talking in on the demo and wouldn't shut up so I put those down.

I have no real experience with headphones but am looking to get into them here shortly. And semi-seriously. And by that I mean I'm not spending a grand on headphones. $300-600 is my limit. I'll eventually be running them off a tube amp.

So, any input on the Beats? Are they worth it for $300? They sure sounded good. And quiet. And as comfortable as I would ever need headphones to be. But since I don't know what Ultrasone headphones sound like I'm wondering if I'd be selling myself short.

I know someone will ask what kind of music I listen to so here it is. Everything from Sia and Natalie Walker to Ludovico Einaudi and Erik Mongrain. Remember, I want to eventual pair these with a tube amp so I don't know if that really changes anything.

Thanks for any advice/input.

John
tiggerfc

Showing 2 responses by gopher

gopher
499 posts
 
You can do much, much better than Bose or Dre for that kind of budget...

Another strong recommendation you spend some time at head-fi. For that kind of money you can probably get some world class headphones on the used market like the HE-5s with matching amp.
gopher
499 posts
 
Grados won't provide you any isolation and will leak quite a bit into your surrounding environment (don't know if that is a problem for your co-workers). I'd suggest starting with the SR225s and maybe that hifi man hybrid tube/headamp. You'd probably clock in around $300 and have a very reasonable work system.

Your wants are a little confused to me as it seems you want isolation, but want to be able to hear important things--if isolation is your thing and your taste errs towards the analytical side, give Etymotic a listen. If you went for the er4ps you'd clock in below you budget and probably not need an amp. They'd provide great detail and tight bass--staging is on the flatter side and the signature can be on the drier side.

Triple.fi 10s are also a reasonable option. I ultimately gave my pair away to a friend as I wasn't using them (I'm a speaker guy) but they're nice though perhaps missing a little top end sparkle.

Audio Technica makes some great open headphone starting with the A or is it AD700--I owned the 900s and they were nice. They will leak and not give much isolation, but have a very musically satisfying signature.

I've owned a ton of headphones over the years and could go on with suggestions, but my strongest one will be to skip the beats. Seriously... You can do much better. No, I haven't heard the beats. Yes, I'm prejudiced against them despite.

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