Is Sennheiser 600/650 an overkill ?


Hello,

I am looking for a good headphone for my cube at work. It will be used to listen MP3 from my computers, which fairly new ones with P4 and Intel sound cards that come with the computer. Currently I am using a 'free' headphone that comes with a cheapo MP3 player, which sounds not too bad to me.

On Audiogon, a used Sennheiser 600 goes around $200 and 650 $380, which are not expensive at all to me. But my quesiton is are they too much for my application? If they are, what other models would you recommend?

Thanks,

Abe
from Bay Area,
abe_av

Showing 3 responses by seandtaylor99

You might also consider a closed back (sealed) headphone, to close out background noise, and so that your music is not audible to others. I use the Sennheiser HD-280 pros, and I really like them. A step up from these is the Beyer DT-831 (I think that's the model).
The Sennheiser 280s are available from musiciansfriend.com for $100. IMHO anything better than these and you'll be listening to the inadequacies of MP3. Even with these $100 headphones you can clearly hear the difference between MP3s and CDs. I wouldn't spend more if I were you ... or get two pairs 280pros for work and used 580/600s for home.

BTW the 280 pros are very efficient ... you will not need an amplifier. A battery powered portable will drive them very loud.
I don't know about others but I can only enjoy open backed headphones in a quiet environment. 600s and 580s don't sound so great when they're competing with a discussion in the cube next door. It was for that reason I suggested closed cans. Also having a reasonable pair of closed cans is perfect if you want to watch a DVD or listen to music at home without disturbing others, and without being disturbed. I only ever use open back cans when I'm in a quiet room, and where I'm not going to annoy anyone else with my second-hand music.

Hope you like the 280s Abe.