Help with headphones

[BenF]

I'm in the market for new headphone and I was hoping you could help guild me. I have about $100 to spend on a new pair of headphone. The problem is that I don't really know much, if anything about what companies and modles are the best to buy. I glanced at this thread http://www.ocforums.com/showthread.php?t=432819 but the price range is under $40. I will be using my headphones for listening to rock music and for gaming, I mainly play Call of Duty 2.

I also have heard about people using amps for their headphones, is this needed? If it doesn't make much of a difference whether or not you have an amp, I would perfer to not have one. But if an amp is needed, what kind should I get?

[BenF]

Please help, I'll be buy this tomorrow

[steel102]

for gaming check out the audio-technica a500's. they are slightly over $100 and do not require amping.

[mdameron]

Well... do you want closed/open/in-ear headphones? What's your source? Is comfort a major issue? Portability?

Good brands off the top my head are Sennheiser, Audio-Technica, and Grado, but that by no means is all of them.

The only headphones I have any experience with except for cheap ones that come with your standard portable CD player are the Audio-Technica ATH-A500's. (he mentioned them above)

The only place I know of to get them is at audiocubes, here: http://www.audiocubes.com/product/Audio-Technica_ATH-A500_Art_Headphones.html or ebay. Good luck with ebay, I only found 1 entry for them when I was in the market, slightly used with a long extension cord for $100, and I bought them.

They come with a mini plug (for hooking up to a standard PC sound card) and IIRC, an adapter for the big 1/4" plug.

They're multi purpose for me, gaming and listening to ALL kinds of music (seriously, almost all kinds of music). As far as I'm concerned, if these hold up, I won't own another pair of headphones, I love them so much.

They don't need an amp, are uber-ultra-comfortable, and sound great to my tastes. They are not, however, by any stretch of the word, portable. Each 'earpiece' is easily almost the size of a CD. They don't fold up either.

For less than $100 and for closed headphones, it's pretty much either the Sennheiser HD-280 pros (I've read many good things, but read they clamp on your head), or these headphones.

[BenF]

Thanks alot for the help. I'm looking for closed headphones. When you asked what is the source, do you mean what I'm pluging them into? If so, I'll be using a creative audigy 2 zs and an iPod. I'm going to be check some local stores today to see if they have either the sennheiser hd280's or the Sony MDR-V900 Monitor Series. Or maybe even the grado SR80 if I find it comfortable.

I would try the Audio-Technica ATH-A500 if I can find them here in Hannover, Germany. I don't think that the site you listed ships to Germany, if they do, please correct me.

[Emon]

I'm fairly certain that Audiocubes ships worldwide. If it's not listed on their site, shoot them an e-mail.

[IWasHungry]

If you're interested in 5.1 surround sound for gaming, I highly reccommend some Medusa headphones (http://www.medusa-usa.com/headphones-medusa-51-c-191_193.html?osCsid=9c14ca1664621ff8b1ef0c774d866a a9). They're a bit pricey, but IMHO it's amazing how much directional sound can improve your gameplay.
BTW, the website I linked to is for American buyers. Medusa is England-based, so you'll probably want to look over there. :)

[BenF]

Thanks for your help. I went to Saturn (sorta like best buy) and tried on many different headphones. I decieded to get the Sony MDR-XD400. I was going to get the Sennheiser hd580 but they were priced to high, 140 euro.