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Headphone Auditioning

So I went to a nearby hi-fi audio store the other day to see if they had headphones that I could audition there. I didn't go in with any kind of prepared playlist or anything; I just tried songs off my iPod that I thought might be interesting. Anyway, they allowed me to audition the following headphones:

  • Grado SR80i
  • Bowers & Wilkins P5
  • Denon AH-D5000
  • Beats by Dr. Dre studio
  • Grado SR125i

So out of all of them, I liked the Grados and Denon the best. The Denon I liked better for punch and clarity, but the bass was too strong for my taste. They were very comfortable too. The Grados were pretty good, but like other open-backed headphones I've used, they feel like they're missing some impact. It's like they can't focus the music into my ears. That doesn't stop me from using open-backed phones, but it's not where I want to go for impact. Anyway, both Grados sounded very similar; I wasn't able to tell the difference, but I also wasn't able to listen to them side by side.

The Bowers & Wilkins P5 and Beats by Dr. Dre studio headphones were both disappointing. The P5 would not initially stay on my head, but I eventually figured out a way to wear them where they would sound best and stay put. They were pretty comfortable once I was able to do that. When I listened to some recorded piano music on the P5, it seemed to have some problems properly reproducing some of it. I'm thinking perhaps it was muddy? Not sure, but there was definitely something wrong. The studio headphones from Beats by Dr. Dre were quite bad. I couldn't put my finger on how exactly though. It kinda seemed like extra echo or something was being added to the music. Stuff just sounded wrong. I think there was more than that, but that was the most noticeable. So not a fan.

So based on this list alone, after looking up prices on the internet, I'd say go for the Grado SR80i for best price/performance. The SR125i is only about $50 more expensive, but I couldn't tell the difference really, so it might not be worth it. If you don't mind some extra bass, the Denon is definitely the best, but it's also very expensive, being twice as expensive as any of the other headphones on the list. Stay away from the Bowers & Wilkins P5 as well as the Beats by Dr. Dre studio. Definitely not worth the money.

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Comments

  1. Cael K.Jun 9, 2011, 10:47:00 AM

    I'll tell you what's wrong with the Beats...

    The bass is cranked up to ridiculous heights, making one of the most lop-sided signatures I've ever heard. It quakes on your head, and for as much bass as it throws out, it's not even good bass. There's no control of it, it just booms and booms. It's one of the most muddy cans as far as bass is concerned, and it doesn't creep into the mid-range... it kicks it in the face and muddies that up too. The bass boom is there even when there's hardly any bass to be had - a female voice should not have resonance reminiscent of the deepest bass singers I've heard. The female voice just doesn't do that, I'm sorry.

    They are not worth as much as they sell for, not by a long shot. The stock stereo in your car? Probably better.

    ReplyDelete

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