[hugh]

I am looking for some recommendations for headphones to buy for my son for his birthday.

I'm looking for portable and comfortable headphones. I don't want to buy him cheap crap and I don't want to buy ear buds.

Budget is maybe in the $75 to $125 range

From the Apple store that would include the

• Sennheiser HD 218 Headphones $90
• Sennheiser HD 228 Headphones $120

I have been Googling like crazy and have come across several recommendations however the reviews seem to be all over the board so I've not found anything that I trust.

I'd be interested in anyone who is using headphones (not ear buds) in this price range who might offer up an opinion.

Thanks

 

[Tezster]

My brother has been using a pair of Grado SR80's quite happily for the past couple of years - it has a pretty strong response in the low frequency/bass range, which seems to be what a lot of headphone users look for these days.

 

[hugh]

Thanks. Best price for SR80i in Canada is $140 ($99 online in U.S.) so a little high but I am working to see if I can find them cheaper in Canada.

 

[Merritt64]

I ordered my Bose noise cancelling headphones from Airmiles. Currently they cost 3400 airmiles. I absolutely love them. They sound great and the noise cancelling feature works very well. I've recommended them to friends and they love them also. On a side note, I find that using airmiles for merchandise is a lot better than using them for air travel.

M64

 

[hugh]

merritt64, Please read my post.

Budget is maybe in the $75 to $125 range

 

[Tezster]

The Grado SR60i should be a good alternative to the SR80i , although I haven't had any personal experience with them. I also used a pair of older Sennheiser HD435's for several years and absolutely loved them (they were my first pair of decent headphones), but that exact model may no longer be available.

 

[cooper83]

The Grado SR60i should be a good alternative to the SR80i

The SR60i (and its predecessor SR60) is regarded as one of the best bang-for-your-buck headphone on the market.

http://www.stereophile.com/headphones/grado_sr60i_headphones/

And if he wants to be the envy of all his friends, get him a pair of Koss PortaPros!

http://techreport.com/discussions.x/19269

 

[hugh]

Thanks guys. Grado seems like a good way to go. Considering the significant price difference between Canada and the U.S., I'll try and shop around.

 

[Deezeex]

Yes, the SR60's are a good alternative to the 80's, but are becoming difficult to find (CDN$129 before taxes and shipping) and the "flat" pads should be replaced with the more comfortable "bagel" pads, so the price climbs to far outside of budget constraints.

Hugh, have you considered the iGrado's for CDN$69? Don't know how you feel about the 'behind the neck band' though...

 

[Merritt64]

Hugh, Please read my post.

Ordering from Airmiles doesn't cost a cent if you have the airmiles. If you're not a collector or don't have the required number of airmiles then disregard. If you do, then this definitely fits within your budget. It costs you nothing!

M64

 

[OldScotch]

Strange, I got a pair of SR80 (not "i") for just over $100, and that was when the dollar was much weaker than it is now.

Are you looking for headphones specifically? or would a good pair of earbuds do the trick too?

 

[acadien]

Hugh,

What did you end up buying? And where did you get it from?

Did you also look at the iGrado?

Looking to buying a good pair of headphones for my wife for her ipod (for around the house in the evening once the little ones are gone to bed). The current earbuds hurt her ears after a short time of use.

Thanks

 

[hugh]

Yes I bought Able Planet headphones for my son. TigerDirect frequently has them on sale for considerably less than what you would find on the Able Planet website. For about $70 onsale, I got my son some very good headphones. Since then I have bought several pairs of Able Planet headphones. A pair for my wife when she travels and a pair that anyone can wear when exercising on our elliptical.

Actually like them as much as a pair of $300 Denon's that I have. (I didn't pay $300 for the Denon as I got them at 50% off a couple of years ago)

I looked at Grado but did not wish to spend that kind of money.

 

[Mole]

Bay Bloor have the IGrado for about $70 and the entire line of their products on the wall.

Sadly every increment in price has a matching increment in sound quality all the way up to $2K.

 

[uberchuckie]

I really like my Shure SRH440. Can be had for under $100. I use it at work with my computer/iPhone. They say they sound even better with an amplified source. I might build myself a pocket amplifier.

 

[pappcam]

I have a set of Audio-Technica ATH-M30s and I couldn't be happier.

 

[hugh]

Look pretty big for an iPod user but thanks for posting.

 

[BCScott]

My son (11yrs old) just received these http://store.apple.com/ca/product/H3628ZM/A?fnode=MTY1NDA0Ng&mco=MTk5ODk1MzA&s=topSellers from apple yesterday and he's thrilled with them. They seem very solid. Although they're listed for $90, he got them for $15.

We were visiting my parents in Florida and he bought an itunes card for $15, only to find out, after he scratched the code that it couldn't be used with his Canadian account. After I spent an hour or so on the phone trying to get it credited to his Canadian account, the rep offered to send him something from the apple store at no charge. The rep suggested a case for his ipod touch, ear buds, or over the ear headphones. We picked the headphones and had them sent to BC. He's thrilled with the solution and the way the apple store handled the problem.