God knows I don't need a $400 Sennheiser home theater mounted on my head. (although that would be nice..) However, I do need some additional headphones for recording purposes. Does anyone have a favorite cheap pair of headphones that they would replace if lost or broken?
I'm looking in the <40 range I guess, but then again the nicest ones I have are like big $20 Sonys I got at Wal-Mart a long time ago..
Favorite Cheap Headphones
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- KVRist
- 104 posts since 11 Apr, 2005 from Nashville
.. colordeaf.net
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- KVRAF
- 10597 posts since 13 Jun, 2004 from Alberto Balsam
when shopping for headphones below $40 Sony will be your best bet.
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- KVRAF
- 2172 posts since 14 Feb, 2003
Sony MDR-V150 ($20 or less everywhere)
Good frequency response. A little muted on the highs, but that helps prevent ear fatigue. Excellent all-around workhorse headphones. I've gone through a few pairs of them over the years.
I guess they suffer from the inherent problems (cable shorts near the connector) that all headphones suffer from. What I do is, when there is a short in the cable, I snip it six inches, splice the cable and put a new jack on it.
Good frequency response. A little muted on the highs, but that helps prevent ear fatigue. Excellent all-around workhorse headphones. I've gone through a few pairs of them over the years.
I guess they suffer from the inherent problems (cable shorts near the connector) that all headphones suffer from. What I do is, when there is a short in the cable, I snip it six inches, splice the cable and put a new jack on it.
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atomic_(no)afro atomic_(no)afro https://www.kvraudio.com/forum/memberlist.php?mode=viewprofile&u=5043
- KVRian
- 622 posts since 18 Dec, 2002
Jones-y, can you do a quick how-to for that fix. I have several headphones that have been relegated to my heap of broken electronics because of that problem. Please get specific because I have no experience in electronics repair.
ATA
ATA
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- KVRAF
- 2172 posts since 14 Feb, 2003
OK. Its simple as pie, but here goes.
1. Cut the cable. I usually cut off about six inches below the plug.
2. Splice the cable so that you have four sets of bare wire showing. I'll usually splice about 3/4 of an inch to an inch of wire.
The four sets are as follows: The positive leads for the left and right channels, and the ground cables for both channels. You can usually recognize the positive leads, because they'll be in little miniature sleeves, one colored red, and the other colored black (or white).
3. Twist the bare wire of each lead, and make sure that there is no contact between the ground and positive leads for each channel.
4. Make a trip to Radio Shack. Pick up something like this for $3.99:
5. Unscrew the housing on the connector, and slide the housing, and plastic liner, down the headphone wire. (I can't tell you how many times I've forgotten this one simple step)
6. Typically, this plug will have three leads. One each for the positive lead of each channel, and one for both the ground leads. Depending on the type of connector you buy, you will either twist the bare cable around the connector's lead and tighten a screw, or you will have to solder the bare cable to the lead. I prefer the twist-and-screw connectors because they're easier, but the solder type offer a better connection and is harder to cause another short.
Now, having said all that, if the short itself is close to the headphone, and not on the other end, where the connector is, then you'll have to consider whether or not you want to cut nearly the entire cable off, and replace the whole thing, or just scrap them all together. I usually just scrap them.
Put it all bacl together, and, presto! Good as new.
1. Cut the cable. I usually cut off about six inches below the plug.
2. Splice the cable so that you have four sets of bare wire showing. I'll usually splice about 3/4 of an inch to an inch of wire.
The four sets are as follows: The positive leads for the left and right channels, and the ground cables for both channels. You can usually recognize the positive leads, because they'll be in little miniature sleeves, one colored red, and the other colored black (or white).
3. Twist the bare wire of each lead, and make sure that there is no contact between the ground and positive leads for each channel.
4. Make a trip to Radio Shack. Pick up something like this for $3.99:
5. Unscrew the housing on the connector, and slide the housing, and plastic liner, down the headphone wire. (I can't tell you how many times I've forgotten this one simple step)
6. Typically, this plug will have three leads. One each for the positive lead of each channel, and one for both the ground leads. Depending on the type of connector you buy, you will either twist the bare cable around the connector's lead and tighten a screw, or you will have to solder the bare cable to the lead. I prefer the twist-and-screw connectors because they're easier, but the solder type offer a better connection and is harder to cause another short.
Now, having said all that, if the short itself is close to the headphone, and not on the other end, where the connector is, then you'll have to consider whether or not you want to cut nearly the entire cable off, and replace the whole thing, or just scrap them all together. I usually just scrap them.
Put it all bacl together, and, presto! Good as new.
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- KVRAF
- 6596 posts since 21 Jun, 2004 from Secret Underground Hideout
Been therejones-y wrote:I can't tell you how many times I've forgotten this one simple step
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flanneljammies flanneljammies https://www.kvraudio.com/forum/memberlist.php?mode=viewprofile&u=19969
- KVRist
- 462 posts since 5 Apr, 2004 from Madison WI
Harvey Gerst's More Me headphones. They're great for tracking: reasonable isolation, loud sound, rugged construction, and inexpensive prices.
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- Rad Grandad
- 38041 posts since 6 Sep, 2003 from Downeast Maine
sorry I have three pair of headphones...the cheapest are audio-technica ATH-M40fs...I also have Beyer dt770's and Sony Mdr 7506's...sorry but I think you get what you pay for with headphones, but when you do as much recording as I do at night, and I'm in an apartment....headphones shouldn't be skimped on...
The highest form of knowledge is empathy, for it requires us to suspend our egos and live in another's world. It requires profound, purpose‐larger‐than‐the‐self kind of understanding.
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- KVRAF
- 3528 posts since 18 Apr, 2002 from British Columbia, Canada
hehe.... I look for sales. I use a pair of 60 dollar (canadian) AKG's I got at a music store closout sale for 30 bucks, which are SOOOO cheap ass, but have excellent flat sound, crystal, love it. NO isolation whatsoever 
and I also use some KOSS (hey, stop your laughing!!) UR-30's that were somewhere between 60 and 100, but I can't remember. They were on sale for 40 dollars. They are Really Nice, the most comfortable I have had for a long time, and have good isolation (in and out, so your mic won't pick them up). Only complaint is that they are NOT flat. Great sound, but not accurate for mixing unless you double check on a couple of other devices. But I am poor, so that is the method I have to use, until I can afford something really accurate.
and I also use some KOSS (hey, stop your laughing!!) UR-30's that were somewhere between 60 and 100, but I can't remember. They were on sale for 40 dollars. They are Really Nice, the most comfortable I have had for a long time, and have good isolation (in and out, so your mic won't pick them up). Only complaint is that they are NOT flat. Great sound, but not accurate for mixing unless you double check on a couple of other devices. But I am poor, so that is the method I have to use, until I can afford something really accurate.
Last edited by Z3R0T0N1N on Mon Apr 18, 2005 7:45 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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- KVRist
- 137 posts since 2 Feb, 2005 from Netherlands
If you're willing to put in a bit more money, let's say $69, then the Grado Labs SR60 would be a good choice. These are not the sexiest headphones around, but they make up for it by sounding great.
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- KVRAF
- 3528 posts since 18 Apr, 2002 from British Columbia, Canada
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- Rad Grandad
- 38041 posts since 6 Sep, 2003 from Downeast Maine
koss has always made awesome home entertainment headphones...as for AKG's...great sound, but they don't stay on my head well...laugh if you will but my hair is baby fine, straight and looooong...I have been playing wearing AKG's and twisted my head and they end up on the back of my head and nose...but the worst part is when I bend over with them they hit the floor...the beyers are 8 years old and for most mixing (they were my main phones until friday and I got the AT's) The Sony's are my choice for when I'm doing vocals...I don't like the way my guitar sounds through them...the new ones are really a nice balance between the sony's and the beyer's...spoonboiler wrote:http://www.koss.com/koss/kossweb.nsf/02 ... eesephones
The highest form of knowledge is empathy, for it requires us to suspend our egos and live in another's world. It requires profound, purpose‐larger‐than‐the‐self kind of understanding.
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- Rad Grandad
- 38041 posts since 6 Sep, 2003 from Downeast Maine
the yamaha's under 50 bux are not that bad eitherChase wrote:when shopping for headphones below $40 Sony will be your best bet.
The highest form of knowledge is empathy, for it requires us to suspend our egos and live in another's world. It requires profound, purpose‐larger‐than‐the‐self kind of understanding.
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- KVRAF
- 3528 posts since 18 Apr, 2002 from British Columbia, Canada
Hink wrote:the yamaha's under 50 bux are not that bad eitherChase wrote:when shopping for headphones below $40 Sony will be your best bet.
true, that!