There was one thread about noise-cancelling headphones, but thought people might have something to say about their preferred headphones in general; I know I had some sony noise-cancelling headphones a few years ago when the technology was in it's infancy.  Definitely not worthwhile there.  They were uncomfortable (really don't like the more "internal" types of audio-listening equipment.  And generally, I think; I don't mind background noise too much in general.

Anyway, I had bought a pair of really nice headphones before Christmas (PX 200)



Which were not fantastically expensive, and the sound quality was just super.  However, the connection to the plug broke shortly after Christmas, and within a month the right ear stopped working.  Had lost my receipt, so.  I still occasionally ask people if they have a soldering iron on them that they might be able fix them.

Anyway, though they weren't expensive for a long-term investment, given how much music I listen to; I couldn't afford to be blowing sixty quid every two months on headphones!  I had backups anyway, which I used for a week until *they* broke, so I managed to find another pair of old earphones in my room, which I was using until I lost those last week. So I went into town today and bought the cheapest pair of Sennheiser headphones I saw (the PX-10):



They feel reallllly light in comparison to the PX200 ones I had before and, indeed the rather minimal earphones I was using last week.  The way they fit is pretty unusual, but not in any way uncomfortable (unlike the PX200 ones which used to make my ears hurt a little if I wore them for too long   ).

I've never regretted taking up Ron's recommendation of the Sennheiser HD650. Not cheap (I think you can get them from about £170) and not at all for on the move. But also damn marvellous (especially once you've played them in a bit).

I was pleased but not surprised to see them sweep the field in a recent Diapason review (11 casques électrodynamiques haut de gamme: "...Un casque modèle").

Another advantage thereto being the replaceable cables: I've not had to do this for the 650s yet, though the rather older 600s (which get rather more field use and incidentally have rather thinner cables) are now on their second lead. The cans themselves are very resilient.

I've decided not to explore that route until I need to replace anyway, Ollie, and I'd need to be able to audition the cables in situ over a decent period before I made up my mind in any case. It's important to point out that cables are a horrendously contentious area in hi-fi, and that spending more doesn't always bring concomitant improvements. There was a vogue for silver cables a few years back which totally mystified me: I hate the hard-edged 'shouty' sound they tend to create. Carbon fibre: now there's a different story, though very expensive; even though I have only one set of Mr van del Hul's ground-breaking examples, I have indulged more recently in some of his less expensive hybrid experiments, some of which even utilise silver whilst avoiding its usual sonic signature. He's a very clever man, and most of his products are worth serious consideration.

  Sennheiser HD 650       Thanks, Ron.      

My hearing is diminishing.   I wonder why?      

I have extremely tolerant neighbours; a semi-detached bungalow; and seldom hear a peep out of them.    However, The Proms are nigh and  I need to up-the-ante for orchestral works    Your pointers most welcome.

Bws         Stanley

Stanley, greetings,

Aaron is absolutely correct about the Sennheisers having a slight roll-off at the top, and yes, for monitoring applications there are more detailed cans. However, for protracted listening the 650s work brilliantly, revealing yet never fatiguing, and despite their size, very comfortable indeed. Their cost is similar to that of a decent small pair of speakers, though, so if you're looking for something less expensive, give me a ball-park figure of what you'd like to spend, and I'll happily point...

bws
Ron 

I have always liked the sound provided by the various Sennheisers I have used over the years, but my big gripe against all of them has been precisely the connectors at the headphone end of the cable. I have yet to get a pair where those connectors maintain the signal consistently. All have had problems of intermittent crackling.

Yet another contribution to the Sennheiser lovefest, in honor of the fact that I just got my HD 570's back from the repair shop; I knew they were fragile enough that dropping them a few times will dislodge an internal connection that kills the right side, but I dropped them anyway, with predictable results.

They aren't too expensive, require no preamp (although they do expose the limitations of the one I route my turntable through), and to my non-sound-quality-attuned ears (I've never owned any audio equipment other than a series of portable stereos with acceptable sound quality at best) they sound fantastic.

One of these days I will get a proper component system.  As it is my turntable (which isn't entry-level but isn't "audiophile" either by any stretch) cost about twice as much as my CD changer/cassette/speaker box, which is a mite embarrassing.