OT: High End Headphones

[JungRebel]

I've budgeted for a great pair of headphones and have about $300 to spend. I love music and want the best quality possible, but durability is a concern since I dont want to spend this kind of money very often. Bluetooth is a must because I travel a fair amount and run several times a week and dont want to deal with wires.

What fits this description? Is there anything in a pair of headphones I should be looking for that I left out? And yes, I have done research myself but almost every website comes to a different conclusion, so I am looking to the pack music lovers for good anecdotal evidence.

Eta: I could probably go up to $400.

 

[57stratdawg]

My current set up is:

Bose AE2 Soundlink for air travel and work & Bose Soundsport for running / working out. The Soundsport stay in pretty well as long as I’m not over the top sweaty (running outside in June). They’ve always pair very quickly and easily, and the Bose app has a “Find Me” feature.

The new AirPods2 are pretty sweet though. The noise cancelling / amplification is rather advanced and works well.

 

[CochiseCowbell]

Trying to drown out that Hobby Lobby cheer?*

 

[TBone.sixpack]

I have the Bose Quiet Comfort headphones and the Sound Sport Ear Pods. They both work great.

 

[dawgman42]

I thought you guys are required to all follow suit?

View attachment 15404

 

[mcdawg22]

I have the Bose Quiet Comfort headphones and the Sound Sport Ear Pods. They both work great.

I have Bose quiet comforts as well, those things are a lifesaver when my daughter has her friends over.

 

[JungRebel]

Is there an issue with the Soundlink (or others mentioned in this thread) that makes them good for travel but not for workouts?

Is sweat and smell an issue?

 

[Nunya.sixpack]

Too bad your capped at 400. I know a place that might be able to get you a mattress and headphones for around 15k.

 

[aTotal360]

ABYSS AB-1266 Phi TC Audiophile Reference Headphones

 

[TBone.sixpack]

My best Bose purchase was Bose Sleep Pods. Game changer when they worked but they won’t hold a charge so Bose discontinued them. I still haven’t found a suitable replacement. I hope they relaunch them at some point.

 

[MaxwellSmart]

Wife got me a pair of theBose Quiet Comfort for Christmas. They are outstanding.

 

[CrookedLetta4Eva]

Anker Life P2. These are great(not for the money great, just great). Just because it’s a budget, doesn’t mean you have to spend it.

 

[MarkDallas]

If you haven't ever tried active noise cancelling, it's the real deal.

 

[MechEnDawg]

I've budgeted for a great pair of headphones and have about $300 to spend. I love music and want the best quality possible, but durability is a concern since I dont want to spend this kind of money very often. Bluetooth is a must because I travel a fair amount and run several times a week and dont want to deal with wires.

For my second trip over seas I drove straight to Best buy and picked up Sony Noise Cancelling Headphones WH1000XM3. I think they are ~$300 now, and after listening to a baby cry for one of the 9 hour flights they were a blessing. Sound great too.

 

[JungRebel]

These are the ones I'm looking at now. Any complaints?

 

[garddog]

If you want a headset or play games the Razer Nari Ultimate is nice. Just listening the others mentioned are better.

 

[tired]

JBL 650

 

[TBone.sixpack]

Google is paying attn. I have ear bud ads on the bottom of this page.

 

[garddog]

Google is paying attn. I have ear bud ads on the bottom of this page.

At least it's not the trulicity monstrosity.

 

[TBone.sixpack]

I haven’t had that one yet. The bottom of my page usually has some hot chick in novelty t shirts. Not sure what that one is about.

 

[RocketDawg]

I've budgeted for a great pair of headphones and have about $300 to spend. I love music and want the best quality possible, but durability is a concern since I dont want to spend this kind of money very often. Bluetooth is a must because I travel a fair amount and run several times a week and dont want to deal with wires.

What fits this description? Is there anything in a pair of headphones I should be looking for that I left out? And yes, I have done research myself but almost every website comes to a different conclusion, so I am looking to the pack music lovers for good anecdotal evidence.

Eta: I could probably go up to $400.

For wireless headphones, Consumer Reports likes Bose QuietComfort 35 Series II ($350) and Bose Noise Canceling 700 ($400). The lead the pack quite a bit over the next best. You can probably go to Best Buy and try both of them.

 

[Wizard.sixpack]

Bluetooth is a must because I travel a fair amount and run several times a week and dont want to deal with wires.

Do you want to deal with headaches and tumors from bluetooth?

 

[57stratdawg]

I’ve always used inserts for active use. I would think the sweat and the amount of contact they make around your ear would not be a great combination.

 

[RingN2012]

Google is paying attn. I have ear bud ads on the bottom of this page.

Son of a *****. Google has me too with the ad at the bottom.

 

[BulldogBillyCrash]

Got a pair of beats solo pro not to long ago and I must say I am impressed with them

 

[MSUDAWGFAN]

I've budgeted for a great pair of headphones and have about $300 to spend. I love music and want the best quality possible, but durability is a concern since I dont want to spend this kind of money very often. Bluetooth is a must because I travel a fair amount and run several times a week and dont want to deal with wires.

What fits this description? Is there anything in a pair of headphones I should be looking for that I left out? And yes, I have done research myself but almost every website comes to a different conclusion, so I am looking to the pack music lovers for good anecdotal evidence.

Eta: I could probably go up to $400.

I would go with the Bowers & Wilkins PX7 if 400 is your limit. If you only want to do 300, I would go with the PX5. Bowers & Wilkins is what is in Abbey Road studios, so you know they know what they are doing. It's expensive, but the sound quality is right.

Don't go with Beats by Dre. They are complete overpriced crap. They add weight to them to make them feel more substantial. Not to mention the sound is crap too.

https://gizmodo.com/how-beats-tricks-you-into-thinking-it-makes-a-premium-p-1712319045

 

[NashLA]

I love music and want the best quality possible, but durability is a concern since I dont want to spend this kind of money very often. Bluetooth is a must because I travel a fair amount and run several times a week and dont want to deal with wires.

Bluetooth and audio quality are like oil and water due to the severe limitations of the BT bandwidth. I've stopped using the Bluetooth capability of my home audio setup because the quality of the sound is so much worse than using a wired source. I would think the disparity in quality would be even greater in headphones, especially higher-end ones. There has to be some mid-point at which the quality of the cans you buy matches the limitations of bluetooth, but beyond which you are wasting money. My guess is that mid-point exists somewhere well below $300.

I think I heard a codec had been developed that overcame the bandwidth limitations, but I don't know how widely available it is.

 

[MechEnDawg]

Sometimes in the summer my ears get hot, but I imagine they all have that problem. They are perfect for flying with, have a good battery life, and are the best sounding pair I have tried.
I also have some bose sound sport wireless for the gym. I am less than impressed with how they connect to my phone (my coworker got these for Christmas and doesn't seem to be having any of the problems I am with them.