Koss Porta Pro, obviously. A legend.

Any recommendations based on comfort? Store testing isn't enough time to tell. The ones I've tried at home eventually hurt my ears or head: various earbuds, small over-the-head, and large Sony pair that came with my digital piano.

I'm not too concerned about portability, noise-canceling or excellent sound quality (it's for Japanese radio, not music). thx

I have a pair of Sennheiser HD 555 headphones. One of the reasons I got them was they're supposed to be comfortable, and they're right. I wear them all day at work and they never bother me. A lot of the cheaper ones press down on the top of my ears and get really painful after an hour or so.

I had the PX100 previously, they were OK, but same problem as the previous poster, cable just wore out and lost sound on the one channel.

Thora Wrote:Any recommendations based on comfort? Store testing isn't enough time to tell. The ones I've tried at home eventually hurt my ears or head: various earbuds, small over-the-head, and large Sony pair that came with my digital piano.

I'm not too concerned about portability, noise-canceling or excellent sound quality (it's for Japanese radio, not music). thx

Sennheiser PX100's. soo comfy you can hardly feel you're wearing them!

Anyone tried Sleep Phone? I'm not an advocate of sleep-learning, but this thing seems to have potential. It does seem to be nice headphones to wear when you're lying in bed.

I stumbled on this when I was listening to a podcast, and they're offering a $5 off code here.

No point creating a new thread for a slightly different word -- does anyone have a recommendation for a good wireless headset? (headphones+mic combo)

I've just gone through my 3rd wired one for the year, thanks to a combination of pets and my own carelessness with the wire. I'd like the next ones I get to be immune to such things.

I run a set of Sony MDR-7509HD through an Emu-1820 audio interface when I DO wear headphones, which I rarely do unless I'm recording (guitarist here). Sounds nice, no doubt, but I just prefer not to have anything on my head for hours at a time.

Oh, and for use with my iPod, I have a set of Etymotic ER-4's and some Yuin PK1's. I tend to use the PK1's more than the ER-4's these days, since they PK1s are so dang comfortable; however, the Etymotics definitely sound better.

the best kind. the spy earpiece kind

Another one for Koss Portapro

Sennheiser HD 218

Sennheiser HD 450 II (circa 1991) at home, Sennheiser PX 200 when out.

I just retired my Grado SR-60s and bought a pair of Sennheiser HD 448s. I wanted something more comfortable and 'closed'; so far I like the 448s because they weren't too expensive, are quite comfy, and have a nice balance of bass and clarity, though it's odd to hear my own pulse during silences. Next time I'll probably just get Grado SR-80s, though. Or SR80i or whathaveyou.

Elsewhere, still using the Bang & Olufsen A8 earphones that I mentioned in the past, though.

http://www.bang-olufsen.com/earphones

Audio-Technica ATH-A700 headphones. They go entirely over your ear, and they're super comfortable. Their sound quality is great for the price point - around $110, and they're comparable (IMO from what I've tried myself) to other 'phones in the $250-300 range. If you don't need a closed headphone, the ATH-AD700 is a little cheaper and has better sound -- but those open ones leak sound, which I don't like. For closed though, and at around $100, you can't beat the ATH-A700 -- and it's Japanese-made too :p

Maxell NC-IV.

They've broken in the same place twice, but I'm on my third pair now (sent thanks to the warranty). It drives me nuts, but they're probably the most comfortable pair I've owned. They've never been stupidly expensive, and I use them daily. They're the kind that surround the ear, and while you can use them as noise-canceling, they still work without the batteries (I've never turned them on). I wear glasses, but the cushioning doesn't bother me at all. So much more comfortable than my Bose in a similar style.

wahnfrieden Wrote:Audio-Technica ATH-A700 headphones.

I use the open versions, the ATH-AD700. Sound leak isn't a real issue, it's pretty quiet in here and I like being able to pick up ambient noise since I listen at a low volume. Best headphones I've ever owned, though, I love the things. So long as you can stand the fabulous purple grill.

Still struggling to find some convenient solution to swapping between headphones and speakers without either plugging them into my (cheap) speakers or digging all the way behind the pc to input directly into a card.

I upgraded from a pair of ATH-AD500s to the ATH-A900, which can be had for about 13k on kakaku.com. The closed phones keep out external distractions better, and have more oomph on the lower frequencies.

For outside use, I use the ATH-CK7 canalphones, which are a nice balance of audio quality and portability.

wahnfrieden Wrote:Audio-Technica ATH-A700 headphones.

Same phones I use as well.

ninetimes Wrote:Still struggling to find some convenient solution to swapping between headphones and speakers without either plugging them into my (cheap) speakers or digging all the way behind the pc to input directly into a card.

I'm having the same issue. gets annoying when I need to plug in my speakers to let my roomate listen to something.

Oh damn it all. Audio Technica. That's who makes those headphones I wanted ages ago. Blast. I'll get them next time.

If you're up to the wireless in-ear experience, go for Sony HBH-IS800. Good sound, 3h+ lasting (incl. standby function), light weight, good looking, stable, comfortable, fair price (~60€), timeless design, only ones that look like a normal in-ear. Good isolation against outer noises. Good for music, great for making calls, perfect on the bike.
A must for doing something while listening!

nest0r Wrote:Grado Labs, Inc.!

Represent! sr80is all the way!

lernsky Wrote:If you're up to the wireless in-ear experience, go for Sony HBH-IS800. Good sound, 3h+ lasting (incl. standby function), light weight, good looking, stable, comfortable, fair price (~60€), timeless design, only ones that look like a normal in-ear. Good isolation against outer noises. Good for music, great for making calls, perfect on the bike.
A must for doing something while listening!

cool, might just get this. Awesome for multitasking

Astro A30 <3

travis Wrote:I have a pair of Sennheiser HD 555 headphones. One of the reasons I got them was they're supposed to be comfortable, and they're right. I wear them all day at work and they never bother me. A lot of the cheaper ones press down on the top of my ears and get really painful after an hour or so.

I had the PX100 previously, they were OK, but same problem as the previous poster, cable just wore out and lost sound on the one channel.

Seconding. Sennheiser 555 = best bang for buck EVER

Skullcandy HESH over-ear headphones. Ok quality for the price ($35 - I'm cheap!) But the designs only really apply to emo/goth/hipster high school college students which is fine if you fit that demographic. I don't but I just wear them around the house so I don't care. They are decently comfortable though which is nice and come with an inline iPod pause button/mic thing which is kinda cool i guess.

Been using my AKG K701 (white) for well over a year now, and love them. They are probably the perfect headphones for me. I also have a pair of Beyerdynamic DT990 Pros, which I like for movies (great deep bass), and then I have a pair of Alessandro MS2s (basically, a Grado-325, modified), I've lent them on a semi-permanent loan to my roommate though.