Looking for a low-mid budget headphones 2017

[Yots]

Hi. I'm interesting in buying a pair of over-ear headphones, though I lack knowledge on what's worth buying. For the headphones, I'm most concerned about sound quality, looks, comfort and a wireless feature.

I also have a question - would a pair of over-ear headphones last a few years? I currently have apple earpods and they seem to die on me every few months, I'd hope that an expensive headphone set wouldn't do the same.

I'd be willing to spend $150 at maximum, but I would prefer something closer to $100 if possible.

Thanks!

 

[True Buie]

Heyo Yots

Fist of all. If you buy a a pair of good headphones, they'll last you several years, well of course not if you smack them around, but you get the drill. Although, spending more on a pair of headphones doesn't mean they're that amount better than another one.
At this price point wireless is a bit of a luxury if you want to get great sound quality as well.

Something like the Phillips SHP9500's might be something to look at.
https/www.amazon.co.uk/Philips-SHP9500-00-Headphone/dp/B00ENMK1DW/ref=sr_1_cc_1?s=aps&ie=UTF8&qid=1506948236&sr=1-1-catcorr&keywords=shp9500
They're a open-back design headphone, which means you'll have much better audio positioning. Basically you'll feel like you're in the middle of the music. This also mean that everyone around will be able to hear it.

If that doesn't float your boat, maybe the Audio Technica ATH-M40X could be something.
https/www.amazon.co.uk/Audio-Technica-ATH-M40X-Professional-Headphones-Black/dp/B00HVLUR54/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1506948225&sr=8-1&keywords=m40x
On the other spectrum there's closed backs, which these are. As the name says they're closed and people around won't be able to hear your music. This doen't mean that the audio positioning goes away competently, but there an immediate difference.
I'd probably plop some HM5 pads on these, since I find the stock pads to feel like "soft rocks".
https/www.amazon.co.uk/Brainwavz-Replacement-Memory-Foam-Earpads-Black/dp/B00MFDT894/ref=sr_1_cc_4?s=aps&ie=UTF8&qid=1506948281&sr=1-4-catcorr&keywords=hm5

Maybe the Sennheiser HD558's will float your boat.
https/www.amazon.co.uk/Sennheiser-HD-558-Around-Ear-Headphones-Black/dp/B004FEEY9A/ref=sr_1_1?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1506948397&sr=1-1&keywords=hd+558
Great pair of headphones, which again are open-backs. I personally prefer open-backs, although this is up to the individual person to decide.

If you could stretch the budget a tad, then Beyerdynamic have some awesome headphones. Their DT770 and DT990 are great for that price. They're Closed(DT770) and Open-backs(DT990). Again it's up to you if these will be worth it and what kinda of back you'd like to get.

DT770
https/www.amazon.co.uk/beyerdynamic-770-PRO-Studio-Headphones/dp/B0016MNAAI/ref=sr_1_1?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1506948579&sr=1-1&keywords=dt770

DT990
https/www.amazon.co.uk/Beyerdynamic-DT990-PRO-Headphones-250/dp/B0011UB9CQ/ref=sr_1_1?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1506948594&sr=1-1&keywords=dt990

Just for giggles, maybe a pair of KZ ZS5 IEM's could be something. They're cheap and NOT over-ear, but certainly have some great sound for that price point.
https/www.amazon.co.uk/earphones-Yinyoo-headphone-Replacement-microphone-Grey-no/dp/B073Q199VP/ref=sr_1_2?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1506948345&sr=1-2&keywords=kz+zs5

Hope this helped.
Cheers

 

[Yots]

Hi, thanks for responding.

I'm more interested in headphones that fit around the ears than those that go on top of the ear, and I don't think open headphones would work for me since I require noise isolation to a degree.

Do you have any more suggestions that you can bring up which are closed, wireless, around-ear and have good sound quality for the $100-150 budget? (Not sure if I'm asking for too much with that budget or not )

Thanks again.

 

[Yots]

Would these be any good actually, or is there something equal/better that I can get for cheaper?

http/www.electricshop.com/mobile/bose-soundlink-around-ear-wireless-headphones-ii-in-black?utm_source=Froogle&utm_medium=Froogle&utm_campaign=Froogle_Feed&gclid=CjwKCAjwmefOBRBJEiwAf7DstC4cC01Vlu-Pu2C--4NqHdDrOPqRcqaV8cNudFXANhDxwHrny335ZhoCO9wQAvD_BwE

Or this one?

http/en-uk.sennheiser.com/wireless-headphones-bluetooth-hd-4-40-bt

 

[Maelstrom_1]

I think your biggest issue is this:
"I'm most concerned about sound quality, looks, comfort and a wireless feature."
There is no way you will get all 4 of these for $150. You'll probably need to make compromises (probably giving up on the last one), or pay a decent bit more.
My recommendation is for Grado sr80s, but those only really satisfy the first requirement there.

 

[Yots]

Hi Maelstrom_1, I had a look at the Grado sr80s and noticed that they are on-ear (I'm looking for around-ear) and open backed, neither of which are to my liking. Thanks for the suggestion and reality check though, I hadn't realised that a pair of good wireless headphones required so much more money. If I may ask two questions: Do you have any other suggestions that would be optimal for comfort and sound quality for music and films? Were any of the headphones I linked earlier any good, despite also having the wireless feature?

By the way, I've recently been looking at the ATH-M50 since it's got stellar reviews, but I'm sort of hesitant since I've heard that it's actually for professionals and doesn't have the kind of sound many other headphones have for making music sound more exciting. I normally use my headphones exclusively for music and films, so would this be a problem or is it actually a good thing that it's accurate and not modified?

Thanks again.

 

[Maelstrom_1]

I'll be honest here. I'm not an expert. I can only talk about headphones I've listened to in person, and that's not too many.
As for musical accuracy, I found an article today that is probably exactly what you want:
https/www.theverge.com/2016/1/27/10840614/beats-by-dre-headphones-bass
It talks about how headphones that recreate accurate music can just be boring sometimes because they don't emphasize the parts that humans find pleasing. It's up to you, though. Someone compared a pair of accurate headphones to a year-long subscription to vegetables. It's certainly good for you, but it's not something everyone will like. I certainly do, but I can't say the same about you.