Which headphones? Beats, Sennheiser, other?

CheapskateQueen on 26/12/2015 - 09:38

Hey guys,

You have now become my default for advice. =)

Thinking about getting a pair of headphones. Because of all the specials / deals / coupons it's the perfect time.

I can get the Beats Studio 2.0 for a net of about $150 or the Sennheiser Urbanite XL Wireless Headphones for net $120

I know Beats has a bad rep for being over-rated for the price, but not sure if at $150 for a RRP $350-400 it actually makes it the smart option? I don't know much about the Urbanite XL but I know Sennheiser has a great rep.

Which should I go for?

Alternatively, make another suggestion. Max I'm looking to spend is $150 NET - which means if there's deals available for a store which means it's purchase price of $300 but I can OzBargain it down to $150 that would be awesome!

Thanks =)

Electrical & Electronics

Comments

  • goblues on 26/12/2015 - 09:42

    I have a Beats wireless ear phones. I connect it to the iPhone. I also have an iWatch that I can connect it to.

    The sound quality is pretty good, but if I am walking and I have my iPhone in my jeans pocket there can sometimes be lag and it can get frustrating. I am pretty tall at 190 cms but still its Bluetooth and it should have a larger range. When I am sitting on a train and have the iPhone out of my pocket its perfect.

    I would have thought for $250 I paid for it I wouldn't have these issues. I havent tried the Sennheiser yet so someone else can give you a review.

    • [Deactivated] on 26/12/2015 - 10:36
      +2

      Buys beats, iphones and iwatches.

      You can already tell this guy knows what he's talking about. troll face
      Imagine if you put your money into companies who know how to produce good products.

      • Diji1 on 26/12/2015 - 16:09
        +7

        We can already tell you have enormous difficulty exercising control over yourself when certain brands are bought up in discussion.

        You then start accusing people of acting like they are in a cult, brainwashed etc. when you are the one having the obsessive compulsive behaviour as you defend any attack on your favourite brands like a brainwashed cult member.

        I can only suppose you don't own any of the brands that @goblues mentioned so you really have no idea what your talking about. Not that this stops the obsessive cult like behaviour your displaying of course.

        • goblues on 28/12/2015 - 11:47

          Thanks mate

      • goblues on 28/12/2015 - 11:46
        +1

        I know your only trolling which is coo, however I buy all types of technology. I also have a Samsung Galaxy S6 edge, HTC One, and going to buy a Lumia 950xl. I have a Mac, and I just bought a Surface Pro. I have an Xbone and a PS4.

        I am not loyal to any certain brand or getting sucked into any sorts of hype. I just like various and different types of gadgets and technologies without pretending to be an expert and advanced in any of them. In any case have fun with whatever device you love.

    • Randxyz123 on 26/12/2015 - 13:40
      +2

      I also have an iWatch that I can connect it to.

      What is a iWatch?

      • goblues on 28/12/2015 - 11:47

        Apple Watch***

  • Cooties on 26/12/2015 - 10:36
    +4

    I'd go with Sennheiser any day over beats - in fact I did, bought the Urbanite XL wireless (still waiting on delivery) https://www.ozbargain.com.au/node/227148

    Will crush anything beats puts out

    • Diji1 on 26/12/2015 - 16:10
      +2

      Seems a tad presumptive.

  • [Deactivated] on 26/12/2015 - 10:38
    +5

    Don't buy beats. Go into a specialist audio store like StoreDJ if you want to test stuff out.

    I recently bought the Audio Technica M50x for $160. It has a few negatives but the bass on it is excellent. FPS games are so much more enjoyable to play and doof doof music sounds great on it.
    At that price point go for an Audio Technica or Sennheiser pair of cans.

  • Rashed on 26/12/2015 - 11:19

    Bowers and Wilkins.. Even their P3 sound fantastic.

  • PurpleHippo on 26/12/2015 - 11:32

    Not Beats. Go for the AT M50x.

  • Tech5 on 26/12/2015 - 12:12
    +2

    Depends what you want it for.

    M50x or ATH 700/900x are good choices for at home use.

    Definitely not beats. They cost as low as $14 to make

  • iridiumstem on 26/12/2015 - 16:39

    I think you'd be better off telling us what kind of music you listen to, what kind of sound you like etc etc.
    Asking for an advice for new headphone in my opinion is like asking for a place to go out to, without giving us any information about what you like, people would be stabbing in the dark giving you a very generic answers that people tend to like (which you might hate even).

    From what you've written, I assume you are looking for a full sized closed headphone that you want to use outside (not sure about the wireless bit, since one of them seems to be a wireless headphone and one seems to be not). I also assume you don't listen to classic or jazz? The headphones you've listed probably wouldn't do well with jazz or classic because they do have emphasises on the bass side (with good reasons, them being headphones designed for outdoor usage and all).

    I personally thought current gen Beats products have gotten better, at least Solo2 was alright (not to my taste, but was alright). Even if I ignore the fact that the cost price argument on headphones are generally stupid (HD600 for example is a 20 years old model with plastics for most parts, the cost price of the parts don't usually take up a large proportion on the cost of manufacturing a headphone), the $14 cost comments that Beats bring was based on a teardown, which I believe was, of a fake one. I personally think the current gen Beats products are at least worth a try, you'd be better off trying them before crossing them off your candidate list.

    My advice is give all the ones you could give a go a try. Your ears would probably be a better judge of how much you'd enjoy a headphone than random strangers from online. ATH-M50X often gets a praise from everyone, so it'd be nice if you could give them a try. If you are planning on using them indoors, I've heard nothing but praises for Fidelio X1 and X2 (though I think they were tad bit heavy and they were overpriced in Australia I believe).

    • CheapskateQueen on 28/12/2015 - 22:12

      thanks for such a long thought out reply.

      I'm definitely going to go to a store and try a few different ones out. My music taste is very varied - I don't discriminate, equal opportunity for all! haha I listen to pop, r&b, hop-hop (from the 90s at least), soft rock, dance, house, random bands. I like a good vocal as well.

      I have a feeling I'll get the Sennheiser or ATH-M50X because I've been hearing good things about both for a while now.

      • iridiumstem on 28/12/2015 - 22:35

        Try Momentum 2.0 (Over ear) as well, I've heard good things about them.

        I cannot really comment on that area other than listing the generic answers I've seen, simply because I've decided that the outdoor headphone for commuting for me overlaps too much with other options I have with me (budget earphones for noisy areas and indoor headphones for the rest). That said, I've heard people praising noise cancelling headphones and BOSE ones, I believe, were the best noise cancelling one when some website did some tests on them. So try them out as well?

        Good luck with your search :)

  • Vertigo6 on 26/12/2015 - 21:58

    Where can you get Beats Studio 2s for $150?

    • CheapskateQueen on 28/12/2015 - 22:08

      I can't get it for $150 outright, but it'd be my net cost after applying multiple levels of deals

      Dickies have them for $298 atm.

      I have Woolworths Gift Cards that I paid (after averaging it out) 70% for (Big W conversions). Woolworths also has a 10% bonus on dick smith gift cards atm which I can buy with my mate's 5% off discount card and Im also eligible for the TRS on dick smith so i'll get another 10% back in Jan. So basically anything I buy at Dicksmith in the next few days is about 45% off!

  • zerocritical on 27/12/2015 - 07:37

    Save some $$ and buy xiaomi hybrid dual drivers. Pretty good for the price.

  • sellingoutsoon on 27/12/2015 - 09:19

    Beats by Dr Dre? In case you missed it, you might be interested to consider this story

  • Odin on 27/12/2015 - 15:36

    This may sound a bit silly, but as a pair of cheap earbuds I have never wanted anything more than the Panasonic RP-HJE125. They sell for about $10 and are by far and away the most comfortable earphones I've ever used. At home I've got a pair of Sennheiser headphones, but i'm often finding myself just grabbing the panasonics instead.

  • conan2000 on 27/12/2015 - 22:35

    Beats are a waste of money. Can spend $400 and get cans that sound worse than something else at 25% of the price. Unless all you want to hear is bass. Sennheiser will be the best quality you can get if you're looking to spend in the range you mentioned.

    I have some xiaomi for everyday use as I don't like over ear when I'm out an about and I don't want to spend a lot on something I'd probably lose. Good quality for under $20 but won't match Sennheisers. I won a set of Bose headphones, they are okay quality, definitely wouldn't pay the price they sell for though.

    Have hard good things about Audio Technica as well but never tested them myself.

  • CheapskateQueen on 28/12/2015 - 22:00

    (Just went camping for 3 days hence the delay)

    I'm primarily interested in using them for music while out / train to & from work / travel etc

    I have Plantronic Backbeat Fit for exercise and they're really great. I probably don't really need another pair, but I've always wanted an excellent pair of headphones and I can grab a good deal with all the sales atm and so I'll probably buy myself a xmas present. Plus I'll be training it to work from next year and I don't really want to wear the Backbeats constantly.

    I listen to a variety of music - r&b, pop, dance, hip-hop, soft rock etc These days my taste is very varied.

    I'm well aware that Beats are over-rated and over-priced but i thought since I'd be getting it for $150, it may be good but I was always leaning towards the Sennheiser. As for how cheap the parts are, I get it, but the same principle applies to most our clothes and most our possessions. Companies import clothes from China for $2 a shirt, stitch a logo on it, and sell it for $60.

    Thanks for the feedback tho guys, can always count on OB! Will check out a store tomorrow and keep an eye out for the Sennheiser and Audio Technicias

    • ChillBro on 28/12/2015 - 22:15

      Since the two headphones you mentioned in your OP are both wireless, you're looking for a wireless one, correct?

      If so, I'd recommend checking out the Plantronics Backbeat Pro. You can get it for $200 AUD delivered from Amazon. Slightly over your budget but it has stellar reviews. As you have the Backbeat Fit, you probably know of their quality.

      Sennheiser's Momentum Wireless are quite good as well but they're damn pricey at $600. As you mentioned, the Urbanite XL wireless is a cheaper option with the cashback promotion but I find them a bit bassy.

      If you don't need wireless then the other recommendations in this thread are applicable.

  • username1 on 30/12/2015 - 23:55
    -2

    I've owned these:
    PSB M4U-1
    Audio Technica ATH-M50
    Beats solo HD
    Beats Solo 2

    The top two are supposed to be the best for the price and "way better than beats, bla bla bla", but in my opinion I reckon the Beats Solo 2 have sounded the best out of all of them.

    A lot of the expensive headphones that all people try to say are way better than beats might not sound that great for you depending on what you're looking for.

    Best thing to do is to try them all out in store.

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