Recommended headphones for under £50

[keiths]

Another vote for the Porta Pros from me. I've got 3 pairs.

[Techno Commander]

Another vote for Portapros. Then spend an extra tenner fitting them with Sennheiser PX200 cushioned pads

[Spur07]

Another vote for Portapros. Then spend an extra tenner fitting them with Sennheiser PX200 cushioned pads

Another vote for Portapros.

Andy, what kind of benefits do you get with those Senn pads, and is it a simple job?

Paul

[Techno Commander]

The pads are a simple fit. Just remove the original foam ones and replace with the cushioned pads. They are a tight fit and a little perseverence is required, but no modifications are needed.

Improvements - mich more comfortable, as with the standard pads, you feel the plastic from the cans against the side of your head. The additional padding stops this. It also makes the sound seem more open as the cans arent pressed to tight against your ears. Finally, the top end is a bit clearer, as the sound isnt restricted by traveling through the foam.



I got mine here.

[DSJR]

I thought the PX100's were too bassy and dull, but when my wife complained that the wire round the plug was going intermittant, I got some good used ones on fleabay. Now, the original pair were bought as "service replacements," and looking at the two pairs I can now see that the first pair were fakes - very good fakes, but lacking the finish and fine details of the second pair. The "official" pair sound slightly better too as one would expect and they are great for portables and basically smooth with no nasties..

[Spur07]

The pads are a simple fit. Just remove the original foam ones and replace with the cushioned pads. They are a tight fit and a little perseverence is required, but no modifications are needed.

Improvements - mich more comfortable, as with the standard pads, you feel the plastic from the cans against the side of your head. The additional padding stops this. It also makes the sound seem more open as the cans arent pressed to tight against your ears. Finally, the top end is a bit clearer, as the sound isnt restricted by traveling through the foam.



I got mine here.

Will do. Thanks.

Paul

[monstermoo]

Just coming back to this thread, any opinions on the Sennheiser HD238?

I have read some reviews saying that the PX100-II can be a bit boomy (and bright) sounding - which concerns me a bit...

Anyone here listened to both?

[Beechwoods]

I thought the PX100's were too bassy and dull, but when my wife complained that the wire round the plug was going intermittant, I got some good used ones on fleabay. Now, the original pair were bought as "service replacements," and looking at the two pairs I can now see that the first pair were fakes - very good fakes, but lacking the finish and fine details of the second pair. The "official" pair sound slightly better too as one would expect and they are great for portables and basically smooth with no nasties..

I've just replaced a pair of Sennheiser CX400II's in-ear 'phones that I bought on eBay... and they were fakes too... like you describe, they look very similar, but compared with a pair I bought a couple of years ago in HMV they weren't as well finished, and sound quality wise they were rougher; annoyingly so.

So do watch out for knock-off eBay Sennheisers that are priced too cheap to be true.

I've now got a pair of Jays Q-Jays... twice the price the OP is looking to pay, but absolutely worth it. Fantastic in-ear headphones.

http://www.jays.se/products/earphones/q-jays.html