recommendations for closed phones

[diebenkorn]

I am looking for recommendations for a closed can. Requirements are isolates well, comfortable enough, light, can take a beating, sounds decent, under 200 pref under 100 bucks. My main phones are 580's and ksc-35's if that helps. Thanks for your help.

[guzziguy]

Panasonic RP-HTX7. They cost <$50, sound pretty darn good and meet your other requirements.

[aardvark baguette]

Isolates completely and built like a brick shithouse.

[n_maher]

Senn HD201 for the cheapest, sound pretty decent too

Senn HD280pro / AKG K81 DJ / Equation Audio RP21 for the mid-level

I haven't heard anything above that price level.

[en480c4]

The HD201s do sound pretty damn good for the money, but I didn't feel they isolated particularly well.

I've been fairly happy with my K81 DJs. I use them on bus trips when coaching, and often at track meets before or after the vault is done. Neither situation is particularly quiet, and while they don't isolate as well as IEMs, they do quite well. I should also note that I did swap out the Senn velour pads on the K81s to great effect... Redued bass a bit, resulting in a far more balanced phone at the expense of a bit of isolation.

[GPH]

Are you ruling out IEMs? Etymotic ER4S, when properly amped, sounds better to my ears than all the closed phones I've heard, and that includes Denon D5000. It also provides much better isolation, perhaps too much in certain situations. Closed phones have a weird resonance that makes the bass somewhat boomy and I'm really not a fan of that type of sound.

[diebenkorn]

Are you ruling out IEMs? Etymotic ER4S, when properly amped, sounds better to my ears than all the closed phones I've heard, and that includes Denon D5000. It also provides much better isolation, perhaps too much in certain situations. Closed phones have a weird resonance that makes the bass somewhat boomy and I'm really not a fan of that type of sound.

Never got comfortable with them and might be too much isolation but headroom has them so will keep them in mind. Also not going to use an amp for these. I will check into the other suggestions as well, even the rotary phone though i prefer this http://www.boygeniusreport.com/wp-content/uploads/image/cell-phone-booth.jpg

[aardvark baguette]

that one fails the light requirement though

[n_maher]

that one fails the light requirement though

No way, it's made of aluminium.

[aardvark baguette]

heh

[The Pieman]

Always found the K81DJ a bit of a head clamp. They sound OK. I have HD25-1s which I use now for travel, commuting and the like. Sound good, can definitely take a beating and much more comfortable than K81s. Do cost a fair bit more though, just sneak under 200. Quite usable unamped.

Simon.

[wrecked_porsche]

Is the Amazon sale still on? You could buy teh DT770 cheap. That could probably take a hell of a beating.

[Dusty Chalk]

DT770

Koss Pro 4AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAFONZIEAAAAAAAAAAA

(Haven't heard the Koss for myself, but can speak for the DT770 -- tanks.)