Listening In: Three Headphones

Written by / Boing Boing

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    • NewImage
    Audeze LCD3 ($1945):
    Yes, that’s right. These cans are $2k. The ear cups are made of Zebra Wood. They have a LOTUS diaphragm that “uses a special alloy for conductive traces, giving us greater control and lower distortion”.  I don’t know what that means, but they sound sublime. Sadly, I don’t have a pair, but whenever I visit Boing Boing publisher Jason Weisberger’s house on Muir Beach, I listen to his. While sitting in his Le Corbusier chaise lounge. Overlooking the Pacific Ocean. And life is good.

     

     

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    Boing Boing is a pioneering blog that offers an eclectic blend of of tech culture, gadgets, entertainment, business, and more — a “geek’s eye view” on the world. Original feature reporting from some of the most-respected technology writers today and original Boing Boing Video episodes have made Boing Boing an Internet mainstay. As co-editor of Boing Boing, David Pescovitz is a collector of online anomalies, esoterica, and curiosities. He is also a research director at Institute for the Future.

    Xeni Jardin is an editor of Boing Boing and a tech culture journalist whose intergalactic adventures are chronicled online, on radio, in print, and on television.Rob Beschizza lives in Pittsburgh, where he writes about technology, video games, puppies and injustice. He is the managing editor of Boing Boing, where such combinations remain in high demand.

    David Pescovitz
    David Pescovitz
    As co-editor of Boing Boing, David Pescovitz is a collector of online anomalies, esoterica, and curiosities. He is also a research director at Institute for the Future.

    Read More From David Pescovitz
    5 of 18 Articles:
    • PeterK

      Beats over Grados?

      • Jason

        Yeah, I can’t abide by that call either. I carry B+W P5s on the plane, Westone’s for earbuds (can’t recall the model) and the LCD-3s are the go to home can. The HD-650s however are never far away and the HD-580s still see playtime.

      • mmdc0669

        The Grados stand head over shoulders over the Beats. Long-term high quality reputation over ‘hip-hop’ branding.

    • http://www.facebook.com/mithris94 Nate Gann

      Beats are terrible headphones, if you look up the wave patterns you see tat you can actually get better sound out of 20-30$ headphones

      • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=578474458 Andrew Morrow

        What a delightfully pseudo-scientific comment! I never cease to take joy in watching audiophilic elitists spout hate. Me? Denon D7000′s with an AMB M3/S11 amp that I made myself. Sounds good to ME. I couldn’t begin to give a crap if it sounds good to anyone else, and won’t begrudge anyone the poor “wave patterns” of whatever sounds good to them.

        • brian

          That’s not pseudo science. That’s an actual fact. Objectively, they do measure quite horribly. 30 hz and below, the response is something akin to dropping a rock off a cliff. The square waves are indeed, all over the place…much like Michael J. Fox trying to draw a box. Subjectively, to each their own, but the 3 people I have let listen to my Denon D2000′s have all said that they blow their Beats Studios and Solos away.

          • http://www.brotivational.com/ El Tejon

            Some very solid analogies. Points to you sir. And as I mentioned above, beats aren’t worth the money.

    • http://devin.gotdns.com/ devcoder

      Sony MDR-V6 over all, any sound card will do. Sub $100 headphones that are _actually used_ in studios because of their quality. Also they last 30 years.

      Kinda hard to beat.

      • corradodave

        Yup. I have a pair that I got over 20 years ago and they still sound great. When I needed a second pair a few years ago I bought another set.

        For something smaller, I really like the Sennheiser PXC150s

        Another excellent set of cans is the Grado SR60. Some people find them uncomfortable, but if they fit your head well, they’re an incredible bargain. My GF has a pair which she loves, and I agree, they sound wonderful. Plus, made in the USA.

    • Synerdata.Net Radio

      I have never experienced anything as good as my Sony MDR-605 open air
      headset, which in running a radio station, I wear daily for extended periods.

    • Jennie Lucas

      AKG. Preferred cans of the late great Jeff Porcaro. Even the low-end models make me feel like I’m in the recording studio.

    • Toby

      “chaise lounge” !

    • DKHolliday

      Wow, nothing like a site that promotes junk and has no clue over what is a real set of good audio headphones

    • Arbitrary_One

      How about the AKG Q701? The have a very open and detailed sound signature. I use them at home a lot!

    • http://www.brotivational.com/ El Tejon

      Beats are a total waste of money. Ya, they’re nice headphones but you can get something just as nice for half the price. You’re just paying for the brand.