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Headphones for Hackers

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Re: Headphones for Hackers

#121

Post by eropple »

mey wrote: post #18
math_is_life wrote: post #8

I am shocked that the Sony MDR-V6 cans are so low on the list. Those headphones are legendary and there is still none that can top them in the price range (got mine for $65 on Amazon). Sennheiser is great, but I cannot put the 280 over the V6 after having both, and this is coming from a bass head.

I have multiple MDR-V600's. Great combination of easy to find, cheap(ish), doesn't require a pre-amp, and good sound. Edit: Oh and they are comfortable. Which for long listening is essential to me.

I still use the V300's; I've had them since middle school and they're still ridiculously comfortable. The pleather's started to fray, but a new pair is only like $40.

Re: Headphones for Hackers

#122

Post by msutherl »

sciurus wrote: post #111
jamwt wrote: post #96

I've listened to Grados, various Sennheiser, etc.. and they're all fine. Good even. But there's just one thing I don't get about the "headphone scene". I've done various things as a musician over the last 15 years, and the cans you see EVERYWHERE are the Sony MDR-7506. Period. If it is good enough to mix and master, if it is good enough to monitor professional vocalists in the studio, it is good enough for you! These…

I've been happy with my Sony MDR-V6, which I think are almost identical the the MDR-7506. $100 on headphones seems pricey if you're used to earbuds, but these sound great, travel well, and should last forever. Wikipedia on the MDR-V6, MDR-V600, MDR-7506, MDR-7509HD, and MDR-CD900ST: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sony_MDR-V6

The only difference is the magnet in the drivers as far as sound is concerned, but more importantly the 7506 has a 'pro' very long coiled cable while the V6 has a shorter, straight cable.

From what I understand, the V600 is not in the same league, but you should check that at Head-Fi.

Re: Headphones for Hackers

#123

Post by sciurus »

jellicle wrote: post #91

This is a bit of a spammy article but I'll throw in my two cents: I want a set of very durable earbuds with microphone. VERY DURABLE. I want the Toughbook of earbuds. I want the cord to look like an orange outdoor extension cord, as thick as my thumb. For some reason earbuds which get stuffed in my bag are always damaged within days, the wires are simply too flimsy. (Yes, I know everyone else has developed elaborate…

Can you dedicate a compartment of your bad to the headphones? My Koss KSC75 have pretty flimsy cords, but I shove them in a small zipped pocket of my bag and they're fine.

Re: Headphones for Hackers

#124

Post by falcolas »

ColinDabritz wrote: post #116

What about headsets (with an integrated microphone)? Do many hackers (in startups or elsewhere) not need a mic? My use case is usually gaming but use cases like remote collaboration, calling people with a VOIP solution, recording voice for use as sound assets all seem like they would be common enough use cases. Do most of us prefer separate solutions like a webcam integrated or desktop mic? If not, what headsets are…

Based off what I've seen, the best solution seems to be to pick up the headphones you want, then get one of these:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00029MTMQ/

Re: Headphones for Hackers

#125

Post by jpitz »

jamwt wrote: post #96

I've listened to Grados, various Sennheiser, etc.. and they're all fine. Good even. But there's just one thing I don't get about the "headphone scene". I've done various things as a musician over the last 15 years, and the cans you see EVERYWHERE are the Sony MDR-7506. Period. If it is good enough to mix and master, if it is good enough to monitor professional vocalists in the studio, it is good enough for you! These…

I came here to say just this. I've had similar experiences, and have loaned my 7506's out to sound engineers on the road when their cans broke. As pro audio gear, they're also designed to be repairable. Having spent a few dollars on replacement ear pads, I have a pair of 7506's that have lasted 10 years.

Re: Headphones for Hackers

#126

Post by BadassFractal »

The use of headphones implies I'm listening to something while working, which most of the cases is actually very disruptive to me. I like my $1 earplugs which allow me to work and learn in perfect quiet and focus on the task at hand.

Re: Headphones for Hackers

#127

Post by sciurus »

msutherl wrote: post #122
sciurus wrote: post #111

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I've been happy with my Sony MDR-V6, which I think are almost identical the the MDR-7506. $100 on headphones seems pricey if you're used to earbuds, but these sound great, travel well, and should last forever. Wikipedia on the MDR-V6, MDR-V600, MDR-7506, MDR-7509HD, and MDR-CD900ST: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sony_MDR-V6

The only difference is the magnet in the drivers as far as sound is concerned, but more importantly the 7506 has a 'pro' very long coiled cable while the V6 has a shorter, straight cable. From what I understand, the V600 is not in the same league, but you should check that at Head-Fi.

My V6 has a coiled cable; it looks like the one pictured at http://media.headphone.com/productphotos/large/0020550006_52...

Re: Headphones for Hackers

#128

Post by [deleted] »

jamwt wrote: post #96

I've listened to Grados, various Sennheiser, etc.. and they're all fine. Good even. But there's just one thing I don't get about the "headphone scene". I've done various things as a musician over the last 15 years, and the cans you see EVERYWHERE are the Sony MDR-7506. Period. If it is good enough to mix and master, if it is good enough to monitor professional vocalists in the studio, it is good enough for you! These…

[deleted]

Re: Headphones for Hackers

#129

Post by DanBC »

fourk wrote: post #104
getsat wrote: post #59

Sennheiser HD 595s or Audio Technica 900s (if open air is an option).

Please don't actually buy HD 595s. The audio driver is exactly the same as the one contained within the HD 555s, the only difference besides the price tag and model label is that they just stick an (easily removable) sound dampener inside the 555s. Buy some HD 555s and mod them, you'll save yourself some money on a pair of fantastic cans. More details on the modification process can be found here: http://mikebeaucham…

Do they test the drivers and put the better ones in the more expensive headphones? Or do they just make two different headphones using the exact same driver?

Re: Headphones for Hackers

#130

Post by j-kidd »

> Surprisingly, almost no one wears their headphones all the time while coding.

The author should try reading Peopleware. Here's an excerpt from Chapter "Bring Back the Door":

"In response to worker's gripes about noise, you can either treat the symptom or treat the cause. Treating the cause mean choosing isolation in the form of noise barriers -- walls and doors -- and these cost money. Treating the symptom is much cheaper. When you install Muzak or some other form of pink noise, the disruptive noise is drowned out at small expense. You can save even more money by ignoring the problem altogether so that people have to resort to tape recorders and earphones to protect themselves from the noise. If you take either of these approaches, you should expect to incur an invisible penalty in one aspect of worker's performance: They will be less creative."

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