Need Some New Headphones. Any suggestions?

[monkey man]

They're uncomfortable as Hell, even with replacement foam, but my fave for a natural, zero-hyped frequency balance is the Sennie HD 25-1 (70Ω).

A tech from the importer told me that the plastic headband varies in its rigidity from set to set, so I may well have simply copped a stiffie. On the plus side, minimal regular use has flattened my ears to my head. The pain had to be worth something, I s'pose.

[Luke]

Just wanted to take this opportunity and thank each of you for sharing your wisdom on the headphones. I went with the Sony 7506's and I am happy with the result. Solved many a issue I was having. Would've like the extra comfort of the 880's but Sony's low cost along with multiple endorsements here for the 7506's sold me.

[monkey man]

That's great Luke, well done man! Your thread has inspired me to save for something comfortable... one day.

Sorry for the belated congrats. Been AWOL for a while (again).

[mhschmieder]

Of course, you're going to have a challenge, finding cans that fit over THOSE ears.

[monkey man]

Says the man who freely admits to playing in an alien band called Moonlife and having been "conceived on Venus and born on Mars, which he still considers his true home". Further, this man admits to knowing "Nada. Nichevo."

... and you imply I've got big ears? Well, you've a good point. My ad hominem attack has gained me nada. Nichevo.

Oh yeah, speaking of the '80s thing, Mark, have you heard Duran Duran's new album? I've only sampled the odd needle-drop, but it sure sounds more like the classic Rio-type stuff to me. Ripper! It worried me when they went all industrial-like. After all their strengths were in those arrangements, rhythms and melodies... and Nick's sounds.

[mhschmieder]

Yep, awesome album, and it takes the bad taste out of my mouth from the previous failed experiment (they admit this themselves) where they collaborated with Justin Timberlake and Timbaland. My heavy metal drummer housemate even saw DD live with his bandmates and acknowledged they're one of the most exciting bands out there on stage.

Back to headphones, Audio-Technica has a new anniversary edition of the ATH-M50's in silver finish. These have become everyone's favourite closed-back cans in the studio during tracking, ghost tracking, overdubs, etc. More successful in a hard rock context than the Beyerdynamic DT770-PRO's, due to greater mid-range presence and clarity.

[monkey man]

Agreed on the DD thing, Mark. They're coming here in March so I'm going to see if I can see them; it's been 29 years since I last attended one of their concerts and got mobbed 'cause at 16 I looked like Simon. Bizarre experience, but at least I got to spend some time with them backstage.

Even back them, the sound itself was exciting and they seemed to give 100% to the performance; a good value overall.

[mhschmieder]

So how does one go from looking like Simon Le Bon to looking like Monkey Le Bon Bon?

[monkey man]

That's easy, Mark - 20 years of gear hassles and troubleshooting sans any fun.

Seriously. Even the last year has been ridiculous, from 6-month product & repair waits to chemical-laden "pure" water from Nobels (best in Aus, never happened in 25 years but trust me to discover it), and now 8 trips to and 11 thorough store sweeps of the local optometrist (30 years in business) to find the only frames they had that suited. They lost them, even though I pleaded with them to write the code down ('cause of my service history). No catalogue to look at. Owner refuses to use internet. It's up to me to somehow organise a pair. Meanwhile they've my first set of contacts and paraphernalia in 30 years sitting there awaiting my purchase. This one, as has often been the case, has done my head in... further.

So, to sum up: An SLB can easily morph into an SOB if subjected to extreme tolerance testing over a significant period of time.