Open vs Closed Headphones (What's right for me?) - Overclock.net

Dezixn · 08-15-07

Probably my last audio question

These are general questions, just need to know what is right for me heh.

I understand the differences between them, but have never tried either

I want open, but part of the reason i'm getting headphones is so no one will yell at me to turn it down.
I keep my volume at a moderate level normally.

What i'm wondering is how much sound does it really let out? I wouldn't be disturbing someone sitting 10 ft away or so would I? I would guess they might hear some of it, but not much at all and not enough to remotely bother someone.

The other thing is how much sound does it let in? Our main TV is about 7 or 8 feet to my left. It's always at a moderate volume level... So i'm wondering would that disturb me enough to warrant closed headphones?

Oh BTW I think i decided on the headphones i am going to get

****
I'm pretty much set now on what i'm going to get. Audio Technica ATH-AD500 HeadPhones, the X-FI ExtremeMusic from Frys and a Zalman Clip on Mic!

aaronman · 08-15-07

It's actually the A500 not the AD500. I believe the AD500 is an open air headphone.

They let in enough sound to bug you if someone in the room is talking but I don't think it lets out enough to bother someone else. Just like if you were wearing regular on-ear cheap headphones that come with crappy CD players... it's about that much sound leakage.

DJ.BigBear · 08-15-07

yes, A500 is sealed and AD500 is air.

we've been hearing about good things about senns and audio technica. now it's time for the downside

1 thing i don't like about sennheisers, they don't produce low bass(ie:grumbling sound) so well...
and 1 thing about audio technica... they produce a very bright hi freq sound... not very good for some ppl (especially when combined with x-fi, since x-fi is well known to produce very bright sound).

so decide on your own now, which one u like better

oo yeah... air headphones are very comfortable, but sealed headphones give more db.

about the disturbance of the excess sound from air headphones, relax, nothing will be heard from 5 feet distance or more (without tearing your eardrums first

)

**Chipp** · 08-15-07

http://www.headphone.com/products/b-stock/
Scroll down a bit, B-Stock HD555's for $89.

I've ordered my A500's, they should be here in the next few days. I'll be sure to give impressions of them.

DJ.BigBear · 08-15-07

i've just ordered myself another A900

..... i broke mine(in half

)... totally forgot when i was about to sit on my chair

Dezixn · 08-15-07

Quote:

Originally Posted by aaronman

It's actually the A500 not the AD500. I believe the AD500 is an open air headphone.

They let in enough sound to bug you if someone in the room is talking but I don't think it lets out enough to bother someone else. Just like if you were wearing regular on-ear cheap headphones that come with crappy CD players... it's about that much sound leakage.

I was planning on getting the open ones; the AD500. Although i didn't know there was a closed version! That wasn't listed on audio technica's site. Thx!

Now I'm starting to get a hold on this open air stuff. Just like regular headphones... about. I'm fine with that

Quote:

Originally Posted by DJ.BigBear

yes, A500 is sealed and AD500 is air.

we've been hearing about good things about senns and audio technica. now it's time for the downside

1 thing i don't like about sennheisers, they don't produce low bass(ie:grumbling sound) so well...
and 1 thing about audio technica... they produce a very bright hi freq sound... not very good for some ppl (especially when combined with x-fi, since x-fi is well known to produce very bright sound).

so decide on your own now, which one u like better

oo yeah... air headphones are very comfortable, but sealed headphones give more db.

about the disturbance of the excess sound from air headphones, relax, nothing will be heard from 5 feet distance or more (without tearing your eardrums first

)

I guess everything has it's flaws. I'd rather have bass heh, and the AD500's are more in my budget.
I am getting an X-FI ExtremeMusic with this; a recent decision of mine, since it is $77 shipped from Fry's, so hopefully that won't cause much trouble. I'm sure i will hardly notice. I'm not a audiophile, yet

I don't require much db

That last paragraph was the answer i was hoping for, sweet.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chipp

http://www.headphone.com/products/b-stock/
Scroll down a bit, B-Stock HD555's for $89.

I've ordered my A500's, they should be here in the next few days. I'll be sure to give impressions of them.

Newegg used to be cheaper with their PAYPAL20 code, but i think the price range for these audio technica's have hit my sweet spot.

Quote:

Originally Posted by DJ.BigBear

i've just ordered myself another A900

..... i broke mine(in half

)... totally forgot when i was about to sit on my chair

Failure

adam144 · 08-15-07

I have open headphones and they seriously are like mini speakers. It may be just the volume I listen to mine at but I know if i leave my door open I can hear music playing from the other room which is about ~15 feet away

Doesn't bothere me though cos I have the PC in my room and I'm pretty much theo nly one in here a lot of the time.

Namrac · 08-15-07

Quote:

Originally Posted by DJ.BigBear

yes, A500 is sealed and AD500 is air.

we've been hearing about good things about senns and audio technica. now it's time for the downside

1 thing i don't like about sennheisers, they don't produce low bass(ie:grumbling sound) so well...
and 1 thing about audio technica... they produce a very bright hi freq sound... not very good for some ppl (especially when combined with x-fi, since x-fi is well known to produce very bright sound).

so decide on your own now, which one u like better

oo yeah... air headphones are very comfortable, but sealed headphones give more db.

about the disturbance of the excess sound from air headphones, relax, nothing will be heard from 5 feet distance or more (without tearing your eardrums first

)

My HD555's bass extension is just fine... it's not muddy or overbearing, but it's certainly present. That's mostly opinion.

Open air headphones tend to have a "clearer" sound, while closed headphones tend to be more bassy.

Dezixn · 08-15-07

Sweet.

Last thing i guess. What do you guys think of the zalman clip on mic, I've seen that suggested here a few times, and i'm going to need a mic.

This is going to be my gaming set up as well as my music set up.

Namrac · 08-15-07

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dezixn

Sweet.

Last thing i guess. What do you guys think of the zalman clip on mic, I've seen that suggested here a few times, and i'm going to need a mic.

This is going to be my gaming set up as well as my music set up.

The Zalman clip-on is hella cheap and works fine.

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Open vs Closed Headphones (What's right for me?)

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