Anyone here own Sennheiser HD485 headphones?

Ramius

I'm looking to get a good pair of headphones. They don't need to be great, because they will mainly be used at work, using the crappy on-board sound of my corporate computer. But an iPod might be in the future, and I might find other uses for them if they are good enough, so I want something respectable, but definitely as far sub-$100 that I can go while maintaining respectability.

They do need to be comfortable enough to wear for 3-5 hours at a time. They would preferably block most external noise like the people chatting in cubicles or on the phone nearby, but would still allow enough sound in that I might notice when someone just outside my cubicle or the next cubicle over is talking to me.

So, having done a bit of research, I've decided on the Sennheiser HD485's. Can anyone speak for or against this particular model?

EggyToast

HD485s would sound good, but they won't block much external noise. Most open-back headphones allow for external noise to come in pretty clearly, but that allows for the best bass response and clarity, as well as being much more comfortable compared to closed-back earphones (studio earphones).

I have a pair of HD590s that I've used at work for the past 3-4 years, and they still sound awesome. But if I'm listening to music, and people in the cube next to me are talking, I can hear them (can't understand them, of course). They do reduce the general "ambient" noise, like computer fans and AC, but talking isn't changed much. however, even noise-canceling headphones do a poor job of covering talking, compared to ambient noise, due to how varied speech and other incidental noise is.

So it will probably do what you're looking for, as far as the noise control. I can definitely hear people talking to me directly without having to turn my music down. These type of open earphones are definitely the most comfortable to wear for long periods of time -- I often have mine on for 3-4 hours at a run. Circumaural just means they sit on your head, not on your ears (they go around your ears), so they're a bit large. But that means your ears sweat less too.

The other thing is that you should look at the HD555 and other models on eBay. You can get refurbs and other new-in-box Sennheiser headphones for much cheaper on eBay. HD595s have an MSRP of 299, sell in stores for around $200, but sell on eBay for about $150-$170. The HD485 go for between 60-80, so you may be able to get a nicer pair and still be within your budget.

saggio

Well, it looks like these particular Sennheisers are open - that means they ought to be quite comfortable, but there's going to be sound going both in and out. They will cut some sound around you - about as good as any other cheaper headphone, because really, when you are listening to music and the receptors are right near your ear, it is bound to happen.

If you want headphones that actually cut down on external noise quite a bit, you'll want to go with the Sennheiser HD 280 Pro. They are closed headphones, and they include noise cancelling tech. Especially great if you do a lot of flying or a lot of listening in otherwise noisy environments.

Given the fact that you still want to be able to hear people around you, I'd suggest the headphones I use - the HD 650's. They are open, like the 485s, but they are amazingly comfortable, and they have the absolutely best quality of sound I could ever want. As long as I don't crank the sound too high, I will generally be able to hear things outside the headphones that I am listening for - the phone at the other side of the house, for example.

Regardless of what you choose, I'd just like to congratulate you on getting some primo cans. I'm a recent convert myself, and let me tell you: you'll never want to listen to anything again through the generally shitty headphones that come with iPods or other music players. Goodluck.

Khavall

I've got two HD280s, one for my day job and one pair for recording, and I must say they are perfect. I have mine on for the entire day and they're wonderful.

The only problem is that you will be completely isolated with them. People have to get my attention to talk to me at work or when recording, because I just can't hear them at all.

Ramius

t Khavall: Yeah, this is what I'm hoping to avoid. I don't want to be completely isolated, which is why I opted for the open design.

t saggio: I've been led to believe that the 32 Ohm impedence of the HD485 will work better (unamplified) with soundcards and portable music devices than something like the 300 Ohms of the HD 650s. Not to mention, those are way outside my price range. Something like the HD-555 could be recommended to me, I suppose, but I really don't see that it would gain me much for the extra money spent, considering I'm not looking for really great headphones, I just want "better than decent" ones.

bent

I've currently got a pair of the HD-497's and they're really nice, only downside is that the cable is very long.

EggyToast

Ramius wrote: »

Something like the HD-555 could be recommended to me, I suppose, but I really don't see that it would gain me much for the extra money spent, considering I'm not looking for really great headphones, I just want "better than decent" ones.

Generally the nicer headphones have slightly better clarity and better bass extension, but how much you can perceive depends a lot on where you're listening. My workplace is pretty quiet, so I could hear the difference between my older pair of HD535s and my newer HD590s. I use them plugged into an iPod, and occasionally into a computer soundcard.

I think for the price you can't go wrong with the 495s and you will probably be happy with them for years. When they eventually die, or you're looking for a newer/cleaner pair, if you get a nicer pair you'll probably notice the difference more than you would anyway. I got a friend of mine to get a nice pair of headphones by letting him borrow my old HD535s for a month after his broke, and towards the end of it he went back on his old headphones for 2-3 days. He said "I didn't think there was that much difference when I was using them, but I went back to my old ones and it was amazing how bad everything sounded!"

Pheezer

I have a pair of 457s, they tend to get kind of warm on the ears kind of quickly because they're that massive earmuff style. They're also a little heavy on the bass side and don't have the cleanest mids.

I also picked up a pair of PX-100s for wearing around outside the home and they quickly became my favorite of the two. They've got brilliantly tight mids and clean highs, and while the bass isn't skull vibrating, it's appropriate for use with my iPod.

If you're not going to use a headphone amp, I'd almost push you towards their portable designs. They're versatile, and they accomplish wonders for their size. Not to mention that they're very sturdy. If you're absolutely certain that the portability isn't a concern and you're sure your sound card will power them adequately (as it seems it should) then yeah, the 485s will be good. But really, see if you can't listen to a few pairs before you buy something, and keep an open mind towards a simple headphone amp, they can be very, very affordable and make cool DIY projects, too. Even if your soundcard is adequate, a well designed and constructed amp will still improve on what you've got.