Latest/Best/Smart/ Portable Headphones Price For 2011
To create this list, I examined some of the most comprehensive headphone reviews available online. I also scouted Hi-Fi forums for recommend...
https://iskablogs.blogspot.com/2011/04/latestbestsmart-portable-headphones.html
To create this list, I examined some of the most comprehensive headphone reviews available online. I also scouted Hi-Fi forums for recommendations, and I tested many portable headphones myself.
My top review sources for this article were: CNET, Consumer Reports, PC Magazine, Good Cans, Good Gear Guide, Amazon reviewers, Mac World, Trusted Reviews, and Headphones.Com.
Here is my round-up for the best portable headphones for 2011.
Portapro Headphone By Koss ($32)
Pros:
* Great sound for the price
* Folding design
Cons:
* Some may not like the retro design
* Your hair can get caught in headband
Top Review Sources:
* CNET: 4 out of 5 stars, which they consider “Excellent” & received Editor’s Choice Of 2008
* Amazon Reviewers: an average of 4.5 out of 5 stars from 832 reviewers
For the last 27 years, the Koss Portapro has been a top pick as an inexpensive portable headphone. Basically, the excellent sound quality and price of the Portapro are the keys to its staying power. Koss hasn’t change the inner and outer design of Portapro since it was introduced in 1984.
The Koss Portapro is available from Amazon. Many reviewers also recommend the $13 Koss KSC75 which has a “sport clip” design — something that many prefer to the heftier Portapro.
Sennheiser HD238 Headphone ($49)
Pros:
* Excellent sound
* Comfortable
* Great value for money
Cons:
* May leak too much sound for commuters
* Some may not like the emphasis on bass
Top Review Sources:
* Headphone.Com: “Astonishingly Good”
* Amazon Reviews: An average of 4 out of 5 stars from 56 reviews
Sennheiser HD238 is a great all-round portable headphone for under $50. It’s robustly built, and features earpieces that fold down for compact storage. As you can expect from Sennheiser, the sound quality is above-average for a portable headphone at this price level.
If you’d like a closed-style headphone by Sennheiser that doesn’t leak sound, try the very similar HD218.
iGrado Headphone ($49)
Pros:
* Excellent sound quality
* Comfortable, behind-the-neck style
Cons:
* May leak too much sound for commuting
* The plastic construction looks a bit cheap
Top Review Sources:
* What Hi-Fi? Magazine: 5 out of 5 stars
* Macworld: 4 out of 5
* Consumer Reports Rating: 51 out of 100 “Good”
* Amazon Reviews: An average of 4 out of 5 stars from 70 reviewers
The iGrado is the first portable headphone being offered by the legendary Grado company. The iGrado has the same driver as the larger Grado SR60i (a top rated headphone but not portable). Reviewers say the sound of the iGrado is very similar to the 60i, but because the iGrado drivers are positioned closer to the ears, some of the soundstage is eliminated, making the sound a bit thinner. But overall, you can expect stellar sound from this portable package.
Ultrasone HFI-580 Headphone ($189)
Pros:
* Closed headphones (they leak no sound)
* Very good bass reproduction
* Solid construction
Cons:
* Bass might be overpowering for some listeners
* Mid-range sound could be clearer
Top Review Sources:
* PC Magazine: 4 out of 5 stars
* What Hi Fi? Magazine: 4 out of 5 stars
* CNET: 3.5 out of 5 stars, which is considered “Very Good”
* Amazon Reviewers: an average of 4 out of 5 stars from 11 reviewers
If you are looking for a pair of portable headphones that won’t disturb your fellow travelers, you might consider the Ultrasone HFI-580. Unlike many close-style headphones, the HFI-580 performs very well connected to portable players like the iPod. The headphones have Ultrasone’s patented S-Logic technology, which attempts to make the sound seem like it’s coming from much further away. It makes for an incredibly open and clear sonic presentation.
Bowers & Wilkins P5 Headphone ($299)
Pros:
* Rich, balanced sound
* Excellent build quality and very durable
* Very comfortable
Cons:
* Pricey
Top Review Sources:
* Consumer Reports: 80 out of 100 (Highest In Portable Category)
* CNET: 4 out of 5 stars, which they consider “Excellent”
* Amazon Reviewers: an average of 4.5 out of 5 stars from 42 reviewers
* Trusted Review: 9 out of 10 stars (their 2010 “Best Headphone Gear” Runner Up)
Bowers & Wilkins is a legendary name in British Hi-Fi. Recently, they have been trying to appeal to a more mainstream audience. Their P5 Headphone is made for iPod or MP3 player listening, and provide above-average sound reproduction. These headphones block out a lot of external noise, but they contain no active noise-cancellation circuitry. The P5s feature a detachable cord with an integrated volume control that will work with some iPods and iPhones.
Many reviewers note that these headphones are extremely comfortable. They have sheep leather ear pads, which are soft, but they may become sticky in hot weather.
My top review sources for this article were: CNET, Consumer Reports, PC Magazine, Good Cans, Good Gear Guide, Amazon reviewers, Mac World, Trusted Reviews, and Headphones.Com.
Here is my round-up for the best portable headphones for 2011.
Portapro Headphone By Koss ($32)
Pros:
* Great sound for the price
* Folding design
Cons:
* Some may not like the retro design
* Your hair can get caught in headband
Top Review Sources:
* CNET: 4 out of 5 stars, which they consider “Excellent” & received Editor’s Choice Of 2008
* Amazon Reviewers: an average of 4.5 out of 5 stars from 832 reviewers
For the last 27 years, the Koss Portapro has been a top pick as an inexpensive portable headphone. Basically, the excellent sound quality and price of the Portapro are the keys to its staying power. Koss hasn’t change the inner and outer design of Portapro since it was introduced in 1984.
The Koss Portapro is available from Amazon. Many reviewers also recommend the $13 Koss KSC75 which has a “sport clip” design — something that many prefer to the heftier Portapro.
Sennheiser HD238 Headphone ($49)
Pros:
* Excellent sound
* Comfortable
* Great value for money
Cons:
* May leak too much sound for commuters
* Some may not like the emphasis on bass
Top Review Sources:
* Headphone.Com: “Astonishingly Good”
* Amazon Reviews: An average of 4 out of 5 stars from 56 reviews
Sennheiser HD238 is a great all-round portable headphone for under $50. It’s robustly built, and features earpieces that fold down for compact storage. As you can expect from Sennheiser, the sound quality is above-average for a portable headphone at this price level.
If you’d like a closed-style headphone by Sennheiser that doesn’t leak sound, try the very similar HD218.
iGrado Headphone ($49)
Pros:
* Excellent sound quality
* Comfortable, behind-the-neck style
Cons:
* May leak too much sound for commuting
* The plastic construction looks a bit cheap
Top Review Sources:
* What Hi-Fi? Magazine: 5 out of 5 stars
* Macworld: 4 out of 5
* Consumer Reports Rating: 51 out of 100 “Good”
* Amazon Reviews: An average of 4 out of 5 stars from 70 reviewers
The iGrado is the first portable headphone being offered by the legendary Grado company. The iGrado has the same driver as the larger Grado SR60i (a top rated headphone but not portable). Reviewers say the sound of the iGrado is very similar to the 60i, but because the iGrado drivers are positioned closer to the ears, some of the soundstage is eliminated, making the sound a bit thinner. But overall, you can expect stellar sound from this portable package.
Ultrasone HFI-580 Headphone ($189)
Pros:
* Closed headphones (they leak no sound)
* Very good bass reproduction
* Solid construction
Cons:
* Bass might be overpowering for some listeners
* Mid-range sound could be clearer
Top Review Sources:
* PC Magazine: 4 out of 5 stars
* What Hi Fi? Magazine: 4 out of 5 stars
* CNET: 3.5 out of 5 stars, which is considered “Very Good”
* Amazon Reviewers: an average of 4 out of 5 stars from 11 reviewers
If you are looking for a pair of portable headphones that won’t disturb your fellow travelers, you might consider the Ultrasone HFI-580. Unlike many close-style headphones, the HFI-580 performs very well connected to portable players like the iPod. The headphones have Ultrasone’s patented S-Logic technology, which attempts to make the sound seem like it’s coming from much further away. It makes for an incredibly open and clear sonic presentation.
Bowers & Wilkins P5 Headphone ($299)
Pros:
* Rich, balanced sound
* Excellent build quality and very durable
* Very comfortable
Cons:
* Pricey
Top Review Sources:
* Consumer Reports: 80 out of 100 (Highest In Portable Category)
* CNET: 4 out of 5 stars, which they consider “Excellent”
* Amazon Reviewers: an average of 4.5 out of 5 stars from 42 reviewers
* Trusted Review: 9 out of 10 stars (their 2010 “Best Headphone Gear” Runner Up)
Bowers & Wilkins is a legendary name in British Hi-Fi. Recently, they have been trying to appeal to a more mainstream audience. Their P5 Headphone is made for iPod or MP3 player listening, and provide above-average sound reproduction. These headphones block out a lot of external noise, but they contain no active noise-cancellation circuitry. The P5s feature a detachable cord with an integrated volume control that will work with some iPods and iPhones.
Many reviewers note that these headphones are extremely comfortable. They have sheep leather ear pads, which are soft, but they may become sticky in hot weather.
