Click to view our Accessibility Statement or contact us with accessibility-related questions
Showing 1 of 8 conversations about:
bravomail
125
Nov 17, 2017
bookmark_border
common opinion is - Bose is good but should cost 3 times less.
Nov 17, 2017
Heefty
1387
Nov 17, 2017
bookmark_border
bravomailIndeed, that I think is what earns them the ire of people who care how their audio gear sounds. You can get better sounding gear for far less money. I'm pretty sure that's the reason for the hate.
Nov 17, 2017
SpiritOne
719
Nov 17, 2017
bookmark_border
bravomailWhile I understand the sentiment..... you have to be realistic as nothing is bought at MSRP anymore.
For example the Sound Sport in ear headphones I just bought with an MSRP of $100 and routinely found for $50.... is worth ~$35 or less. (according to your assessment). Maybe that is true but it's not a major difference at $15.
Nov 17, 2017
SpiritOne
719
Nov 17, 2017
bookmark_border
HeeftyYeah, but you have to understand Bose is still an above average product and readily available. It beats the other offerings at your local department store.
As someone who has more watches than I should.... I can say I'm able to look at a watch and determine this is better than that. However, I can't do the same with headphones nor can the average person. So for the non Audiophile community it's hard to determine how to rate these products, much less which is better. Bose brings the name brand that Joe Blow equates with quality. Bose takes advantage of that and marks there prices up. However, if you take your time you'll still find sales on it.
That said the brands the rest of you prefer are nearly unheard of and lack a retail presence.
So, when it comes to buying a better product at less...... I have to ask how? Especially, if you aren't aware options exist.
Bose isn't necessarily to blame as the other Brands need to up their game and get their product out there.... perhaps Ads and a celebrity spokesman..... not to mention informative ads on how to rank audio gear?
Just my thoughts on the matter.
Nov 17, 2017
Jisheng
257
Keyboard Club Member
Nov 18, 2017
bookmark_border
SpiritOne"That said the brands the rest of you prefer are nearly unheard of and lack a retail presence."
Sennheiser and Audio-Technica are becoming just as mainstream as Bose. Sure they aren't stocked in stores like Walmarts and Targets but you'll most likely find them in major electronic stores like Best Buy, Fry's Electronics, Microcenter, etc. Best Buy Magnolia tend to have their mid-fi to hi-fi Sennheiser headphones available for testing while the Fry's I've gone to had their entry level headphones like the HD579 and the PXC550 on display.
Second, you said it yourself that you'd rather have a pleasant sounding headphone and to many people, Bose doesn't offer a pleasant sound to them. Quite like beauty, sound quality is to the ears of the beholder. If you think it's good enough for the price, then just use it and ignore people who say that it sucks. I mean, audiophiles have been quarrelling about whether or not the Sennheiser 650/6xx has a "veil" which has been proven and disproven every other day. Even Zeos started to say that there are no bad headphones, just headphones that don't fit his sound signature.
Also, @JimenezOmar , apparently the Beats had a complete redesign for the second gen headphones and are actually pretty good headphones now.
Nov 18, 2017
JimenezOmar
26
Nov 22, 2017
bookmark_border
JishengI too have seen my local Best Buy stocked with some pretty nice Sennheiser's, B&O's and Audio Technica headphones. I haven't looked into the newer Beats, I guess I got used to them being so lacking I haven't even bothered to keep up. I'll definitely look into it.
Nov 22, 2017
JimenezOmar
26
Nov 22, 2017
bookmark_border
SpiritOneI'm a big watch person myself so I understand what you're getting at. I like to notice detail in craftsmanship and have my favorite brand name watches. When I wear a new Tag most people say they can't see any difference between that and a cheap watch from Walmart. But some can.
The same thing with headphones. An average person may not be able to hear the difference between a pair of cans but an audiophile, musician, sound engineer, or anyone with a trained ear will hear the difference. And they want the best pair possible. Bose are good but not better than the more high end headphones by Sennheiser, Audio Technica, Beyerdynamic, etc. Bose are indeed above average on a scale but the aforementioned headphones would be at the top of that scale.
And honestly they don't need up their game when it comes to advertising because that's not the game they're playing. They're not aiming for the average consumers. They're on a different level altogether. Like Tesla cars, the money goes into the product not the marketing.
Nov 22, 2017
SpiritOne
719
Nov 22, 2017
bookmark_border
JimenezOmarI agree up until the upping the game part.
If you're into watches, then we both know sales are dropping and revenue is down for watch brands. Furthermore, microbrands are killing them on the low end of the WIS crowd (would Monoprice be a comparable company?).
All this comes down to, your average person doesn't know what Automatic means, what a Chrono is, and have never heard of companies like Glycine (which got bought by Invicta, sob), Tissot, etc.
Not to mention competition results in everyone upping their game.
Consider Apple for a second......... Why was Steve Jobs so successful? He put time into "selling" the package. That's it. He understood what it took to get it done. If Bill Gates had as well, then Apple might not be more than a has been. Bose is Apple and they do some things very well (like noise canceling and putting together a decent package).
These other more premium guys, need to explain why their product is better. Because ultimately, people will respond. Now, I admit some of them may simply be like those at a wine tasting claiming to taste cherry oak w/ a mix of the rainforest in their wine all over smooth fine filtered whatnot (drugs or they don't) but over time there sales will go up.
I don't know just my thoughts on the matter.
~At the moment I'm actually looking for wireless over the ear headphones mostly for Classical music. If you know a decent product ~sub $100 I'm all *ears ;-). Just considering expanding outside of Bose products and seeing what else is out there.
Nov 22, 2017
JimenezOmar
26
Nov 22, 2017
bookmark_border
SpiritOneTrue, competition does require everyone to up their game. But try think of it like this, Cartier watches aren't exactly trying to compete with Apple watches. Someone watching Dwayne Johnson promote the new Apple watch on their TV isn't gonna turn to someone wearing a Santos 100 and say "Hey man the people who make your watch really need to up their game, no one even knows who they are". They're two different products for two different consumers. So the way they market them obviously isn't going to be the same as the marketing for the cheaper product with fancy commercials or endorsements. They don't need that.
That's what I meant to say. Of course they're always going to try to up their game, improve the product and get it into more people's hands. They're just not gonna use the same methods as Bose or Beats.
Nov 22, 2017
Jisheng
257
Keyboard Club Member
Nov 22, 2017
bookmark_border
SpiritOneMonoprice has had this headphone called the Monoprice 8323 which was pretty much regarded as the best under $30 pair of headphones you could buy that were over-ear. They recently came out with a Bluetooth version of the 8323 here: https://www.monoprice.com/product?p_id=24735
Word of warning, these are fairly uncomfortable in my opinion although some people swear by them. I'd recommend buying some Brainwavz HM5 pads(on sale on Amazon currently for $13 a pair with varying colors) to replace the stock pads and maybe a headband cover of sorts. They have pretty significant clamp as well but that just means more passive noise cancellation.
Nov 22, 2017
SpiritOne
719
Nov 22, 2017
bookmark_border
JishengWhat do you think about buying the AKG m220's on sale here and using some sort of cheapo bluetooth adaptor from Amazon?
Edit: I want them to wrap over my ear.
Nov 22, 2017
Jisheng
257
Keyboard Club Member
Nov 22, 2017
bookmark_border
SpiritOneThat leads me to my other questions. Why are you looking for a Bluetooth headphone? No headphone jack on your phone or did it break? Or are you looking for a Bluetooth headphone for convenience? If it's for convenience, using a Bluetooth adapter like the Mpow or Fiio BTR1 means that it won't be any different than connecting it straight to your source except with the added trouble of Bluetooth. You'll still have the extra long cable trailing down into your pockets. You also won't be able to find short replacement cables because AKG uses proprietary 3 pin cables.
I will say that the Bluetooth adapters are great though. I used one about a year ago since my audio port died on me and I was happy with it until I got my DAP. You can't go wrong with one if you absolutely need it. AKG M220 is semi-open so you'll hear what's going on around you to a slight degree and others will hear what you're listening to as well.
Nov 22, 2017
SpiritOne
719
Nov 22, 2017
bookmark_border
JishengI have a Samsung S7. I use the Bose Soundsport w/ the inline mic when I'm outside.
But at home, I have a HP Spectre Laptop I use primarily. I'd like to be able to walk away from it and still listen to music and whatnot. I listen to lectures, rock music, and classical music. So, at home I don't need my noise canceling headphones as much.
Nov 22, 2017
Jisheng
257
Keyboard Club Member
Nov 22, 2017
bookmark_border
SpiritOnePhillips SHP9500s is an entry level open back headphone that'll be perfect for you. It has a 3.5 detachable cable that you can replace with one of the Mpow Bluetooth adapters that come with a 3.5 male to 3.5 male metal cable that you can just leave on the headphones.
SHP9500s for $48: https://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16826138190 Mpow Receiver with metal jack for $16: https://www.amazon.com/Mpow-Bluetooth-Receiver-Streambot-Hands-Free/dp/B01M1DIZ43/ref=dp_ob_title_ce
I linked a cheaper version of the bluetooth receiver since there's an updated version that's a transmitter and receiver with longer battery life but you'll be fine with this version I believe.
Here's a video with the SHP9500s with the receiver attached: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hay6yixijKY
Nov 22, 2017
SpiritOne
719
Nov 22, 2017
bookmark_border
JishengThanks pal, I'll look into it.
Nov 22, 2017
SpiritOne
719
Nov 24, 2017
bookmark_border
JishengOkay, I bought it. Actually, learned a few things here.....
Like impedance and why the AKG m220's need more power. Soundstage was interesting.
Anyhow, looking forward to receiving it. Thanks for your time pal.
Lol, for a non-audiophile... I have a lot of headphones at the moment :D
Nov 24, 2017
View Full Discussion
Related Posts
Trending Posts in Audiophile