Earphones / Headphones: Where to try, what to buy?

For outdoor everday listening I dont think anything beats good old Koss porta pros.

Cheap, open detailed sound. An overwhelming amount of bass capability that can be eq'd out to your taste. But the sound is all there, with big punchy dynamics and yet the ability to create open detailed top end. I love them. Perhaps the greatest thing is that they very much suit small mp3 players and phones, they create excellent sound where "better" stuff would require a fancy amp or high quality player to drive them.

I just have them plugged into my sansaclip and its like I am in a band rehearsal room when listening to guitar bands. Proper thuds to kick drum and bass guitar, I actually EQ it down a fair bit.

Cheers guys, i'm taking notes! I'll see what I can buy online too.

is there any place to try b4 you buy in c. london?

I'll second Porta Pros, and they're a nice retro design. My only criticism would be that they're not overly durable.

On a similar tack does anyone have any experience of Sony MDR-EX58V or MEElectronics M9P?
Or indeed any other cheap but durable in ears? I've been using veho 360s which I find great for the money but they keep failing at the plug pretty quickly.

Needed some headphone advice. Know naff all to be honest!

Doing a lot more training indoors and my headphones don't cut it.

My needs
Good quality.
Noise cancelling. - Super important.
Wireless - wires have proved dangerous.
Not too expensive, but £150 or less okay.

Ive seen two offerings, but don't really understand. Bluetooth would be good, as my phone and laptop would then connect.

http://en-uk.sennheiser.com/wireless-bluetooth-headset-headphone-smart-mobile-phone-stereo-mm-500-x

But how does this one work, it doesn't have bluetooth, so how is it wireless? Is it via the transmitter? That seems a bit naff, as I don't want a big transmitter dragged around just to use the headphones, but maybe I miss understand?
http://en-uk.sennheiser.com/wireless-headphones-home-audio-rs-170

You've got the trifecta of "expensive" headphones: good quality, noise cancelling, wireless.

You're basically left with this: Sennheiser MM450-X Travel Wireless Bluetooth Headset: Amazon.co.uk: Electronics

But it's outside of your budget.

Of the three requirements, which one is least important?

Bear in mind, you've said noise-cancelling is super important and you want good quality, but if you're working out I wouldn't imagine you're listening to the finesse of the music reproduction.

Ive seen two offerings, but don't really understand. Bluetooth would be good, as my phone and laptop would then connect.

http://en-uk.sennheiser.com/wireless-bluetooth-headset-headphone-smart-mobile-phone-stereo-mm-500-x

But how does this one work, it doesn't have bluetooth, so how is it wireless? Is it via the transmitter? That seems a bit naff, as I don't want a big transmitter dragged around just to use the headphones, but maybe I miss understand?
http://en-uk.sennheiser.com/wireless-headphones-home-audio-rs-170

If they have a base station, they tend to use their own radio signal which isn't bluetooth. This gives them a great bandwidth and a more stable and stronger signal over a greater range. Bluetooth wouldn't be so good if you had a large house, and they imagine the US market and want to be sure that the range is good.

Thanks.

Thanks for coming to help!!

Yes let's forgo good quality. I want to hear decent music, as I'll also use them for lounging around and listening to music. Or if I'm out of the house and want peace and quiet. So I feel bluetooth would be better. So maybe not super quality, but fair qulaity.

I could forgo noise canceling, but I need something that's going to drown out the hum of 2 fans, rollers and a headwind unit. Mine do this, but only with the volume way up, and that's going to hurt my ears.

So I guess...
Bluetooth - Unless you feel bluetooth is naff, but this would give portability. Unless I can use a cable with 'transmitter' ones, then I might go transmitter and cable if out and about.
Fair quality - I still want to hear music without being bombarded by Dre beats base.
Noise cancelling - They need to remove the hum of workout equipment, so I'm distracted.

bose do noise cancelling
but again pricey

this is one of those conundrums like buying bike parts

you have three choices

price
weight
strength

you can usually have 2/3 but if you want 3/3 it's $£$£$£$£$£$£$£$£$£

Noise-cancelling messes with the sound. Can you actually have a noise-cancelling pair of phones that are good quality in the audio department? I thought they were basically mutex.

I'd suggest you don't need noise cancelling, instead go for closed back.

Headphones that cover the ears come in open back or closed back.

Open back: Let air through, creates a more spacious sound, leaks noise and lets noise in.

Closed back: No air gets in and out, creates a tight and punchy sound that can eventually be a little tiring (many hours), does not leak noise, and lets very little external noise in.

If you drop the noise cancelling and go for closed backs, you suddenly get good quality headphones at a reasonable price. I'm not so knowledgeable on the wireless front though... so perhaps someone else can step in.

there's a headphone guide in either the inde / the grunaid / the telegraph today but they state the dr dre's are good so i would take their opinions with a pinch of salt

http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/gadgets-and-tech/features/the-10-best-headphones-8762247.html

So I forgo noise cancelling. And if they're no good at drowning the hum I return them.
Or I go with current option of wearing my earplugs and then the headphone with the volume way up!

So it's bluetooth headphones and closed back. Okay cool thanks!

bose do noise cancelling
but again pricey

this is one of those conundrums like buying bike parts

you have three choices

price
weight
strength

you can usually have 2/3 but if you want 3/3 it's $£$£$£$£$£$£$£$£$£
then it gets stolen [still sore/]

LOL^.

These seem the best shot then. Going around the ear and being closed. If they don't cancel then I'll have to save up. Good price and from a good retailer. Free returns too.
No harm in trying.
http://www.johnlewis.com/sennheiser-mm-500-x-wireless-full-size-stereo-headphones-black-b-grade-stock/p523221

need something that's going to drown out the hum of 2 fans, rollers and a headwind unit

Listen to mainstream radio until you've got a haunting melody, then put on one of these -

These seem to match your criteria Denon Wireless Noise Cancelling On-Ear Headphones: Amazon.co.uk: Electronics
No idea what they're like though.

I have some of the Sennheiser Bluetooth, Noise cancelling ones (an older model). They're very good for cancelling out noises like fans. I use them for listening to podcasts whilst on the rowing machine.

You won't get amazing quality through Bluetooth (unless you've got an Apt-X source) compared to wired but it's not really noticeable just for working out.
[url="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Cancelling-Headphones-Compatible-BlackBerry-Bluetooth/dp/B008MUXWJQ/ref=sr_1_1?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1376589682&sr=1-1&keywords=noise+cancelling+bluetooth"][/url]

Got some MM450s off ebay for £110.
Just what I wanted. They're sweet.

Thanks guys.

Tried some bose qc15. Do want, no £ to splash.
Any suggestions for over ear, noise cancelling of a similar quality?

senneiser mm500/mm550?

Or get some bose off ebay in good condition.

Sony do a cheaper version..

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Sony-MDR-E818LP-HEADPHONE-IN-EAR-TRADITIONAL-BLACKIN-MDRE818LP-CE7-/230765281850?pt=UK_AudioVisualElectronics_HomeAudioHiFi_Headphones&hash=item35baaec23a#ht_1022wt_1163

Hm, they look better than the horrible fontopia ones which are all plastic and just don't stay in my ears.
I'll give them a try I think.

Verdict - they're good enough.
The foam pads are cheap and nasty, but functional.

and they almost lasted a year - not too bad for £6 I guess.

If you want a great set of cans for a bargain price then grab yourself some of these http://www.gradolabs.com/ . I'd recommend the SR80's !! I went into Harrods (which is one of the only places in London that actually stocks them) with the intention of getting the SR325's but the 80's sounds just as good for every day use. They're an absolute bargain, not sound cancelling though. If you want good sound qual though sound cancelling is not the way you need to go. Beats by dre (studio) for that, even though everyones grandma and their cat have them. I very reluctantly put mine on each time but have had mine 6 years from the first day they came out, and the £350 i paid for them (student loan went to good use) was well worth it, still going strong and look like new !!!

Also, with some "modification" to your helmet the SR80's fit under ;-), and because they're not sound cancelling you can hear road traffic. Winner winner chicken dinner !!

Need moar bass.