Ear Pad Headphones
This category contains headphones that have earcups that do not completely encircle the ear, and are typically fairly small in size. This type of headphone is more properly called a "supra-aural" (on top of the ear) headphone, but we don't like using the word as we have to explain it every darn time. People buy this type of headphone because they want something ergonomic, lightweight and potentially easy to stuff into a backpack or briefcase. This is a huge category of headphones; here you'll find cans ranging from $20 to $700. These headphones are typically 'open' designs since many don't enclose the ear canal well enough to fully shut out external noise. But there are also some excellent sealed-design headphones within this supra-aural "earpad" category as well. We will discuss both!
Ear Pad Headphones Between $39-$59
The category of low-cost, very small and/or folding earpad headphones has been really heating up the past few years and a number of the bigger manufacturers have joined in with the traditional offerings from stalwart Koss. The old-standby from Koss Porta Pro is a dependable little can and we've steadily recommended it for years. It continues to be perhaps the best-sounding of the bunch that follows … by a VERY slim margin. The Sennheiser PX100 is not quite as well-extended at the extremes of the audio spectrum, but easily wins the ergonomics/comfort/looks race against the Koss hands down. At an also nicely inexpensive pricepoint, AKG offers the K-414p model. The low-priced AKG K414P wasn't quite as detailed in the highs as the excellent PX100, or the slightly larger bargain-priced Sennheiser HD202, but it might be a valid consideration for many listeners looking for solid ambient noise-blocking ability. The AKG K 414P delivers a bit bigger kick in the bass than any of any of the above 'phones, and in a nicely full-sounding way; Its a great rock/hip-hop/funk/modern produced music sort of headphone! And the fact that it's a closed-cup design makes it all the better for a useful inexpensive pair of 'noise-blocking' cans. The honest truth is all the headphones mentioned here are tremendous value-loaded purchases.
You'll find a big bunch of headphones clustered near $50 bucks. We'll talk about just a few: Once again, the AKG K414P (pictured at right) is the perfect rocker/ rapper/ trancer/ dancer/ turntablist headphone for listeners needing a sealed can for walking-around, work, or scholastic purposes. Another great contender is the Sennheiser HD205. These bigger mid-size headphones have a tight punchy bass hump … but we mean that in a good way. We hate boomy, mushy unresponsive bass, and luckily these cans do too. Fairly high-impact dynamics and an acceptably well-balanced smooth response make these headphones a very cool portable listen at a really good price.
Ear Pad Headphones, $50-$100
The Beyer DT235 are amongst the best sounding smaller-sized [earpad] 'sealed' headphones at the price. They remain easy to power from portable players, are durable in a backpack, and provide well-detailed sound quality with a slightly round, bright overall tonality; no question, they're impressive little cans for the money!
There are also a couple of great-sounding sub-$100 small-sized earpad 'open' earcup headphones too: the Grado SR60 and the Sennheiser EH350. Both these cans are excellent audio performers at the price, with the SR-60 playing articulate and vivacious to the warmer, lush tone of the EH 350. The Grado probably still retains the leading edge as a sonically exciting headphone for many listeners, but you'll may lose some minor earpad comfort to get it due to the Grado's thin mesh foam earpad padding.
Ear Pad Headphones, $100 and up
Once you get over a hundred dollars, this whole 'Earpad' category starts to fall apart a bit. The never-ending quest for upgraded sound will likely take you into full-sized (circumaural) headphones while this particular 'earpad/supra-aural' headphone category becomes increasingly specialized to some degree.
Grado Labs Headphones:
Having just said that, we'll have to elaborate as we explain that many hardcore headphone audiophiles revere the aforementioned Grado line of 'earpad' headphones. Grados are somewhat different in design from other high-end cans since the Grado earcups tend to partially rest on your earlobes rather than completely around the ear as most "full-sized" audiophile-grade cans do. Grado headphones are based on a rather singular old-school design philosophy, but when you got a horse that runs this strong, ride it over the hills & far away! Grado headphones have long been known for their intense immediacy, clarity, and terrific sonic punch, an exciting sound for many listeners. They are also considered by some to be a little edgy-sounding and not particularly rich in the bass bracket, if that's your thing. Out of the entire Grado line, we think the truly amazing "best buy" is the Grado SR60 ($69) followed by the SR225 ($200). However, the wonderful-sounding but stratospherically priced RS1 ($695) and the drop-dead-priced but highly impressive GS1000 ($995) are true audio connoisseur's lushly-colored delights. We highly recommend either of these uber-fun upscale Grado models as true culmination headphones alongside your more technically "neutral" reference cans.
Sennheiser's Noise-Canceling Ear Pad Headphones
A wide array of Sennheiser "Noise-Canceling" headphones are available between $100-$450usd. Generally, we believe that ear canal headphones (ECHs) are the best way to block-out nearly all ambient noise, but if you don't want to stick something into your ear canal, a regular 'sealed/closed' earcup headphone will provide both better isolation & much better sound than "active" Noise-Canceling headsets. But then again, who the heck are we to stand in the way of a technology that works so handily on airplanes?! -- If seeking small 'earpad-sized' active Noise-Canceling cans, the bargain-priced Sennheiser PXC 150 and the better-performing Sennheiser PXC 300 and especially the clean-sounding, circumaural [full-size], upscale-oriented Sennheiser PXC 450 with "Talk-Through" feature & upgraded noise-canceling are all ergonomic, well-made Noise-Canceling headsets and typically sound equal or superior to the other big-name NC headphones out there.
Sennheiser Sealed Ear Pad Headphones
Not that most drummers would have the ability to read this far (JUST KIDDING!...We love drummer jokes-- who doesn't?) but this next can is a great headphone for percussion or bass-entranced listeners out there. The Sennheiser HD25-1 WILL definitely stay on your gyrating head since it features a well-crafted, comfortable split headband design that partially encircles the cranium for unbelievably secure head-banging stability. It's certainly a bit hard to power correctly from portable players like iPods and laptops -- but when plugged into a quality audio mixer or dedicated headphone amp these things will fully rock your world.
