Looking for a good pair of over ear headphones

Title says most of it. I want a good pair of over ear headphones. My budget is around 300 dollars. I need transparency to talk to my girlfriend when she's in the room with me. I wanted to use these for work as well. So a mic and usb dongle are needed.

Was looking at Sennheiser but seems like the quality has gone downhill since they were bought out back in 2021 and went woke. I have good experiences with audio technica as well. I'm not an audiophile so I don't really know everything there is to know. I just want a good sounding pair of headphones/headset thats not too expensive. Again, my budget IS $300 but cheaper is always better. I may also use this headset for my personal computer from time to time.

Thanks in advance.

unfixed · a year ago

I used Edifier WH950NB and I really like it. I used them every day for at least 3 to 4 hours for almost 2 years now, and they are like brand new.

Very comfortable, good sound quality (not an expert by any means) and the battery duration is good considering that I used them always with noise cancelling on.

It sounds good on calls and without ANC environment sounds are ok to keep a conversation.

PD: I realize this looks a little bit like an ad. It is not, I just like the product.

mic999 · a year ago

I use beyerdynamic dt770 pro, since 2015. My first pair was 250ohm and served me until 2020, I accisentally bumped the wall while wearing them and that resulted in irrecoverable mechanical damage (though they sell individual components so I probably would be able to fix them). After destroying first pair I got second, same model only this time 32ohm so they are a bit easier when plugged to my phone.

tacostakohashi · a year ago

I've been pretty happy with various Sennheiser Momentum headphones over the past few years (some wireless, some not).

It's the kind of thing I get on amazon resale / warehouse. I think $1-200 is about right for some decent headphones, good enough, $3-500 to me is nuts for something that will inevitably live a pretty hard life and get lost / broken after a year or two.

jickes · a year ago

That's how I feel. $500 would already be steep for me. I suppose some people have more disposable income. I'm just concerned about sennheiser quality. I've read they've really gone downhill. I am also tired of these woke companies. I notice that generally anything "woke" winds up being crap. Media, people & products

gnatman · a year ago

I went looking for information about Sennheiser's wokeness, and found a picture of Martin Luther King Jr. using one of their microphones in 1965. Is that what you're talking about?

champdebloom · a year ago

I’d suggest getting a separate mic and headphone set because you reduce the likelihood of having to compromise on either when packaged together.

I think the Audio Technica ATH-M50x and ATR-2100 should be a a solid start and fit within your budget. I used to own both and have upgraded a few times since.

8thcross · a year ago

i like sony WH-XM1000 series. I have 3, but it works great. turn off NR is easy, it even comes with a cord to use when it runs out of power. if you like audiophile quality - 300 is not going to cut it.

jickes · a year ago

Thanks for the suggestion. I have never owned a pair of really high end headphones. Most I've ever purchased have been in the 100ish dollar price range.

x11antiek · a year ago

+, the WH-1000XM5s are the best pair of headphones I've ever had.