I think I need new headphones.

[glyph@mastodon.social]

I think I need new headphones. I have 2 pairs of simple wired ones: an open-back pair for "kid and/or spouse are around and might need me to hear them but I am trying to listen to something to get a *modicum* of executive function" and a closed-back pair for "monitors for streaming & podcasting". Both of these are Sennheisers that are at least 5 years old and both are crumbling into a disgusting, greasy dust because of the faux-leather coating on all parts of them (not just the earcups)

[glyph@mastodon.social]

If you would not mind me rolling the golden apple inscribed with "what are the best headphones" onto fedi, I would love to get some recommendations because I don't just want to spend $400, even if it's every 5 years, to replace otherwise-functioning device just because of this dubious aesthetic feature. I vastly prefer the earcups that are just soft velour anyway, I don't want the "leather feel"

[aeva@mastodon.gamedev.place]

@glyph this will cover your first use case: I say this without hyperbole OR any sponsorship what so ever: the KOSS KSC75 are the best headphones I have ever purchased in my entire life. The KOSS KSC75 are the only head phones that have ever inspired me to make fan art. They cost $30 and they sound like they cost $100.

here's their product listing if you are interested https://koss.com/products/ksc75

and a thread of me raving about how great they are https://mastodon.gamedev.place/@aeva/112765095367729118

[aeva@mastodon.gamedev.place]

@glyph despite me joking about them merely "sounding alright" they actually have a pretty good frequency response curve iirc

[glyph@mastodon.social]

@aeva this is high praise and "wore all day, didn't trigger a headache" is about as good as a headphone can get. I like that they're small too because the pile of 5 different headphones on my desk can definitely be inconvenient. And at… yeesh, apparently on sale for $20? I can just throw them out if they don't work for me

[aeva@mastodon.gamedev.place]

@glyph oh, I didn't know they were on sale! I should buy a few more so I have spares if I break mine. honestly I'm astonished that I haven't broken them yet, I'm not gentle with headphones.

[aeva@mastodon.gamedev.place]

@glyph also, I cannot emphasize this enough normally I can't wear headphones for more than a few hours on a good day before I'm in a lot of pain. My KSC75s are so light and gentle I sometimes absent mindedly put them on without listening to anything at all and just leave them on because they're comforting and don't hurt.

[aeva@mastodon.gamedev.place]

@glyph also if you do get them and you like how they sound but want something that's a bit more snug, I'm pretty sure the kph30i and porta pros use the same drivers.

[aeva@mastodon.gamedev.place]

@glyph also I used to swear by their "sparkplug" earbuds for basically being earplugs with speakers built in, but I don't tolerate them as well as I used to for a variety of exciting health related reasons that probably have nothing to do with them. They're really good at blocking out the world.

[aeva@mastodon.gamedev.place]

@glyph the koss sparkplugs were my previous pick for "best headphones I've ever owned", but now they're more of an honorable mention

[aeva@mastodon.gamedev.place]

@glyph they can raise the dead (me on 96 hours of sleep deprivation) though. ymmv

[glyph@mastodon.social]

@aeva I *vaguely* remember seeing a review of these a long time ago, which had a sort of shocked "labs" segment where they couldn't believe how good it was (particularly at the price) but I wasn't in the market at the time

[aeva@mastodon.gamedev.place]

@glyph life doesn't normally give second chances like this