Drummer Cafe Community Forum

Jan 25, 2005 10:50 am

I need to find a cheap set of headphones that will block out as much background noise as possible. Here are my guidelines...


1. Price - Under $50 (the cheaper the better)

2. Sound Quality - Does not matter at all

3. Noise Block-out - As much as possible

4. Built in metronome - absolutly not

5. volume - loud enough to hear over drumming


ideas?

I use the Koss Plugs.  They are basically foam earplugs with headphones embedded in them.  And they're less than $15!

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B00001P4XA/qid=1106668716/sr=8-1/ref=pd_csp_1/102-3322225-3707360?v=glance&s=electronics&n=507846 (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B00001P4XA/qid=1106668716/sr=8-1/ref=pd_csp_1/102-3322225-3707360?v=glance&s=electronics&n=507846)

They block out about 20-25 db and therefore protect your hearing, are plenty loud to hear while playing, and best of all, you get NO headphone bleed over when recording.

Some people with smaller ears report problems, and they can be tough to get in at first, but if you can put in foam earplugs properly, these are no problem.

One drawback is that the cord is kind of thin feeling, but I've had mine 2 years and I still use them almost daily.

Have not tried them for the use you are looking for, but just picked up the Sony MDR-EX71SL earbuds yesterday. They are not marketed as sound isolating, but I was suprised at how much they blocked out when I was listening to cd's here at work.
They were $49.99 at Best Buy. There is another model just below them for $39.99. I'm sure you can find them cheaper via the web.

good luck

Panasonic makes a set that I bought for $30 at circuit city.  The nice things about them: a straight 16' cable and a volume dial on the cable.  They sound pretty good, and that cable gets out of your way nicely.

For the money you cannot beat these. I've had mine for about 2 years as well and use them when i play drums.  The cord is short, but for $3 at radio shack, I picked up a 3ft cable w/ 1/8" connectors.  
I've used mine in the studio as well. They work great.  

Also, SONY has a pair of earbuds similar to these around $50 with good sound quality sound isolation.

I tried the Koss Plugs and was never able to get them to fit comfortably (must have weird ears).
I think the Sony's psycht mentions are the ones I have. So far, I love them. Very comfortable and good sound.

I have used sony MDRV-6 for about 10 years, but recently switched to AKG, I think theyre 404s but cant remember.  Ooops.....I just noticed your price range-and the Sony were about 90 bucks.....the AKG's were 200 bucks....but WELL worth it-

I hadn't seen the Plugs before, and I'm definitely going to pick up a pair.

But if you aren't into stuffed in the ear phones, just make sure the ones you do get are closed backs and only have one cord.

AKG K55 (http://www.akg.com/products/powerslave,mynodeid,186,id,256,pid,256,_language,EN.html)'s are very nice and surprisingly cheap.

I just picked up a pair of the new Behringer HPS3000 (http://www.behringer.com/HPS3000/index.cfm?lang=ENG)'s for use as drum recording cans, but haven't used them in action yet.   But in testing they worked well and only cost me $20.

Maybe all you guys play a lot quieter than I do.  :-[
Any 'in ear' plug that isn't properly moulded to the ear is going to let in quite a bit of ambient sound, which is going to lead to you cranking the phones volume.
I just think 'in-ear' plugs are pretty dangerous.
Most aurologists state that the kind of 'in-ear' plug levels the average teenager is experiencing is highly damaging.....and they aren't trying to mask out acoustic drums.
I guess it's up to the individual. Now I have a little tinnitus I've abandoned anything 'in ear' and would only use 'closed' headphones.
Yes they are more expensive, but you can't put a price on your hearing.

That and general ear fatique is precisely why I've always used headphones in general for recording.   I even prefer open backs generally but they really dont work for drums ;D

Although a pair of Plugs and a set of shooting muffs would still be under $50 and make a HUGE difference.

Those K55's would do me.
(and are far safer IMO)

I have a pair of SONY V700 DJ's and I have to crank them pretty loud to get over the drums, much more so than the Koss plugs.  I'd be more worried about damaging my hearing using those over the plugs.

B/C the plugs are basically foam earplugs (as opposed to silicon), I really don't have to crank them loud to hear them.  They form into the ear canal.

I'm with chrisso on this.  In-ear types are EXCEEDINGLY dangerous.  They can certainly be used, if precautions are taken, but even with brick-wall limiting there is danger, because there's a tendancy to crank them louder than you need.  

I suggest you use any cheapo, walkman-type EXTERNAL phone (the small, cheap, flexible kind) and then wear a set of hearing-protectors on the outside of them.  The type made for shooting is best, though the black ones at Home Depot are almost as good, and cost a lot less.

I use those sony mdr-ex51, i think i paid 35.00.  They're like 29.00 at amazon.com.  They block out about 80% of ambient noise, so I use them without listening to music too.  I just put them in my ear and play because they are so comfortable.  I also use them to play along with and they work for this too.  In ears are a must for me, because those big external ones are very uncomfortable.  Just see what fits your needs  and wallet.