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Headphone Collection 2016

Rewarding Myself with Headphones

Current Collection

Once I pass all my exams for the MCSA, I plan to reward myself with a nice pair of headphones. Currently, I own only the Audio Technica M50x, which have served me well, but I feel it's time to expand my growing collection. I’m willing to spend $250 and have begun evaluating options like the ATH M70x, MSR7, and Sony MDR-1A as potential candidates for my next set.

Before making a decision, I wanted to catalog my current collection and identify areas for expansion. Excluding the M50x and WM77, the rest of my assortment consists of basic headphones, which I may eventually retire as my collection improves. Currently, I'm leaning towards the MSR7, but I understand that choosing based solely on specs can be misleading. I would like to try each of these models and a few other brands before finalizing my decision.

Build Quality Considerations

One area I hope to improve upon is the overall build quality of my headphones. I'm looking for metal hinges and components that experience the most tension when adjusted, as well as supple leather instead of pleather. The M50x's pleather disintegrated after just one year of use, and only the earpads seem to be available for replacement. Additionally, the swivel hinge on my WM77 popped out, requiring me to hold it in place while listening. With these two build quality issues with my Audio Technica headphones, I’m questioning whether I should risk trying another set from the same brand.

Update: 1/20/16

After conducting further research, I’m now considering the AKG K240 paired with a Fiio E11 Amp. Since I primarily listen to music from my iPhone, I realize that higher-end headphones might be overkill and may not sound as great, effectively wasting money. The AKG K240s are reasonably priced, and even with the amp, the total cost would be half that of the Audio Technica and Sony models I initially considered. I may also consider snagging the Sony V6 later on.

Update: 1/23/16

Now, I’m thinking about the Grado SR80e, which are open-back headphones priced at around $99. Online reviews praise them as an excellent entry-level option for open-air reference headphones. Open-back designs allow outside sound and airflow, unlike the closed-back M50x, potentially providing a sound quality that closed-back headphones at this price point cannot easily replicate. It’s a tough decision.

Update: 1/26/16

I've made my decision: the Grado SR80e is the winner, and I purchased them online for $99. They should arrive in about a week, roughly one day before my second MCSA exam. Yes, it feels premature, but I believe I've earned them by staying on track, studying, and successfully passing the first exam—an accomplishment in itself. I'm looking forward to trying out the Grado headphones.





Brand Model Price Ohm Sensitivity (db) Low (Hz) High (kHz)
iLive IA54B $10.00 32 100 20 20
Sony MDR-ZX100 $20.00 24 100 12 22
Apple Earpods $30.00 45 109 5 21
Audio Technica ATH-EQ500 $20.00 20 103 16 24
Audio Technica ATH-WM77 $40.00 32 103 10 23
Skullcandy Hesh $60.00 32
18 20
Audio Technica ATH-M50x $170.00 38 99 15 28







Audio Technica ATH-MSR7 $210.00 35 100 5 40
Audio Technica ATH-M70x $300.00 35 97 5 40
Sony MDR-1A $200.00 24 105 3 100
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