Comfy stereo headphones

[Obiwanshinobi]

I could use an advice on what (mere stereo, no wireless nonsense) headphones are comfortable to use when lying in bed watching TV (not for me; I am happy with my Sennheiser HD 495, but these are no longer produced). Open-back much preferred. Nothing "audiophile", but the build quality needs to be decent. Open-back, light yet sturdy really is all that I ask for this time. Or "semi-open" if you think it makes any difference.

P.S. I see Sennheiser HD 35 TV advertised as just what doctor ordered. Not liking the sight of "independent volume control" gizmo (my idea being the simpler - the better), but I don't experience any hearing disparity between left and right ear yet, so perhaps I shouldn't be projecting my dislikes onto others. About the price I am willing to pay, too. Now if only I could be sure about their build quality (Sennheiser have been hit & miss in that respect)...

[Udderdude]

Just get some HD 558's off Amazon, they are very often on sale.

[Lord of Pirates]

Sennheiser's build quality is generally good across the board.

Just get some HD 558's off Amazon, they are very often on sale.

Seconded.

[Xyga]

Get the new Orpheus.

[Lord of Pirates]

Get the new Orpheus.

At Obi: To save you some time if you don't know: New Orpheus is $55,000, HE-60 is $2,000ish used only, and HE-90 is basically impossible to get and five figure cost.

[Ed Oscuro]

The major thing I don't like about the Senns I've used is the headband. The older pair I had used a bunch of plastic in the band and it broke away over a period of a year. Those 558s may or may not have that problem, but I never found a big lump sitting on top of my head very comfortable.

I like some Audio Technica better, but it's considerably more expensive. Their ATH-A900/900X use a couple strong metal bands raised far over the head, and a couple "wings" that sit gently on your head. It gives you a strange hairstyle and puts the pressure on your jaw hinge instead of the top of your head, so it's just a tradeoff. Their M50X is more like the Sennheiser for having a padded headband, but it also has a weak design (the point where the cup pivot meets the headband) and is the only headphone I've had that actually broke in two.

If you can get away with it, open headphones are better for quality. I've always used closed headphones for noise isolation. Grado or bust, I guess.

[jandrogo]

I am really satisfied with my AKG 612Pro. Very comfortable, great sound and open-back cups.
It is easy to find them under 100€, so aren't in the expensive audiophile league.
Problem is that not are the kind of headphones you take away from home, are big.

I am not an expert, but the things you have to consider are:
-price tag, closed or open-back, need of amping or not, kind of style sound bassy or not.
There are plenty of sites with these information. Sennheisers, AKG's, Audio-Technica, are marks that deliver good quality standards and great sound

[Ikaruga11]

I use AKG K702s. Amazing reference headphones with a massive soundstage.

[atheistgod1999]

I hear Bose is really good. My dad used to let me use his noise-cancelling ones, and they sounded awesome. He doesn't let me use them anymore because he wants to use them himself, though

[Udderdude]

The major thing I don't like about the Senns I've used is the headband. The older pair I had used a bunch of plastic in the band and it broke away over a period of a year. Those 558s may or may not have that problem, but I never found a big lump sitting on top of my head very comfortable.

I have 558's and there is a large velour cushion on the headband. The earpieces are also velour. It's very comfortable.

[Lord of Pirates]

I hear Bose is really good. My dad used to let me use his noise-cancelling ones, and they sounded awesome. He doesn't let me use them anymore because he wants to use them himself, though

Bose has very good ANC but their sound quality is lackluster compared to similarly priced headphones.

[beatsgo]

Vouch the AKG K7XX headphones. Bang on price for velour earpads with open cans. The F-man can back this puppy.

[citrus3000psi]

Since you mentioned you didn't need to be for an audiophile.

I still rock old vintage headphones like these. Super light weight, can't even tell they are on. Everybody can make fun of me now

[Xyga]

^ Nah, I think simple lightweight on-ear headphones are great for long listening sessions (2~3 hrs long movies)
But you have to pick them carefully, I mean even my old PX-100 start to hurt after a couple of hours.

[speedlolita]

I'll throw the headphones I use in the mix, Beyerdynamic DT770 (80ohm).

[Obiwanshinobi]

Thank you all for your responses. I am about to make the decision, hoping to report back soon.

[Taiyaki]

I'm a fan of Senheiser's open cup headphones. They're so comfortable and never warm up your ears or weight on your head. I've tried many and closed cups and find the downsides outweight the benefits, they tend to warm up the ears relatively fast, and personally I'm okay hearing a little bit outside of my headphones, it's useful if someone out of sight is calling you. With closed cups you probably wouldn't hear them.

Best value for the buck in open cups is the HD598. It's the high "mid range" headphones, some people argue it's the entry of the high range of headphones, yet it costs close to $150, or 1/4th of the price of most high end headphones. Sound quality is premium, you can't top it in the affordable range.

[Obiwanshinobi]

For what it's worth, to me HD 558 seemed like precisely the sum of things I was NOT interested in this time. Enough said...*

Meanwhile, Sennheiser HD 35 TV, while nothing I'd happily replace my HD 495 with, do the job just fine (not even sleeping with them on appears to bother the person they were for). A dark horse of the lot is their LONG extension cord - I intend to use it with some other stereo devices too - whereas the headphones' integral cord is short enough to comfortably use it with something portable. The balance gizmo is as easily ignored as it's potentially useful, future-wise.

*)...and if not enough yet - I really meant something more along those lines:

Spoiler

Since you mentioned you didn't need to be for an audiophile.

I still rock old vintage headphones like these. Super light weight, can't even tell they are on. Everybody can make fun of me now