Sub £100 Closed Portables needed...

[pds1982]

Hi, the left ear in my AKG430's went the other day and the warranty doesn't appear to cover it. Not that I won't be trying. However, I've found the sound to bee too quiet and although the clarity was good, the bass was distant.

So I'm probably going to get another pair and sell the others I have. In-ear cause me no end of problems with them falling out, so I'm sticking with closed phones.

I'll list my requirements, if anyone could recommend a few pairs I'd appreciate it, cheers.

- Must be less than £100, pref closer to £50 if possible
- Cable can't be ludicrously small/long (learnt from CX95's..!), I'm about 6ft tall
- Cable shouldn't be too prone to breaking (learnt from 430's!)
- Use my phone as mp3 player, which will soon prob be a HTC. Not bothered about having a mic at all, I'll just unplug to talk...
- Nothing too quiet
- Listen to all sorts, but a lot of electronic and hip-hop
- Use walking around busy London streets and occasionally on the train, bus and tube, so I'd rather they weren't MASSIVE (although the 430's were probably a tad small)



Thanks for your help

[pds1982]

Can anyone help?

I'm thinking it's between:

1. Aiaiai tracks - slight concern over style over quality and volume though

2. C-Jays - Semi-open, but these are going to leak too much aren't they?

3. PX 200-ii - slightly more than I'd like to spend

4. - Breo De Janeiro Folding Closed-Back Headphones - I know nothing of these

[ShaunG]

The AIAIAI Tracks are particularly impressive for a 'fashion' headphone and do a decent job of isolating noise with their closed back design. They are easily in the same league as the Sennheiser PX200-II - if anything I prefer the more detailed sound of the Tracks. The sound is really clear and well balanced. The Headfonia blog recently wrote a detailed review of the AIAIA Tracks that is well worth reading.

The C-Jays would indeed leak sound in and out with their semi-open design. They are not bad, but the PX200-II or Tracks have better sound.

The Breo De Janeiro is a good budget choice with slightly larger earpads/earcups than the others you mentioned (meaning good sound isolation). Sound is again well balanced, but the AIAIAI Tracks really are worth the extra in my opinion for their clarity.