OT: Beats by Dre - looking to buy headphones

Submitted by Champeen on

Looking to buy a nice set of headphones for working out.  Currently using a 5 dollar earbud attached to my phone.

However, Beats by Dre is very pricey.  I am a noob to the entire headphone line and am looking for some recommendations.  Obviously, price is the number one paramater - what is the best bang for the buck?  Anything comparable (hell, maybe even better) to Beats at a fraction of the cost?

 

* EDIT *

Thank you everyone.  Many have been extremely helpful and pointed me in the right direction.  Much appreciated.  

 

 

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gord

April 14th, 2016 at 5:40 PM ^

Beats headphones don't even work and are literally useless.  No sound comes out.  All of the people wearing them might as well just be wearing earmuffs.  Buy some huge, ugly headphones from some obscure brand for working out and maybe if you're lucky they will short circuit after a month.

 

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mexwolv

April 14th, 2016 at 5:55 PM ^

I am in the tech business and have computer repair shops.  We are HP & Apple certified and, as you may already know, Apple owns Beats, so we have to service their headphones, too.  We get a ton of defective Beats products every week.  Besides, I do not think Beats really sound any better than others such as Bosé.  Hope this helps!

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Inflammable Flame

April 14th, 2016 at 6:08 PM ^

anything over $100 for workout headphones is absurd. have a wired Harmon Kardon and a Sony MDR-XB950BT... workout and run with whichever my wife doesn't take. bought both refurb, have served me well for almost 2 years. don't over think... they're just headphones

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turtleboy

April 14th, 2016 at 7:23 PM ^

We actually had a thread about this maybe 6 months ago. I read an article about an engineer deconstructiong a pair of Beats headphones and said the components cost a mere $14 to manufacture, yet retail for as much as $700. You'd be much better off buying a nice pair of Sennheisers. My wireless rechargeable studio headphones were around $200. 

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Idzerd

April 14th, 2016 at 7:30 PM ^

I'm a snobby audiophile -yes, really.

Guys above who said don't go beats or bose are right -mostly right about bose.  But don't tell bose that -they'll sue you!! 

I'm the kind of guy that sits and listens to music for the sake of listenting to music on fairly high end equipment (I don't have the $$$ for the $$$ stuff....).  A lot of times, I sit and listen to my stereo -music is the means to do that.

My advice.  Yes, there are lots of better values:  Sennheiser, Grado...

But, you're WORKING OUT!!!  You're not attempting to sit and listen critically like an audiophile.

So, if I'm happy with my $15 Skullcandy ear buds when I'm working out, maybe you can save a lot of $ and be happy with a cheaper pair of buds as well.  In reality, you'll likely be happy with almost anything while working out -including Bose and Beats.

They really have come a long way in the past 10 years!

-Idzerd


 

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Bigasshammm

April 14th, 2016 at 7:44 PM ^

I've got a pair of Zagg earbuds and they're amazing. Somewhere in the 30-60$ range and they work with your phone as a hands free set. Best headphones I've ever owned. I refuse to buy a huge pair of over the head headphones and wish I could ram every person I see driving with them on.

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brmarsh07

April 14th, 2016 at 8:17 PM ^

I got a pair of Beats Solo 2 wireless headphones about 5 months ago. I use them everyday at the gym and I love them! Wireless is definitely the way to go!

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worstever

April 14th, 2016 at 8:27 PM ^

The sound quality in beats is excellent but I've had issues with consistency on the phone connection. I also do not know why they cost $200...but I paid it anyway



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ghostofhoke

April 14th, 2016 at 11:24 PM ^

Of course they do. Beats has become a status symbol. They get people to think that paying $300 for headphones that comparable to $75 headphones that aren't endorsed by tons of athletes is a smart way to spend your money. It's all about popularity--or hype or marketing or whatever you want to call it. It's the same thing



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ottomatic

April 14th, 2016 at 10:49 PM ^

I'm suprised no one is mentioning Shure. They don't have the market share that they once enjoyed - apparently they don't beleive in marketing - but they make a solid product. I prefer the sound to Beats or Bose. I have the Shure SE 425's

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JamieH

April 15th, 2016 at 12:34 AM ^

I know it's been said a jillion times in this thread but I had to pile on because it's one of my pet peeves.  Beats is all about marketing and ZERO about producing good headphones.  So if you want to look cool and don't really care about what you are listening too, then Beats is definitely where it is at. 

That all being said, I agree with the guy uphead that said that since you are working out, most of the headpphones being mentioned are WAY overkill for you.  For example, I own a pair of Sony MDR-7506 and Grados and no way in HELL would I ever use either for working out.  Personally I'd find something lightweight, comfortable and cheap, with decent sound quality, and save the "good" headphones for when you are at home.   Workout headphones should practically be disposable in case you break them. 

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McDoomButt

April 15th, 2016 at 8:46 AM ^

If you want headphones that are lightweight, stay in place when you run, and have very good sound quality, all for less than $30, then you want these.

However, if you want a cute fashion acessory, then don't buy these. They're ugly as fuck. For me, I don't care if I look cute while working out, so these are perfect.

Koss SportaPro Stereo Headphones 
http://amzn.com/B00001P505

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Eye of the Tiger

April 15th, 2016 at 9:17 AM ^

Avoid. 

Not sure what your priorities are, but if it's just the best sound possible for the money, then get Audio Technica M50s. A lot of musicians actually use these for studio work, even though they are inexpensive, because they have great dynamic range and a wide stereo field. 

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