When I got the Mac I went ahead and ordered a 80Gb iPod Classic as well, as my last mp3 player, a Archos 20Gb Jukebox, won’t keep a charge even after replaceing the  batteries. So with the new player a new set of headphone was required.

I just don’t like earbuds and I have long since given up on the $30 headphones you can buy at Wal-Mart and Circuit-City. After buying three different sets in one year and having them fall apart one me in less the six months. The way I figure it even if the $100+ headphones only last me two years I’m still ahead of the game. For daily use on the computer I have a set of Sennheiser HD215s and while I like them a lot I was looking for something a bit smaller and a little more rugged for portable use. After some research and seeing them over at Hunting the Elusive I went with the AKG K171 Studios.

My old cans on the left with the AKG K171s on the right.

The cans showed up today I quickly put them to use. While I am no audiophile (some say I have a bit of a tin ear) they do sound quite good with a quite a bit of base punch and good highs. They are a closed back design and do a good job of shutting out outside noise. There is only one problem I have with them and it is fit. The 171s are supe-aural meaning they sit on the ear, and I have not been able to find a comfortable position to wear them in, that still blocks outside noise. I problem I think arises from the simple fact that I have a big head. Yes I said it I’m a fat head, you know those adjustable ball caps that say one size fits all most, well they don’t fit me, my head is just that big. So the springs on the K171’s are stretched open almost as far as they can, this means they are putting quite a bit of pressure on my ears. I will try them a bit more tomorrow, but I think that they are going to go back. I think they are going to be replaced by the AKG K217 Studios which are circumaural, sit around the ear, like the HD215s I have now. They cost a bit more and are not the “smaller headphone”, that I was looking for but to get the comfort level I want is just might be the route I have to take.

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