headphone suggestions please

hi:
 
I need to buy some headphones for my studio; (probably 8- 10 pair)
 
I've been using AGK 240s forever and I love them but they are expensive and it seems one side of the phones stops working over time;
 
Is this me, or is this common with these phones; I probably got ten pair right now with only one side working. (the repair is very costly)
 
Anyway, any suggestions in the $90 and lower range.
comfort, sound quality and durability are paramount.

Profesional Sound Magazine did an overveiw of about 12 different studio Headphones a couple of months ago. The points made were Comfoft, Some came with 2 different removable cables. How much isolation etc.

I have one pair of AKG 240s and haven't had any problems with them. Maybe not your ideal headphones for tracking, though, since they're semi-closed?

8-10 headphones is going to be an investment for sure... I like the Sony MDR-7506 for tracking but those are $99. I've not found any under $100 that I thought were very good. I had a one-time project that involved 8 singers and got some $25 Sennheiser HD201s that were not great sound-quality but were good enough for the singers.

I'm not sure of your recording scenarios, but maybe consider getting 4 or so nicer headphones and then a few lower dollar ones for overflow??

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tom1


hi: 
  
 
Anyway, any suggestions in the $90 and lower range.
comfort, sound quality and durability are paramount.

You're asking a lot considering you want to spend less than $90 a pair.  I'm sure you know better.  The AKG K240s are only $99 on Musicians Friend... that's not expensive considering that's still in your price range. I don't like them for tracking use because they leak sound (in and out). I assume you are having problems because clients step on the cables and yank the internal connections over time.
 
Reluctantly, I started buying bunches of the Audio Technica ATH-M40 phones because they were sealed and cost around $60. They aren't the most robust phones on the market but repair parts are easy to obtain. They isolate well. I like the standard 1/4 plugs. And generally, they sound pretty good. They grip the head pretty well but not as much as those Vic Firth phones which are like vice grips. They have better griping power than the K240's by a long shot. It's been my experience that - if I'm lucky - I can get about a years wear & tear from these phones before pads and/or headband assemblies need to be replaced.
 
I have some of those HD201's previously mentioned. They aren't sealed type (they don't cover the entire ear) and I generally detest phones with those skinny cables that come from both earpieces (I prefer a single cable from one side). With mine, the 1/8" plugs failed almost immediately and I had to replace the plugs with regular 1/4 types. These, I suggest, are better for iPods and laptop use than for studio use.
I have not tried the ATH-M50's but they appear to be more expensive than the M40's. If they are obtainable for the same price on eBay or somewhere...go for it.  Have fun shopping! Let us know what you get and how you like them.
 
the EX25's that batsbrew suggested might be worth considering too - the right price and they are sealed. But those skinny wires and 1/8 adapters...i hate 'em :-)

I gave up being anal about headphones years ago. It seemed to me if I made a stink about it I was killing the vibe. For the most part, clients are respectful so I don't cop an attitude. If I see the phones laying on the floor I just pick them up. Usually the client will see me do that and they get the idea right away without me having to say anything. If I see them being thrown around I will say something. People who do that I don't care if they don't come back. Then there are the ones who can't stand still and end up with a spaghetti mess. I've had people sit on them accidentally and break them. Ya know...I just suck it up and consider it part of doing business. Sounds like you got it going on...good for you. Cheers.