Requesting Audiophile help.

[mootsfox]

I want to spend about $100 on a new set of cans. I need ones that fit around the ear, don't leak much sound, and can be worn for hours at a time. They have to sound great too

They will be driven by my Onkyo A-RV401 amp which is connected to my X-fi ExtremeMusic, which I still need to do the OP-Amp mod on... some day.

I'm seriously looking at the ATH-PRO700's right now from Audio-Technica.

http://www.harmony-central.com/ProductI ... 001548.jpg
http://www.audio-technica.com/cms/headp ... index.html
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... ath-pro700

[levish]

You didn't mention use but I want closed headphones for isolation with good bass response and no separate amp needed and at a good price so these

1-AKG k81dj ($54) Bassy dj headphone. Better with some damping. Good for rap and Hip-Hop

If you wanted open air models then Sen HD-555's should fit the bill nicely

http://www.head-fi.org/forums/f4/headph ... de-271258/

There have been a lot of threads asking for help finding headphones in a certain price range. I am going to use this guide to help those people make good choices. Feel free to suggest others that fit into the categories. The order they are placed does not indicate ranking, it is purely random.

A note on Price: I tried to post a price that takes into account the used prices, as well as the new ones. Let me know if you think i need to change one.

Suggestion for amping:
"0" denotes amp usually included/bundled
"1" denotes amp not needed.
"2" denotes amp recommended.
"3" denotes amp required.


Under $70

IEM/Earbud
1-JVC Marshmallow ($20) Bassy, recessed mids and highs. I love them with rock. Great value. Kramer mod helps these a lot.
1-Creative ep630 ($23)
1-JVC Air Cushion ($30) These sound similar to the marshmallows, but with better detail and no recessed mids/highs.
1-Sennheiser cx300 ($30) Lovely midrange, and very strong bass (although uncontrolled) Highs are the weakness of this phone.
1-Yuin pk3 ($39)
1-Jays j-jays ($50)
1-Shure e2c ($60)
1-Crossroads Mylarone x3i/xbi ($57 and $65)
1-Yuin pk2 ($69)
1-Etymotic er6 ($70) Very detailed. Good mids/highs. Slightly lacking the bass department
1-Ultimate Ears Super.Fi.3 ($70)
1-V-moda Vibe($70) Very muddy, not a lot of detail. no highs to speak off.
2-Altec Lansing im716 ($100) Currently on sale @buy.com for $49

Open Headphone
1-Koss KSC75/35 (Clip-on) ($13) Very good value. Some bass bloat, good mids and sparkly highs.
1-Sennheiser px100 ($33)
1-Koss Portapro ($35)
1-Sennheiser HD515 ($60)
1-Grado sr-60 ($69) Wonderful liquid mids! Amazing with guitars. Not harsh to me, but to some. Lacking in bass.

Closed Headphone
1-Sennheiser HD201 ($22)
1-AKG k81dj ($54) Bassy dj headphone. Better with some damping. Good for rap and Hip-Hop

$70 to $150

IEM/Earbud
1-Sony ex90 ($95)
1-Jays D-jays ($99)
1-Westone UM1 ($109)
1-Shure e3c ($119)
1-Super.Fi.5 Pro/EB ($130-$150)
2-Yuin pk1 ($139)
1-Sennheiser CX95 ($140)

Open Headphone
1-Audio Technica ad500/700 ($80 and $110)
1-AKG 240S ($85)
1.5-Sennheiser hd555 ($95) Availalbe in 50 and 120 ohm versions.
1-Grado Sr80/sr125 ($95 and $149)
2-Goldring DR150 ($135)
2-Sennheiser hd580 (<$150)

Closed Headphone
1-Sony Mdr-v6 ($71) A very neutral headphone. Good mids, highs. No bass bloat IMO.
1-Sennheiser HD280 ($80) Extreme isolation in a closed Headphone. Slightly anemic bass.
1-Audio Technica a500/700 ($80 and $120) Very balanced overall sound. Good for rock and metal. Speedy, controlled bass. Cheap pleather pads.
1-Equation rp21/rp22x ($85-$90) Plenty of awesome bass. Slightly recessed mids, good highs
1-Audio Technica ES7 ($100)
2-Beyerdynamic DT770 PRO ($150) Bass monsters! Also a good gaming/movie watching 'phone.
1-Denon d1000 ($150)

$150 to ~$200

IEM/Earbud
1-Shure e4c (~160)
1-Jays q-jays ($180)
1-Atrio M5/M8 ($180)
2-Etymotic ER4p ($180) Very detailed, awesome highs and Mids. Bass is lacking to some. Sound is wonderful with a Mini-box E amp (Bass boost)

Open Headphone
2-Sennheiser hd595 ($180) Available in 50 and 120 ohm versions
1-Grado Sr225 ($180)
2-AKG k501 ($190)
3-Beyerdynamic DT880 PRO/2005 (~$200)

Closed Headphone
2-Sennheiser HD25-II ($175)
1-Audio Technica a900 ($180) Massive soundstage, strong bass, and comfort are its strong points. Great for movies and jazz. Slight weakness in the low-midrange. Crappy pleather Pads.
2-Beyerdynamic Dt250 ($200)

$200 to $300

IEM/Earbud
0-Stax SR001/003 ($230)
1-Shure SE530PTH ($280)
1-Earpiece Livewires ($250 plus impressions)
1-Ultimate Ears Triple.Fi.10 ($299)
1-Westone UM2 ($299)

Open Headphone
2-Sony Mdr-F1 ($210)
3-Sennheiser HD600 ($240)
2-Grado SR-325i ($249) Most aggressive Grado. Sharp metallic sound with fast attack + decay. Great pair for electric guitars.
3-Beyerdynamic dt990-2005 ($250)
3-AKG k701 ($250) Detailed phones with wide sound stage. Amp dependent for good bass. Often compared against HD650.
1-Ultrasone PROLine 2500 ($263)
2-Audio Technica ad1000 ($280)
2-Allesandro MS-2i ($299)

Closed Headphone
2-Denon D2000 ($260)
2-Ultrasone PROLine 750 ($263)
?-Audio Technica ESW9 ($280)

$300 to $500

2-Headphile Darth Beyer ($370 to Whatever you can imagine!)

IEM/Earbud
2-APureSound Etymotic Er4p
?-Klipsch Image ($350)

Open Headphone
3-Sennhesier HD650 ($350) Dark headphone with ample bass. Very amp/source dependent. A whole new level of awesome when balanced.
0-Stax SR303 ($350)
2-Grado Hf-1 ($350 to $400)
0-Stax SR404 ($450)
2-Grado Rs2 ($495) Liquid mid-range and if used with flat pads, slammy bass. If 325i is too sharp, this is the 'phone to go for.
2-Audio Technica AD2000 ($499)
0-Sony Pfr-V1 ($499)

Closed Headphone
3-Audio Technica w1000 ($399)
3-Denon D5000 ($489)

More Than $500

IEM/Earbud
Westone ES-2
Ultimate Ears UE-10 pro ($900 + Impressions)
Ultimate Ears UE-11 Pro ($1,150 +Impressions)
Sensaphonics 2X-S


Open Headphone
2-Grado Rs1 ($695)
2-Allesandro MS-Pro ($699)
2-Grado GS1000 ($995)
2-Grado Hp-2 (~$1400)
3-Grado Ps-1 (~$1400)
0-Stax Omega 2 ($1850)
Closed Headphone
3-Audio Technica w5000 ($699) Woody headphone which is known for troublesome fit and being picky about amplification. If used successfully - very worth the trouble.
3-JVC/Victor DX1000 ($789)
2-Ultrasone Edition 9 ($1,499)


I've started to add a brief description next to each HP, let me know what you think.

Feel free to write a short sentence, and I will add it to the list.

Thanks to: Progenitor, GlorytheWiz825, phantomz, Assorted, Kamal007, MaloS

[mootsfox]

You didn't mention use but I want closed headphones for isolation with good bass response and no separate amp needed and at a good price so these

1-AKG k81dj ($54) Bassy dj headphone. Better with some damping. Good for rap and Hip-Hop

If you wanted open air models then Sen HD-555's should fit the bill nicely

http://www.head-fi.org/forums/f4/headph ... de-271258/

1-Equation rp21/rp22x ($85-$90) Plenty of awesome bass. Slightly recessed mids, good highs

That's what I'm leaning towards right now.

[levish]

have no experience with those but if it's on their reccomended list it's got to be at least good.

might also want to try

http://www.headphone.com/

for reccomendations and more specifically

http://www.headphone.com/guide/by-headp ... eadphones/

[shaddix]

those sennheisers leak a crapload of sound, and the one that don't in that price range, the hd-280s are like a vice on your head

but i'm wondering, if you're running an amp, i dunno why you would buy $100 pair of headphones? the amp will be wasted

buy this:
edit:
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/de ... 0001FTVE0/

these also leak a crapload of sound

[mootsfox]

those sennheisers leak a crapload of sound, and the one that don't in that price range, the hd-280s are like a vice on your head

but i'm wondering, if you're running an amp, i dunno why you would buy $100 pair of headphones? the amp will be wasted

buy this:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/cart/aws-merg ... eCart=True

these also leak a crapload of sound

What do you want me to buy? You just linked me to your cart (which I can't see).

[shaddix]

oh haha sorry :3
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/de ... 0001FTVE0/

the sound from these is very neutral, they impose nothing noticeable onto the original audio, with an amp. unamped i think the bass end is a little weak, but these are very faithful to the original sound

[mootsfox]

I need closed headphones. Must have quiet listenings.

I shouldn't have said amp, that means different things in audiophile circles...

I'm running out of my receiver with a 6.3->3.5mm adapter.

[shaddix]

oh lol, i don't know anything about closed headphones really since i am not in an environment where i need em.

check this out:
http://www.head-fi.org/forums/f4/100-15 ... se-289529/ <- he is also looking for closed headphones unamped in your price range. head-fi is a great forum btw

[mootsfox]

Bought them...

http://i26.tinypic.com/331k1tx.jpg

[levish]

those look great, hope you are happy with them

I'm going to be looking into a pair of sealed headphones soon myself, probably some AKG's

[mootsfox]

AKG makes good stuff, I wish you luck