[Reticuli2]

My headphones are...

Etymotic ER4S
Koss Sporta Pros
All three versions of the Extreme Isolation EX-29
Ortofon (Ultrasone) O-One
and Numark PHX

I use my computer's Emu 1212m, my audio mixers: A&H and Alesis, an iPod, and various A/V home players/receivers as the sources depending on my needs.

I have about $400 in discretionary money I can spend right now, maybe a bit more. I'd like the headphone amp to have a balance control, since I'm extremely sensitive to channel imbalances and the O-One, PHX, and a lot of my recordings are not exactly centered. And besides, if I'm going to blast my hearing, I want it to fade symmetrically...heh heh.

Recommendations? Is there something for just over 400-500 bucks that's so much better than the 400 and under ones that I should wait until next month?

I was thinking about getting an AKG 701 headphone with this cash, but I seriously think my relatives and friends might disown me if I get anymore headphones, and besides the ones I have certainly could benefit from a decent common amp.

All I've got right now is my gear's included jacks and some very cheap outboard studio HP amps that would be embarrassing to mention. Thanks.

Regards,
Ben G.