Hey, if you are going for a DAP, i recomend the likes of the sansa clip+ and the Cowon J3, with beats audio they likely have it set to have the equalizer already to be messed up. And honestly, Beats has very little experience making audio source components.

I'd recomend checking out the thread that is a multi custom review, i do not own any customs, so i cannot speak for any of them.

Okay, i mispook earlier btw, i ment i replaced the ear wax guards, but it seems at this point, considering it is having the symptoms of being a cable problem since it cuts out, and then makes a small hissy noise when plugged in. So returning them while i can is the most ahssle free option? Thanks.

So okay, about 20 days ago i got a used pair of Etymotic HF5's from amazon. They have been working great, and despite missing a tip, it was fine. But recently the left driver has been VERY finicky as it will cut out and stay off for awhile but then just randomly turn on. Yes i have cleaned out...

From a quick look, this, in my newer opinion definitely looks like it could go far either way. One way being good, one being bad. I feel it could go the route of a imbalanced phone, that doesent have the same quality of the rest of the beyerdynaic line. Or it could simply be a shot at getting...

Okay, first of all welcome to head-fi, now there is one problem here, what you have is a wall of text, what you need is some specified things. What you require, (good isolation, comfort,) and how important these are for you. It makes every person heres job much harder if you don't go into more...

http://www.amazon.com/Shure-SRH940-Professional-Reference-Headphones/dp/B004MTE7EK/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1333772246&sr=8-1 I'm sorry if i am ignoring anything previously, but i just want to point out they are at a better pricepoint (including the 20% on earphone solutions) from amazon. Don't...

http://www.amazon.com/gp/offer-listing/B001F00F0E/ref=dp_olp_used?ie=UTF8&condition=used < the amazon one right there 100$ over your budget. I know next to nothing about these cans, but iunno where you are looking were they are 550.

Great choice, i still need to pick up a pair myself. Just be weary if you are wearing them in  public that while closed, they don't isolate particularily well.  

Beats don't really respond well to amping. It's kind of hard as they are unwilling to list ohm's and sensitivity, or any information about their drivers. Unlike any other company. Do you happen to have money for PRO 900's? I head those are quite good for what you are looking for.

Well, there is also the possibility you have minor tonitus, or it is simply the sound from your ear. I own the hf5's and i hear a slight hissing when i don't have them plugged in, but this is likely minor tonitus from childhood ear infections. If you don't hear it while they are unplugged, it's...

I imagine that the ety;s will be a big updrage over addiems, if i am looking at the correct product. The ety's are quite nice, I am listening to them right now. Honestly their main weakpoint is soundstaging, it's well, i can tell where the instruments are, but nothing feels special. I do not...

Quote: Just A touch more colorful, BUT they come with velour pads if i am not mistaken.  But please note you can order velours for plain hd 25's for less than 50$.

I can tell you with almost surely that the HF5's isolate more noise than SE215's. This is with both personal experience with both, and via the fact the ety's are rated at 35-45 db of isolation while shures are said to only go up to 37. So if you are going for isolation+sound ety's are better for...

I am by no means very educated on this. But basically, what you are experiencing the fact that iems usually have much less ohms and more sensitivty, lets say we compaire se215's (16-32 ohms right guys?) with some Beyerdynamic 80 ohms, with the ohms which lower the current, they will be much less...