The Senns would sound pretty nasty without an amp. No doubt. Grados are about the best bet (or AT's) straight from a headphone output. 32 ohms means decent sound though these little units can't provide the needed current to get the right swing from the drivers, but the overall sound isn't bad and depending on the headphone, it usually trumps the stuff lower down the chain. A great site is Headphone Reviews & Recommendations for some comparisons.
Personally, I'd never recommend a Senn for Jazz. Classical sure, but Jazz? To my ears the intimacy and groove is completely missing. The life is just not there. Never heard much jazz with the 501's so I can't comment.
If $300 is the budget, the 225's would be a good target. They will work decently out of a DAP but will obviously scale well with headphone amps. They are generally regarded as the best bang for the buck in the Grado line-up after the SR60's. The cord is quite long and it has a 1/4" plug so using them for real portable use outdoors can be nagging. I did this quite a bit when I had the SR60's as my main portable phone (though they have a 1/8" plug but I always had to wrap the cord around my hand. Something to consider. Of course you could get the cord modified so it is shorter in length and has a 1/8" plug.
I'm wondering if you might not be just as happy with a pair of iGrados or SR60's rather than plunking down the cash on the 225's or 580s or 501s?
Personally, I'd never recommend a Senn for Jazz. Classical sure, but Jazz? To my ears the intimacy and groove is completely missing. The life is just not there. Never heard much jazz with the 501's so I can't comment.
If $300 is the budget, the 225's would be a good target. They will work decently out of a DAP but will obviously scale well with headphone amps. They are generally regarded as the best bang for the buck in the Grado line-up after the SR60's. The cord is quite long and it has a 1/4" plug so using them for real portable use outdoors can be nagging. I did this quite a bit when I had the SR60's as my main portable phone (though they have a 1/8" plug but I always had to wrap the cord around my hand. Something to consider. Of course you could get the cord modified so it is shorter in length and has a 1/8" plug.
I'm wondering if you might not be just as happy with a pair of iGrados or SR60's rather than plunking down the cash on the 225's or 580s or 501s?
