I've read through the search results for the SR80i, and it seems that they have been compared to everything except the HD 25-1 II.

My cans fell apart the other day, so now I'm looking for new ones, and I've narrowed down the competitors to these two.

I've gone out to different stores and tested them with my iPod, but still I'm having trouble deciding (not easy consentrating when there's people in line behind you).

So I would really appreciate it if someone would like to share their opinions.

I mainly listen to the more extreme genres of metal (Converge, Mastodon, black/death, math-core etc..), and plan to mostly use them on the go with my iPod, but also for some quality listening at home.

So far the HD 25's in the lead, as they won't get me beaten up on the subway, but I really liked the SR80's as well.

Please help me decide!

I think that the HD 25 I II would do better for you if you want to use them on the go. I use my SR60i on the go, but only on quiet roads where I walk. The Senns can block out major noise, and sound great.

Soundwise, the HD25-1 II is overall superior to SR80i unless you hate closed back phones. Also Grados have NO isolation.....
As long as the extra $100 in MSRP is not an issue, I'll recommend HD25-1 II over SR80i everytime~

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That's two clear votes for the hd25's then. Looks like that's where I'm going.
Just wondering; every review I've seen on the SR80i's gives praise to their detail. Would you say they are superior to the HD25's in this regard?

What I love about good headphones is their ability to present the different instruments clearly.

If you want closed .... forget the Sennheiser, and buy a Shure SRH440 , much cheaper then the Sennheiser and much more good sound and comfort.

It's a tough call.
HD25-1 II is still a closed back phone, the isolation is good for detail but the closed space around your ears effect is typically bad for detail. HD25-1-II does a good job to reduce the bad but it is still not a open phone. They both separate instruments well, but in quite different ways. The detail of SR80i is from the Grado's house sound of front row or even on-stage type of closeness (when you're that close to player, the feeling of the room will be vague.), while HD25-1-II puts you in a mid-to-front row but with smaller room. Overall, HD25-1-II wins over because of the sound is refined.

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Having Grados (alessandros) myself and having similar musical tastes as you (Axe to Fall!!!) I can pretty much guarantee that you'll get some weird looks listening to Converge on the SR-80i's. They're definitely a lot looser than the HD-25; I find that they fall off occasionally when I'm walking around so if you want something with a lot of clamping force then Grados are not for you. But the main thing is that they leak sound like crazy.

The HD-25 packs more slam but the SR80 has more clarity. If you want more bass, there's a basic tweak that will bring it out on the SR80 without sacrificing the clarity.

I would say Grado SR80 (or why not check out Alessandro MS1?) is a much better headpones than HD25, except from isolation. Grado is much more fun. Remember HD25 are made for studio recording.

If isolation is important do consider Shure-SH440 or Audio Technica ATH-M50. Cheaper than the HD25 and still very good.

Yeah dude for portable use, especially for metal (Lots of mid-treble range, which leaks a TON with Grados) I'd go for the Senns. Why such different price ranges though?

Actually, it's not a huge difference in price range here in Norway.
The Grados are approx $250, and the senns come in at about $ 300. So it's not a huge difference. Could of course order from abroad, but if I don't find a nice dealer who's willing to send them marked as a gift, the taxes will eat what I save...

Thanks for the help guys, I'll go for the senns this time around, and maybe get the Grados for home-use later on (love the way they look though, like the radio headpiece form WWII movies).

Bandit - have you tried emailing Headphones SALE | ipod Headphones, Sennheiser Headphones, Wireless headphones to ask if they will ship to Norway?

Being one of the primitives outside of the EU, you will save on the taxes, and pay far less. Same goes for anyone else outside of the UK (saving taxes, or being a primitive )

What environment do you plan to use your headphones? That will probably inform your decision most. I've been using the Sennheiser HD25 Mark IIs for around a decade. I've had a pair of Grado 125s for a month now.

The difference is very striking: the Sennheiser remains my preferred headphone on the go: the Grados don't cut it: inferior sound isolation. The 'clarity' of the Grados is nothing more than extreme brightness which needs to be tamed. On the otherhand, I can see why Grado listeners find the Sennheiser HD25 Mark IIs, 'too dark'. The other problem with the Grados is that they will fall off your head if you run or jog. They are ideal static/listening room headphones in that respect.

If you get the Sennheiser HD25 Mark IIs, you can always upgrade the cable for a different "brighter" sound. Equally, if you add in a superb portable amplifier, like the TTVJ Millett portable amp, the soundstage opens up dramatically - and for a closed back headphone, that is really saying something.

Well, I wouldn't mind upgrading the looks of my Grado 125s too. But the head-collar adjustment mechanism and head bands are just very primitive compared to everything else on the market.

Wouldnt say that senn hd 25 1 is made for studio use, they are very fun to listen. They have groove with very punchy bass which is not bloated in any way. For portable use they are better than shure 840 5 times lighter have smaller footprint, indestructible, better isolation(one of the beset). Only thing I dont like with senn is the soundstage but 'phones with such great isolation are doomed in therms of music depth. Think that senn 25 1 is better with various types of music than grado sr80.