Is this a good for an average listener?

If you like headphones that would seem a pretty decent cheap set up. You could go even cheaper and have a look at the PortaPro.

Coming from someone who doesn't follow cheap portable headphones these are names I keep seeing over and over, I mean that in a good way.

You can probably get better advice from someone else her about come cheap headphones but as far as the Clip+ or even a Fuze for that matter Rockboxed as a source you should be more than happy with them.

If you haven't already have a look at these two threads, they offer a brilliant place to start.

http://www.head-fi.org/forums/f103/shootout-a-433318/ & http://www.head-fi.org/forums/f103/multi-iem-review-a-478568/.

PS: Have you considered IEM's as opposed to portable Headphones?

No such thing as overly expensive in this context. People spend like $3000 on their portable rigs. Money much better spend on a home rig.  My portable setup cost me about $800aud and I use it about 5 hours a month and listen to poorly recorded metal with it. 

there is such a thing as expensive in any hobby or product line. It's relative to one's valuation of products and dependent on whether the OP here is a casual listener or intends to further go down the line of audio equipment. Different people will have different valuations of when things become expensive before they draw the line.

to the OP: I don't think the M50s will set you back too much and you won't need a DAC or amp to go along with it so in that sense, it is a good set of headphones to get into. I really wouldn't be spending much more than the price of a M50 if you have no intention of changing the source and stuff. But I'm pretty sure you will enjoy the M50 judging from the love it gets around this forum.

If your budget allows for the M50s, go for it, but if it is too tight for you, look at something else and I think others will be better suited in recommending.

Quote:

Originally Posted by stang 

My portable setup cost me about $800aud and I use it about 5 hours a month and listen to poorly recorded metal with it. 

This is why the hobby confuses me from time to time.

Alongside the PortaPro recommendation, there's also the KSC75. More portable, arguably just as good sounding and half the price. Though going by the headphones you've already looked at, you're probably wanting isolation (very important when portable, I've learned). The M50 comes very well recommended around here, so I think you'll be happy.

Oh, and you won't think it's overly expensive if you stick around. You'll wonder how you ever thought it was a lot of money. I had to convince myself that my first real headphones (SR60i, $70) would be worth it. I've since bought a Clip+ for $40 on a whim and $80 IEMs just because I wanted to try them. Didn't even blink. I blinked at the stuff in my signature, but not for long.