$350 to spend. Ultrasone Pro 900 or Sennheiser HD650?

If you aren't gonna amp them, you can scratch the HD650 off you list. They definitely need an amp. The Pro 900 less so, but expect to be underwhelmed by their sound if you're used to the top tier IEMs you listed. Unamped, the Ultrasones don't even come CLOSE to my ER4P, for example. Way too bright and sucked out mids.

Really man, if you want to hear what high end full size cans can do compared to high end IEMs, you gonna have to spend the extra coin on an amp. Even for "easy to drive" ones. They may not sound terrible without an amp, but will still benefit from one.

 

Maybe sell some of your IEMs for a nice amp? 

 

Yep, you're gonna need an amp for either one you choose to get.

Quote:

 

 

No, like Aizura, all headphones are improved with an amp, but if the amp is required for HD650, for PRO900 is much more optional.

I have the Pro 900 as well as the HD-600, which is similar to the 650.  Both sound good unamped, but I concur that they will sound better amped.  Even something cheap like a FiiO E7 or E11 would help.  The 650 is bassier than my 600, but it's still not going to do justice to bass-heavy music.  A Denon D2000 or Beyerdynamic DT 770 is another good option to look into, but they also sounds best amped.  If you really don't want to get an amp I would look down a bit in price at some like the HFI-580 or 780, Denon D1100, or even the Panasonic RP-HTF600.

Have you considered the SRH840 yet?

 

Neither,

 

You won't have an amp.

 

Your headphone suggestions: Denon D5000 (first pick; used). Denon D2000 (second pick; used or new). Ultrasone HFI 2400 (third pick; used or new). Then, Ultrasone HFI 580, Beyer DT770 32ohm, Panasonic HTF600, Shure SRH750 DJ, etc.

 

Very best,
 

 

If you're not looking at using an amp, don't buy either of those.

The ultrasones would be my choice out of the 2 for your type of music. Unamped perhaps look at the Fischer Audio FA-003 (not the high editions which are 200 ohm). These work fine without an amp, but obviously do sound better with.

Gonna threadjack this with the same question, different scenario. I'm looking into the same two options, but I'll be buying a fiio e7/9 combo with a macbook and a fuze as my primary sources.

As is, I'm using both TF10s and HD25 1-iis. I primarily listen to Jpop, Animusic, etc in that range, as well as some jazz and electronic. Though both my current ones sound amazing, I think I prefer the way the TF10s sound, minus what I think are lacking mids. The TF10s have more distinction in my opinion. Anyone have a recommendation based on this?

 

Next year I'll probably get whichever one I dont get this time if only to expand my listening variety, and i'll definitely get a better amp, but for now I don't know which to get

Edited by seniorfuzzy - 11/28/11 at 3:35pm

Tottaly different headphones, which i have both of.  I'd buy a pair of Denon D2000s

Start with the Fiio E11. Neat, powerful with bass boost options too

If you do decide to look into an amp, check into the E7/E9 combo. It can be had for $180 and since you mentioned you need something portable the E7 can fill that role, and the E9 takes the role for the bigger cans you decide to get.