How would you recommend I allocate my budget?

Hi,

I am looking to spend around $500-600 on a pair of headphones plus associated gear. I was looking for some feedback about how you would allocate my budget in terms of what percentage for headphones, then amp/DAC, etc.

My music collection is 320kbps MP3 and FLAC. I am getting into "high resolution" downloads (24 bit/96kHz releases of Smashing Pumpkins and Nirvana albums) and have an abysmal computer sound card, so was considering an external DAC/amp combo.

My music tastes center on alternative rock, metal, and grunge. I value bass control and quality over quantity, and like detail retrieval of guitars and the like. Basically, a headphone that is more neutral and may even lean towards detailed.

Here are headphones I have auditioned/had experiece with to date:

Denon AHD-1001K: Too much bass on most of the music I listen to, usually have to use bass reducer EQ function on iPod

Denon AHD-5000: Better detail than the 1001 in the highs, better controlled bass but still too much on most music. Seemed more "mid-centric"

B&W P5: Similar to D5000 too mid and bass-centric for the kind of music I listen to.

Grado SR-225: Great detail retrieval and more preferred bass signature out of the other brands auditioned- better control. 

I am looking for a CLOSED headphone that I can use at work and home and not bother others as well as some on-the-go listening (line out dock + amp needed?). Isolation from the outside world is not critical, but preventing sound leakage is, so no open headphones for me at this point.

How would you allocate funds given my situation? Some headphones I am considering include the Shure SRH-840 and SRH-940, Beyerdynamic T70P. If I get the SRH-840 and SRH-940 I could spend some more money on the source component, but with the T70 I would basically blow the whole budget on the headphone with no money left until much later for a decent DAC and amp.

Some posts on the 940 describe them as being almost too heavy-handed on detail retrieval, but graphs on Headroom seem to indicate the 940 is less treble-oriented than the SR225 and even the T70 which some people seem to think was too bright?

Any other recommendations, insight, experiences? Thanks for your help in prioritizing my purchases!

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hughkk 

beyer DT series?

haven't heard them personally but might fit ur preference

 I looked at the DT series briefly- I think the 880 series is semi-open, so it might leak sound to others around me but I can't be sure...haven't read much about 770 or 990 other than one seems to be more bass-heavy and the other has a more "U shaped" curve to it. Not sure if this meets what I am looking for or not since it is all hearsay.

Any other thoughts/suggestions? Thanks!