Headphones recommendation for a beginner?

 One closed suggestion, one open suggestion.

 Sennheiser HD598 or Shure 840

 Both are quite balanced and easy to drive from i-devices but will upscale a bit with some amplification

 and a better source.

 I note that you said 'good with everything' both are not mid bass monsters, if that's what you want then

 you have to make a compromise in that such a headphone will sound cruddy with vocals and acoustic, and other

 light genres.

 Others will suggest the Denon D2000.

akg 701!!!!! no i'm just kidding hah

for under 300, and if you like reference sound, i suggest beyerdynamic dt 1350 which is really awesome with out an amp, or the senn hd25

even some ultrasone hfi 580 is good

honestly if you dont' want to power it with an amp, then don't even bother buying 598 or 650 ish of headphone, you gonna underpower it soooo bad....

Open back headphones will leak sound as well as let outside sound in.  Meaning that people will hear your music, and you will be able to hear them.  Closed back headphones will reduce sound leakage.  I'd recommend the Sennheiser HD598.  I love my pair and it sounds rather nice without an amp, and you buy an amp later to make it sound even better.  Apart from my recommendations, the 598 appears to be rather beginner friendly in the fact that it does not need an amp, and doesn't break the bank.  If you can catch them on the down swing for about 180 dollars you could buy yourself a nice amp to boost your performance. 

HD598 is very good without an amp. Its not HD600/HD650.

HD598 is really an excellent first audiophile headphone for easy listening.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Muzick 

Thanks for the suggestions!

 

I'm totally unfamiliar with amps, what would you recommend? and how much would it be?

 I found the Fiio E9 to work very well with the Shure 840, did not get to audition the HD598 with the E9 though.

 It's more or less the most popular and powerful amp out there at the moment for the price of $100USD.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Muzick 

What does it do exactly, I don't quite get it. There is only a volume control right? Does it add bass, treble or something?

 It's an amplifier, yes it will flesh out the bass somewhat, especially with the Fiio E9 which tends add a warm harmonic

 to most music. Neither of those cans are really harsh or strident even with dodgy music material (although if you listen

 to 128kbps punk Mp3's, I retract that comment now :-))

 Your music should sound fuller and meatier across the range.

 It is though just an amp at the end of the day, if you run it out of your laptop/computer headphone out then you will

 be adding a noisy source to the E9 which will be conveyed to your headphones.

 Luckily for about $80 you can either dock a Fiio E7 onto the E9 (the E7 will replace the in built sound card in your

 computer) - alternatively many are reporting superior results with the Fiio E10 and E9.

 You could just run a Fiio E10 which is a very small DAC (soundcard replacement) and amp in one tiny little unit

 that runs off your USB port. Would work nicely with either of those cans over nothing at all.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Muzick 

 

Wow, thanks for all your advice! :-) I'm planning to get an external audio interface though, wouldn't it act like an amp? And the E10 seems very good for it's price, would you recommend it over the E9?

 The E9 is a lot more powerful than the amp section in the E10 ~ however for either the HD598 or Shure 840 then it won't make much of a difference since

 either will run quite acceptably from a portable device.

 When you say 'external audio interface' - what product/model are you referring to?

Quote:

Originally Posted by Muzick 

Nothing too fancy, probably something kind of like that http://www.zzounds.com/item--TASUS144MKII Just so I can record my XLR microphone and a guitar/base. But if one day I decide to upgrade my headphones for something like HD 6xx or anything in that price range, will the E9 get the job done? if it does, I might as well get it right away! but if I go with open headphones do you get as much into in the music as with the closed one? Can you hear surrounding sounds? Is there a noticeable difference? I know I ask many questions but I really want to make the best choice as possible :-P

 Open cans are inherently more natural sounding ~ they will replicate the sort of sound that you hear from a fine pair of speakers ~ or at least attempt to! 

 Closed cans are just various shades of exactly that ~ a closed headphone, unusual sound stage and lack of a natural sound - perfect for club or electronica

 but not desirable in any way for acoustic or vocals.

 Note that the Shure 840 is one notable exception ~ it's a very balanced, nice sounding closed can for the cash.

 If you can go open then I recommend it.

 The E9 will power any headphone you can think of to positively insane levels of volume ~ the catch though ~ as the headphone becomes more resolving

 and expensive ~ the loss in dynamics is more and more apparent. This is the difference between a ripper entry level amp like the E9 and a high

 end amplifier. The high end unit does not provide any more volume per se, but it keeps much more of the original analogue signal that came in,

 the loss of dynamics in the music is minimized.