AKG K271 MKII or Audio-Technica ATH-M50?

You will not get much bass from the AKGs, especially out of your phone. Also, the K271 are pretty huge in person. You probably don't want to be walking around in those things. The M-50s should deliver plenty bass and will do well for walking around with them on your neck since the cups swivel.

+1. M50 are much better for your application. HD25, TMA-1, P5 would be better than either though for portable use.
 

Quote:

Originally Posted by JRoMan 

You will not get much bass from the AKGs, especially out of your phone. Also, the K271 are pretty huge in person. You probably don't want to be walking around in those things. The M-50s should deliver plenty bass and will do well for walking around with them on your neck since the cups swivel.

I'm also looking into these two but not at all worried about them being mobile. So which leak the least? If they are both about the same, which are more comfortable for long periods?

Quote:

Originally Posted by TierAngst 

I'm also looking into these two but not at all worried about them being mobile. So which leak the least? If they are both about the same, which are more comfortable for long periods?

Go for the ATH-M50s. When on your head or folded up, they leak zero sound. If you have a lot of hair around your ears, the pleather (may) get sweaty. They're comfortable for long sessions - at least for me.

For pure music listening with most genres I'd probably suggest M50 sound wise. K271 has superior midrange, one of the best I've ever heard from closed headphones, and is significantly more comfortable (I used to have one for monitoring purposes and it did an amazing job). Their clinical sound however I feel is not the best for listening to most mainstream music genres, and they definitely do not have sound quality that you are looking for as they're light on bass.

So they are both about the same as far as leak goes? As far as sound is concerned I will be running it through an amp/dac and I use it for both movies and music (literally all genres). The velour and cheaper price both look appealing for the K271s but I have read a few places (now including your mention) that the sound is better on the M50.

I think I'd like to throw the Fischer Audio FA-003/Brainwavz HM5 in the mix. Have been reading about them in direct comparison to the M50s and they seem to be better liked. The biggest appeal to me with them is they seem to have deeper ear pockets and my ears tend to stick out slightly, the pressure on them is my biggest complaint when it comes to my HD 201s. 

Here's a fairly lengthy review of the M50 vs the k271 that I wrote on my blog a year ago.

http://j.mp/zSqe1w 

Hope it helps some.

And the search goes on... after doing more research the KRK KNS 8400 seem like a great choice too. I have been seeing some varying opinions on whether they are good at preventing leak though, can anyone comment on the leak factor of these?

Right now I'm really leaning toward the FA-003/HM5 but the KRK's are a lot easier to get a hold of and I'd probably go that route if they are comparable in terms of leak or lack there of. 

Quote:

Originally Posted by JRoMan 

Here's a fairly lengthy review of the M50 vs the k271 that I wrote on my blog a year ago.

 

http://j.mp/zSqe1w 

 

Hope it helps some.

Didn't even notice your post at first...

Definitely helps, makes me think I'm on the right path with the HM5 route.