Can bass and a large soundstage coexist?

I'd try this in the headphones section, but very vaguely I would say try the D2000s while you still can. A lot of the cans you have listed there are unlikely to be bassy at all as well (like MA300).

Beyerdynamic DT990 is the closest headphone I can think of to what you want.

sennheiser ie8 has both, but it's in ear

You can have bassy and open cans, the DT990 is an example (that I have not heard), the Ultrasone HFI-2400 and PRO2900 are additional examples (which I have heard; I suggest the 2900 if you can afford it). The Darths are a Headphile creation - they're based on the DT770. I don't think they're called Darth Beyer anymore either - it's something like "TRACKER 5" now. Never tried them - they can get really (majorly) expensive.

Open doesn't have to mean thin, and closed doesn't have to mean bassy.

Yep , as with the as mentioned, dt-990s own this potential , dependent upon a higher-end DAC , presupposed .  IMO&E ...

Further -

 

The Beyers greatly extended HF is why they require a better than average DAC (although DACs generally have improved greatly for ya buck, most recently) which each will also of course, affect the recordings soundstage as well as depth and how very articulate the low Freq present .

Sorry, but I will not do recommendations specificly for you, as there are just to many varriables for me to say, "I Know" what you should choose and what YOU will hear speciffically vs. ??? (component chain) .

 

Hope is that I added to your understanding in general, that it is the "System" collectively which will or will not achieve these worthy goals you state and on a tight budjet too .

 

- Best regards

The headphones with the best bass I have ever heard, both in quality AND quantity (enough to blow your brains out of your skull if you're not careful) is the TakeT H2+ which is most certainly an open headphone. In fact the earcups don't even press again your head! Its soundstage is exceptional, but more importantly it has a sense of presence few headphones rival. Another legendary "bass king" is the Grado PS-1, which is also open. The Grado PS1000 has a great soundstage and sense of presence and is quite bassy as well, contrary to the "Grados have no bass" meme.

Edited by MuppetFace - 6/13/12 at 11:30pm

Which model Grado's ?

 

The RS-2's I owned posessed neither Bass nor Soundstaging in remarkable quantities in fact Grado's were known to have a unique coherent presentation witout seperation between instruments (air), which to my ear is necessary for remarkable or great soundstaging .

 

 

Haha, Classic  ;') 

 

So long as the OP is happy, though in conclusion I would like to know the model bought and so would any reader if the thread is to be of any use as a worth while read .

Edited by Hi-Finthen - 6/18/12 at 4:13pm

I think by mentioning Grados he was referring to my post directly above when I mention the PS series by Grado (PS-1, PS1000, and PS500).