So for some reason I’ve been on a little quest to find the best headphones to plug straight into to an iType device for mobile use. So considering those given parameters, this inherently rules out a lot of full sized headphones right off. Can’t be too big. It has to be efficient. Can’t be too bright due to the poor source. I was happy initially with the ATH-M50, but the brightness was too harsh and fatiguing. Bass accentuation is okay with me however.
 
Sony XB-500: Best buy, honorable mention. For $50, it’s not that bad if you don‘t mind the Princess Leia look. Synergizes fairly well actually. Not in the same class as the 4 others though as you might expect.
 
Next up was trying some phones designed for a mobile device to begin with. The finalists, which are all good picks, are the Pioneer SE-MJ591, V Moda M-80, Philips Fidelio L1, and the Bowers & Wilkins P5.
 

 
 
 
Pioneer SE-MJ591: I had high expectations based on the new Stereophile review. This was the first of the four that I listened too, and was quite pleased with what I initially heard. The presentation is mid focused which can take a little getting used to. The bass is there, just recessed. The mids do sound pretty good. In the end though, I need mo’ bass.
 
V Moda M-80: This is another good sounding phone. Strong mids and a good amount of bass. This is definitely a "in-your-face" type of presentation. Plays loud. The overall sound is a touch harsh comparatively however.
 
Philips Fidelio L1: I really like this phone. Fit and finish is excellent. The design is classic. They do sound great. A touch inefficient. This phone was a little quieter than the others. The sound is also laid-back and smooth. Very good tonality and clarity. It’s got the mid recessed thing going on, but I still like it. It’s a great compact full sized headphone, that said, it’s still a bit large and conspicuous for mobile use for my preferences.
 
Bowers & Wilkins P5: I did not have high expectations for this phone based on what I read about them. As it turns out, it’s the best phone for my application, tastes, preferences, etc. The presentation for me is somewhere between the M-80 and L1. Plays strong and smooth with good clarity and excellent tonality. Healthy bass. It’s a very classy design with great fit and finish. The soundstage doesn’t suffer despite its flat, closed design. It’s the most compact design of the lot and I appreciate that. As a bonus, it has the most inconspicuous cable that stays out of your way. Definitely not the perfect phone, but perfect for me. It’s like they combined the positive aspects of the other phones that I liked and put them into the P5. Well done B & W. Thanks
 
There’s my 2 cents. Please share your impressions and other phones that you like.

If cost were no issue, but you could only keep one of the other three (not the P5), which one would it be?  

If the P5 were out of the equation, I would be happy with the L1 based on SQ. Then I would have to get the M-80 for portability.

Did you consider the P3? It seems like it would be a bit more portable than the P5. 

I havne't heard the P5 or Pioneers, but I think the M80 headphones are either at or slightly above the level of the L1s...  I'm still burning in the L1s, but they have a bit too much of a mid-low bass focus.  M80s have cleaner and clearer mids and better bass texture (fluidity).  Both have some problems in the high end.  I need the L1's bass to be a little more controlled.  

Quote:

lmswjm said:

If the P5 were out of the equation, I would be happy with the L1 based on SQ. Then I would have to get the M-80 for portability.

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LOL, i.e. the SE-MJ591 doesn't have enough bass? 

Quote:

saeyedoc said:

Did you consider the P3? It seems like it would be a bit more portable than the P5. 

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     Didn't really consider the P3, just assumed it would have an inferior SQ.
     
Quote:

tinyman392 said:

I havne't heard the P5 or Pioneers, but I think the M80 headphones are either at or slightly above the level of the L1s...  I'm still burning in the L1s, but they have a bit too much of a mid-low bass focus.  M80s have cleaner and clearer mids and better bass texture (fluidity).  Both have some problems in the high end.  I need the L1's bass to be a little more controlled.  

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    Agreed. However the laid back presentation and recessed mids on the L1 result in a smoother, overall less harsh, less fatiguing sound for me.
Quote:

warrenpchi said:

 
LOL, i.e. the SE-MJ591 doesn't have enough bass? 

Click to expand...

   Pretty much. However, I'm playing around with the FiiO E11 right now (waiting for battery to charge). It's improving all of the phones' SQ as expected, but it's making the biggest difference on the 591 using the EQ switching. The EQ is well done, it doesn't sound like an artificial boost at all. It's resulting in a more level playing field.

The JVC HA-s500 are worth a look. 
Head fi thread - http://www.head-fi.org/t/621063/the-new-jvc-ha-s500-40mm-carbon-nanotubes

Quote:

lmswjm said:

Pretty much. However, I'm playing around with the FiiO E11 right now (waiting for battery to charge). It's improving all of the phones' SQ as expected, but it's making the biggest difference on the 591 using the EQ switching. The EQ is well done, it doesn't sound like an artificial boost at all. It's resulting in a more level playing field.

Click to expand...

 
Good to know!
 
On a power level, the parts for my new O2 are on their way.  I suspect that I'll be re-testing most of my headphone inventory after it gets built.  I'll be sure to run the 591s through them to see if that also makes them more evocative.