Hi - I'd like some advice for headphones...

Applications: Gaming (create accurate environment, FPS shooter gaming), Music (Bassy Metal, Drum/bass, techno, Rock, some rap), Reference for comparison to Home Theater and Car Audio Setups - calibration/tuning purposes.

Scenario: Pimeta or PPA, Audigy 2zs for gaming, undecided (but cleaner) source for all else.

Budget: $250 for headphones alone; light/moderately used is acceptable. Separate cables (Senn) should be considered part of the headphone cost.

Preferences: Create realistic 3d environment, great detail, good bass output, not overly 'bright'

Now - any recommendations? and with them, I need to know how easy the cans are to drive (may be running without amp for few months).

Any help is appreciated.

Edit: I'm also looking for places to audition cans in SOCAL area (perhaps Orange county).

Open - Senn HD600
Closed - Beyer DT250-250.

The senn 600s are good, but may need a good amp.

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Based on this one thing alone.. I don't know if HD580/600/650 would be good choices... They have very good soundstage, but their sound imaging leaves much to be desired. They're not very good for 3d imaging and positional cues, especially if gaming is a concern.

Audio Technica A900 would do much better in that respect. No slouch in music playback capability either.

Yes, the imaging is an important factor here.

I have read a post on these forums vouching for Senn hd497's for gaming, but I suppose that the hd580/600 are so different that it doesn't matter.

I've also read a post about someone using a Beyer, either dt880 or dt770 for gaming, with good results.

The purpose of this is not only for gaming, it is for music as well. So if the cans can play music well, and image decently well - then they should be fine.

Beyer, AKG, Sony (the few that are good), Grado?... Alessandro...

Any thoughts on any of those? ... canal/buds/in-ear -- are these even capable of accurate imaging? (Etymotic)

Any more input is appreciated.

I'm gonna second Audio Technica A900. It is one of the best phone around $200 and can be used unamped with great success.
-Mike (former Team Audio Technica)

Ask Jodiuh how his Beyer DT770s sound while he's playing Halo.

Audio Technica A900 without an amp out of the PC is the bomb. The drivers are tilted slightly foward like the cd3000 to give a better sound stage. Also as compaired to the DT250 the bass is tigher. There is about a $80 price difference though really depends on buget for $120ish used the dt250-80 are hard to beat if you can go to $180 ish used definally the Audio Technica A900. and if you get an amp the Audio Technica A900 sound great the dt250-80 are not that grate with an amp brings out all the bad quality in the phones. The a900 have more growing room. Open maybe the Senn HD600 but I haven't herd them in a pc game.

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second that
the DT770 should rock your boat and sink it too if you turn the volume up too loud
i don't know if it would work as reference.
for reference purposes you generally use neutral phones as then the sound can be setup as per your requirements.
CHeers
Kunwar