Hi everyone, I have been lurking here for a long time, and finally decided to participate in discussions as I have been having trouble trying to do my own research online.

Before I start writing a long long post, I would like to summarise what I am looking at, and seek your opinion. It can be opening a can of worms, but I hope to be able to use your advise to start somewhere.

Firstly, I live in a remote part of Asia, and can only travel to the city to a headphone store once in a few months, so "go and have a listen" is something of a luxury, not to mention not every store carry a big collection of headphones for testing.

Where I need help :

1. Replace my Sennheiser HD25-1 headphones.
2. Reference to the sound I like (currently) - Westone W40. But I am hoping to get cans to replace the W40 because I have wet type ear wax, and it is a pain to use IEMs because of that. Only when I get into a plane for long hauls, there is where I will plug in the W40.
3. Budget between US$300-500.
4. I have a FiiO Alpen headphone amp which is my primary DAC for my MacBook Pro. Otherwise I have no headphones amp.
5. I wear eye glasses, so something that clamps hard is definitely out.

Any advise? Many thanks.

I have read so many reviews now, that I am already pretty dizzy... but not much reference is made to the Westone W40... I like natural sound. Listen to a wide genre of music. I hate the Sennheiser HD25-1 for its piercing highs. I bought them for its durability. I have long outgrown them.

 

Sennheiser HD25 ALU
http://en-de.sennheiser.com/dj-headphones-stereo-hd-25-aluminum
 
According to the review, these seems as an upgrade to the HD25 1-II
http://www.headfonia.com/the-best-evolution-yet-hd-25-aluminium/

eyal1983 said:

  Sennheiser HD25 ALU
http://en-de.sennheiser.com/dj-headphones-stereo-hd-25-aluminum
 
According to the review, these seems as an upgrade to the HD25 1-II
http://www.headfonia.com/the-best-evolution-yet-hd-25-aluminium/

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From the excitement of the reviewer, it looks like an interesting candidate. Definitely will be in the "have a listen" list. But I am a little worried about the "deeper bass"... I am still hoping to seek a more neutral and balanced sound. Thank you for your reply.

I hear good things about the Shure SRH-1540

kraken2109 said:

  I hear good things about the Shure SRH-1540

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To be honest, I have had bad experience with Shure, but in any case, this will go onto the "listening list" as well.

Have you used the SRH-1540s before? What is your experience with them?

kleefurd said:

  To be honest, I have had bad experience with Shure, but in any case, this will go onto the "listening list" as well.

Have you used the SRH-1540s before? What is your experience with them?

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I haven't used them, but everything I've read about them has been positive.

My reading has somehow point me to two models : The Shure SRH-1540 (thanks kraken2109) and the Focal Spirit Professional. Will be heading into the city next week to have a listen to them with my trusty iPod and amp and see which one appeals to me more. Though I would be curious and hope to have a listen to the HD25 Aluminum and hope they have been improved. The skull crushing have had me using a heat gun to loosen them in the past. Not something I look forward to doing again though... but who knows, if the HD25 Aluminum do sound that improved, I just might...

Any suggestions will be most welcome.

Another popular set of closed headphones are the t50rp mods like the Mad Dogs. I doubt you'd be able to try them out in any shops though.
 
Are you limited to closed back models or would open back headphones be an option?

kraken2109 said:

Another popular set of closed headphones are the t50rp mods like the Mad Dogs. I doubt you'd be able to try them out in any shops though.

Are you limited to closed back models or would open back headphones be an option?

Click to expand...

You are right. These exotic models are probably really hard to come by for testing.

My preference is semi-open cans, but for the sake of my wife who shares the desk with me in our study, it is better for me to use closed cans so that she will not be distracted while she reads.