[fufula]

I currently own the HD650s and SHP9500s. I actually prefer the airy, wide soundstage of the 9500s, and they're one of the most comfortable headphones I've tried. I appreciate the clarity of the HD650s, but cannot stand their headband padding and cannot wear them comfortably for more than 10 minutes, so I'm definitely getting rid of these. I'm looking for a pair of headphones with a nice soundstage, similar or better than that of the 9500s, rather laid-back sound with similar clarity to that of the HD650s.

Fidelio X2 seems like the logical step forward, but I've heard many people saying that these are not really in the same league as the HD650s. I'm willing to spend up to $400. Should I be looking at any other options?

 

[PopZeus]

They don’t scale as well as the HD650, but then again, they don’t require a whole lot of power either. If you want to keep things simple without the need of an amp, get the X2. FWIW, it’s a closed-back, but on the whole, I prefer the sound of the Meze 99 Noir to the X2.

 

[Asspirin]

The Fidelio X2HR are a very good bang for your buck. For their current price, I would recommend them regardless of what you're looking for.