DBIs and German Maestros... built like tanks.

Ultrasone HFI-780 for $200 ~ $220 or Ultrasone HFI-550 for around $120 (plus shipping off eBay): both have great punchy and clean bass for those genres. And don't look back...

DBI-Pro 700. Circumaural, comfortable, built like a tank, great sound, respond very well to EQ'ing and are a steal at $30 + S&H off eBay. Work great out of my Cowon S9 and my TBAAM.

HFI-780, IMO. Amazing cans with punchy bass for rock, rap, R'n'B and hip-hop. I'm not much into psy trance and Indian music, so I can't speak for those genres. You can grab them for around $220 + S&H off eBay, brand new.

If you like punchy bass, my vote goes to the Ultrasone HFI-550 in the $100 price range. Big fast bass which doesn't cloud the mids (which is my experience with the AKG K81DJ). More comfortable than the K18DJs as well (circumaural vs supraaural). If you want some really good budget cans, the...

Ultrasone HFI-780 are great for rock. I've got both HFI-780 and ATH-ESW9s, and the ESW9s have been getting dust in my closet since the 780s arrived. But I do like the more aggressive sound sig of Ultrasones.

I'm also having a great experience with a poor-man setup: A pair of $30 DBI Pro 700 + $35 Turtle Beach Audio Advantage Micro USB + $0 Foobar2000 = Bliss! The same goes with my Ultrasones, but that combo doesn't qualify as a budget rig, I guess...

I've got the Ultrasone HFI-550, and they're very capable headphones. Overall great sound with emphasis on bass, which has great punch. Isolation is above average and they don't leak unless you listen at unreasonable (and unhealthy) volume levels. They usually appear at eBay for $100 - $150, and...

I've got both the Atrio M5s and the Hippo VBs, and the VBs are clearly superior to the M5s (which I like a lot). Bass on the VBs is punchier, and their sound is clearer than on the M5s. Great budget IEMs.

I bought my AKG K271S from Yogi-comp, and had no hassle at all. Sorry to hear you're having problems dealing with them.

Great. I hope you'll enjoy your 780s as much as I enjoy mine.

Quote: Originally Posted by srcHG Sounds good but I have some questions: - how is isolation affected by the GMP pads? - are the highs much less sharper? - how much did you pay (especially for shipping etc.)? Thanks The pads I bought for my DBIs from German Maestro are the...

The DBI Pro 700 are a steal for $40 off eBay. Don't know whether you'll like their sound sig, though, since you like Senns.

Quote: Originally Posted by srcHG I just got my dbi pro 700 this week and I'm quite pleased with their sound. But the Highs are a bit too sharp and pronounced for my taste (I'm used to my SR80is). I think I will try some other pads, the only problem is that I'm currently in the USA and...

Quote: Originally Posted by silentmeloud (...) Sound & everything else This headphones doesn't need extensive burn-in. When i got them - they sound distorted, but after 20 minutes on good volume sound became good & the same as after 50 hours of usage with "Ultimate burn-in" track...