Denon d2000 or d5000 if you can find it used. best closed cans in the price range for metal.

Get some used shure srh440.

Get a better source, and how can you hear distortion through all that horrible screaming?

Just do it yourself. Switch it around and solder it, it is pretty simple.

Are they amped? It sounds like a defect, Might want to send it back.

Head-Direct REO's will outperform any of the above options.

Bummer.

You misspelled comfortable. You should look into Denon d1000, they are ridiculously comfortable.

Thats called the Bose "sound signature". Sell them.

Stop saying "personal preference" for gods sake, take a stand. Its so annoying when people wont say anything helpful except "personal preference". I'm sure there is a best of the best, but i don't know much about speakers.

Get a new scource, a dac/amp or just a dac, before you get new headphones.

They are better now.

Is it soldered to the pcb? If it is then you will need to un-solder it and solder in a new one.

I have recently come into $300 and was looking into a new source, considering i'm using my onboard soundcard right now. What (in your opinion) is the best DAC or DAC/amp for this price? I am using shure srh840 right now but will upgrade to something with a higher impedance soon.

Price range?