I can personally vouch for the excellent bass performance on the JVC HA-S400 (the S500's little brother with big sound). Its clear, punchy, and delivers a great experience. They are WELL below your budget so that's a plus, but they are a tab uncomfortable. The S500 are a similar size/style but...

So my HD558s were delivered on time and I was able to test them out a bit today. Here are my first impressions..   Sennheiser HD 558: + SUPER comfy! Ear pads are big enough to accommodate my piercings and the material is nice and cool + More bass than I expected, on par with my Bose AE2 +...

Yeah, a bit too rich for my blood.. for now   My $150 budget already includes my "stretch" budget. I'd really like to keep the phones in the $100-120 range but I would consider something up to $150 if they were just perfect. My HD558s should be on my doorstop when I get home today. I will...

Thanks for the suggestion, the price is a bit more than I'm looking to spend but I'll check them out just in case. Sounds like they would be a decent option for me (warm and punchy), though a lot of folks comment that they are a bit uncomfortable sometimes.

I haven't tried the 429 but I have the AE2 and I can comment on their comfort and sound quality. Bass was a bit lacking and mids sounded a little recessed but overall it was a pleasant listening experience. Comfort wise, these things are super light and the pads are incredibly comfortable. The...

I actually read a review for the X1s, thinking they were the L1s, and fell partially in love with them. Shame they are more than just a bit outside my budget :( To be honest, if I were to stretch my budget at all the HD598 would be the first on my list to test out. Maybe someday I'll look into...

Wouldn't you know, I'm terrible at wine tasting also :P Though I get what you're saying and that's what I was worried about. How long do you recommend listening to a pair of headphones to get a good feel for them? 15 Minutes straight? An hour? Same song over and over or a variety? Also, how...

Ugh! Looks like those s680s take their sweet time getting here from Japan (go figure). I might just put those on the back burner for now as I'm on a timer with these other phones and their return windows are closing faster than I like. I checked out a couple reviews on those Philips L1s and I...

  I just noticed that thread! Reading up on it now, they certainly could be just the thing! Any really comprehensive reviews on those phones? If they really sound like an upgraded s400 then I'll buy a pair off ebay before end of day!

So I've collected a number of headphones and figured out a bit more about my listening preferences.   I currently have, ATH-AD700 Bose AE2 Creative Aurvana Live! 2 JVC s400 Monoprice 8320 (IEMs) *Added Sennheiser 558 below*   What I'm looking for (in order of importance); Comfort...

Quote (me in OP):   I live in a rural-ish area and there are maybe 2 or 3 music shops within an hour's drive and they don't carry a particularly wide selection. I WAS able to test out a few models but unfortunately none of the ones that I'm really interested in. The ATH-M50s sounded nice...

Those look like a solid contender. I will have to check out some reviews, thanks for the suggestion!   I am tempted to add some Monster headphones to the list of potentials. I'm used to Monster selling drastically overpriced accessories and cables but it seems that their DNA and VEKTR models...

Hey all,   Been lurking the forums here for awhile and I figured it was high time that I pick up my first pair of "real" headphones. Gone are the days of accepting mediocre sound quality and letting myself get swayed by marketing techniques. Onward to hi-fi!   I've narrowed down what I'm...

Hi there! Complete newbie here so take my recommendation with a bit of salt. These IEMs have treated me VERY well, especially considering their crazy-low price point. Not sure where I saw these recommended before, I think it was somewhere on this site, but they easily punch way above their...