Found this on the subject http://www.randombio.com/noise.html

If you are that worried about hearing damage with headphones, use SPL meter. Stick it in between the ear pads and squeeze them together. SPL meter with long neck would be best so you can get nice "seal" with the ear pads. 85db is the limit where you start to get hearing damage when exposed to it...

I agree, some reviews are spot on with the sound. From my experience, people who have listened to a lot of headphones or higher end audio in general. Often give the most accurate reviews. I think it has to do with what you pointed out, they have heard what neutral bass is.  But i am not saying...

From my experience reading tons of reviews and listening to headphones, bass quantity is often difficult subject. Most often there are quite different views on the matter. Also i have noticed the words neutral / balanced does not mean the same thing for everybody. To me Neutral means that no...

They are the same headphone, only difference i think is the housing material. Definitely get the aluminum ones if they are the same price.

To answer your question, no winamp can't change the bit rate. Unless you re-encode the file, but that's something you should not do to already compressed files. I don't actually know any places where you can buy songs online. I usually buy used CD's for cheap anyway's so. I find it odd that...

You have not noticed any of the crackle sound with any other songs? May i ask how loud do you listen to music? That particular Metallica album is so badly recorded and mastered that it makes you weep... The Snare drum sounds horrible. Also i think i hear some form of popping and crackling in...

I am not expert myself with these things. Sorry i can't give you a easy solution for your problem. To me it sounds some sort of driver / audio decoding issue. Software related anyway. Anyway i hope you find a fix for your issue.

If you don't have analog volume pot then you use the system volume. IF you have a analog volume pot then you set the System volume to 100% and use line Out and control volume with the analog. I control system volume with my keyboard ( has volume control ) its digital and it adjusts the system...

Its a good thing they are reworking winamp since winamp has issues with latency and heavy memory loads. It sometimes introduces odd sound during playback when your computer is under heavy load. That is the reason i started using Foobar2000, i often listen music when i play games and winamp had...

Well if the sound card is dead silent without any noise played then it most likely is not a problem with anything related to hardware. At least your sound card is not taking any EMI noise what could explain the pops and crackle sounds. I have encountered problems before with sound cards and...

Couple of things came to mind. Try using different PCI-e Slot for the card or just plug it in and out to make sure its seated properly. Also you could try taking it out and turn the computer on and go to windows then turn it off and plug the sound card back in and start.   Btw are you hearing...

The Stock Akg K240 ear pads are uncomfortable indeed for larger ears because they are so shallow. The DT770 ear pads are around the same size but deeper and softer and made from velour. Did you like the sound of the Akg K240 or did you listen to them?   I actually use the Shure SRH840 ear...

I did not quite understand what have you plugged with RCA cable? Also do you use the Front panel jack or the back panel jack? Press the HF button option in your Control center and listen if you still have the pop / crackle sound?   I am not sure if it can be your computer since any noise...

You should put all your requirements in your OP, its hard to recommend anything since we don't even know why you rejected those headphones.