Congrats... Now you got the bug.

Try something like SX-780 / SX-3700 (45-Watts) under $200, then go from there. You do not need that much wattage. Even a 20 - 30 watt range receiver like SX-680 would be good to start with. Good Luck......

Yes, the SX-3800, its my first receiver I bought just right after high school. I still have her. Yes the blue light show is amazing... 

fluoroscan meters, could be SX-3700 (45 watts), SX-3800 (60 watts), SX-3900  (120 watts) SX-D5000/SX-D7000 (60/120 watts). Last fall the  SX-3900 was going as high as $1400 on feabay...

So you are saying that the "non-switching" amp section found in the SX-3900, SX-D5000, SX-D7000,  SA-8800, & VSX-D1S are not good? Please explain.....

That is not true. Own AR & NHT & Advent speakers that sound excellent hooked up to the SX-3800 / SX-3900. These speakers were manufactured in the in the early 90's.   Also, try Pioneer VSX-D1S receiver made in 1990, in stereo mode pulls 130 watts per channel all day long. It's a revised...

And for balance mode, I wired an female 4-pin XLR plug to the speaker outputs (taps) so I can use several headphones in balanced mode. All my headphones have nothing but a male 4-pin xlr plug wired to them. You can also use an 4-pin xlr to 1/4 trs plug adapter if you want to use a the phone...

100 Euro can buy you a mint used Phillips X1 or very used X2 both have plenty of bass, or a used  Denon D600 - mega bass there. Just look a flea bay or the used Amazon section.

Try this website, has pictures and shows how to remove and replace the pads in living color... http://www.lawtonaudio.com/anglepadinstructions.html

+1 on Mark Mods. Added his damping mods, his angle pads, and rosewood the cups... 

I have been saying that for a while now. Even a 30-watt receiver will sound good. Myself uses the 60-watt, SX3800 more than the 100-watt, SX3900 to drive headphones. All it takes is a little power.   Welcome to the brotherhood of speaker tap listening..........

+1 for vintage amp, both the SX-3800 & SX-3900 in balanced mode sounds amazing.....

For my HE-400, I am just running off the speaker taps with no resisters. I made a special 4-pin xlr cable making the headphone a "balanced" phone going straight from the speaker taps to the headphone. Start with the Volume at zero, then turn it up a little at a time. You will never look back...

Welcome to the vintage receiver brotherhood.....

I would purchase a 32" monitor for the same price as that 27", check this monitor out. I just purchase one. Samsung 32” WQHD LED Monitor (S32D850T). It is made for gaming, cad/cam, and the graphics area...