I have just now bought this cd. Beethoven no. 9 by Fricsay. I am completly floored by  his interpretation. I recommend to hear it. Probably one of the best soulful interpretation of this symphony. 

Maybe I was not enough clear. Of course, Shostajkovich is not as pathbreaking, monumental figure in the history of classical music as Beethoven. On the contrary, certain extent he is the last representativ of a dying tradition. But I meant that Shostakovich in his music protrayed, reflected the...

Shostakovich was the Beethoven of the XXth century. Lived through horrible age, in the midst of Stalinist terror and also saw the II. WW. His work reflected the horrors, terror and fear of his age. Sometimes he used double speech and referred not only the tremendous crimes committed by one...

Interesting read. Very few of the highly regarded headphones survived this battle. http://www.innerfidelity.com/content/one-enthusiasts-take-top-line-headphones-state-flagships

You really should try a stax. None of the above mentioned headphones come close to a stax as far as speed, transparency and natural timbre concerned. 

My first headphone was an AKG 240. Than AKG 501, I did not like them. None of them were really comfortable and I felt that they had a boring sound. Than I bought a sony mdr-f1. I still have this. It is light and supercomfortable and especially in summer the only one headphone which allows good...

I do own and like stax. So, obviously, I may have a biased opinion. But I think when you use an expression like being on the analytical side means something negative like cold, uninspiring but detailed sound. If I would have to choose a headphone for such  a soundprint is the AKG 240, but it...

There is no headphone wihout divisive opinions. Lambda maybe a better option than sr-x 3, but also more expensive. But if you like natural timbre and sound most similar to real life music stax is the best option, especially if you are after music which is unamplified in real life.

600/650 is fine upgrade, but if you really looking for something different I recommend to try out a stax. You could buy around 300 usd an sr 3/5 or sr-x 3 with an energizer (you also need a real amplifier, but if you dont have you could buy for around 100 usd a decent vintage one) and you get a...

Search for a Sony MDR-F1. The most comfortable and lighterheadphone ever. There are always some on the sell section of this site. Open design, so in hottest climate is fine. 

I did like Sennheiser HD650 (driven by O2). Mid bass reinforcement and somewhat forgiving nature makes it wonderful for rockmusic (at least for me), while enough detailed not to be at loss at good quality recordings.

I ince had this product. This is a fine pro-audio gear engineered to drive similar headphones as the dt 990. So, in principle, this is fine and should be enough to drive your headphone . 

Tube amp is niche product. For 120 you wont get any good, or at least very unlikely. I would go for a solid state.  

Of course,the 1944 ninth by Furtwangler is one of my favourite recording of mine. 

Buy a 32 ohm (Denon or Sony) closed model and you likely that dont need additional amplifier. Put all your money into the heaphone hoping that pricier will be better. Sony mdr 1 is fine. If you are not afraid of used headphones have a look into the sell section. I have recently seen there a sony...

Buy a denon headphone. YOu dont need new amp, you can buy the best possible model.

Denon. and you likely not need to buy a new amp. So you can spend all the money to get best possible cans. 

But than you should hear HD800 as the more dynamic can compared to 701, should'nt you?

I think, enough to buy a HD 650 at the first step. You likely to percieve huge change compared to 555. Whether to adding the asus would add better sound (and you will percieve it as a better sound) and whether the change will be in line with the investment - this is difficult to say. If you...

For classical, the best is a used vintage stax. You can grab one for around 300. For electronica, what you have is fine,  

For me, the most insightful recording of Eroica is the 1944 Furtwangler version. Maybe, due to similar controversial, probing time, this version reflects the best the anguish, hope and desilluisions of Beethoven.   None the less, this is a version, which to enjoy needs you total attention...

If I compare Sen HD 650 to Stax sr-x3, cetainly, hd 650 gives the impression of bigger difference between orchestral tuttis and preceeding pianissimo compared to stax. But I also think that this is part of the specific coloration of Senn (or dynamic headphones, if you like). Not only the well...

Actually, in the sell section of headfi there is (or was? I have seen it a month ago or so) a similar demaged sr-x 3 for a few dollars. You may get that and assamble one good out of the two..