$500 Fine sounding headphones

[saskon]

Hello everyone!
I'd like to buy my first (at least a bit) audiophile pair of headphones. I consider myself as a beginner so I ask if can some give me an advice or help me. My budget is $500. I listen mostly electro music (but I'd like to use it for watching movies as well) and I kinda like bass sound. As a source I will use my Macbook pro and Tidal Hifi. So I might buy an amp if needed.
Last thing - I have no preference over any brands or types of headphones, feel free to suggest anything that you think could meet my needs.

Thank you.

 

[silent-circuit]

Do you need isolation (closed back) or is it ok for the headphones to leak some sound and let sound in?

Where are you located in Europe?

 

[saskon]

Thanks for your comment.
I don't care about isolation. Living in Czech republic.

 

[Audi5000]

$500 is a good start. Have you tried any headphone//dac/amp combos? i think you can find really good $100 amps these days which can drive most any $300+ headphones. You really need to see for yourself at a specialty shop or music store. Reviews can say a lot of bad things about a headphone you might personally find to be absolutely great. And then you also have great sets that aren't even popular to review. Take the controversial Audio Technica M50X's. Some people love 'em, some people hate them. For me, they were great at what they were intended to do - Be somewhat flat studio production headphones that could also perform for listening and enjoying music.

Electro is a broad genre these days, but I'm thinking a quality closed backed for EDM, if thats the main focus. I find acoustic and more instrument based music/ movies more enjoyable with open backed headphones, (save for action movies with lots of explosions and rumbling low ends).

 

[saskon]

Well, I wish i could go to music store and listen to them, but due to covid situation, everything is still closed here (and no signs of opening shops any soon).

 

[gimmeheadroom]

Ahoj. Audeze LCD-2C. It does not need much amp to sound good.

 

[saskon]

Ahoj, thanks, it's too much over my budget...

 

[ultraman31]

I think iFi Zen Dac with either Meze Classic or Fidelio X2 would be good starting point.

 

[Deceneu808]

iFi Zen DAC & Sundara maybe ?

 

[silent-circuit]

Denon AH-D5200, maybe.

Or Hyland Audio Jupiter One, though that would be an import from the UK and I don't know what that would cost you.

 

[someguyontheinternet]

iFi Zen DAC would also be my recommendation for DAC/AMP
For the headphone I'd go with the Meze 99 Classics or Neo plus upgrade cable

 

[gimmeheadroom]

Ahoj, thanks, it's too much over my budget...

Ok, Sundara and it should not need an amp.

iFi Zen DAC & Sundara maybe ?

Even without the zendac, straight out of his Mac. But yeah, Sundara if LCD-2C is not possible right now.

 

[ultraman31]

Ok, Sundara and it should not need an amp.


Even without the zendac, straight out of his Mac. But yeah, Sundara if LCD-2C is not possible right now.

Sundara needs amp to work properly as its low sensitivity. Plus it is generally not recommended for the bassheads as it’s more emphasized on treble range.

 

[saskon]

What about Meze 99 vs Hifiman Sundara? You say Sundara has less bass?

 

[silent-circuit]

What about Meze 99 vs Hifiman Sundara? You say Sundara has less bass?

Between those two, yes, definitely. The Sundaras handle EQ well though, and if EQed for more bass will offer cleaner bass than the Meze 99, which can be a little "flabby".