[Bill in MD]

Hi there: I've just signed up, after a lot of poking around in various forums trying to figure out which way to go. I had a pair of what seemed like pretty good no-name noise-canceling headphones (branded Brookstone but obviously they didn't make 'em) that died a while back. So I'm looking to replace them, with a maximum price tag of $100.
 
Details:
Music: 90% classical music, otherwise podcasts and a music miscellany that never gets very head-bangy
Source: New iPod classic
Environment: Mostly taking walks, either outdoors or on a home treadmill; otherwise mowing the lawn, other yardwork, vacuuming the house, that kind of stuff.
Other: 1) I wear glasses, 2) I have a fairly large head, 3) Isolation is certainly a consideration, but sound leakage isn't
 
What I don't want:
Earbuds
Portable amp
 
I think noise-canceling will be a requirement, but if something will cut down the outside noise a lot without the NC I'm certainly willing to consider it.
 
I hope I'm not asking the same thing that 47 others have asked in the past week, but if so I apologize. My thanks in advance!
 
Bill.

 

[Bill in MD]

P.S.: I've read highly mixed things about the Panasonic HC-150...why might that be? Thx again

 

[HesterDW]

I've owned the Panasonic HC-150 and you don't want them. What do you mean by classical? Classical rock or what? Grados are supposed to be good for rock.

 

[Bill in MD]

No, sorry, I mean classical music: Bach, Shostakovich, those guys.

 

[HesterDW]

I suggest looking at some Sennheiser HD555 reviews. 

 

[200poundsofamp]

If you're okay with full sized you could check out the Shure 440, good isolation and a pretty balanced frequency response.
 
Quote:

I suggest looking at some Sennheiser HD555 reviews. 

 
Those are huge and open, cmon now
 
 

 

[HesterDW]

Missed the last part my bad.

 

[Bill in MD]

After doing a boatload of reading, I'm coming back to this thread just to clarify and emphasize that: 1) I do not want IEMs or anything like them; 2) the more outside noise is eliminated the better, whether through ANC or just really good isolation, but 3) I also do not expect complete removal of outside sounds...just significant attenuation; 4) sound leakage is not a concern; 5) second-hand is fine with me. Otherwise my original post above pretty much says it all.
 
Again my thanks in advance! Bill