best bang for the buck?

[r3cc0s]

IMO
currently

HD 580 still a winner
KSC-35 for portable
V6 is as cheap as ever
AKG 501
Grado 225
ATH 900

agreed?

 

[Kirosia]

mx300 = 'bout 5 bucks

Those $10 sony earbuds you get at walmart. I like em for portable use, SQ is anything but clear, though fun nonetheless, break if I look at em funny

Grado MS1

 

[blessingx]

KSC35 ($30)
PortaPros/PP2 ($40)
SR60 ($70)
MS1 ($100)
K501 ($125 if you've already got a great amp)
HD580 ($150 if you've already got a great amp)

It's hard to count the last two because of the requirement of spending significantly more cash, so for me it's the KSC35s and MS1s. The first because it gets you over the hump of headphones getting in the way of musical enjoyment (as long as they fit your ears), and the latter because it can grow with other equipment and is the cheapest non-Grato Grado (plus if we weren't insane over this hobby we'd probably stop here, before going crazy with amps, etc.). The best phone of the bunch is probably the Senns though with the AKG and Alessandros soon behind (which order depends on taste, fave genres, etc.).

 

[saint.panda]

I think most of the headphones that have a good reputation here more or less qualify as best bang for the buck.

Out of my head, the only headphone I could think of that is not necessarily best bang for the buck (bbftb) would be the RS1 but I bought it anyway.

Just to give an example on a couple of Sennheiser models and they people could describe them as bbftb
-HD555: "You don't necessarily need an amp. It doesn't excel in any area (like the Grado midrange) but only does little wrong. Offers nearly the same sound quality as the 595 for less money. Imo the headphone to beat for unamped use at $125"
-HD580: "A true reference headphone for only $150. The headphone to beat only a couple of years ago."
-HD650: "Maybe the best headphone, whether dynamic or electrostatic, ever made for only $380"


With that being said, the Koss KSC-35 is an exception.

Edit

 

[bangraman]

My vote for the best bang for the buck in terms of the higher end probably goes to the Beyerdynamic DT880. A genuine high fidelity phone for relatively peanuts. Whether you like the tone or not, it will really deliver hi-fi goods.

 

[CRESCENDOPOWER]

Etymotic ER-4P/S – The combination of isolation, detail, and transparency is unsurpassed at this price range. Associated equipment need not be killer!

 

[kugino]

grado sr60