Best forgiving headphones for around $300 or less?

[i_don't_know]

Basically, I need something that will not make listening to something like Hendrix unbearable, but still be an extremely good, detailed, fun headphone. No amp is to be used. Ultrasone PRO 2500 is an option because someone on here was kind enough to let me in on a place to get them for under $300.

I like plenty of soundstage and and a sound that is generally balanced but very fun to listen to.


Any thoughts? Both IEMs and full-sized headphones are possible options.

 

[.coco]

have you tried the SR225s? sounds like they might do the trick for you.

 

[i_don't_know]

I used to be considering Grados, but after trying out my friend's SR80 one more time, I realized I don't really like the sound or the comfort all that much. The Grado sound, from what I could hear, was sort of a "bright but not bright, while still being somewhat annoying" sound.

And the comfort... uggghhhhh...

 

[lucky]

Sennheiser HD-555 or HD-595. Two of the most comfortable headphones in existence.

 

[i_don't_know]

Senns are usually pretty amp-dependent. Not quite what I'm looking for, though if they could be fully driven both volume-wise and SQ-wise from the headphone jack of a DAP, they'd be perfect.

 

[lucky]

Neither of those phones needs amplifiers. I use the former daily through my Macbook. They sound equally great through my iPod, though I wish the cord terminated in a 1/8" plug rather than a 1/4".

 

[grawk]

Audio Technica ATH-ESW9 is a spectacular headphone that works well from any headphone jack I've tried it with. With proper amplification, many headphones best it, but for forgiving cans, these are tough to beat.

 

[1Time]

Quote:

Originally Posted by i_don't_know /img/forum/go_quote.gif Basically, I need something that will not make listening to something like Hendrix unbearable, but still be an extremely good, detailed, fun headphone. No amp is to be used. Ultrasone PRO 2500 is an option because someone on here was kind enough to let me in on a place to get them for under $300. I like plenty of soundstage and and a sound that is generally balanced but very fun to listen to. Any thoughts? Both IEMs and full-sized headphones are possible options.

I suggest staying away from Ultrasone. An Audio-Technica would be a safe bet. An inexpensive amp very likely would lend to the fun factor. Why buy nice headphones and then not drive them well? What will you be plugging the headphones into?

 

[i_don't_know]

I'll be plugging them into a Sony S639F.


Maybe I should just get the IE8. I'm afraid I won't be getting the best for my money then because they're IEMs, though. And I'm not really sure how revealing they are. And since they're IEMs I'm afraid of not getting a good "out-of-head" soundstage experience.




i_don't_know's sanity - time of death 11:56pm

 

[tintin47]

x2 for the ESW9. Great phone.