Best headphones for Heavy Metal

[Hyperfluxe]

Hello, I'm wondering what's considered to be the best cans for Metal, available at 400$ or less. I have a done a lot of research, but I mostly found old threads in '08 and '09. I mostly listen to more extreme forms of Metal such as Death, Black, Thrash, Folk, Power, Doom, and Progressive Metal. Production isn't always great, and I heard that very high-end headphones aren't good with Metal because it reveals production flaws, but I have a fair amount or modern Metal that has great mastering and production. I'm just looking for best overall SQ, so good treble extension and sparkle, excellent mid range, and deep bass and lows. I want lots of detail specially in the electric guitars and drums. I need something with great clarity and instrument separation, because there is so many different instruments being played in my music.  I don't want something that lacks bass like the Audio Technicas, because in my experience it makes the drums lose significant substance. I'm usually an IEM guy, but I'm willing to experiment with full size headphones now, since they do provide better SQ than IEM's.
 
I'm curious though, when I do buy cans, do I need an amp and DAC with it? I'll be using my 2009 iPod Classic. My budget is 400$, including amp and DAC if it's needed. Thanks.

 

[Magic77]

I'm a very big Metal Fan also. I use the Denon AH-D2000's as my main Headphones. They go for $349 at Headphone.com  I think these are excellent for Metal Music. I use them with a Headphone Amp, and they are the best headphones I have ever owned. I would definitely recommend using an Amp with these Headphones; especially for Metal. They seem to bring out the best with all instruments. 
 
I like your "Emperor" avatar; I like Emperor also, and yes they sound great with these Headphones!!

 

[Shark50521]

I have no complaints listening to metal on my DT990/600 and metal is my primary genre. I don't think you could drive them very well out of an iPod though.

 

[Mr.Sneis]

I would say:
 
Grado's, the best you can afford, go used for   RS-1 ($500), RS-2 ($400-350), HF-1 ($300-275)
Dac/Amp!  iBasso d10 ($290-$225), e-mu 0404 usb ($175)
 
I'm a little biased against closed headphones
 
That's a decent stsrting point

 

[Mr Joboto]

Gogo Grado Rangers!

 

[maruzen]

if you are going to use an ipod, might as well go grado. i would recommend the sr325i or the alessandro ms2i: they are below your budget, you do not need to amp them, they have an in-your-face presentation that is engaging, and both cans are amazing for presenting distorted electric guitar sound. however these cans will leak sound so make sure the people around you love metal too... sr325i presents guitars better, i find the ms2i with more detail. bass is ample on both cans, and you can go mobile with them if you can find a way to deal with the thick long cable i use the dt990 600 ohms like sir Shark above for heavier music. i like the comfort of beyers, and as much as i like the grado sound, i can't tolerate them for more than 4 hours max compared to my friends. but they will need an amp. if you will listen at home and want a less aggressive sound with better bass and detail, the dt990 might suit you better. they are also below your budget... if you want detail, bass, instrument separation without needing an amp, you could gun for a grado rs-1i, but it is about 50usd more than your budget. but it suits your description more than the three i have recommended, but it is also more expensive...

 

[FirsToStrike]

Quote:

Gogo Grado Rangers!

lol

 

[Mr Joboto]

Lol, good find there 

 

[angle_sh00ter]

I am constantly amazed at how good heavy metal sounds with my AD1000PRM

 

[MacedonianHero]

Agreed with many other peoples posts with Grados!
 
Just magical with hard rock and metal. I would simply get the best Grados that you can afford (except I would by-pass the SR325is...way too hot and shrilly treble). They sound great un-amped, but even better amp'd for down the road.

 

[lorafenik]

I've got cheaper Grados (Alessandro MS1) and I've never listened to anything as good for rock as them. And people say the more expensive Grados, the better

 

[Suntory_Times]

i think heavy metal sound great with my current set-up, (benchmark dac1 > HD800's), it all depends on whether you like a neatral sound signiture or not.     (and how much your willing to spend).

 

[MacedonianHero]

Quote:

i think heavy metal sound great with my current set-up, (benchmark dac1 > HD800's), it all depends on whether you like a neatral sound signiture or not.     (and how much your willing to spend).

Don't get me wrong, I love my HD800s, but I do end up reaching for my Grado RS1s or beyer T1s for Metallica about 100% of the time.

 

[Suntory_Times]

Quote:

Don't get me wrong, I love my HD800s, but I do end up reaching for my Grado RS1s or beyer T1s for Metallica about 100% of the time.

They very will may be better (I don't like grado's though), and have never had the opportunity to use a beyer t1.  Plus as I listen mostly to classical the HD800s where the obvious choice for me.
 
It all comes down to what one wants, neatral I would diffenatly vote for the hd800's from what I have heard.  But a neatral headphone is not for everyone.     From what I here the T1's are slighly less detalied then the hd800's and have an overall warmer sound signiture.  Is this correct?

 

[MacedonianHero]

I love neutral headphones too. I would classify the T1s as neutral too (and they do work very, very well with rock/metal), but with metal, I'm not a fan of the HD800s.
 
I do love the HD800s with prog rock though! Pink Floyd and Rush with the HD800s are simply amazing!
 
I would say that the details with the T1s are definitely there, they just don't throw them in your face as the HD800s. Both are very neutral/balanced headphones, with the HD800s bang on neutral and the T1s as slightly on the warm side of neutral.
 
Some of my thoughts on the two, if you're interested:
http://www.head-fi.org/forum/thread/472114/hd800-and-t1-musings/0