Best Headphones For Rock Between $200-300?

[GlowWorm]

Hi, my HD 580's are great for jazz, and classical, but lack the impact with rock, hard rock, and metal, and my SR-80's are too bright, and harsh sounding. I'm looking for some cans that have more impact, and detail with rock. Any suggestions?

 

[KR...]

The Grado 225, there is nothing bright or harsh sounding about them.

 

[elrod-tom]

Quote:

Originally posted by KR... The Grado 225, there is nothing bright or harsh sounding about them.

Ditto...unless you have an amp that doesn't match well with low impedence cans.

I'm using mine at work with a TA and I love them. However, on my home amp (X-Cans V2) they are overly bright...to the point of distraction.

These cans are pick-you-up and kick-your-ass good time rock & rollers. They will make an excellent complement to your 580's. Good luck!!

 

[GlowWorm]

Thanks KR, and elrod-tom, but will the 225's have impact, and detail with my MG Head/OTL?

 

[KR...]

MG Head/OTL is a bad match for low impedence cans.

 

[bifcake]

Your 580s will do well for all kinds of music with proper component upgrades such as CDplayer / DAC, amp and cable.

 

[KR...]

that's true since I use my HD600 for everything. Upgrade the cable to the red or blue, since they are great for rock.

 

[Kieran Comito]

I have the HD 600 with replacement cable and the Grado SR 225. For rock music, the Grado wins hands down. I like the Grado SR 225 a lot, but it is not the most comfortable headphone. I just got the Audio Techinca A 1000. It does very good with rock. It does not have the impact or slam of the Grado SR 225, but it has a lot more detail. To me it gives me the best of both worlds between the HD 600 and the Grado SR 225. It has good base and soundstage like the HD 600, is impactful like the Grado SR 225(not quite as much though), and has better detail than both phones. Plus it is very easy drive. I think it is close to your budget, maybe a little over.

 

[carlo]

GlowWorm,

What bifcake said.

What I suggest you do:

1) Roll the MG Head. I like the Mullard 12au7, people who've heard the Raytheon 5751 say I need to. Ei El84s. Total investment should be around $60.

2) Try different sources. Take your amp and headphones with you to, they'll think its cool and you can see what sources will get you without spending a dime (even if its just a mass market store - do it and try).

If you're still not happy:

1) Try a different amp. The MG Head is great for many things but if you need great pace and leading lines/seperation on guitars you need to look elsewhere. Your investment in tubes will help resale value so you aren't really out anything - take that money, add it to your current budget, and take a look at the $500 amp market.

2) Try different headphones.

good luck,
carlo.

 

[GlowWorm]

What about Beyer?

 

[Tomcat]

Quote:

Originally posted by GlowWorm What about Beyer?

My feelings exactly, GlowWorm. I find the Beyer 770 Pro to be a lot more enjoyable than the Grado SR-225 which, to my ears (sorry, KR...), is both too bright and too harsh. And its bass extension doesn't even begin to rival that of the 770 Pro which has more slam and impact than any other headphone I know. Additionally, your MG Head ought to work better with higher impedance headphones like the Beyer.

 

[GlowWorm]

Hey Tomcat -> Yeah really, the last phones in the world I want to buy right now, is another pair of Grado's. Not that they are bad, the SR-80's were my 1st "serious" headphone purchase, and have served me well for the last 4 years, especially so since I didn't have a hp amp until very recently(MG Head OTL). I'm sure the SR 225's do what the SR 80's do, but only better, but I'm more interested in Beyer, and some of the other brands, that I don't own. I just purchased a pair of Senn' HD 580's, and thus far am somewhat disappointed. To my ear's they have a dry, rather unforgiving sound. But I'm not writing them off yet,not until I get a Clou Blue, and replace the stock tube's, with some good NOS tubes.

 

[Tomcat]

Quote:

I just purchased a pair of Senn' HD 580's, and thus far am somewhat disappointed. To my ear's they have a dry, rather unforgiving sound.

GlowWorm,
Yes, I hear it just as you. I have never liked the HD580 or the HD600 and prefer many Beyerdynamic headphones to them: the DT770 Pro, the DT990 Pro, the DT531 and the DT250-80 (I don't know the DT250-250). And the soon to be released DT880 ought to be a fine headphone as well and could be even better than the mighty 770 Pro.