[shoenberg3]

Hello, as you can see from my sig, I have just started this hobby and is seeking a proper headphone for use at home. The price range is approx. 250 - 500 dollars. Keep in mind that I am considering finding a good deal for an used can (for example, I am looking to buy a HD650 for less than 240 dollars). With this in consideration, something like RS1 may be in price range also. Here are some cans that are in the general ballpark:

K701
HD650
RS1
DT880 (maybe Darth Beyered?)

I am sure I missed many headphones in this mid-fi - high-fi range.

I listen to a lot of classical, prog rock, 60s 70s rock, some electronica, and and some hiphop. I mostly like the sound of Shure E500, but for me, the midrange and treble sound a little too "rich" and "thick" for me.

By spending more than 250, I am seeking to see a noticeable improvement from the E500.

Any suggestions and pointers on the headphones would be appreciated.
Thank you

 

[blessingx]

Have you considered getting nearly all the HD650 in the HD580 and most of the RS1 in the SR225 and thus getting two cans that covers your genres quite nicely with the same amount of cash (~$300)? It's certainly an option if you're unable to find all you want with a single can.

 

[cotdt]

If you search the forum, there was a review of the E500 against the K701s.

 

[rb67]

You might want to consider getting the RS-2's and sinking in some money somewhere else. Used, they run about $370 ish, 350 if you are lucky. They are almost as good as the RS-1's at a fraction of the price.

 

[cotdt]

Quote:

Originally Posted by rb67 /img/forum/go_quote.gif You might want to consider getting the RS-2's and sinking in some money somewhere else. Used, they run about $370 ish, 350 if you are lucky. They are almost as good as the RS-1's at a fraction of the price.

but he said he listens to classical music, and for classical grado doesn't do it for me.

 

[shoenberg3]

Thanks for the replies. Perhaps I should specify my preferences more. If I were to number the factors in importance, it would be roughly:

soundstage: (8)
detail: (8)
midrange: (7)
treble: (7)
highs: (7)
bass: (8)
general coherence/"musicality": (9)

isolation: (1)
portability: (2)
appearance: (4)
Comfort: (6)
durability: (4)
bang for buck: (10!)

 

[cotdt]

well since you made yourself much more clear, and you asked for soundstage, then that narrows you down to only one choice! K701s!

 

[blessingx]

Keep an eye on the only 10.

Like nearly every manufacturer out there, bang for buck rarely applies to the flagship product.

 

[Mrvile]

Just so you know, Darth Beyer only applies to the DT770

 

[shoenberg3]

How much to get a Beyer Darthed? And how does the final product compare with HD650, k701 etc?

 

[Mrvile]

Quote:

Originally Posted by shoenberg3 /img/forum/go_quote.gif How much to get a Beyer Darthed? And how does the final product compare with HD650, k701 etc?

The Darth Beyer costs between $500 to $800, depending on what kind of cable and what kind of wood you use. The Darth is a closed can, so it's kind of hard to compare it to other phones, but from what I've read it has the classic powerful 770 bass with a lush midrange and not-so-bright highs (the stock DT770 is a bit bright).

 

[shoenberg3]

Perhaps, the question should be what my Shure doesn't do well and what good headphone I need to get to fill in this gap. Well, I am still in the honeymoon period with the E500 and don't feel need to point out its shortcomings

 

[Asr]

San Jose, eh? See my sig! Don't buy anything until after you come to the 2007 National Meet!

 

[shoenberg3]

I will come! But can I wait that long? That is the question...

 

[HFat]

Choosing between such nice 'phones is a matter of personal preference so, ideally, you'd try them all.

Sampling some "bang for the buck" older models such as K501s, HD580s, and DT880s (old version) would be something to consider in your situation. You might even want to try some of the nicer fun cans (say Portapros or SR-60s) as well. If you don't already have a good idea of what your preferences are, what to listen when evaluating a headphone for long-term use, and so on I don't think you'll make the best use of that meet.