[erotimatic]

Audiophiles, what if you only had $300 for your endgame headphones?

(It doesn't have to be $300, it is only the limit, $50 / $125 / $200 is ok)

Explain your choice!

My choice:

Philips SHP9600. Comfortable and minimalistic design, pleasing audio, V-Moda BoomPro compatible for gaming.

(Edit: The challenge used to be $250, it's now $300 for consistency, preferably not used)

 

[Ciggavelli]

Used Grado RS1e

 

[Hifiearspeakers]

Sennheiser hd 6xx

 

[erotimatic]

Used Grado RS1e

Used kind of qualifies. Grado RS1e for $300? Nice!

 

[Mightygrey]

I'd be perfectly happy with a used pair of HD600's.

 

[Mink]

AudioQuest NightHawks can be had for 220 euro, for as long as they are in stock. They are no longer made and originally they had a retail price of 599 USD, so I think they don't count.
So my choice would be either the Philips Fidelio X3s or the Sennehiser HD650s. But now I am stretching the price a bit. HD650s cost 330-345 euro in Europe, the Drop HD6XXs are not available over here. Fidelio X3s I got for 207 euro, but their MSRP is 350 euro. I am pretty sure though their price eventually will permanently drop, just like it did with the Fidelio X2HRs.
That brings me to the Fidelio X2HRs. What about them? They sure are fun, but overall too grainy, spiky and sibilant for a good amount of music I listen to.
And although I enjoy the Fidelio X3s a bit more than the HD650s I think my final vote will have to go to the HD650s. They will outlive every other pair I own. Replacement parts are readily available and where the Fidelio X3s eventually will go out of production the HD650s will still be made for eternity

 

[Kelos]

Fostex T60 RP

 

[gooeyrich]

The obvious choices are either HD 600/650 or DT 880/990 (250 or 600 ohm)

Or KSC75

 

[Mhog55]

A used set of B&O H6's, and the 58X.
The Audio Technica ath Msr7b comes very close as well.

 

[blackdragon87]

the hd 650 for sure for me

 

[sling5s]

Used koss esp950 (drop version). saw one on sale here for $275. In this price range, very hard to rivals these.

 

[westsenkovec]

Used koss esp950 (drop version). saw one on sale here for $275. In this price range, very hard to rivals these.

You got my attention.
I have Fidelio X2 and for my next purchase I planned the Sundara or the Kids ESP 950

 

[ThanatosVI]

Imo by far the best headphones in that price region are the Hifiman Sundara.

For me they sound better than many headphones that cost around 500.

 

[thecrow]

I already have them: Focal spirit pro - they are my main portable (except when using the sony for Bluetooth)

imho very underrated

 

[ZOSMANOVIC]

HD600/650 IMO. Good enough at everything (genre).