[MrNantir]

Hi!
 
I'm new here, but I've heard on the net that this is the place to get expert advice on headphones.

So here goes, I have decided to finally get some decent cans. 
I've looked at Audio Technica ATH M50 as my first cans and as I've seen/read these are pretty good in that price range.
For now I'm limited to get sub $200 cans.
My genre in music is pretty wide, which probably makes it difficult to get a pair of cans, that suits all of my needs, yet I have one "condition", and that is that I don't want an overpowering bass.

So give me your thoughts on what I might get instead?  
 
Best Regards
MrNantir

 

[IcedTea]

What do you plan to run the headphones from? 
 
PC? CD Player? Phone? Digital Audio Player?

 

[JohnLD]

Quote:

Hi!
 
I'm new here, but I've heard on the net that this is the place to get expert advice on headphones.

So here goes, I have decided to finally get some decent cans. 
I've looked at Audio Technica ATH M50 as my first cans and as I've seen/read these are pretty good in that price range.
For now I'm limited to get sub $200 cans.
My genre in music is pretty wide, which probably makes it difficult to get a pair of cans, that suits all of my needs, yet I have one "condition", and that is that I don't want an overpowering bass.

So give me your thoughts on what I might get instead?  
 
Best Regards
MrNantir

ATH M50 are not good. The bass is not anything special, and they get really uncomfortable after a while. It starts to feel tight and you feel like it is clamping onto your head. What I recommend is looking at the Sennheiser line. They are very well made headphones. I recommend the Sennheiser HD 558 ($179.00). Here is a link:
 
http://www.sennheiserusa.com/around-ear-headphones-acoustic_504631
 
Or you can look at Ultrasone. They are also well made. I would recommend either the Ultrasone HFI 580 ($189.00) or the Ultrasone HFI 680 ($219.00) Here is a Link:  
 
http://ultrasone.com/stores/us/Ultrasone-HFI-8/?XTCsid=8cpmle129ioq127fke6eaqb5auaaaith#8

 

[MrNantir]

Quote:

What do you plan to run the headphones from? 
 
PC? CD Player? Phone? Digital Audio Player?

Oh sorry, should have mentioned that!

Well I will mainly play it from a phone and a laptop. Here it might be a good time to also ask for a good and cheap portable amp?  
 
 
I want te able to use the cans at home and outside.

 

[IcedTea]

So you're looking for some closed cans right?

 

[MrNantir]

Quote:

So you're looking for some closed cans right?

 
Yeah, that would probably be the best  

 

[JohnLD]

Quote:

 
Yeah, that would probably be the best  

 
 
ATH M50 are not good. The bass is not anything special, and they get really uncomfortable after a while. It starts to feel tight and you feel like it is clamping onto your head. What I recommend is looking at the Sennheiser line. They are very well made headphones. I recommend the Sennheiser HD 558 ($179.00). Here is a link:
 
http://www.sennheiserusa.com/around-ear-headphones-acoustic_504631
 
Or you can look at Ultrasone. They are also well made. I would recommend either the Ultrasone HFI 580 ($189.00) or the Ultrasone HFI 680 ($219.00) Here is a Link:  
 
http://ultrasone.com/stores/us/Ultrasone-HFI-8/?XTCsid=8cpmle129ioq127fke6eaqb5auaaaith#8   
 
As for the amp, you can get the FIIO e6 with L9 LOD

 

[MrNantir]

Quote:

 
 
ATH M50 are not good. The bass is not anything special, and they get really uncomfortable after a while. It starts to feel tight and you feel like it is clamping onto your head. What I recommend is looking at the Sennheiser line. They are very well made headphones. I recommend the Sennheiser HD 558 ($179.00). Here is a link:
 
http://www.sennheiserusa.com/around-ear-headphones-acoustic_504631
 
Or you can look at Ultrasone. They are also well made. I would recommend either the Ultrasone HFI 580 ($189.00) or the Ultrasone HFI 680 ($219.00) Here is a Link:  
 
http://ultrasone.com/stores/us/Ultrasone-HFI-8/?XTCsid=8cpmle129ioq127fke6eaqb5auaaaith#8   
 
As for the amp, you can get the FIIO e6 with L9 LOD

 
The ultrasone HFI 580 looks interesting!

 

[punks15]

Sub $200 perhaps M50 or SRH840. They're improved significantly when given a good source too

 

[micrors4]

If you buy off of amazon, you could get a pair of Ultrasone HFI 780s and a better amp like a fiio e7.  You could also look at the Fostex T50RP they go for 130 on amazon and you could get the fiio e7 to go with them which would make for an awesome combo for the price as the T50RPs are orthos. 

 

[cel4145]

Quote:

 
ATH M50 are not good. The bass is not anything special, and they get really uncomfortable after a while. It starts to feel tight and you feel like it is clamping onto your head. What I recommend is looking at the Sennheiser line. They are very well made headphones. I recommend the Sennheiser HD 558 ($179.00). Here is a link:
 
http://www.sennheiserusa.com/around-ear-headphones-acoustic_504631
 
Or you can look at Ultrasone. They are also well made. I would recommend either the Ultrasone HFI 580 ($189.00) or the Ultrasone HFI 680 ($219.00) Here is a Link:  
 
http://ultrasone.com/stores/us/Ultrasone-HFI-8/?XTCsid=8cpmle129ioq127fke6eaqb5auaaaith#8   
 
As for the amp, you can get the FIIO e6 with L9 LOD

 
I find that the M50s have a little less clamping force than the Ultrasone HFI series (I own the M50 and HFI-780 and have demoed the 580s), and are certainly no less comfortable. In fact, comfort is not a problem with either one for me, but everyone's head shape and comfort level is different. 

 

[cel4145]

Quote:

 
The ultrasone HFI 580 looks interesting!

 
You mentioned being concerned about "overpowering" bass. The 580s have some significant bass impact--you'll definitely feel the pressure a little if you turn them up--and the bass does run hot in comparison to other frequencies. The bass response of the M50s is fine except to people looking for lots of extra bass. 

 

[Demp-C]

Shure SRH840's would be my choice. I am kinda biased cause I own them and have no others to compare them to. They are pretty balanced and the bass is not too bassy. I have read pretty good reviews on the Fostex ones. Especially the Mad Dogs...
 
http://www.mrspeakers.com/Audiophile-fostex-t50rp-upgrades-mrspeakers-mad-dog
 
Best of luck to you!

 

[Grado77]

It's probably just me, but after modding my own set of Fostex T50RP, I wouldn't consider any other phone under $200. My total cost shipped after modding was less than $100. But I hear the price has jumped a bit ($140ish). They are truly remarkable after the mod, but they do have a dark sound. Vocals are crystal clear. Bass is just right and not enhanced.
 
Near the $200 mark I'd be looking at Q701 or HE-300 rev2.......being open they will leak sound like a banshee.

 

[MrNantir]

Quote:

It's probably just me, but after modding my own set of Fostex T50RP, I wouldn't consider any other phone under $200. My total cost shipped after modding was less than $100. But I hear the price has jumped a bit ($140ish). They are truly remarkable after the mod, but they do have a dark sound. Vocals are crystal clear. Bass is just right and not enhanced.
 
Near the $200 mark I'd be looking at Q701 or HE-300 rev2.......being open they will leak sound like a banshee.

 
The fostex do look interesting, and I quite like their look. What is this mod, that you mention several times?  
What portable amp, should I get to run these babies?
 
Quote:

 
You mentioned being concerned about "overpowering" bass. The 580s have some significant bass impact--you'll definitely feel the pressure a little if you turn them up--and the bass does run hot in comparison to other frequencies. The bass response of the M50s is fine except to people looking for lots of extra bass. 

 
Then the HFI 580's are out of the question