[Chris_Himself]

I doubt you'd want your first foray into headphones to be one involving a pair of cans and an amp.... it's kind of a mess if you're new to this.
 
I prefer the:
 
$100
Grado SR-80
Alessandro MS-1
Shure SRH series
Audio Technica ATH A700
 
$200
Denon D2000
SR-225
 
$300
Grado SR-325
Alessandro MS-2
AKG K601
Beyerdynamic DT880
 
A cheap very effective amp is the uDAC2 from NuForce. It needs USB power to run though which would be just fine for me.
 

 

[bmd004]

Quote:

I doubt you'd want your first foray into headphones to be one involving a pair of cans and an amp.... it's kind of a mess if you're new to this.
 
I prefer the:
 
$100
Grado SR-80
Alessandro MS-1
Shure SRH series
Audio Technica ATH A700
 
$200
Denon D2000
SR-225
 
$300
Grado SR-325
Alessandro MS-2
AKG K601
Beyerdynamic DT880
 
A cheap very effective amp is the uDAC2 from NuForce. It needs USB power to run though which would be just fine for me.
 

After a lot of searching, I think I'm going with the Grado SR-225i. I've heard a lot of people say that they don't need an amp... yet a lot of others say they sound MUCH better with an amp. Which is correct?

 

[T-Willi]

Well they are both correct. Nothing needs an amp but almost everything gets/sounds/scales better with an amp. Its just how the cookie crumbles in this oddly structured audio world. lol

 

[bmd004]

Quote:

Well they are both correct. Nothing needs an amp but almost everything gets/sounds/scales better with an amp. Its just how the cookie crumbles in this oddly structured audio world. lol

I see you have a Fiio E11... is it a decent amp for the money?

 

[matthewh133]

Mate, save $30 more and get the HD598 for $180. That or find a cheap pair of AD900s. They are both much better than what you have listed. The Grados are excellent for rock, but the HD598 and AD900 are extremely versatile and sound great with pretty much everything.

 

[T-Willi]

Yes it is. I love mine its smaller than my ipod touch and is ultra portable. There are many reviews on it so for more info I say see those. Im not very good at describing the technicalities of amps so Im not much help but all I can say is that it is a very nice little amp. Very powerful as well. Really for the price you just cant go wrong.
 
Quote:

I see you have a Fiio E11... is it a decent amp for the money?

 
 

 

[Chris_Himself]

I don't think people need an AMP per se. I think they just need to evaluate what source they're playing music out of. For your usage, the SR-225 will do fine without an amp, but if you plug it into say, a decent cd player or an LOD from the ipod to an amp you'll be amazed at how well they scale.
 
For most purposes and intents ths SR-80 is pretty **** good for half the price, and then you can just spend the 100 bucks on something else. The SR-225 does give you more of everything though

 

[placeboe]

Okay, I realize I'm a noob too... but from one noob to another - you can have some really great cans with excellent sound for the amazing price of $80.  The MB Quart QP805HS (300Ω).  Mind you I'm not affiliated with this ebay seller AT ALL - just trying to pass on a GREAT deal to a fellow headfi'er:
 
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=360381010086&ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1439.l2649
 
I bought these based on a recommendation from headfi member Acix - see this thread:
 
http://www.head-fi.org/t/563535/best-headphone-for-monitoring-bass-guitar-in-live-performances#post_7690531
 
These are perfect for my intended use - monitoring my bass playing in a band.  Mind you, I have an amplified source in the hearback unit.  So if you buy these for yourself - you will need an amplifier.  As Uncle Erik states earlier in this thread - spend the rest of your money on an old quality stereo amplifier and you will not be disappointed.  I have a '79 Yamaha CR-2040 and it has two headphone jacks so you can A/B different headphones.  The sound is amazing!
 
Hope this helps.  If you have a total budget of $300, this would be a really solid route.
 
Thanks,
placeboe

 

[Jojomite]

another vote for ms1i!

 

[KimChee]

Grado 225 or Shure 840

 

[Makiah S]

Quote:

Ok, I actually could spend about $300 if I wanted... would a headphone + amp be better? What is the best I could do for $300?

Depends
Quote:

 So is the Alessandro MS-2.

This would be great
Quote:

 Beyerdynamic DT990, 

This as well 
 
You can ALSO swing maybe a Dt 880 Pro 250 ohm for around $230 and buy a $70 Hybrid Tube amp which also sounds pretty magical, but ofc that Hybrid Tube is not entirely portable but it is small
 
As far as amps go there is a Sub $100 Amp thread that really goes through a lot of them.
 
Also xD OLD THREAD, still though there are others in your position that will find this useful! Do let us know what you did btw

 

[MarcoGV]

Quote:

I'm sure you guys get these questions a lot... but I got $150 to spend. I'm wondering what is the best pair of headphones I can get for that money? I was looking at the Sennheiser HD 518's... they are pretty new from what I understand, so have any of you guys tried them out or own them? They are labeled as "audiophile", which is interesting at that price-point. 
 
Anyway, the best pair (and most expensive pair) of headphones I have owned are the Sennheiser PX100's. Would I notice a big difference by getting some headphones around $150? I listen to mostly rock music, if that helps. 
 
Thanks guys. 

The HD-518 is excellent.  I listen to classical music mostly, so I may be biased.  Another can that I use a lot, at a similar price, is the Audio Technica ATH-AD700.  The HD-518 has more detail and more bass, the AD-700 has a more natural (closer to what you hear in the concert hall) balance.  I bought a refurbished HD-518 at http://www.vminnovations.com/Product_20034/Sennheiser-HD518-Around-the-Ear-Audiophile-Headphones-Refurbished-.html for about $75, but apparently they are out of them.  Also note that all HD-5X8 models share the same driver: http://www.head-fi.org/t/609634/hd-518-teardown-with-a-shocking-twist.  I do not use a dedicated headphone amplifier, but my main amplifier is a (1987) NAD 3130, which I think can drive almost anything.

 

[Makiah S]

Quote:

The HD-518 is excellent.  I listen to classical music mostly, so I may be biased.  Another can that I use a lot, at a similar price, is the Audio Technica ATH-AD700.  The HD-518 has more detail and more bass, the AD-700 has a more natural (closer to what you hear in the concert hall) balance.  I bought a refurbished HD-518 at http://www.vminnovations.com/Product_20034/Sennheiser-HD518-Around-the-Ear-Audiophile-Headphones-Refurbished-.html for about $75, but apparently they are out of them.  Also note that all HD-5X8 models share the same driver: http://www.head-fi.org/t/609634/hd-518-teardown-with-a-shocking-twist.  I do not use a dedicated headphone amplifier, but my main amplifier is a (1987) NAD 3130, which I think can drive almost anything.

... You know what... I love Cheap Koss cans... BUT there is the Byer Dynamic Dt 990 Pro 250 for $169, and trust me for the money... that thing is KILLER [I want one]
 
Back to Cheap Koss cans, I liked the Closed Koss Pro Dj 200, $129 had a nice balanced sound I think, with sufficent bass! I heard the AD-700 can be a little anemic. Where as the Pro Dj 200 was well very minimilistic [trust me it had a little less than my Dt 880] but again still a nice sound good response and detail for a cheap Koss can <3, plus you'd have enough for an E6 if you desired an amp! 

 

[RastaDolphin]

I'm gonna throw a little off-the-wall-ness in here and say consider getting the $40+/- JVC HA-RX700 and perform the open-back mod on them (http://www.head-fi.org/t/369863/jvc-harx700-a-poor-mans-ath-a900/150#post_8910438).

And for $50+/-, I can't recommend an 18V 4556 op amp cmoy any higher. It's my best friend. I have yet to find a headphone it isn't utter magic with.

 

[battleaxe]

Quote:

... You know what... I love Cheap Koss cans... BUT there is the Byer Dynamic Dt 990 Pro 250 for $169, and trust me for the money... that thing is KILLER [I want one]
 
Back to Cheap Koss cans, I liked the Closed Koss Pro Dj 200, $129 had a nice balanced sound I think, with sufficent bass! I heard the AD-700 can be a little anemic. Where as the Pro Dj 200 was well very minimilistic [trust me it had a little less than my Dt 880] but again still a nice sound good response and detail for a cheap Koss can <3, plus you'd have enough for an E6 if you desired an amp! 

How are the DT990 when it comes to bass, and balance? I take the lower Ohms version is going for just as much too?