Curious what the Grado fans here would recommend for me -
I have 325i and LOVE them. I haven't done a headphone jam since I got them almost 15 years ago so my last point of comparison is that dated... at the time the only other headphones I would have gone for were the PS1 but they were out of my budget at the time. Two other popular cans that I compared to the 325i were K701s and HD650s, I thought the DTs were good but very clinical and not what I was looking for (they remind me of my UE IEMs), the HDs my comments in the jam thread say "muddy/warm".
Here is my post from way back when were I talk about the cans I tried:
https://www.head-fi.org/threads/miami-meet-impressions-2-18-06.162264/post-1918188
My 325i need servicing and my wife asked why I hadn't upgraded (gotta love that!) so I'm thinking about that. I'd like to stay around $5-700, I'm wondering if the PS500e would be a noticeable improvement? They would be used hanging off a Harmon Kardon midrange AVR (645 I think) and I don't have or plan on having any other amplification. Would be nice if they played well with an iPhone (w/adapter) too. Older models or current, what's your model suggestion? I *can* spend more but I'm a big believer in diminishing returns, OTOH I've gotten 15 years out of a $300 purchase and could be convinced otherwise.
I use them daily for gaming as well as listening to music of a wide variety (metal, edm, jam bands, synthpop), extended comfort is paramount so that rules out the large format cans I suspect.
The answer may very well be - service your current cans and enjoy. Looking to see what you guys say - there are so many models and have been so many over the years! Thanks and looking forward to what the folks here have to say