Great all all around portable headphone under $400

[Senor Smithers]

Alright head-fiers, you know what to do.

Budget is strictly $400

I have a pretty diverse library, with Hip Hop, EDM, Rock, Jazz and Folk.

I'm coming from the V-Moda M80, which I thought needed a little more bass and a lot more comfort.

Mainly considering the Audio Technica ES10 with ESW11LTD pads.

 

[arteom]

I'd go with the audio tech's. Have the Esw9 myself, they are always a pleasure to listen to, work great with most any genre. Are very comfortable, look great..

The only other portable I would consider is the hd-25, but that will work well with rock/edm/hip hop, will butcher pianos, is not as comfortable either. Though it is perhps the most durable headphone of all time, and the split headbamd works great for headbangin.

 

[GL1TCH3D]

esw10jpn is you can. Wouldn't recommend the es10

 

[Senor Smithers]

Why don't you like the ES10?

EDIT: it seems as if the ESW10JPN was a very limited edition headphone, and I can only find it at prices exceeding a thousand dollars, so it's a no go.

 

[Senor Smithers]

I've also heard that the V-Moda M100 and the Sennheiser Momentum are very good portables in this price range, and both seem more comfortable than the ES10 due to their over ear form factor. Any input on these?

 

[Trunks159]

KEF M500 and the psb m4u are the best under $400 from what I've tried.

 

[dablues]

For neutrality and build quality, I love my DT1350s. If you can place them right, they have a pretty good soundstage and extension on both ends like you wouldn't believe. Very flat sounding.

Shouldn't this be in the portable section?

 

[Senor Smithers]

For neutrality and build quality, I love my DT1350s. If you can place them right, they have a pretty good soundstage and extension on both ends like you wouldn't believe. Very flat sounding.

Shouldn't this be in the portable section?

I don't think that the DT1350 are what I want, as they seem pretty uncomfortable, and I'm looking for a set with a bit more bass.

 

[dablues]

Understandable. Although my very odd ears find the DT1350 to be quite comfortable, I know they hurt most people. As for the bass, they do have wonderful quality, but very neutral quantity.

 

[Ronion]

I found the dt1350 to be hard to place to get the bass balanced in both ears. My right ear just doesn't want to mate with them. When the seal is good, they sound fantastic! I also found them to be a bit uncomfortable after about 15min. I thought they maybe had a bit too much bass... But not by much. Creative Aurvana Live! Are damn good--comfortable, cheap, sound great(but a little extra low end). They don't isolate very well, and they are way under your budget.

 

[jupitreas]

Sennheiser Amperior is the way to go, or perhaps the new aluminum HD25 might be similarly awesome (haven't heard it myself). Basically, it solves all of the HD25-1 II's issues by taming the harshness and using more comfortable (soft) velour earpads. It has a slight V-shaped sound signature but not offensively so and is relatively neutral. The Audio-Technica ES10 looks very good but has a very strange tonality.

 

[Senor Smithers]

Sennheiser Amperior is the way to go, or perhaps the new aluminum HD25 might be similarly awesome (haven't heard it myself). Basically, it solves all of the HD25-1 II's issues by taming the harshness and using more comfortable (soft) velour earpads. It has a slight V-shaped sound signature but not offensively so and is relatively neutral. The Audio-Technica ES10 looks very good but has a very strange tonality.

So will the HD-25 aluminum be more notably comfortable than the V-Moda M80? The comfort on those sucked, which is the main reason why I'm upgrading.

 

[Trunks159]

Well the most comfortable on ears under $400 would be #1: KEF M500, #2: B&w p5

 

[Senor Smithers]

Well the most comfortable on ears under $400 would be #1: KEF M500, #2: B&w p5

I don't really care about on ear vs over ear form factor. I've also been looking at the V-Moda M100 and just released Aiaiai TMA-1 Studio by Young Guru.

 

[Trunks159]

Well the best sounding headphones from $400 down are:
1: KEF M500
2: PSB M4U
3: ATH WS99
4: MDR 1R=MOMENTUM=Fidelio L1=Focal Spirit One
5: UE6000
6: AKG K550
Of course all IMO.