[Grado Diesel]

Right now I'm using my FIIO X3II>Schiit Vali 2>Grado SR80i. The treble is just killing me and easily fatiguing my ears. I've done some research and a couple cans that look like an appealing upgrade are The Sennheiser HD 598 and HD 650. I really can't try these out without buying them so which one would be the best choice?

 

[YtseJamer]

What's your budget and for what type of music ?
 
You can buy the Audioquest NightHawk at Crutchfield for $328  ($20 coupon)
 
Amazon will probably have the HD650 for $300 at the black Friday.
 
The Vali 2 is a very good match with both headphones.

 

[Grado Diesel]

What's your budget and for what type of music ?

You can buy the Audioquest NightHawk at Crutchfield for $328  ($20 coupon)

Amazon will probably have the HD650 for $300 at the black Friday.

The Vali 2 is a very good match with both headphones.

I'm shooting for a pair of cans between $150-300. I listen mostly to classic rock, blues rock and jam band. I listen to a lot of Stones, Humble Pie and Black Crowes and those bands's recordings tend to be loud in the high and midrange frequencies. That's where I've been running into trouble with Grados.

 

[YtseJamer]

I'm shooting for a pair of cans between $150-300. I listen mostly to classic rock, blues rock and jam band. I listen to a lot of Stones, Humble Pie and Black Crowes and those bands's recordings tend to be loud in the high and midrange frequencies. That's where I've been running into trouble with Grados.

 
My recommendation is to go with either the HD650 or the NightHawk because otherwise you will always want to upgrade 

 

[Grado Diesel]

My recommendation is to go with either the HD650 or the NightHawk because otherwise you will always want to upgrade 

Sounds good to me. Thank you for the suggestions. I'm kind of leery of the HD 598s being too similar to the SR 80s, with the fatiguing highs.

 

[vai-777]

HD600.... The HD650 will be super dark compared to the Grado

 

[Grado Diesel]

HD600.... The HD650 will be super dark compared to the Grado

This guy wrote a good comparison between the two: http://www.head-fi.org/t/740942/comparison-review-part-deux-a-tale-of-two-sennheisers-hd600-vs-hd650 Between those two I'm wondering which cans will do better with the spicy guitar work and vocals of the Black Crowes and the Stones. Steve Marriotts vocals in Humble Pie ride the edge of Janis Joplin's timbre as well.