[Chooldude]

hello head-fi community I have been reading the threads for a while but finally decided to start my own. I am new to real audio quality and am FAR from considering myself and audiophile. I listen to classical music and 80s rock along with dubstep. I am looking for a new set of headphones but only have a small budget of $100. I also would probably use these for gaming. Here are some of things i am looking for in the headphones. 
 
-Closed back preferably (for use in public)
-Preferably over-ear because from what I have used of on-ear they are uncomfortable after around an hour of use but they were cheap so higher quality on ear my be quite comfortable.
-Flat tones
-comfortable
 
I have also been researching mostly in these threads and I have been looking mostly at the ATH-M40x but have also seen plenty of praise for the Sr60i and Sr80i headphones from Grado (they are open back and on-ear i believe, but all of those positive comments about them cannot go unnoticed).
 
Thanks

 

[cel4145]

Grados are excellent open headphone for their price, but no good for public use because they are open. They have strong mids and treble, and somewhat punchy midbass (but really no subbass). Grados excel at rock, but not as much for classical or dubstep.

Onkyo ES-FC300 on sale at Amazon for $100: http://www.amazon.com/Onkyo-ES-FC300-On-Ear-Headphones-Red/dp/B008FQKKB0

Those usually sell for $150 and have never been that low. They'll probably be gone as soon as slickdeals finds out about them.

Here is a review: http://www.innerfidelity.com/content/delightful-onkyo-es-fc300-and-es-hf300

For $80, the NVX XPT100. These have the same sound as the Brainwavz HM5 and Fisher FA-003 that sell for a good bit more (one manufacturer makes the drivers and cups for all of them). Check out these discussions:
http://www.head-fi.org/t/585281/review-brainwavz-hm5-a-new-neutral-champ
http://www.head-fi.org/t/491632/review-fischer-audio-fa-003-a-neutral-champ

 

[Chooldude]

Onkyo ES-FC300 seem promising so far, but I am going do some more research, but I am wondering if on-ear headphones  are uncomfortable (sitting on your ears and all) after like an hour with the cheap $35 pair i had before they after like an hour hurt my ears and I can have headphones on for hours at the time listening to music, gaming and even the occasional podcast

 

[cel4145]

I would imagine that they might be better than a $35 pair. If you read that review, you know that they have bigger cups and pads than your average on ear headphone. Still, you could always take a break for a few minutes every hour or so if you wouldn't mind having headphones with $150 sound quality

 

[AnalogSavior]

Monoprice 8323
 
Never heard them, but Tyll at Innerfidelity seems to like them, and at $24, why not give them a try?
 
http://www.innerfidelity.com/content/innerfidelitys-wall-fame-full-size-sealed

 

[Chooldude]

Onkyo ES-FC300 seem like a pretty good deal and pretty close to what i was wanting. do u know anything about modding and if i can add big ear cups from like a different company or...how does that work. also if you have them the side of the plug that goes in to the headphones goes into seems like it would pop out really easily, I'm wondering if that is a problem.
 
Edit: So i think i will either be getting the Onkyo Es-FC300 or the ATH-M40x which one do you think is better.

 

[cel4145]

I have no idea. Sorry.

 

[Claritas]

Having briefly tried HM5, I like the XPT100 idea. I think it comes with a lot of accessories too.

 

[Chooldude]

  Having briefly tried HM5, I like the XPT100 idea. I think it comes with a lot of accessories too.

they seem good but a little bulky

 

[Claritas]

  they seem good but a little bulky

 
That was my problem with it too.
 
I'm still looking for a portable to use at work. Currently trying out the TBSE1 with SRH1540 pads and have an SRH440 arriving Saturday. I wish this were easier.