Help choosing an entry-level office setup

[abongiov]

Hello Head-Fi community,
 
I have very limited knowledge of headphones but I did read a lot in this forum. I am really happy with my home speaker based system consisting of Salks Songtowers RT (Ribbon Tweeter option), drive by Creek Evo 2 amp, sources use to be Creek Evo 2 CDP but I recently acquired a Schiit Gungnir DAC that I feed with apple TV3, with all my CDs being ripped in Apple Lossless.
 
Now that I have done the job of ripping my CDs, I am inclined to copy my library for my office. To avoid annoying my colleagues I plan to go the over-ear headphones solution.
 
My limited experience with headphones is my (also recently acquired) Panasonic RP-HC200, budget noise cancelling headphones. Please do not kill me yet, I bought these to use during flights, and it does work good enough for that function.
Hooked up to my company laptop, and with noise-cancellation off, well my ears are not bleeding yet but I kind of feel like I am back on the bus with my walkman (18 years ago). I would have been happy then. Yes, ignorance is a bliss.
 
Now that you have the background, I am willing to spend $300 to get a decent sound. I could afford more but I prefer being reasonable since it is going to be casual listening while working. So I will stick to the budget.
 
I do not expect much by buying $300 headphones feed through a laptop. I think I'll need a usb DAC and depending on the headphones maybe an amp.
 
I really like my Gungnir so the Modi/Magni combo is an option but that would leave about $100 for the headphones. Based on reviews only, at that price I am thinking about Shure SH440.
Another option would be the Audioengine D1 and then I could put more in the headphones and go with for instance the Audio Technica MH50.
 
I know that I should try to listen to all that before buying but I am facing the same issues as many, not a lot of places to try those, living in the Greater Atlanta area.
 
Oh, I forgot musical taste:mostly rock (from mainstreem Springsteen to heavy Iron Maiden or Rage Against the Machine), acoustical, blues (SRV,BB King...), Jazz and very occasionally some classical. No hip-hop, rap or electro but I also prefer Nutella over Peanut Better.
 
Sorry for the long post, I prefer to give too many info than too few. I am sure some of you have some insight to help me choose one of the option or come with a killer one I haven't though of.

 

[anwaypasible]

what you should do here then is use some test tones with an equalizer to raise or lower the volume of those tones until they sound the same amount of loud.
when you are done, try the headphones again and see if you still want some new ones.
 
if you do still want some new ones.. here is something that will certainly help..
you need to find the frequency response of the headphones.. that way you know if you are boosting or cutting because of the headphone frequency response, or if you are boosting or cutting because of your ears.
 
you could build yourself a little chart that tells you what your ears are doing.
for example.. if your ears want a cut at 3,000hz and you buy headphones with a dip at 5,000hz .. well then those two dont match and you missed, wasting your time.
 
sometimes the frequency response of the headphone is on the back of the packaging .. sometimes you gotta find the frequency response online (if it is even available).
 
start with getting those tones the same and it should make you more happy.. because after that is done, you are basically just looking for headphones with more clarity (or maybe a wider sound to get the audio out of the inside of your head in the middle of your brain).

 

[ostewart]

Soundmagic HP100 and hippo CriCri+, a little over your budget maybe, but a great office setup

 

[Bones13]

I would look for one of the used DragonFly DAC/AMPS, and find some headphones at BestBuy that you like the sound of and fit your budget.  You can also find great deals on headphones in the for sale forums here. I saw a DragonFly for sale in the first 10 items there now.

 

[RonaldDumsfeld]

Quote:

I do not expect much by buying $300 headphones feed through a laptop. I think I'll need a usb DAC and depending on the headphones maybe an amp.

 
 
I think you would be very surprised them mate.
 
Spend your money on the best set of headphones you can afford and try them out using the regular socket before you risk wasting money on a simple 2 out USB DAC and/or headphone attenuator.

 

[eccom]

I'd go for a pair of Logitech ue6000. They have a nice sound, and you have the option of using the active noise cancelling if you want. They are the best I have tried in your budget and leaves 100 bucks for dac/amp of choice.