Help in choosing a headphone

[SergeantNoob]

Hey guys, I am looking for a new headphone, maybe up till $350.  I have done some research and came up with quite a long list.  
 
 
denon ah-d2000
audio-technika pro700 mk2
audio-technika ath-m50
soul by ludacris sl300
sennheiser hd 650
beyerdynamic dt770, dt 880 
akg q701, k701, k702
akg k550
akg k702
 
I mainly listen to r&b, hip hop, pop, blues, and very much into guitar driven songs (acoustic and electric).  I would like something exciting, so having a neutral is not really a necessity?  Also, I kinda appreciate the punchy base by mainstream Beats by Dr Dre headphones, but I understand people who know better think they're crap.  This would mainly be used as a portable one, driven by an ipod.  I have never used an amp before, I am wondering if i should.  Thanks!

 

[NA Blur]

The ATH-M50 or even beyerdynamic DT 1350 would work well for you.  Both are within your budget and very portable.  I like both because they sound amazing for the price and are quite durable.
 
Another option would be the V-Moda M80, but to get the fit just right you will need to bend the earcup angle as well as the headband just a bit, but because they are built so well you really cannot mess it up.
 
ATH-M50 would be the low cost option sitting at $140 new.  These are often in our top 10 lists and are definitely worth the dough.
 
The beyerdynamic DT 1350 comes in around $280 new.  They are well built, extremely detailed, and have some really nice deep bass.
 
Stay away from the DT 770, K701, Q701, and soul by ludacris sl300.  They are not going to give you the best performance for your needs at a good price.  Yes I have listened to all of those headphones.
 
The AH-D2000 is one of my favorite cans, but it is not really portable and can break easily if you are hard on headphones.  The DT 1350 and ATH-M50 are built like tanks so you toss them in your backpack and be worry free.

 

[Redrider469]

I recommend the m50s or the Ultrasone HFi-780s. Both are great sounding and cost about $150. Both can be driven very well without an amp too. I personally like the 780s better because of their appearance and they have a shorter cord. The 780s come stock with a 1m cord and a 4m extension when needed. This makes portability much easier as the m50s have a stock 3m cord. Just a thing to think about since for me, carrying around that extra cable is a real hassle.
 
Well now I change my mind. The HFi-580s have much punchier bass than the 780s.
 
580s = abundant punch bass, still good sounding though
780s = crisp rich bass, a bit more subdued though, better quality bass

 

[fabio-fi]

Bass impact: HFI-580's. 

 

[zazex]

Quote:

Hey guys, I am looking for a new headphone, maybe up till $350.  I have done some research and came up with quite a long list.  
 
 
denon ah-d2000
audio-technika pro700 mk2
audio-technika ath-m50
soul by ludacris sl300
sennheiser hd 650
beyerdynamic dt770, dt 880 
akg q701, k701, k702
akg k550
akg k702
 
I mainly listen to r&b, hip hop, pop, blues, and very much into guitar driven songs (acoustic and electric).  I would like something exciting, so having a neutral is not really a necessity?  Also, I kinda appreciate the punchy base by mainstream Beats by Dr Dre headphones, but I understand people who know better think they're crap.  This would mainly be used as a portable one, driven by an ipod.  I have never used an amp before, I am wondering if i should.  Thanks!

In my view, the only headphones on this list suitable for portable use are the ATH-M50,
and possibly the DT 770.
 
The M50's are closed, which keeps out ambient noise & prevents your music from disturbing people close to you in quiet environments.
They're solidly made, and they fold up for transport.
 
The DT770 are also closed, but don't fold. 
Their earcups are larger than those on the M50's, and their interior is velour rather than pleather,
so they don't isolate as well.
.I think they have too much bass; others love them.
Very well made phones.
 
The D2000's, while closed, fit loosely and will fall right off your head if you move around too much while wearing them.
Great phones, though.
 
ATPro700MKII - overemphasized bass.
 
 
The other phones in the list are open back, and thus IMO not suitable for portable use
 
(I'm not familiar with the AKG550 or soul by ludacris phones,
so I can't comment on them.)
 
 
And - yes, if you're driving any decent headphone out of an iPod you'd do well to have an amp.
The Fiio E11 sounds good and is very portable.  Runs about $60. or so.
 

 

[jiggawhat]

Don't mean this offensively but why on earth are you guys suggesting M50s when this guy has a $350 budget? Give the man some high quality sound!

I would rule out M50s, 780s, 580s, and DT770s for that reason.

I say:

Ultrasone Pro 900
Denon D2000 (D5000 used perhaps?)
AKG K702
Sennhesier HD 650

As far as I know they go in order from bassiest to least bassy. Pro 900 not a good idea for guitars though, but it will give you that Beats feel.

 

[zazex]

Quote:

Don't mean this offensively but why on earth are you guys suggesting M50s when this guy has a $350 budget? Give the man some high quality sound!
I would rule out M50s, 780s, 580s, and DT770s for that reason.
I say:
Ultrasone Pro 900
Denon D2000 (D5000 used perhaps?)
AKG K702
Sennhesier HD 650
As far as I know they go in order from bassiest to least bassy. Pro 900 not a good idea for guitars though, but it will give you that Beats feel.

 
OP: "This would mainly be used as a portable one, driven by an ipod"
 
While all 4 suggested are excellent, none are really suitable for portable use driven by an ipod.

 

[jiggawhat]

Portable amp?

 

[SergeantNoob]

What about the beyerdynamic t70 p guys?

 

[lschell]

Quote:

Portable amp?

One of reasons I bought my M50's was because they do not really need a portable amp. It just seems bothersome having to worry about it. This is a contributing factor to a good portable headset (to me at least). @op - Your budget actually is a little high if you want something portable, that doesn't need an amp to be driven.
I won't suggest that you buy the M50's because I have not tried a wide variety of headphones. But I will tell you that they are great for the price. Durable, Easily driven, very satisfying sound. Audio-Technica also is known for having great customer support.