Help with choosing my next pair of headphones/IEMs

[panzerkiller13]

Hi there Head-Fi community! I've been periodically reading here and there for the better part of 3 years now, but this is my first actual post!
As far as experience goes, I'd consider myself a beginner with only a limited number of headphones that I've listened to.

Up to this point I have Sennheiser phones only after doing lots of research back in the day to see what some good starting point phones would be. I have the HD595, HD280 Pro, and I was gifted a pair of PXC 450s!

In the IEM field I have next to zero experience since I've always had trouble finding a pair that would fit comfortably AND stay in my ears. I got some IE80s about a year ago that ended up being counterfeit and I got my money back, but was allowed to keep them after the fact. They sound better than any other IEM I've heard, but I'm sure the real thing is significantly better.

I DO have an amp/DAC. I got a Fiio E17 last year and absolutely love the little thing!

I'm currently trying to find a new headphone or IEM to add to my inventory, but I'm really not sure what I could get that would be a DEFINITE upgrade. I was looking into the V-moda M100s and the Zn IEMs, but I've seen lots of mixed feedback there on their sound signature/quality and comfort of both. I'd really like to give V-moda a shot at some point because I LOVE the fact that Val Kolton is actively reaching out to the community for feedback and suggestions, and having a mic built in would be great since I'm a PC gamer (but I can always get an addon mic) I've thought about some Sennheiser HD600/650 (MAYBE even the 70p if the price is right) but I don't know if that would be a justifiable upgrade over my 595s until I get out of school and will have more flexibility. A pair of genuine IE80s is interesting, but again the fake ones that are the same size don't fit me very well and are uncomfortable and fall out regardless of whether I wear them over ear or not. I've seen a lot of good things about AKG/Beyerdynamic/Audio Technica/Shure etc, but the only "decent" headphones I've ever heard from a company other than Sennheiser were some AKG K77s years ago, and those weren't on par with my HD595s. So, I need a little help and feedback on headphones and/or IEMs that would serve me well from some of you guys that have actually heard more of what's out there!

OH, it might help to know what kind of music I mainly listen to:
80s rock/metal
Classical
Dance/EDM/Trance
Old school rap
Symphonic rock
Progressive rock
Pink Floyd/Rush type music (Dynamic?)
A bit of folk/Celtic
And I'm into gaming as well, whatever category that falls into.

 

[Beyakusenn]

Hi there Head-Fi community! I've been periodically reading here and there for the better part of 3 years now, but this is my first actual post!
As far as experience goes, I'd consider myself a beginner with only a limited number of headphones that I've listened to.

Up to this point I have Sennheiser phones only after doing lots of research back in the day to see what some good starting point phones would be. I have the HD595, HD280 Pro, and I was gifted a pair of PXC 450s!

In the IEM field I have next to zero experience since I've always had trouble finding a pair that would fit comfortably AND stay in my ears. I got some IE80s about a year ago that ended up being counterfeit and I got my money back, but was allowed to keep them after the fact. They sound better than any other IEM I've heard, but I'm sure the real thing is significantly better.

Hello and welcome to Head-fi! 
 
Whoever gifted you the PXC-450 was very generous! Those are still among the better sounding noise cancelling headphones in my opinion.
 
For the problems I put in bold letters I think to have the solution, but more on that later.
 
Good to know you have a good source.
 

I'm currently trying to find a new headphone or IEM to add to my inventory, but I'm really not sure what I could get that would be a DEFINITE upgrade. I was looking into the V-moda M100s and the Zn IEMs, but I've seen lots of mixed feedback there on their sound signature/quality and comfort of both. I'd really like to give V-moda a shot at some point because I LOVE the fact that Val Kolton is actively reaching out to the community for feedback and suggestions, and having a mic built in would be great since I'm a PC gamer (but I can always get an addon mic)

The sound signature of the V-Modas is definitely different from the one you are used to. The Sennheiser headphones you have could be called neutral(-ish), while the V-Modas emphasize the bass frequencies (dark sound). You might like bass and even be a basshead, but at this point, I don't know.
 

I've thought about some Sennheiser HD600/650 (MAYBE even the 700 if the price is right) but I don't know if that would be a justifiable upgrade over my 595s until I get out of school and will have more flexibility.

The HD600 and HD650 are very similar, while the HD700 is very different. The HD700 has the more controlled, technical presentation, but the treble is something that splits the opinions about it into two camps. I am not a fan of the treble of the HD700 myself and the HD650 is a bit too dark for me, so for me the best sounding of the three is the HD600. In the second hand market you can find the HD580 (nearly identical sound to the HD600) for very reasonable prices. Beware that the original cable of the HD580 used to get damaged easier, so the cables have often been replaced by the ones of the HD650 or aftermarket alternatives. I do have a pair of HD580 myself and will be selling them soon, but  there are more on the classifieds of Head-fi already.
 

A pair of genuine IE80s is interesting, but again the fake ones that are the same size don't fit me very well and are uncomfortable and fall out regardless of whether I wear them over ear or not.

Some people just have difficult ears for IEMs. My ears are quite easy, so till now I had tried many low to medium budget in-ears. my main problem with them was durability. Since a short while ago, I have custom IEMs from Custom Art. If you be careful when making the molds (open mouth, bite piece, not biting hard, beyond second bend), you can get a perfect fitting custom product that is very comfortable and will never fall off. Their build quality is great and I had them made with removable cables, so the 'weak' link has been dealt with.
The sound is great in my opinion. So great in fact, that I am selling my Beyerdynamic t51p which I previously considered to be the best portable on-ears. My HiFiMan RE-400s stay as reserve in-ears for cases that I need to hear at least a bit of the ambient sounds. Custom in-ears isolate extremely well.
 

OH, it might help to know what kind of music I mainly listen to:

Spoiler: Music preferences

80s rock/metal
Classical
Dance/EDM/Trance
Old school rap
Symphonic rock
Progressive rock
Pink Floyd/Rush type music (Dynamic?)
A bit of folk/Celtic
And I'm into gaming as well, whatever category that falls into.

It helps a bit, but it still doesn't describe your preferred sound signature. What I'd like to know before recommending any specific headphones or (custom) IEMs is:
What do you like about each of your current headphones?
What do you dislike about them?
What will you be using the headphones/IEMs for mainly?
Is the environment in which you'll be using the headphones/IEMs noisy?
 
Terms that may help us getting a better idea of your preferences are: soundstage, imaging, dark, warm, bright, V-shaped. If you don't know (some) of these terms, you can find them by looking for "terms" with the search function of Head-fi.

 

[panzerkiller13]

Concerning sound signature, I will say that on my desktop, which used to be my reference and best sounding audio platform, I set my output to the "powerful" preset in the realtek EQ which more or less caused the channels to form a U or V-like shape and it seemed to bring more character and life to music and games. I believe the soundcard on that motherboard is an ALC889. However, I haven't used my desktop in roughly two years now because it's a big mess to move back and forth between my home and school, so it's stored away in my room for now. My laptop, an MSI GT70, was one of the very best in the audio category at the time it was new though, so there's that! 
 
 
 
Opinions about each of the headphones:
 
1 HD595: The sheer COMFORT of these was unbelievable to me when I first got them. I had never felt headphones that simply floated on my head like that before. As of now, the earpads have deteriorated and I haven't used them as much in the last year or so because I've been procrastinating about getting some new pads.
 
The 595s have been my reference for years since I didn't have an amp that could drive the 280 pros very well, and the others I have gotten in the last year. I have always enjoyed the more "natural" way things have sounded out of a good audio source on the 595s, whether its music or games. The bass is very deep and clean compared to the others. Mids and highs are crisp and pronounced more on the 595s than my other phones as well, I guess that has to do with the larger soundstage from their open nature? I can't say that I've heard a voice or a sound while playing a game or listening to music or movies and looked around the room thinking someone had walked in and was speaking to me on any of my other headphones, so it definitely does have a great stage and positional performance. 
 
 
2 280 Pros: The reason I got these at the same time as the 595s was that I wanted some closed headphones I could listen to around people or in public/ loud places, and I also wanted some headphones that had a reputation for a little more of a "punchy" and dominant bass than my 595s, while still remaining clear and clean. I really like them, ESPECIALLY after I got my Fiio E17 which really brought them to life compared to running them un-amped on everything but my desktop where they still sounded okay-ish. Highs and mids arent as lively as the 595s, but they're not bad by any means. I will sometimes prefer this sound when gaming or listening to thumpy music, but others I'll prefer the deeper, clearer, and more immersive sound of the 595s, it really depends on where I am and what sounds better that day! 
 
As far as comfort goes, these do get a little uncomfortable after a while, like they're clamped on my head. They're just about bulletproof though, I've taken them all over the place and they've more than stood up to being roughed around. 
 
 
3 Fake IE80s: I honestly wish that these were the genuine model because I don't even know where these would stand in relation to the real ones. They sound pretty good, the soundstage is fairly flat compared to both the 280s and the 595s, they are a little more fatiguing and overly-bright than the others, but the bass is on par with and maybe even a little more powerful than the 280s at a given volume, but not quite as layered or refined. I do love being able to keep them in a pocket or tucked away in a bag without having a second thought about them, and they can be quite enjoyable to listen to, except for the comfort/fit problems I have. With the silicone eartips my ear canals would seriously get sore and irritated until I used them for a few days straight, then it wouldn't be quite as bad, but I'd still have problems with them falling out or not wanting to go in at all!
 
4 PXC 450s: I have the least experience with these as they have been in my possession the shortest period of time. I have alternated between these and the 280 Pros when I was in a car or noisy place since, well, they're designed for it! The ANC feature works great and still blows my mind when I turn it on. As far as sound quality goes, the lows feel more powerful, but not quite as dynamic as the 595s. The whole midrange feels pretty... idk how to word it.. hollow?  The highs are very nice and clean, much like the 595s! But without much of a midrange response at all, whether ANC is on or off, it feels so WEIRD to listen to some songs or games, like the phones aren't plugged in properly. 
 
As far as comfort goes, the PXC 450s feel great, much like the HD380 Pros which someone let me demo a while back. Makes sense considering the earcups are shaped about exactly the same and made out of the same material!

 

[Beyakusenn]

Okay, from what I've read it seems you like an exciting sound, but don't want to miss out on the midrange.
 
Getting new pads for the HD598 might be a good idea, or you could make the step to better headphones. The HD650 is the most similar to the HD598, but it's not an exciting sound. You'll get more extension on both ends and the detail and soundstage will both improve. The comfort is better as well. They are great headphones, but I think you should hear them before considering purchasing them. For the HD650 your Fiio E17 would be sufficient, but the HD650 profit from more oomph.
 
Other, more exciting over-ear non-portable open back headphones within your 'price range' that might fit the bill are:
- HiFiMan HE-400 or the later models (400S / 400i)
- Beyerdynamic DT990 (higher Ohm versions)
- STAX SRS-2170 system (personal favourite. This is an electrostatic system)
 
On the portable front I see you are still lacking a bit. It depends of course on how much you use audio equipment on the go. A nice DAP is always good to have, but you could choose to keep using the E17 as portal DAC/amp. As for portal headphones or IEMs I'd recommend the Custom Art Music One CIEMs. I have them myself and I'm very content with them. It's a bit of a struggle in the beginning to get them in and out of the ears, but once you're used to them, it's at least as fast as universal IEMs. The sound will certainly be better than your current gear. Except for the soundstage that is because even though the soundstage of the Music One is very good for IEMs, it's still limited compared to the open HD598.
 
My final tip: get a second hand electrostatic system like the Stax SRS-2020 and use it for at least a week. If you haven't fallen in love with the sound by then, you can sell it for the same price and only lose the shipping costs. Well worth the experience if you ask me. My current main system is also a second hand electrostatic system, but I won't be selling it any time soon.