[slapshot30]

Quote:

I suggest the hfi 580 they sound more clearer than the xb500 and has enough bass to make a basshead satisfied and these don't really require an amp to be driven to loud levels on a zune on max volume it is loud enough so to speak.
 
They can be had for 148 usd http://www.djdeals.com/ultrasoneHFI580.htm .

The 580's don't come close to the XB500 in bass. Maybe with a nice EQ or bass boosting amp. But you are saying without an amp which is very untrue.
 
 

 

[crinacle]

 
Quote:

The 580's don't come close to the XB500 in bass. Maybe with a nice EQ or bass boosting amp. But you are saying without an amp which is very untrue.

 
+1
 
The HFI-580 IMO has basshead bass, but just doesn't go up to the point of XB500 bass...

 

[GN3RAL KARL]

Audio Technica Pro700MK2 with Fiio E3 amp.  Your world will be filled with bass earthquakes guaranteed

 

[crinacle]

 
Quote:

Audio Technica Pro700MK2 with Fiio E3 amp.  Your world will be filled with bass earthquakes guaranteed

Any improvements on the E5 instead?

 

[mikeaj]

The FiiO E5 is definitely an improved (and more expensive) product overall, but the bass boost on both is pretty much the same and gentle at about 3dB over the rest of the frequency range.  See here, with the usual disclaimer about the limitations of RMAA:
http://rmaa.elektrokrishna.com/Various/FiiO%20E3%20vs%20E5.htm
 
Quote:

Any improvements on the E5 instead?

 

 

[RPGWiZaRD]

The E3/E5 bass boost is quite horribly configured though, too much midrange bleed, would need a sharper peak for the lows. I had a lot better experience EQing using my hardware EQ. I'll illustrate what I mean:
 

 

[Proglover]

I'd go with DT770 if you also want some bass quality, not only quantity, or Denons