[Mucks]

Hi, I'm trying to help a friend purchase a new set of headphones for use at his office as his current ones are in dire need of replacement. After testing out headphones from a few coworkers, he mentioned that he particularly enjoyed the comfort and fit of the Bose SoundTrue Headphones On-Ear Style, but I figure that he can likely get something better for around the same price range. He tried a another coworkers Sennheiser HD 558 and found them to be too large and bulky.
 
Ideally, he's looking for something lightweight and portable as he moves to different spots in the office to work. He would need closed headphones so that sound doesn't bleed and distract his coworkers. He doesn't want IEMs as he can't stand having them in his ears. He listens to music mainly through SoundCloud and Rdio via an iPhone 5 or MacBook Air, and is not willing to get any additional equipment besides the headphones (so no DAC/AMP). He enjoys a large variety of genres, EDM, motown, top 40s, some rock, but at work mainly listens to stuff in the style of Bon Iver, Vancouver Sleep Clinic, Jon Hopkins, Purity Ring). He also has a large head (XL baseball caps). He's aiming for a budget of around $200 Canadian, but is willing to splurge a bit if he can't find something suitable.
 
A musician co-worker of his suggested the Sennheiser Momentum ($199 for the over ear), but I've read that they don't really go over the ear completely, so I doubt that these would be comfortable for use throughout the work day. The Momentum 2 look a little out of his price range at $400 on Amazon.ca.
 
I'd greatly appreciate if anybody could suggest something! 

 

[KG Jag]

For on the go use without an amp, I recommend the NAD VISO HP50, PSB M4U 1, Focal Spirit Pro or Sony MDR 7520.  These are listed in order from warm to dead neutral (I call it a tie in that regard between the FS and Sony).  See:
 
http://www.soundandvision.com/content/sony-mdr-7520-headphone
 
http://www.innerfidelity.com/content/two-strike-zone-focal-spirit-professional-and-spirit-classic
 
http://www.innerfidelity.com/content/i-love-these-headphonesthe-nad-viso-hp50
 
and
 
http://www.cnet.com/products/psb-m4u-1/
 
Prices tend to be higher in Canada, so some of these may be above budget.
 
Headphone comfort is a very individual thing.  Sizing and sensitivities are unique to each person.  We can point you to headphones that are generally considered to be comfortable and mention others that have garnered complaints for being uncomfortable.  However, the only way to know for sure is to wear them yourself for a time equivalent to your longest listening session.

 

[Mucks]

Thanks, I'll tell him to check those out.
 
How do those compare to the Sennheiser Momentum (first edition)? Do the Momentums need a DAC/AMP?

 

[KG Jag]

  Thanks, I'll tell him to check those out.
 
How do those compare to the Sennheiser Momentum (first edition)? Do the Momentums need a DAC/AMP?

 
The Momentum is more colored--more mid-bass hump.  The Momentum is designed to run directly from a low powered device.