[Magitek]

I need some advice for finding good portable headphones. I was going to ask this in the other subforum but it seems like IEMs are all they talk about over there now, and I've noticed a lot of you have and talk about portables too, so I'm hoping you guys can help me out.
 
Build: I just want them to be portable and comfortable. I don't really care that much about isolation, but the headphones shouldn't leak sound.
 
Music: Almost everything. Rock, pop, electronic, acoustic, classical, R&B, jazz, and hip-hop.
 
Sound: I just like a sound that is smooth, clear, full, natural, and easy on the ears.
Things I like in particular are tight visceral bass (thinking of drums when I say this), the crunch of guitars, cymbals, female vocals, good dynamics (thinking of classical), and a soundstage that is big. Hate sibilance and dryness/grain.
 
Sources: I play my music from my Zune and my laptop, no amp.
 
Hope I'm not asking too much for my budget. Thanks for any help.

 

[Magitek]

Seems like the best in this range are the ESW9 and HD 25-1 II. Can any owners of these comment about whether they suit my needs? Or am I going to have better luck finding my ideal sound with some IEMs?

 

[dr.toboggan]

I have been listening to the hd25-1 for a while now. one thing thats mentioned around that i didn't really believe is how well they isolate. to me they isolate about as well as my re0's, which is pretty great for a headphone. wrt to iems, theres a lot less noise due to cable bumping on them than either the shures or re0s i have.

 

[Magitek]

Thanks but isolation is not a concern, leaking sound is though.

 

[REDH0RN]

Quote:

Thanks but isolation is not a concern, leaking sound is though.
 
 
Don't they go hand in hand... ?

 

[Magitek]

No not necessarily. Some headphones barely leak sound, but don't isolate very well. Like semi-closed.

 

[casioa5302ca]

With HD 25´s, no problem with sound leakage, and with isolation, too...they´re definitely sufficient in both. And yes, this go necessarily hand in hand (leakage and isolation), IMHO.
I have HD 25C-II, and I could say, that their (passive) isolation is somewhere around 30 dB +/-, not bad for on-ear cans. For all-rounder, go for some of HD 25´s, or ATH M50 (I never heard them, but people here used to really like them).

 

[Nachash]

Phiaton Ps320.

 

[Magitek]

Thanks for the recommendation. I've never heard of those before. But I did some searching and I don't think they're for me (heard they're like the ER4Ps, which are said to be cold, thin, bass light)
 
I think the ESW9 meets the most of my requirements in this price range. Anymore comments?

 

[hhforever]

The ESW9 definitely is a very very good choice, I strongly recommend it. When I first listen to it I thought I am listening to m50 but way much more portable.
 
But if you like bass the ES7 seems not bad too.

 

[Magitek]

Quote:

The ESW9 definitely is a very very good choice, I strongly recommend it though.

Uh you kind of confused me with the second part. Did you mean you strongly don't recommend it? The though threw me off.

 

[hhforever]

Quote:

Quote:

The ESW9 definitely is a very very good choice, I strongly recommend it though.

Uh you kind of confused me with the second part. Did you mean you strongly don't recommend it? The though threw me off.

 
Sorry the though is not meant to be there gonna edit it.
 

 

[Magitek]

Quote:

 
Sorry the though is not meant to be there gonna edit it.
 

 
Ok cool, so the ESW9s seem pretty good then. Any other headphone suggestions?
 

 

[DiamondHead]

For that price maybe AKG K 601 would be a good choice

 

[classakg]

Are you using the headphones for going to work/school? commuting? 
Because i would choose Iem's for that...
 
If you want to listen at home, but unamped...thats another story.