[azif]

I originally just wanted to spend $100 and get something decent but i've now been lurking on the forums and looking for bargains. So now I've ended up with AD700, Xonar Essence STX, and a matrix mstage amp.
 
Now im looking at upgrading the headphones (wondering what i am missing out on using the ad700s) and looking at:

1. HD600 ~ $300aud

1. HD650 ~ $400aud
2. HE400 ~ $450aud
3. DT880 (250ohm)~ $260aud

 
I'm trying to find something that I wont feel like i need to upgrade ever again. Headphones will be used for gaming / music / movies.
 
Music i'm listening to atm:

1. (30%) Rock - Vampire weekend / the national / Beatles etc
2. (30%) Rap
3. (30%) Electronic / ambient - crystal castles / explosions in the sky / aphex twin etc
4. (20%) Jazz / Classical
5.  

 
Cheers!

 

[KG Jag]

All are excellent cans--although I would put the HE 400 slightly below all the others and the HE 500 above all of them.  Read more about each of them (and more) in this excellent piece:
 
http://www.head-fi.org/t/634201/battle-of-the-flagships-58-headphones-compared-update-audeze-lcd-2-revision-2-6-4-13
 
Better yet, try to listen to all of them--perhaps at Head-Fi meet.  By way of example, there's one in Dallas in just a matter of hours.
 
One more thing--none these cans has an especially large sound stage, which is important for most using cans for gaming and movies.

 

[azif]

Cheers appreciate the reply
 
Im actually in australia so meetups i think might be a bit hard and there are very few places nearby me to try them on.
 
I've been through the thread you linked and have been looking at the A+ value phones in my price range. The thread seemed to rank the he400s in the same range i thought and from the other threads ive read for my listening tastes they would be more suitable. Though given they would run me an extra 50% on top of the HD600s it seemed like the 600s would be better value and still great quality.
 
The 650s would run me an extra 30% on the 600s and the flagship review seemed to say it wasnt necessarily worthwhile (depending on personal preference). But if these are more future proof then i dont mind spending the extra
 
 
I still have the ad700 which i can keep for gaming if the others would be sacrificing too much soundstage though would prefer to offload.

 

[KG Jag]

To my ears, there is something not quite right with the mids delivered by the HE 400.  I don't want to make too big a deal about it.  Yet for all its +'s, that's what puts it below the others for me.
 
My personal pick from the other three is the DT 880--especially in the 600 Ohm flavor.
 
From the description of your prices, the HD 600 appears to be the best value by far.  Because it is more neutral than the 650, I would select it over the HD 650, but would replace its cable with the (very affordable) 650 cable or better.
 
These three cans were all former flagships of their line.  For some they may be end game.  But then I doubt most of those folks have heard the HE 500.

 

[azif]

So in your opinion the HE500's are substantially better than the 600s?
 
My budget was originally < 500 for the setup... i've already bought amp/dac for around 200. So ideally i would spend around 300 and get the HD600s unless there is a good reason to stretch and get some HE500s second hand or something like that

 

[KG Jag]

The HE 500 is the best can under $1,000 in my book.  It does everything better than the cans you are considering.
 
If your budget won't stretch to the HE 500, you will be well served by the cans you are considering.  There is not a clunker in the bunch.

 

[jsmooth67]

What makes the HE-500 better than HD600? Some people prefer the HD600 over HE-500: http://www.head-fi.org/t/656160/review-hifiman-he-500-vs-sennheiser-hd600

 

[kimvictor]

This is random, but I like SRH940 over HD600 or HD650. Technically, I find the SRH940 to be much more detailed, transparent, and fast. I haven't had enough demo of HE400, so I can't comment about them.
 
But I feel like SRH940 really does outperform(technical wise) HD600/650 and DT880.
Pair the SRH940 with a good tube amp, and you have a beast: ultra fast(one of the fastest dynamics, regardless of price) and detailed(best I've heard from a dynamic under $700). I know that some avid owners of SRH940 will agree with me. In fact, dweaver thinks that SRH940 is even more detailed than SRH1840!

 

[KG Jag]

  What makes the HE-500 better than HD600? Some people prefer the HD600 over HE-500: http://www.head-fi.org/t/656160/review-hifiman-he-500-vs-sennheiser-hd600

Read the article linked in post #2 of this thread.
 
I have both and my HD 600 has a upmarket cable.  The HE 500 is better in every category--audible frequency response/extension, imaging, detail, treble, bass and even the mids.

 

[KG Jag]

  This is random, but I like SRH940 over HD600 or HD650. Technically, I find the SRH940 to be much more detailed, transparent, and fast. I haven't had enough demo of HE400, so I can't comment about them.
 
But I feel like SRH940 really does outperform(technical wise) HD600/650 and DT880.
Pair the SRH940 with a good tube amp, and you have a beast: ultra fast(one of the fastest dynamics, regardless of price) and detailed(best I've heard from a dynamic under $700). I know that some avid owners of SRH940 will agree with me. In fact, dweaver thinks that SRH940 is even more detailed than SRH1840!

The 940 is a very nice closed can.  However, in addition to having a closed can sound stage (albeit very good for its class), its bass is anemic (from a neutral prospective) and it breaks more than it should due to the way it is made.  Those thing put it behind the Senns and Beyer on my list--unless you need a closed can.
 
I also like the 1840, but have to conclude that it's overpriced at it usual "approved" price point.

 

[kimvictor]

  The 940 is a very nice closed can.  However, in addition to having a closed can sound stage (albeit very good for its class), its bass is anemic (from a neutral prospective) and it breaks more than it should due to the way it is made.  Those thing put it behind the Senns and Beyer on my list--unless you need a closed can.
 
I also like the 1840, but have to conclude that it's overpriced at it usual "approved" price point.

 
Hmm. I really don't think bass of SRH940 is anemic. Even compared to UERM, they are actually pretty good. Much better than DT880's bass at least. HD6x0 has warmer and richer bass, but SRH940's bass is more punchy and fast.
 
1840 is overpriced? For just instrument separation and neutrality like SRH1840, I would pay $600(I guess that does make $699 price tag overpriced) for it.