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I've got the Shure SRH840's and they're great; I totally agree with all the positive feedback here. They're currently the best cans in my collection and I couldn't be happier with the purchase. For the price I don't think you can do better, and I'm sure if you buy them you'll be happy for years to come.
However, while they're super comfortable I would not call the Shure cans small and/or light (as others above have already noted), and if they're really just a backup for your speakers I have another suggestion for you: the Sennheiser HD202's. I purchased a 5-pack of them (~$100 for 5 pairs!) at bswusa.com to use for large podcast recording sessions and I have been really pleasantly surprised at how good the sound quality is. Originally I didn't intend to use them for listening to music, etc., as I assumed they couldn't be that good if they only cost $20 for a pair. However, for the last year or so I've used them on a daily basis at my office and have really enjoyed them. It took a couple of weeks for the plastic headband to adjust to my head, but since then they've been comfortable, light, reasonably unobtrusive, and if they get stolen or broken you're only out $20-$25.
I'm sure you'll be happy with either choice, but if you'd like to find an inexpensive, lightweight headphone that you can cart around campus in a backpack and not worry about damaging or losing them, give the Senn HD202's a shot - worst case you're out $20-$25. And for what it's worth, I'm listening to my HD202's as I write this even though the Shure 840's are only 10 feet away. To my ears the 202's are a good headphone at an unbelievable price.
Hope this helps!
Your suggestion helped much more than you know! Thank you nobleacuff.
I'm really liking the idea of the HD202s. Not because I think they'd be comparable to either the JVCs or the Shures, and not because I think they'd be a good fit in terms of diversity of function. Not even because they're no small, light and portable.
The HD202s bring out what I initially liked in the JVC RX700s: the price tag. These are $20 headphones with, according to you, surprisingly good audio quality--$20 headphones that can be upgraded or replaced with just a small cost to me.
The problem is that I really don't know exactly what I need. I've never been to college before, I've never lived in a dorm, I've used speakers all my life and I've never even used a pair of headphones. When I mentioned that these headphones would "function in the following settings," that was an educated guess. I don't know where or when or how I'll be using them. I don't even know if I'll end up using them at all.
The HD202s offer a perfect solution to my debacle. For only $20, I can foray not into the world of audiophile sound, but into the world of headphone use in general. As these are closed, I can wear them on the plane on the way to school and listen to them in my dorm once I'm there. Due to their portability, I can toss them in my backpack and drag them around campus. Most importantly, I can "experiment." I can find out what I want from a headphone, where I'll be using it, and whether I even need one at all--for just a small fee. A week or two into college, I can buy whatever pair of headphones fits those needs, be it the JVCs or the Shures.
It makes no sense purchasing $120 cans based on an "educated guess." It makes no sense purchasing $60 cans either.
$20 on the other hand? Absolutely.
I truly appreciate everyone's advice so far. I think I'll be purchasing a pair of the HD202s later today, unless you guys have a better suggestion for a starter headphone in the sub $20 price range.
EDIT: How do the HD202s compare to the HD201s? Thanks.
