[corporatetool]

Hey everybody. I need the hive mind's collective knowledge.
 
My father needs headphones. I bought him a smartphone and he's using it as an MP3 player.
 
The issue is I'm stumped about what to get him. He's in his 60s and has always been a speaker man. We're talking about tube amps, floor standing speakers, and vinyl. 
 
His music is all mid and highs. What can I get him that is under $50? Keeping it cheap since I'm not sure if he can hear those highs anymore.

 

[SteveHiFi]

You don't mention the headphone style (in-ear,on-ear) but I'm guessing that on-ear/over-ear is preferred.
 
Open back - Sennheiser PX100, Koss Porta Pro
Closed back - PX200

 

[davidsh]

Maybe try superlux they are known for being a little bright and having prominent treble, else good bang for the buck.

 

[corporatetool]

Alright. I'll try those cans. The Koss would look so nostalgic to my dad. The Superlux looks pretty decent for the price.

 

[davidsh]

Grado sr60 is slightly expensive, but still!

 

[Beocord]

No use getting headphoens that have pronounced highs. If he does not hear say beyond 14khz does not mean peaks and shrillnes won't annoy him 5khz-14khz. My dad is 65 and he enjoyed HM5, which has very recessed high end. Loosing hearing over age does not happen linearly. If it were so...people in their 90's would hear only bass Even if his hearing limits at 10khz he still hears most of the music. Not that he is listening to band of crickets. Just get the best headphones money can buy for the price. My favorates below 50usd are takstar hi2050.

 

[tomb]

SR-60 is the absolute solution for what you describe.  Older people lose the ability to hear highs.  Headphones such as Grados emphasize the frequencies lost in aging. It may be $10-$20 over what you specified, but there's nothing else that will come close to your needs.

 

[AnalogSavior]

I'll throw in another vote for the sr60. It seems to fit exactly what you are looking for.

 

[Claritas]

All the suggestions are sensible and have their merits.
 
Two (or three) I would advise against:
 
SR60i is painful without an aftermarket headband or at least a Beyer headband cover.
Kosses tend to break after several months of daily use; usually one of the cables goes bad.
PX200-II earpads are pretty crummy and somewhat uncomfortable.
 
Instead, I rather like the idea of a Fischer clone such as HM5, so pick up NVX Audio XPT100.

 

[elmoe]

Another vote here for the sr60s. My dad has a pair and loves them.