Newbie Requiring Recommendations

[Dissonant]

I swear, there was a consolidated recommendation thread somewhere when I was still lurking. In any case, I cannot find it. 
 
Anyway, I need some recommendations to be thrown around for headphones around US$100. I can exceed it by a reasonable amount. Looked at the other thread with recommendations by price range, but I feel that it isn't exhaustive enough.
 
I have tried cans across price ranges, even those wayyyy outside of my ballpark, to get a feel of the sound I like (am from Singapore, so across shops like Stereo Electronics and Jaben, there is a decent selection here, barring slightly higher retail prices).
 
Basically, I tried the HD800, D2000, SR80 and SR225, DT770, SRH440 - the usual suspects, I guess.
 
I actually liked the sound of the HD800, despite it being slightly too cold - perhaps quite fitting considering it's intended role.
 
The Grado's left quite an polarizing impression on me - fabulous, aggressive, mids and treble, but as far as I can hear, next to no bass. Preferred the SR80 too.
 
Beyers were slightly too bright on me, as I recall.
 
I liked the SRH440 - and that was with stock pads. What it lacked in musicality, it made up with an analytical character that appealed to me.
 
I also tried the M50's after some burn in, courtesy of a schoolmate (he goes by crinacle on these forums). I was left pretty unimpressed, as I felt the mids were recessed, with a treble that was neither smooth, nor sparkling - just metallic and artificial, with bass that was lacking in punch, despite the quantity. I also tried another M50 in a retail store, but the gap in time between both auditions meant I was unable to diffrentiate from the bass-heavy to the more neutral version.
 
I also liked the Superlux HD668B's signature, but felt that it lacked refinement.
 
tl;dr Guy needs portable headphones, can fork out for an entry-level portable amp around the level of the PA2V2. Sound quality is my first priority, followed by build quality. Portability is optional, as I am quite open to wearing stuff around the size of SRH440's outdoors. Design is basically of no consequence, unless bad design detracts in the sound delivery of the cans. Preferably, something with good isolation.
 
As far the overall sound signature I enjoy tight, punchy bass. Don't really want quantity. Mids are what I consider to be my priority. I would prefer smooth mids that are more forward, and a sparkly treble, but still retaining a decent amount of overall smoothness. Sorry if any terms are contradictory, as I am still not up to speed on most terms.
 
Would any of you recommend the MDR-V6/7506 - seems to suit me if not for the 'upper-midrange spike'. Or perhaps, the more portable successor, the MDR-ZX700. Also, Fischer Audio has a distributor here, so would it be better to get the FA-004, and invest the savings in something like the PA2V2? According to LFF's review it scales up very well. I guess the SRH440's are also a very decent choice that is well-received, but I would like more suggestions.
 
Thanks!
 
Sorry for the long post, but I needed to get many questions from a month of lurking answered.

 

[BotByte]

Ok, I'm lining up that you like the Grado SR80i and the Sony MDR-V6
 
I have both, for good reasons.
 
The V6's are my Bass heavy headphones, I'm also not very bass heavy so they suit me fine. Their is no overkill with the bass.
 
My sr80i are my all around headphones, why? Because I made a set of earpads to go along with them. This is the problem with Grados, is that they leak sound and that sound causes less isolation and thus destroys the thoomp from bass.
 
I would say, get the Grados. It may take you some time but that Bass is there, and you'll learn to listen to it. Then also look into getting some G crush pads that will add bass and sound or you can make your own ear pad from pleather, foam and some time.
 
IF you like Grados, you cnn't go wrong. JOIN THE LEGION
 
EDIT: Grado don't need amp, MDR-V6's do

 

[tdockweiler]

Basically you can't do better than the Koss Pro DJ 100 and the PA2V2 I think. I've yet to find anything closed and portable I prefer more under $200. The "problem" with the DJ100 is that it needs a small amp to sound best IMO.
It has a fun signature with a good amount of bass and forward mids. Still quite well balanced. It's built like a tank and even comes with a lifetime warranty. I prefer it to everything else in the same price category. Because of them even my K240 Studio and modded SR-80 is collecting dust.
I thought the MDR-V6/7506 would be comparable but that also didn't come close. If you check my old threads I did a comparison of the DJ100, KNS-8400, Sextett and MDR-7506.
 
The KRK KNS-6400 comes very close and it's only $20 more and doesn't need an amp. It has more treble than the DJ100, but less forward mids.