[runswithaliens]

From personal experience, what do you consider the best all-around open headphones for under $500.00 (new) for listening to a wide range of music styles???
 
What particular audio qualities that make them great?
 
Any perceived deficiencies that keep any of them out of contention?
 
 
Thanks!
 

 

[classakg]

My vote for the Akg's. I love their balance, mids and accuracy. I listen to many music genres with them. (Techno music is not bad, its just ok) 

 

[Mr Joboto]

AD900s, because MSPros don't fit in the price range. They can do every genre well, have good soundstage, can be run unamped. They have 'deficient' bass if you're a basshead. Some people might find them too bright.

 

[shane55]

I probably would have voted for the DT770/600 for all-rounders had they been on the list, but they are closed...
 
The DT880 / 600 ohm got my vote as it's my go-to for best sound.

 

[maruzen]

i voted for dt880 as all-rounders

 

[Slaughter]

It depends on what tradeoffs you are willing to live with. The 880/600 is an excellent headphone, but I just sent mine back in favor of my HD580 due to it handling rock much better, but I miss the detail and soundstage of the 880.

 

[r_monk]

Voted for K701 and HD 600.

 

[shane55]

Quote:

It depends on what tradeoffs you are willing to live with. The 880/600 is an excellent headphone, but I just sent mine back in favor of my HD580 due to it handling rock much better, but I miss the detail and soundstage of the 880.

Whaaaaa?
But your sig. say's 'on the way'...

 
So now it's 'one the way' back. Sorry to hear it didn't do all things well for you.
 
shane
 

 

[Slaughter]

Updated! I voted for the HD600 btw.

 
Quote:

Whaaaaa?
But your sig. say's 'on the way'...

 
So now it's 'one the way' back. Sorry to hear it didn't do all things well for you.
 
shane
 

 

[shane55]

Quote:

I voted for the HD600 btw.

Yeah... I can understand that. Great, extremely listenable cans.

 

 

[nickchen]

My vote for the HD600 as top allrounders under 500$, although I find it a bit boring.
 
I am personally a hardcore shuffleplay listener, hence many cans I got rid of were discarded due to insufficient genre bandwidth. After the MS1000 turned out to be very promising in that respect, NoXter and me applied the same recipe onto the MS Pro, and finally ended up there. A better allrounder simply doesn't exist. It even exceeds the HD600 in that respect, but it also provides more musicality and has way better detailling abilities. I've tried all the other big players out there, no Stax, HD800, T1 or whatever will drag me away from my modded MS Pro. End of story.

 

[loveholic]

The ad2000 should be in the mix. It is $499.

 

[nickchen]

Quote:

The ad2000 should be in the mix. It is $499.

Technically good HP, but an extremely poor allrounder.
 

 

[seraphjei]

Quote:

Technically good HP, but an extremely poor allrounder.
 

I agree to an extent but even when the AD2000s preform poorly for certain genres it still sounds mighty impressive. The AD2000s however shouldn't be considered an all-rounder because of it's notorious quirky midrange coloration. Some people will like it, other's not. AD2000s have too much of a polarizing effect on listeners. I've thrown nearly every genre I listen to and was impressed by each one, but that's because I prefer the sound signature of the AD2000, others will not share this view. 
 
I have owned the K701 and view them in a similar camp to the AD2000. Many people are in love with their K701s, but I did not care for their sound signature at all. I can't really consider either to be all-rounders since there is a such a split response from various listeners, and to my own ears the K701 didn't give me the kind of involving sound I was looking for. 
 
The DT880s on the other hand have a wonderfully forgiving sound and do well with just about every genre as well, but doesn't really blow you away either. My vote goes to the DT880s, I wouldn't mind buying another pair someday to keep by my bedside. 
 

 

[Vkamicht]

I voted DT880 (600 ohm to be specific) ... to my ears they have a smoother (less spikey) frequency response than HD600, are very fun with heavy music, very beautiful with soft music. Great!