Recommendations for my 2nd pair of audiophile headphones

[RustyZombie]

A while back I tested the waters of audiophile headphones and got the Grado SR60e.  I'm rather pleased with them, but now the cable on one side is coming loose and interfering with the sound.  I decided that I'm most interested in replacing them with another pair of headphones.
 
The first question, in my mind, is whether I should get a better Grado headphone, or to try something different.  While I'm pleased with the sound the SR60's gave me, I know I'd probably been blown away by any audiophile headphone in comparison to your generic $15 headphones.  If I stay with Grado, the SR225 is what sounds the most interesting to me.  I should note that I didn't find the SR60's fatiguing or uncomfortable, even after long listening sessions.
 
The next question would be if I decide to try a different sound, whether to go entry level or mid-range.  I think I'm most interested in mid-range because of the increase in audio quality.  It's just that would be a larger risk if I don't care for the headphones.  But it could be I'd still be blown away because of the jump up in quality, even if its a sound signature I wouldn't care for if I were more experienced. 

 
I'm mostly interested in open back headphones.  I have no particular budget, but would like to keep it to a few hundred dollars.  I also have an amp and DAC, a Schiit Magni and Modi.  So what do you guys recommend?

 

[Durza]

I have no experience with grados, but I've heard and read from some audiophiles with more experience than me that the grado lineup just adds more treble for each step up you go, so ultimately some people like the lower end grados better and wont go much above the 80's. Maybe look into the Fostex T50RP MK3. I have the T20's(just the fully open backed version). They sound absolutely amazing stock, but need just a little modding for comfort. I just added some cotton balls and some 10 dollar shure pads and they still sound great, although not as great... Fortunately there is a 50 dollar rebate when you buy from authorized retailers, so you can get the headphones for only 80ish dollars after the rebate. If you want a good review, look up z reviews t50rp on google. There is a huge community behind these cans and they have been very rewarding to use.

 

[GREQ]

Philips SHP9500         (sound like a Grado, but with bass)
Beyerdynamic DT880  (forward treble presence like a Grado, but with soundstage)
 
Also I want to recommend planars like entry level Hifimans, but I havn't heard the low-end ones yet, so I can't recommend them.
 
I started out with an SR60i, then an RS2i and now have a modified SR80.
I thought the RS2i would be my end-game until I got sucked into the world of planars and full-sized headphones.
 
Every time I go back to my SR80, the first thing that hits me is how 'small' and intimate the sound is.
Intimate is good sometimes, and for some small ensemble or rock music it brings you right into the action.
But mostly, I find large soundstage and big headphones just do more things better, at least for my taste. 
 
I don't want to say Grados are over-hyped, because what they do they do very well, but it's a big world of headphones out there, and sometimes even I feel like I've still got a long way to go.
If you can, try out new things. You might be surprised.

 

[RustyZombie]

Thanks for the recommendations guys.
 
I didn't think of planars, and I find the idea quite interesting.  But given the nature of their construction, I'm not sure I would trust the cheaper ones, and the more expensive ones cost more than it would be wise for me to spend right now.  But it's something I'll have to file away in the back of my head for somewhere down the line. 

 
I had one of my Aspie moments and spent the past few hours doing nothing but looking at the specs and reviews of a few dozen headphones.  I think I decided on the Audio-Technica AD-900x.  I like clear a detailed sound, which is one of the reasons I've always preferred headphones to speakers.  And since I got into audiophile gear, I've been rather interested in the concept of the soundstage.  Grado's are often described as having a small soundstage, while the AD-900x's are reported to have a nice and large soundstage.  Finally, I like the earpads aren't foam.  I have a fluffy kitty cat that has very fine fur.  It's almost as pervasive as dust, and I've found foam pads are magnets for them.  It only takes a week before the pads take on an obvious orangish tint, and it's rather annoying to clean all the fur out.

 

[Durza]

I can't blame you for being a little scared about the construction and quality of the fostex planars. I've read some reviews about problems, although not normally about their build, but about their internals, like some vibration, or the right/left channel going out. Mine were fine and the construction seems solid. Unfortunately the internal wiring isn't very robust, the soldering is good, but the wires are pretty thin and I broke one on accident(with no effort at all) and had to re-solder it. The cool thing is that these fostex planar drivers were so good that they have been virtually unchanged since the 1980's when the headphone first came out.

 

[GREQ]

If anything, the Fostex planars are some of the better built planars around today.
I don't think I've read about any consistent QC problems or reoccuring faults.
 
On the other hand, Audeze have had some rather serious QC issues affecting many of their earlier products, and Hifiman had problems with their first HE-400 driver (which they fixed) and their old headbands are prone to snapping at the plastic joint (not an issue any longer on new models).
With that knowledge, I do pamper my HE-500 and I'm very careful not to put any stress on the headband joints, so it's been serving me well for a few years now without failure. 
 
So far I've not read anything bad about Oppo or Kennerton's planar QC either. 

 

[Durza]

  If anything, the Fostex planars are some of the better built planars around today.
I don't think I've read about any consistent QC problems or reoccuring faults.

I agree, the outer build is good, if not great. I wasn't very clear, I made it seem like there were serious QC problems with the Fostex planars and I didn't mean that. You know how angry people are more likely to post a bad review and complain on a forum when they get a lemon... It just makes it seem like there are problems when any number of people complain about there issues, when in all reality there probably isn't any issue with QC. Also, you can probably get a replacement from the seller if you get a defective unit.

 

[Bananam4n]

I would recommend the HD598's. I don't see how anyone could dislike the sound signature, they work great with all types of music. They are open back, they pair very nicely with the modi/magni and recently they have been very cheap on amazon. The only down side is deciding whether to get the HD600's or HD650's next. (also they will be super comfortable after those Grados)  

 

[DutchGFX]

AKG Q701. A classic (well, pretty much) that never disappoints. It's got a massive soundstage and pretty decent balance, keeping a little treble sparkle

 

[Smileyko]

I was in your place just one year ago. I started with an AKG K550. Sounds great to me. But it was too big to travel. So I got an AKG N60NC. It was nice and small in size and the sound was great to me ears. I am just a regular guy not an audiophile. Then early this year I got on the Dragonfly bandwagon. I bought the 1.2 then of course the RED just two months ago. So of course I had to upgrade to a Grado 500e to go with the RED. Then my next hook up was with the Mojo since on these pages they are like hot cakes. After just 4 days with the Mojo I took in the OPPO PM2. This just happened 3 days ago. I am breaking in the PM2 right now. And now I am reading about the Nighthawk and I will get that when I go to Taiwan on the 24th. Just this morning while I am starting to listen to the PM2 after 3 days break in I heard they sound really great with tubes. Man, I am sick, I need help man. Any of you guys out there have caught the same thing as me? So as to my recommendations??? I will update you all after I break in the Nighthawk around the end of the month.