Recommended Headphones for Electric Guitar to Scarlett 2i2 to computer recording/mixing

[ytkanos]

I have approx 100-150 USD budgeted for a set of headphones.
I prefer the money to go on sound quality rather than "cool factor".
 
 
For the time being I will not be buying dedicated studio monitors and I will mainly rely on the headphones to:
 
1. listen whilst recording tracks with electric guitars via a Focusrite Scarlett 2i2 to my Mac computer.
2. mix the tracks on the computer
 
Style of music is mainly rock/metal, ambient and electropop.
 
 
The set-up is in my study at home and I don't worry about sound leaking out.
I would like as little sound to leak in as possible.
 
Having read pages of reviews I have understood that open-back phones are more likely to provide the best sound quality.
 
AKG K240 MK2 and Sennheiser HD 598 seem to keep coming up.
 
Can anyone recommend these or share experience for other headphones for my type of application?
 
Also, is the Scarlett 2i2 OK as a headphone amp or should I get a separate headphone amp too?
 
many thanks

 

[PurpleAngel]

Sennheiser HD558, same drivers as the HD598.
Just need to remove the black rubber tape from inside the cups, to make the HD558 more open.
Buy used, as I'm assuming removing the black rubber tape might void the warranty anyway.

 

[ytkanos]

Good tip. Thanks.
Do they need amplifying or do you think the headphone amplifier from a Focusrite sound card would be sufficient?

 

[PurpleAngel]

  Good tip. Thanks.
Do they need amplifying or do you think the headphone amplifier from a Focusrite sound card would be sufficient?

 
You do not really have enough in your audio budget for a headphone amplifier anyway.
And any money you might put towards an amplifier, would be better spent on getting better headphones.
The 50-Ohm HD558/HD598 are fairly easy to drive.
 
A $120 Bravo Ocean tube headphone amplifier might make a noticeable improvement.

 

[ytkanos]

Thanks again for the advice.
I've narrowed it down to the HD558 or the K240.
I really am a beginner on headphones.
 
Can you tell me if open back headphones leak IN more noise than closed back headphones?
I get a lot of street noise (motorbikes, cars etc...) due to the location of my "studio" in the apartment.