[porridgecup]

This may not be the right section for this. If so please guide me to a better one.
 
 
I'm looking for some good over-ear, open headphones. I'm brand new to high quality headphones and audio (though I'm able to very clearly tell the difference between low quality MP3s and 320 kbps MP3s/FLACs, even with extremely bad headphones).
 
I listen to lots of different kinds of music, but in general tend to prefer good instrumentals over vocals. This is just a diverse sample of some bands I like:
 
The Smashing Pumpkins
Crystal Castles (http://grooveshark.com/#!/album/Crystal+Castles+II/4892412)
Maximum the Hormone (http://grooveshark.com/#!/profile/Maximum+The+Hormone/22206306)
Parov Stelar (http://grooveshark.com/#!/album/Coco/3487011)
Boards of Canada (http://grooveshark.com/#!/boards_of_canada)
Portishead (http://grooveshark.com/#!/profile/Portishead/22336354)
 
Is there any particular brand or model of over-ear headphones that would apply well to all of these kinds of music?
 
Thanks.

 

[neopac]

  I'm looking for some good over-ear, open headphones.
...
Crystal Castles (http://grooveshark.com/#!/album/Crystal+Castles+II/4892412)
Maximum the Hormone (http://grooveshark.com/#!/profile/Maximum+The+Hormone/22206306)
Parov Stelar (http://grooveshark.com/#!/album/Coco/3487011)
Boards of Canada (http://grooveshark.com/#!/boards_of_canada)
Portishead (http://grooveshark.com/#!/profile/Portishead/22336354)
...

 Beyerdynamic DT-990 pro or edition.
 
cheers

 

[Music Alchemist]

Boards Of Canada is my favorite electronica band!

 
Planar magnetic headphones would be a good choice, but I can't give specific recommendations without knowing your budget.

 

[sinnottj]

Was listening to Geogaddi today on my Beyerdynamic DT880 and it sounded pretty damn good, so I can recommend those!

 

[Music Alchemist]

Was listening to Geogaddi today on my Beyerdynamic DT880 and it sounded pretty damn good, so I can recommend those!

I listened to "Julie And Candy" from that album the other night.

 

[sonance]

  This may not be the right section for this. If so please guide me to a better one.
 
 
I'm looking for some good over-ear, open headphones. I'm brand new to high quality headphones and audio (though I'm able to very clearly tell the difference between low quality MP3s and 320 kbps MP3s/FLACs, even with extremely bad headphones).
 
I listen to lots of different kinds of music, but in general tend to prefer good instrumentals over vocals. This is just a diverse sample of some bands I like:
 
The Smashing Pumpkins
Crystal Castles (http://grooveshark.com/#!/album/Crystal+Castles+II/4892412)
Maximum the Hormone (http://grooveshark.com/#!/profile/Maximum+The+Hormone/22206306)
Parov Stelar (http://grooveshark.com/#!/album/Coco/3487011)
Boards of Canada (http://grooveshark.com/#!/boards_of_canada)
Portishead (http://grooveshark.com/#!/profile/Portishead/22336354)
 
Is there any particular brand or model of over-ear headphones that would apply well to all of these kinds of music?
 
Thanks.

What's your approximate budget? For any genre there are best of price-class headphones for that genre / music style. If it fits within your budget the LCD-2 (or even better, LCD-3) will sound great with the groups/bands listed, and they fit the other criteria - over-ear, open.
By the way, the criteria you listed are very good, you are definitely picking the maximum-quality-for-the-buck attributes for headphones - i.e. open over-ears will always sound better (IMHO) in a given price range than other types.
 
The reason I mentioned the LCD-2 is that for electronic music, almost no other headphones will provide the visceral, clean, bass thump (with no distortion or exaggeration) for EDM and alt. rock that the LCD family does, IMHO - it provides very good clarity without making badly recorded music unbearable, as some headphones in this price range can. There are some headphones with a better soundstage and some with a slightly more even presentation or vocals, but overall, LCDs would be a great choice.
 
In a lower price range, someone suggested the 990 Pro, and while a good choice, I prefer the DT 880, which are more open - I have owned both headphones for many, many years. I would also listen to the Sennheiser HD 650, which will do well with your music but is not as good with average amplification - it needs top-dog amps (and balance drive) to sound best, IMHO, whereas the DT 880 sounds good with more evenly priced amps. I think those two will do you better than the AKGs, or other class stalwarts for your chosen attributes and genres. The more portable headphones don't sound quite as good for the price in this range, IMHO, although the Alpha Dogs come close.

 

[HarleyZH]

I love listening on the Beyerdynamic T1 for artists in the glo-fi/ambient style. For a better price proposition, without the need to amp the Philips X1 is worth an audition