Stax Lambda Pro anyone?
I used to work part time in a hi-fi store back in the late 80s/early 90s.
Sold the STAX stuff.
Missed them so much I picked up a system a few years back.
BTW: STAX always refused to call em Headphones. Ear speakers was the only accepted term.
They are still in business:
http://www.stax.co.jp/index-E.html


If you haven't heard them you either should refrain from it, or keep cash in hand.

 

Headphones is REALLY opening a can of worms. Listening to a 200g Pet Sounds cut on open back Grados with an E.A.R. headphone amp was as close to perfection in any medium I've ever experienced. And although I've never personally listened to a set of Stax that SRS-5100 isn't bad for both the headpho... I mean, EAR SPEAKERS and amp.

 

I'll watch this thread with interest, as I am marching towards downsizing as my system gets booted from the den. Likely going to move to smaller speakers and a headphone option.

 

I've got some nice headphones. Will the thread include wired and wireless?

 

You know, some of you may think this is crazy, but even after decades and at a very low price point, the Koss Portapro headphones remain one of the best I've ever used.
https://www.amazon.com/Koss-PortaPro-Headphones-with-Case/dp/B00001P4ZH/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1484671015&sr=8-1&keywords=koss porta-pro headphones

But these Audio Technicas are probably my favorites.

https://www.amazon.com/Audio-Techni...-spons&keywords=audio+technica+ath-m50x&psc=1

 

Nothing hi end here.. I have Sony MDR1ABT - although I still have my old Technics rack from way back when. I prefer Technics for the wall shaking abilities

 

I had those loss porta pros .... They really set the high water mark for portable SQ for nearly a quarter of a century

I now use audio technical AD-700 which I must have gotten 15 years ago off Amazon for 88 bucks... Sooo very nice sounding and even driven even by cellphones

 

I tried my hand at headphones a while back until I realized that I'm just not that discerning. I preferred my modified Koss KSC-75 ($15) to the Grado HF-1 ($200) set I managed to snag a pair of (hybrid wood /plastic Grado's specifically built for the Head-Fi.org community). The KSC-75's are basically the porta-pro drivers with just ear clips, but can be modified to a simple over-head band, and they sound great, especially given the price. These days I mostly use my Panasonic RP-HTF600 as they are very comfortable and are good enough for me for casual listening. I still have a set of Grado SR-60s but I find them less comfortable, and the treble is too piercing for me.

 

I am in the market as well...Interested in recommendations. Bought a headphone pre-amp last year and have not installed it yet because I've not had time to audition headphones. My Bose QC 25's are fine on the plane but not going to cut it at home.

 

If you already have a headphone amp then open backed models from Sennheiser, Grado, Audio Technica, Fostex, etc will do the trick. Once you set a budget they all perform pretty equally if not distinctly, so your final choice will come down to ergonomics, sound character, look, features, and the like. The HD650's that @dsio and @Trev don are a great starting point.
However if you're looking for headphones that can be used for both home and travel usage the choices slim down a bit since they have to be closed back. I recently purchased a set of P7 wireless B&W's for the SO since she travels a lot, and although they don't sound as good as the Senn 600's the comfort, build quality, noise isolation and connectivity are so well thought out they are damn near worth their weight in gold.

 

Bang & Olufsen

 

Have an audeze Sine paired with a cheapie E10k amp.

 

Btw... Whoever is interested in cans, check out massdrop... Plenty of action at any given time

 

Glad to hear that I don't need to go north of $500. The online reviews of the HD650's are all 5*. A trip to Audio Consultants is due this weekend I think.

 

I have to say, comparing the Audio Technica MD50 and the HD650, for the money, the MD50s seem like a lot. At about 100 vs 350-400 usd, I seriously doubt that most ears could discern that difference. But that's just my opinion. Read the reviews. Some place them nearly dead even in performance, and others place the HD650 just slightly ahead. 300 dollars better?

 

On the subject of headphones - my cousin went through 5-6 of different headphones in one year or so. He's had multiple brands - of which I only recall Bose, but all of them have been in the $400 range. All of them broke down after a couple of months of use - so that is another thing to keep in mind (good return/exchange policy).

 

I have a pair of Sennheiser HD480's that I still use occasionally, nearly 30 years old , but generally I hate the feeling of headphones on or covering my ears