Big ol' headphones

[Dorian Gray]

Hello all. It's that time again when I feel especially tired of bad speakers and I long for a nice headphone. This time I have the moolah to do something about it. I know there are some serious audio guys around here, as well as lots of headphone users, so I'd like to tap your brain for a moment.

Considerations:
Price around 100 dollars/euros/pounds. May be willing to spend slightly more if it's really worth it.
Primary purpose: listening to music (classical to hip hop) at home on a Mac mini or iPod touch.
Secondary purpose: listening to audio recordings and preparing audio for videos. I'm a novice at this and don't need amazing quality. Hoping I can get away without a dedicated Sony MDR-V6 or similar.
Needs to be comfortable to wear and allow me to hear the doorbell, telephone, etc. I like being aware of my surroundings. Sound leakage doesn't matter, since I'm working at home alone. I presume an open-backed headphone would be a good idea.
I like well-made things that feel good. The less plastic the better. Don't want to buy another headphone for ten years.
I hate the blob-like Sennheiser aesthetic. Other than that, I have no strong brand preferences.
Notwithstanding the above, if a plastic Sennheiser is the clear winner for sound quality, I'll take it. Sound quality is my main aim here. I like taut bass, rich mid-range, clear highs. No need for thumping bass volume.
Any thoughts? I'll consider a used headphone if you think it's wise. I'm not overly squeamish about these things.

Example that caught my eye: Audio Technica ATH-AD500 (http://eu.audio-technica.com/en/products/product.asp?catID=5&subID=37&prodID=188). Any good? Can an iPod drive them?

[Yontsey]

For overhear headphones, I use the Senn HD280 Pros. They're great. I use them when I use to study as well as when I would record music and do some mixing when I didn't have monitors. I believe they were about $100 too.

For in-ears, I use Beats Tour. Those are some great headphones. My favorite part is the flat, non-tangle cord. Those are like $160.

[thegeriatric]

Sennheiser, gets my vote.

[tomoe]

Have you considered either the Grado SR60 or the SR80? My stereo dork friends swear by them.

[torifile]

I don't know what you mean with "blob like" so... Sennheiser HD25-II. I got a pair after my ATH M50's died. They are fantastic. A little pricy but all good headphones are. They are closed but you can still hear a little of the environment.

[Eugene]

Have you considered either the Grado SR60 or the SR80? My stereo dork friends swear by them.
I use my SR80is for all things computer related and SR325is for pure listening. The SR80is will feel kind of cheap, but if you treat them well they should last a long time. My old SR60s lasted 9 years or so before the cable on one side frayed off of its solder joint. It would have been an easy fix, but I retired them anyway.

Grado headphones are not neutral, they tend to color the midrange...percussive notes and guitar picking particular. Comfort might be an issue, they sit on your ears rather than surround them in velour material like high-end Sennheisers or Audio Technicas. They are as open-backed as you can get, so hearing a doorbell won't be an issue.

[Dorian Gray]

By blob-like I mean the characteristic shape that Sennheiser headphones have, such as this one (http://www.sennheiser.co.uk/uk/home_en.nsf/root/private_headphones_hifi_audiophile-headphones_005343) (HD 595). No real design (though I see it won a reddot design award :lol:), just a sort of freehand form that means nothing. However, I see your recommended HD25-II looks nothing like this. Interestingly, it's in the pro audio section of the Sennheiser website.

Anyway, I think I do want an open headphone design. Here (http://www.sennheiser.co.uk/uk/home_en.nsf/root/private_headphones_hifi_audiophile-headphones_504628)'s a Sennheiser that might work. Or one of the many variants of this further up the range.

I like the look of the Grado SR80is, but comfort seems to be poorly rated by quite a few reviewers. Comfort is important to me. I don't like the idea that they would feel cheap either. The SR325is is way out of my price range.

I'll follow up the other suggestions here (thanks!), and do some more research. Are Beyerdynamic and Audio-Technica pretty solid? Any other brands whose websites I should peruse?

[torifile]

I find that the Grados with the L-Cush pads (http://www.amazon.com/Grado-L-Cush-Large-Replacement-Cushions/dp/B0006GCCO0) are very comfortable. I really like my SR-80s though I don't use them often because of the fact that they are open. I don't find them cheap feeling at all, personally.

[_Ω_]

Use Sony MDR-V700 and am more than happy with them. My first pair lasted for 10 years before they disintegrated before my eyes. I like them because they don't sit on the ear (which I find annoying when hooked up for long periods of time) and that they have a nice rich (bassy) sound.

Volume goes to 11.

[Eugene]

Does everyone remember the blog post describing how Sennheiser HD555s and HD595s are identical except for a piece of foam.

http://mikebeauchamp.com/misc/sennheiser-hd-555-to-hd-595-mod/

I guess that foam is worth -$200.

[torifile]

Does everyone remember the blog post describing how Sennheiser HD555s and HD595s are identical except for a piece of foam.

http://mikebeauchamp.com/misc/sennheiser-hd-555-to-hd-595-mod/

I guess that foam is worth -$200.
Yeah. :lol: When I was shopping for my last headphones, I ran across that post. Unbelievable. :lol:

[rollercoaster375]

Fwiw, I just got a pair of Sennheiser HD 518s (http://www.amazon.com/Sennheiser-HD-518-Audiophile-Headphones/dp/B0042A68R8), and they're fantastic for what I'm listening to [Indie/Prog/Screamo; none of which is heavy on the bass]. Handily driven by my iPhone, and the MBP has no trouble with them either, though I will be getting a headphone amp eventually, for when I really want to crank it. I wear them for 6+ hours a day at work without any comfort issues.

If you're looking for in-ears, though, I can't help but recommend the Klipsch Image s4(i),

[Dorian Gray]

A few comments on your recommendations, to wrap up:

Sennheiser HD 280 Pro - too much isolation by far for my purposes, though they seem great otherwise. Very flat response curve, even with very low frequencies.

Grados - dubious comfort and build quality, judging by photos and reviews. I can't go further with these, because I can't find a dealer who will let me try them. High-end Grados are out of my price range.

Sennheiser HD 25-SP II - too expensive, on-ear, and closed-back. Look great, have great build quality, probably sound terrific. But way too much isolation.

Sony MDR-V700 - closed-back, seemed to be aimed at DJs (high power handling, etc.).

Sennheiser HD 518 - these seem very convincing (http://www.headphone.com/headphones/sennheiser-hd-518.php). They match my initial requirements better than the ATH-AD500 I was originally looking at. I hate how they look, and they have an annoying quarter-inch plug, but I think I'll go with them anyway.

Really appreciate your input, all. Thanks.