I know it's long, but worth checking out. Pulled it from another forum.
QUOTE
The resource to look at is Head Fi.
Recommendations from me:
I'm rather cheap but I want good headphones. ($0-25)
iem
JVC HA-FX 33/34 "Marshmallow"
JVC HA-FX 66 "Air Cushion"
JVC HA-FX 55
These ones are about $25
ear-clip
Koss KSC-75
This one can usually be found for between $5 and $20
earbud
JVC gumy Usually around $10
Yuin PK3 Usually around $50
I'm not that cheap, I just want something value ($50-100)
iem
Denon C351
Creative EP630
Sennheiser CX300
Westone 1 (about $100 for these ones)
j-jays
Etymotic ER6i
Shure SE115
Denon C551
Full-Size
iGrado
Grado SR60 One HELL of a good deal.
Grado SR80
Sennheiser HD280
Alessandro MS1
Denon D1000/D1001
Ranges from $50-100, ascending in price
Earbuds
Yuin PK2 Usually around $80
I have some money to spend on headphones and I want something great ($100-200)
iem
Westone 1
D-Jays
Etymotic ER4p
Shure SE210
Denon C700/750/751
Ultimate Ears Super.Fi 5 pro
All these are closer to $150, give or take a bit
Full Size
Audiotechnica AD700
Grado SR125
Grado SR225Beyerdynamic DT770
I have more than $200 to spend.
iem
UE Triple Fi 10
Shure SE420
Shure SE530
Westone 2
Westone 3
Sennheiser IE8
Livewires
FreQ Shows
These range from about $250 to $350 (Triple.Fi, SE530, Westone 3, IE8 are generally considered four of the best universals you can purchase)
Full Size
Grado SR325is (Do note, these are very love/hate; Extremely agressive compared to regular grados. Try them before you buy them, for sure)
Alessandro MS2/MS2i
Audiotechnica AD900
Sennheiser HD600
Sennheiser HD650
AKG K701
Denon D2000
[u]These are all between $200 and $300.
I have so much money, if I don't spend as much as I can I will not be happy. I also like to make people jealous.
iem
Westone ES3X
UE 10pro
UE 11pro
These range from $600 (ES3X) to well over $1000 (UE11)
full size
Denon D5000
Denon D7000
Sennheiser HD800
Sony SA5000
Grado RS2
Grado RS1
Alessandro MS Pro
Grado PS1000
Grado GS1000
Audiotechnica W5000
Audiotechnica AD2000
Stax Omega II
These range from about $350 (AD2000) to about $2000 (Omega II, no amp) for the current production headphones. The discountinued headphones (marked [d]) on this range from about $1000 (AKG K1000) to about $15,000 (Orpheus), market price.
Discontinued headphones to consider
AKG K1000: These are really earspeakers, and they're about $1300 if you can find them
Sony R10: These are generally considered the best dynamic headphones ever produced. Expect to pay $6000+
Sony Qualia 010: Very fast, and they sound damn good if you can get a good fit with them. Make sure to get a fit kit first, so you can see what size to purchase.
Sennheiser HE90: If you have to ask..
Grado HP1/2/3: These are pretty much the best grados ever. Ever. Expect to pay close to $1500.
Grado PS1: If you like bass and have $3000..
Audiotechnica W10VTG, W11JPN, W11R W10LTD, W2002, etc: I love them.
Things not to buy at all
Bose anything: You're paying for the brand, not for the product. They would be fantastic - If they were about $100 cheaper, for their headphones. Much better headphones exist at much lower prices.
Skullcandy: Think of taking the cheapest crap you can find, putting on an ugly skull logo, painting it in tacky colors that would appeal to the same people that the NZXT Guardian. They sound like ass, too.
Active noise cancelling
Not really suggested; they use an additional battery, they have a very high pitched squealing sound when they're on, and they don't block out all noise, only noise like engine noise, and car noises. Not people talking noise, mostly. Instead, try a nice pair of IEM's.
