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Comment by cantgethenode | Hacker News Reader

The article mentions headphones priced from 500, 400, 300 and 40 USD. Anybody got any recommendations for something around 100-120 USD? I Currently have the Audio Technica ATH PRO5 MS and looking to upgrade.

And I just saw aroch's link https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=7685820

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If your upper limit's a little flexible, you might consider the Sennheiser HD558, which usually retails around $150; I've had mine for some months, and it is my considered opinion that they're the best headphone to be had under $300.

In particular, they make the MDR-7506 look bloated in the lows and weak in the mids and highs; I once compared the two headphones with a Karajan/Berlin Philharmonic recording of Tchaikovsky's overture '1812', and it wasn't even a contest -- the 7506 rendered the final crescendo so badly, with the cannon fire so thoroughly overwhelming the entire rest of the orchestra, that I couldn't even stand to listen to all of it.

As with almost all Sennheiser products, the HD558s are as neutral as possible (modulo the odd bit of foam, so I gather), and that's not for everyone; I listen mostly to music from the common practice era, so neutrality suits me well, but more modern music probably wants a more forgiving headphone -- listen to new pop masters in a set of "warts and all" cans, and you're going to hear a lot of warts. In any case, if you can make the opportunity to try out the HD558s before you make your choice, I think it's well worth your while so to do.

Any recs on a headphone that doesn't destroy modern music? I listen to prog rock/metal/classical/techno and I think I'm just looking for a nice soundstage and 'fun' headphone. I listen to some of this stuff on the HD280 and it sounds really flat.

I tried the HD700 in the store and it was unbelievable. But I'm not paying that much for headphones.

I'd love to help, but the only personal experience I have is with Sennheisers, which even their detractors concede are the most neutral line on the market. Since neutrality is paramount among my requirements for headphones, that suits me just fine, but it's left me without sufficient experience to serve as basis for the sort of recommendation you seek.

Sounds like you should listen to some Grados if open is an option.

You might be able to find a V-Moda M80 around that price too

http://www.head-fi.org/a/headphone-buying-guide

Head-Fi has excellent recommendations for all types of headphones (IEMs, closed, etc) at different price points.

Shure SRH440. I've owned and extensively used Sennheiser, Sony, Koss, Audio-Technica AKG, KRK and probably others I've forgotten. For sound quality, the 440s just blow the rest away. In fact, I needed to get some new phones for gaming quite recently, because the Shures' one drawback is that they're heavy and uncomfortable for long stints, and my daughter had effectively taken over the KRKs. I actually used these very recordings to do a quantitative test of the new kids vs. what I already had. I also listened to several different music tracks, and even ran them through a splitter so I could do a true side-by-side comparison. The Shures were simply better than everything else I own, every single time, and they seem to be available for under US$100.

I'll add a +1 for that. I love the SRH440's sound, plus they are closed-back so I can use them at work. Like you I found them to be so-so comfortable so I got SRH840 replacement pads for them on ebay. Cheap and they are super comfortable now.

Great idea. Thanks!

I'm super happy with my Audio Technica ATH-AD700:

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B000CMS0XU/ref=pe_175190_21431760_M...

They're great as long as you don't mind them being bright purple.

I bought what The Wirecutter recommended (RBH EP2) and absolutely love them. Here are their other picks:

http://thewirecutter.com/leaderboard/headphones/

If you're okay with open headphones Grado makes a couple in that range that are very well regarded. My sr-80s have always treated me well.

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