Looking for some headphones

I was looking into getting some headphones and I was wondering if anyone could give me some options to look at. I've already been told to check out the Sennheiser HD448, as well as the Audio Technica ATH-M50 by Forever_Melody. Any others I should take a look at? Any suggestions are appreciated

Budget: $125 or lower
Open or Closed: Closed
Source: Computer/Sansa Fuze/Sony S639
Type of music: All rock from punk to heavier stuff to some lighter stuff.

Thanks.

 

Do you like IEMs? Circumaural or supraaural?

 

You should also consider the HD280s; they are older than the HD448s but are also a good pair of closed circumaural headphones.

 

I currently have IEMs. I have some Sennheiser IE4's currently. To your second question, I would prefer supraaural, but either is fine.

 

I second the sennheiser hd448. Got them a year ago and still truckin' along just fine. Sound and look great.

 

With heavy rock the M50's sound great and they are built like a tank.

 

I would just like to note that I would not be using the headphones I get with an amp and do not plan to get one in the foreseeable future. Would these headphones be fine powered by my Sansa Fuze and Sony S639?

 

Generally, headphones under your price range are low impendance and are driven fine by your source. My Fuze handles the Alessandro MS1i great, though I use the Fiio E5 headphone amp for my laptop.

 

i use mine just with an ipod and it sounds great. I can't go over 50% volume because it gets to loud.

 

ATH A700 or M50

If you see a good pair of Senns go on sale I would take a look but Audio Technica can be had for a good price all the time.

 

Is the requirement for Closed headphones non-negotiable? Because if you are willing to consider Open headphones, then the perfect headphones for you would be Grado headphones (or Alessandro headphones recommended by sgogeta, which are really just re-branded Grado headphones).

Something like the Grado SR-80i:
+ Are in your price range (Costs $100 USD new, shipped)
+ Low impedance - easily driven by a computer or portable music player without an amp
+ Has an upbeat "in-your-face" sound ideal for rock, punk. Musicians describe the sound signature as if you were on stage with the band, whereas Sennheisers traditionally have a more laid-back sound signature as if you were in the audience as an observer.

If you are willing to compromise on the requirement for Open / Closed, then I think that the Grados would be the right headphones for you. They really match all of your other requirements (budget, sound source, music type) much better than the other options in that price range.

 

My problem with open headphones is the sound leakage. I'd be using these in public places and don't want to disturb others with my listening. That is really the only knock I have on open headphones.

 

For rock, the sony mdr-v6 are quite nice too. They are particularly robust and not too bulky to carry them around.

Edit: mdr-v6 and mdr-7506 are practically speaking the same phones btw

 

Another thing I'm trying to avoid as its just not something I want is a coiled cable.

 

Given your price range, your desire to use them un-amped, and the type of music you listen to, you really could not go wrong with either set of headphones.

When you get into it, there is a very slight and nuanced difference between the two pair of headphones. It comes down to the Sennheiser sound signature vs. Audio Technica ATH-M50 sound signature. Did you happen to have a chance to ever try and Sennheiser or Audio Technica headphones before?

BTW: Here is an excellent review of the Audio Technica ATH-M50:
Review Audio Technica ATH-M50 - Head-Fi.org Community

For music use, I prefer Sennheiser headphones for their balanced, laid-back sound signature. For computer / gaming use, I prefer Audio Technica headphones for their clarity (helps with positional sound). When you play a game where directional sound cues matter (like Left 4 Dead), using a pair of high-clarity headphones connected to a good surround downmixing algorithm (Creative Labs X-Fi CMSS-3D) is like wallhacking.

 

I do have Sennheiser IEMs now, but I've never tried full size headphones by any company. I might possibly use them for gaming (computer and xbox), but the majority would be listening to music both at the desk and on the go.