[Jon L]

For me it’s not reasonable to pay 1,500 USD for a pair of headphones, my maximum would be around 400 USD

Just curious.  Why is it not "reasonable"?  There are tons of audiophiles who pay $10-15K for speakers that I consider doo-doo.

Many who love headphones would gladly pay way more than $400. Unfortunately, the top-tier headphones do cost a bit, although they are stone-cold bargains compared to speakers.  I love my electrostat headphones, and even though I love my speakers also, I wouldn't be without them. 

[Watson]

There's an intimacy with headphones that's quite different than a 2 channel speaker experience. Also, it seems easier to find synergistic rigs with headphones. I've got a buddy with an ASL Twinhead (2A3 tubes) and the Sennheiser HD650... this is one of the most fabulous combinations I've ever heard in audio. He also has the HD800, but with that amp, the HD650 have a lot more synergy. It's pretty close to magic, for a very reasonable total price.

[mobayrasta]

Just curious.  Why is it not "reasonable"?  There are tons of audiophiles who pay $10-15K for speakers that I consider doo-doo.

Many who love headphones would gladly pay way more than $400. Unfortunately, the top-tier headphones do cost a bit, although they are stone-cold bargains compared to speakers.  I love my electrostat headphones, and even though I love my speakers also, I wouldn't be without them. 

Wow just WOW, If you add a LCD2 you would have my ultimate collection.

[mcgsxr]

Nice collection!

I find headphones desirable for a couple of different reasons, in different situations.

On the go - better than listening to the inane conversations at gymnastics for my kids, or the skating rink, or swimming lessons etc.  I tend to use my Shure iems for this.

Late at night - with young kids, and my system in the basement, I can play the main speakers, but not to desirable levels, so I find that using closed, dynamic cans give me a good experience.  I use my Beyerdynamic DT770 Pro's for this.

Airplanes - I have a set of Panasonic on ear closed back noise cancelling for plane trips or other situations where music would be nice, and others should be blocked out!

All use my iPod Touch.

I am just building up my system, and am waiting for a portable amp to arrive - a Fiio e5.  That should give a bump to all those phones.

I am also considering a desktop headphone amp for a chair near my fireplace on the main level, nice to relax with music during the evenings, and I suspect that I can leverage a Linux based tiny server and usb headamp to much success in that area - and leverage my FLAC collection on my Bolder SB3 system.

Once the Fiio arrives, I will even try it with the SB3 feeding it - silly, but fun!

As for overall sound, I find that headphones, because of their close connection to the music and my head, can reveal nuances that are hard to pick up on my main system - there is however, a more musical connection to tunes on my main system when the house is quiet, and I can run the volume a little more, so I will continue to use both in my music world.

[nathanm]

What makes headphones desireable?  Mainly that brunette in the Audio Advisor catalog that comes in the mail.  Yum.

[eclein]

I have just recently started using phones more often with my main rig, and picked up some inexpensive ones over the holiday and I must say the $29.99 AKG-K430's are surprisingly good. I bought them and some Sony's (MDR-V150) which are nice also. I have been using a set of Ultrasone Alienware OZMA Headphones and they are still great but these little AKG's ($29.99)can hold there own against the OZMA($295.00)which are a couple years old so the technology in headphone production/design is wonderful.
 I use headphones to totally involve myself in the music or film I am watching/listening to, late at night so I don't disturb my apartment mate, I've always enjoyed headphones and the portable nature of it all. I remember the first Walkman I had and the first time I ever had headphones on outside walking around in the world and just thought it was so awesome. Steel Dan while walking to the store, priceless.....maybe its better on another thread but what do you guys who know really know cans think are the best bang for your buck headphones, figure $100 budget what would you recommend??

[Elizabeth]

I've had headphones ever since 1965, when i used a pair of the fat Koss Pro4 a type phones.
For late night listening phones are a must unless you live alone in a deserted area.
I have had some Beyerdynamic 990's for ages. And just bought some Sennheiser HD800s. I use the output from my Bryston BP-26 the most. But own several headphone preamps. A Lil' Dot III, a Singlepower, and a Rudistor.
The best warm punchy sound is the Singlepower with tubes that make it run really hot. But i am sort of lazy, and use the Bryston preamp output, as it is good enough.
The Rudistor is the clearest, cleanest signal I have ever heard. Sounds I never knew were there on a lot of recordings.
I also own some Stax electrostatics, but they need an amp to run from..?? anyway, i got them free.. and just never really have used them yet.
Then for computer use, I have a small pair of Sony diamond earbuds.
I still get bowled over after a night of listening and then go to my Magnepans.. The Maggies have such a giant soundstage/reverberant field compared to earphones...

[TerryO]

I've used headphones since 1975 and have always preferred Sennheisers myself. The tonal balance is exceptional and with Binaural recordings is just about as close to the real thing as we're probably ever going to get with recorded music. Unfortunately, Binaural recordings are hard to come by and the offerings are very limited.

Best Regards,
TerryO

[Goosepond]

Ha! That's funny. I thought I might be the only one. I find myself keeping their mailings just because the latest one has new pics of her! 

Gene

What makes headphones desireable?  Mainly that brunette in the Audio Advisor catalog that comes in the mail.  Yum.

[Goosepond]

Thanks, I wanted to bring that up but couldn't remember what the heck those recordings were called.

They do make a huge diff. I've got a headphone amp with the crossfeed settings but the binaural recordings are the way to go.

People that think headphones are great don't know what they are missing. 

Gene

I've used headphones since 1975 and have always preferred Sennheisers myself. The tonal balance is exceptional and with Binaural recordings is just about as close to the real thing as we're probably ever going to get with recorded music. Unfortunately, Binaural recordings are hard to come by and the offerings are very limited.

Best Regards,
TerryO

[TerryO]

Thanks, I wanted to bring that up but couldn't remember what the heck those recordings were called.

They do make a huge diff. I've got a headphone amp with the crossfeed settings but the binaural recordings are the way to go.

People that think headphones are great don't know what they are missing. 

Gene

Gene,

In my experience no crossfeed circuit can compare to a decent Binaural recording for realism. It's a giant step up from just about any other recording technique that can be played through headphones. With the price of decent 'cans and HP amps, it would seem that there would be more available, but it's a very limited market at best.

Best Regards,
TerryO

[Goosepond]

TerryO,

You're right, those type of recordings never made a dent. When I discovered their existence a while back, I ended up buying a couple of CDs made by the Pasadena Symphony Orchestra I believe. I just looked for them and couldn't find them. But it really opened my eyes (ears actually) to what headphones could be.

Gene

Gene,

In my experience no crossfeed circuit can compare to a decent Binaural recording for realism. It's a giant step up from just about any other recording technique that can be played through headphones. With the price of decent 'cans and HP amps, it would seem that there would be more available, but it's a very limited market at best.

Best Regards,
TerryO

[Jon L]

The other reason headphones are desirable is the ability to achieve absolute bleeding-edge, state-of-the-art at a fraction of the cost of SOTA speakers. 

For example, the upcoming Stax, dubbed C32 prototype, is expected to come in at around $5000-6000, which is a lot but nothing compared to SOTA speakers.  Those who have heard it have been rather shocked so far...

http://www.head-fi.org/forum/thread/531743/new-listening-impressions-of-stax-c32-prototype