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[opethian]

[MENTION=52830]mbk99[/MENTION] $200 check Monolith M560, they are plannar magnetics n don't need high power to drive, use generic 3.5mm jacks and can be driven easily from a mobile or laptop. Cheapest n most efficient plannar magnetics work as both open n closed backs with removable wooden backs

Beyerdynamics have following types/models
Open backs DT 990
Semi open DT 880
Closer DT770
These come in 32ohm, 80 ohm, 250ohm n even 600ohm but 32ohm will be most expensive upto $179 (770 pro 32ohm)


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[Nomad]

Audio Technica ATH M50X or M40X
Sony MDR 1A
Sennheiser Momentum 2.0
Focal Spirit Classic
Takstar Pro 80/Kingston Hyper X
Fostex TrpMKIII (highly inefficient)
MONOPRICE MONOLITH M560 (Planar Magnetics)

M50x / M40x = Used M50x for a couple of days. Good, not as great as people make them out to be. And compared to Sennheiser HD5xx series comfort is a big issue. Haven't heard M40x but comfort will still be an issue in my opinion.
Sony MDR-1A = I believe these may be the best option for closed back headphones below $200
Sennheiser Momentum 2.0 = Second best option after MDR-1A in my opinion
Focal Spirit Classics = No idea about these :$
Takstar Pro 80 / HyperX Cloud = Takstar Pro 80 is no longer available. Kingston HyperX Cloud are good, but for their price only. They can't compete with MDR-1A or Momentum 2.0 in my opinion. In fact I think only HyperX Cloud Core are priced appropriately and the extra payment for Cloud 2 is only for USB sound card which is useless if we already have a reasonable AMP/DAC.
Fostex TrpMKIII = Not much information about that one either :$
Monolith M560 = These are absolutely great, but ONLY in their open form. These are tuned as open back headphones and once closed these lose their edge. If you'll use them as open back primarily and will sparingly use them as closed back when you occasionally have to then forget everything else and get these. But if you need them as closed back then forget these and get Sony MDR-1A instead.

And while Status Audio either Open back or Closed back have great reviews on Amazon.com but i read on Reddit and other websites that most of the reviews might be fake and Status Audio OB is a sort of copy Audio Technica ATH M50X in design and their HD 2 is a copy Zik Parrot headphones. And obviously if we compare its quality with either Audio Technica or Zik Parrot then it's surely not upto mark... so i have reservations about its durability.

Status Audio OB-1 are not a copy of M50x, they are basically rebranded Somic v2 headphones. Status Audio CB-1 are the ones people compare to M50x in terms of sound quality. They are also rebranded Somic headphones and their build quality is certainly not as good as M50x. Sound is very good but their earcups are a bit small for my ears (maybe I have BIG ears :$). Although their build quality is still better than HD 2 which are pretty fragile.

And Brainwaz cans with HM5 pads is love but somehow I'm also overlooking it.

In terms of build quality HM5 are excellent. I liked their build quality more than M50x. Only negative thing about these (if you consider it negative) is that these are a bit bass light. Although these have very good sound stage for closed back headphones.

Surprisingly DT990 250 ohm is very efficient I can run them from my MacBook n they sound quite good from HTC M9 also
So DT770/880/990 32ohm will be quite easy to drive. So I think ur budget is $100? So in this budget HD598CS and M40x will be best options. 598CS are quite efficient, just 23ohm I think quite good sound ... I have not heard/used 598 opens, so can't say much but will be quite similar

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I don't think HD598 open and closed sound similar . But I agree, HD598Cs are probably the best option for closed back headphones if they can be found for less than $100 (these are basically HD569 and should not cost same as open back HD598).

Well I'm pleased to heard about the efficiency of DT990 but they are semi open na? Or completely open design?

DT990 are COMPLETELY open

@mbk99 $200 check Monolith M560, they are plannar magnetics n don't need high power to drive, use generic 3.5mm jacks and can be driven easily from a mobile or laptop. Cheapest n most efficient plannar magnetics work as both open n closed backs with removable wooden backs

While great as open back, these are not a good option for dedicated usage in closed back form in my opinion.

 

[DJ80]

M50x / M40x = Used M50x for a couple of days. Good, not as great as people make them out to be. And compared to Sennheiser HD5xx series comfort is a big issue. Haven't heard M40x but comfort will still be an issue in my opinion.
Sony MDR-1A = I believe these may be the best option for closed back headphones below $200
Sennheiser Momentum 2.0 = Second best option after MDR-1A in my opinion
Focal Spirit Classics = No idea about these :$
Takstar Pro 80 / HyperX Cloud = Takstar Pro 80 is no longer available. Kingston HyperX Cloud are good, but for their price only. They can't compete with MDR-1A or Momentum 2.0 in my opinion. In fact I think only HyperX Cloud Core are priced appropriately and the extra payment for Cloud 2 is only for USB sound card which is useless if we already have a reasonable AMP/DAC.
Fostex TrpMKIII = Not much information about that one either :$
Monolith M560 = These are absolutely great, but ONLY in their open form. These are tuned as open back headphones and once closed these lose their edge. If you'll use them as open back primarily and will sparingly use them as closed back when you occasionally have to then forget everything else and get these. But if you need them as closed back then forget these and get Sony MDR-1A instead.


Status Audio OB-1 are not a copy of M50x, they are basically rebranded Somic v2 headphones. Status Audio CB-1 are the ones people compare to M50x in terms of sound quality. They are also rebranded Somic headphones and their build quality is certainly not as good as M50x. Sound is very good but their earcups are a bit small for my ears (maybe I have BIG ears :$). Although their build quality is still better than HD 2 which are pretty fragile.



In terms of build quality HM5 are excellent. I liked their build quality more than M50x. Only negative thing about these (if you consider it negative) is that these are a bit bass light. Although these have very good sound stage for closed back headphones.



I don't think HD598 open and closed sound similar . But I agree, HD598Cs are probably the best option for closed back headphones if they can be found for less than $100 (these are basically HD569 and should not cost same as open back HD598).


DT990 are COMPLETELY open


While great as open back, these are not a good option for dedicated usage in closed back form in my opinion.

I second nomad here all the way. Yes 880/990 are open/semi open with good leakage lol.

Yeah as far as m40x are concerned, some like them even over the m50x.

And even though [MENTION=4563]opethian[/MENTION] did recommend the m560, you may need and Amp. On top of that, closed back planars is a real challenge. I've understood that monolith has just jumped in planars and it's not easy for them as it is for Audeze, Mr. Speakers or Oppo to immediately have a finely tuned closed planar. Most of the people I'm seeing say they wooden back covers make it a strange closed back experience and the headphones' true potential is rather destroyed. So to actually have good sound you may just have to take off the backs. But then it's pointless for you. To be honest that happened with me too when I attempted a closed back mod on my hifiman. It's not easy. Ideally a good planar can is either permanently closed or permanently open. You can't have both, and the m560 is just doing the closed part for the sake of it and it doesn't acoustically succeed, rather gets ruined.

I think the crux is, you may wanna look into the 598CS. Yes they don't sound like the 598/SE. Maybe they're the closed backs you should look for. They say they're nice. And you'll get good audio quality. And not much leakage. Comfort will be nice too.

Ideal I guess for you [MENTION=52830]mbk99[/MENTION]

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[mbk99]

As i said yesterday, now I'm thinking about postponing buying closed back headphones for sometime and instead i should get a portable DAC/Amp to improve sound quality in Pc/smartphone/Ipod.

And especially since i saw [MENTION=11778]DJ80[/MENTION] IFI awesome combo of DAC/Amp I'm more inclined towards getting a IFI Nano IDsd LE @129$ (with DAC/Amp, & support for MP3 upto DSD HI-Res formats, 8 hours on the go battery or usb desktop operation, and it had some very nice accessories & premium looks with it).

Only Schiit Fula 2 @99 can rival it, in terms of quality & performance i think,

Fiio Q1 is also a option but it is no way near the aforementioned items in terms of performance i reckon...

I'm Only looking at Portable/battery operated Dac/Amp, because summer is right arround the corner and it means irregular power outages... so having a dedicated Dac/Amp combo/stack like Schiit Modi&Magni would be useless, as i would not be able to power those, unless i have a notebook computer, i guess.

For headphones, couple of months Sennheiser also had released successors of HD 5 (518, 558, 598) series with HD 559 (Open back) HD 569 (Closed back), HD 579 & HD 599 (Open back headphones) ... so I'm intrigued to see how Sennheiser HD 569 closed back competes with HD 598 CS?

And sadly Sony's MDR 1A price has again risen to over 200$ mark and closer to 299$MSRP

And another important fact is that i have been listening to music for nearly a decade now, and i have Only been using mostly Apply/Samsung Earbuds first and then some IEM's like JVC & Digital Silence Ds 312D.

*So my ears or head is not exactly used to having a over ear headphone over my head & ears, & that's a fact which i felt last year, when i got Sennheiser HD 598 SE, so even in future I'm weary of this fact, and i might actually look at getting a IEM like Dunu Titan 3 or 1More Triple Driver unit, instead of a oversized headphone at 100-200$ price point :'(

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[DJ80]

As i said yesterday, now I'm thinking about postponing buying closed back headphones for sometime and instead i should get a portable DAC/Amp to improve sound quality in Pc/smartphone/Ipod.

And especially since i saw [MENTION=11778]DJ80[/MENTION] IFI awesome combo of DAC/Amp I'm more inclined towards getting a IFI Nano IDsd LE @129$ (with DAC/Amp, & support for MP3 upto DSD HI-Res formats, 8 hours on the go battery or usb desktop operation, and it had some very nice accessories & premium looks with it).

Only Schiit Fula 2 @99 can rival it, in terms of quality & performance i think,

Fiio Q1 is also a option but it is no way near the aforementioned items in terms of performance i reckon...

I'm Only looking at Portable/battery operated Dac/Amp, because summer is right arround the corner and it means irregular power outages... so having a dedicated Dac/Amp combo/stack like Schiit Modi&Magni would be useless, as i would not be able to power those, unless i have a notebook computer, i guess.

For headphones, couple of months Sennheiser also had released successors of HD 5 (518, 558, 598) series with HD 559 (Open back) HD 569 (Closed back), HD 579 & HD 599 (Open back headphones) ... so I'm intrigued to see how Sennheiser HD 569 closed back competes with HD 598 CS?

And sadly Sony's MDR 1A price has again risen to over 200$ mark and closer to 299$MSRP

And another important fact is that i have been listening to music for nearly a decade now, and i have Only been using mostly Apply/Samsung Earbuds first and then some IEM's like JVC & Digital Silence Ds 312D.

*So my ears or head is not exactly used to having a over ear headphone over my head & ears, & that's a fact which i felt last year, when i got Sennheiser HD 598 SE, so even in future I'm weary of this fact, and i might actually look at getting a IEM like Dunu Titan 3 or 1More Triple Driver unit, instead of a oversized headphone at 100-200$ price point :'(

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The Xduoo XD 05 will take you places. I think it's the best buy for you. Going for around $160 or so, it may keep you satisfied for a long time you come. The dac is a great AKM chipset, with 4000mAh will keep you covered all the way.

That's my recommendation in anything under $300.
BTW I'd recommend something else instead of the Sony.

eBay: Panasonic headphone high resolution sound source corresponding black RP-HD10-K | eBay.

They started at $125 I remember but I didn't get em since I already had the m50 at the time.

Worth looking into.

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[DJ80]

The Xduoo XD 05 will take you places. I think it's the best buy for you. Going for around $160 or so, it may keep you satisfied for a long time you come. The dac is a great AKM chipset, with 4000mAh will keep you covered all the way.

That's my recommendation in anything under $300.
BTW I'd recommend something else instead of the Sony.

eBay: Panasonic headphone high resolution sound source corresponding black RP-HD10-K | eBay.

They started at $125 I remember but I didn't get em since I already had the m50 at the time.

Worth looking into.

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Electronics, Cars, Fashion, Collectibles, Coupons and More | eBay

Best link for the xduoo

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[mbk99]

The Xduoo XD 05 will take you places. I think it's the best buy for you. Going for around $160 or so, it may keep you satisfied for a long time you come. The dac is a great AKM chipset, with 4000mAh will keep you covered all the way.

That's my recommendation in anything under $300.
BTW I'd recommend something else instead of the Sony.

eBay: Panasonic headphone high resolution sound source corresponding black RP-HD10-K | eBay.

They started at $125 I remember but I didn't get em since I already had the m50 at the time.

Worth looking into.

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Ah the Xduoo XD 05 is also available on Massdrop for a week, with (commit) price of 164$ and aldo on Amazon.com it is going for 210$. So I'll look it up. Btw does it have a 3.5mm input as i saw it on Zreviews (youtube) today i think it has quarter inch input, on the front and on thr back it has Digital input for Audio players, Usb port for Pc, and Coxial inputs for speakers i guess

While I'll also keep those Panasonic headphones in mind, they are almost alike Sony Mdr 1A in terms design.

Thanks again.

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[Nomad]

Ah the Xduoo XD 05 is also available on Massdrop for a week, with (commit) price of 164$ and aldo on Amazon.com it is going for 210$. So I'll look it up.

Amazon and Massdrop are not the only sources for getting such stuff at good prices
Aliexpress.com : Buy 2016 Newest XDuoo XD 05 Portable Audio DAC Headphone Amplifier AMP Support Native DSD Decoding 32bit/384khz with HD OLED Display from Reliable decoder board suppliers on Aoshida-HIFI Audio Store
Original XDUOO XD 05 Protable Audio DAC & Headphone Amplifier with OLED display PCM 32bit/384khz Native DSD Decoding DSD256-in Headphone Amplifier from Consumer Electronics on Aliexpress.com | Alibaba Group

 

[mbk99]

Amazon and Massdrop are not the only sources for getting such stuff at good prices
Aliexpress.com : Buy 2016 Newest XDuoo XD 05 Portable Audio DAC Headphone Amplifier AMP Support Native DSD Decoding 32bit/384khz with HD OLED Display from Reliable decoder board suppliers on Aoshida-HIFI Audio Store
Original XDUOO XD 05 Protable Audio DAC & Headphone Amplifier with OLED display PCM 32bit/384khz Native DSD Decoding DSD256-in Headphone Amplifier from Consumer Electronics on Aliexpress.com | Alibaba Group

Thanks, but i had earlier also checked Aliexpress and the price their was 210$

And over 190$ on Ebay bro


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[Nomad]

Thanks, but i had earlier also checked Aliexpress and the price their was 210$

And over 190$ on Ebay bro


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Price from this seller is $172.20 with shipment through DHL. That's a better deal than from Massdrop in my opinion
Original XDUOO XD 05 Protable Audio DAC & Headphone Amplifier with OLED display PCM 32bit/384khz Native DSD Decoding DSD256-in Headphone Amplifier from Consumer Electronics on Aliexpress.com | Alibaba Group

 

[mbk99]

Price from this seller is $172.20 with shipment through DHL. That's a better deal than from Massdrop in my opinion
Original XDUOO XD 05 Protable Audio DAC & Headphone Amplifier with OLED display PCM 32bit/384khz Native DSD Decoding DSD256-in Headphone Amplifier from Consumer Electronics on Aliexpress.com | Alibaba Group

Oh i had checked the link you posted only after replying above, and it is indeed 172.20$ (and wait a minute I didn't the shipment with DHL wow...) but it is only available for couple of hours more, it looks like a flash deal

Btw would i face any customs/clearance trouble? If i order it from Aliexpress?

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[opethian]

Oh i had checked the link you posted only after replying above, and it is indeed 172.20$ (and wait a minute I didn't the shipment with DHL wow...) but it is only available for couple of hours more, it looks like a flash deal

Btw would i face any customs/clearance trouble? If i order it from Aliexpress?

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Damn if ur ordering Xduoo XD5 get me one also ...
Well if shipper doesn't mention price or item description on box n just mentions 50-80$ item it won't be an issue at customs
BTW u can talk to seller ... There is a guy who was offering me for $160 n one guy on PG even got it for less than $150 ... Bargain as much as u can ... that's it
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[mbk99]

Damn if ur ordering Xduoo XD5 get me one also ...
Well if shipper doesn't mention price or item description on box n just mentions 50-80$ item it won't be an issue at customs
BTW u can talk to seller ... There is a guy who was offering me for $160 n one guy on PG even got it for less than $150 ... Bargain as much as u can ... that's it
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Well bro the seller has clearly specified 172.2$ price on his advertisement and you get 2$ discount/coupon for spending over 90$ at his store, so ultimately it is 170.2$ with shipping charges, (& only 3 hours max left for this discounted price) but I'm hesitant due to customs/clearance trouble, so I'm giving it a skip but i have asked a third party importer to give me a quote for Massdrop's 164.99$ price for Xduoo Xd 05. So fingers crossed, I'll let you know what final price he quotes me.

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[opethian]

Well bro the seller has clearly specified 172.2$ price on his advertisement and you get 2$ discount/coupon for spending over 90$ at his store, so ultimately it is 170.2$ with shipping charges, (& only 3 hours max left for this discounted price) but I'm hesitant due to customs/clearance trouble, so I'm giving it a skip but i have asked a third party importer to give me a quote for Massdrop's 164.99$ price for Xduoo Xd 05. So fingers crossed, I'll let you know what final price he quotes me.

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I checked from thrift.pk n massdrop imports costs r not good will end up costing same as getting from Amazon
Well on AliExpress you can drop msg to seller n ask him for further discount
Will send u whom I talked to, the same guy was referred to me by a PG member ...

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[mbk99]

I checked from thrift.pk n massdrop imports costs r not good will end up costing same as getting from Amazon
Well on AliExpress you can drop msg to seller n ask him for further discount
Will send u whom I talked to, the same guy was referred to me by a PG member ...

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I pretty got the same answer as you. With importer insisting on Amazon.com link Only. Well now i guess i have to look at Aliexpress offering.

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[Enferno]

Can anyone tell me where can I get skullcandy headphones(headphones, nor earphones) in Karachi?

 

[mbk99]

Can anyone tell me where can I get skullcandy headphones(headphones, nor earphones) in Karachi?

i dont know about Karachi, but you can get yhrm via an online retail store like Allmytech pretty easily i reckon!

 

[DJ80]

So well, my prototype, fully modded (dubbed the #Open8) kind of... put my Sennheiser HD6XX to shame.
Oops... did I say that out too loud? Oh I did.

[/IMG]

Here's my FB post... and for all good reason. I was at the headphone meet here in Dubai @DJ Corner with these.

Here's what's new:

- Weight is much less (about 300gms).
- Bass... like no other. Yup. No cans that I tried matched it. And I tried some good stuff, including MrSpeakers Ether C. And since the Fostex TH900 has arguably the best bass, these have similar if not more, so.
- Stage is huge... they're actually open backs.
- Fatigue is much much less than the Fostex TH dynamic line-up (they're all still semi-sealed).
- Highs tamed and not at all sibilant. Sig is dark.
- Instrument separation is better than many closed backs. Plus, there's much more layering... vocals or some center-stage sections for example still take the center stage, and the rest is layered out pretty well around.

When I put my Sennheiser HD6XX momentarily, it sounded like an ATH-M50x in comparison lol. I took it off in under a minute. Couldn't bear it. The 6XX though has maybe more resolution in the highs, it sounded like V can lol... compared to the Open8, and had some tightness, fatigue and a much, MUCH smaller stage in comparison. The Open8 are also more airy, and much more natural compared to the 6XX... and are defying their V curve sounding more neutral to me for some odd reason...

[/IMG]

I'd take this even over my Hifiman He400i lol. Was watching movies with those before but now I guess... these will suffice lol.

ALSO... I am now working with E-MU Systems Singapore helping them do some things. They're already gonna put in mmcx connectors in their EMU Walnut lol, and they've asked me to share information on my open mod. Let's see how that rolls lol.

@

mbk99 @​

opethian @​

Nomad @​

UzairAhmed​

 

[Mephisto]

Audio Technica M50x vs VMODA LP2

So I had started a thread on this but didn't realize we have a sticky topic. Therefore I'm pasting whatever I had on the thread here since I haven't got any response on my thread yet:

Original Thread: V-MODA Crossfade LP2 vs Audio Technica ATH-M50x


Hi - I need a buying advice between the Audio Technica ATH-M50x and VMODA Crossfade LP2.

Things to note:

• I don't currently have a portable amp that will be used with my iPhone 6S+. I may consider buying a one in the future if I can find a good one for cheap (also do recommend me some).
• I will occasionally be using the headphones with my computer which is connected to Onkyo HT-S5600 7.1 Home Theater system. This one comes with an AV Receiver (model HT-R592), so hopefully I'll get good quality out of that.

I'll be using the headphones for the following in descending order:

1. Playing games on the PC connected via Onkyo AV receiver
2. Listening to music on the iPhone without any external amp
3. Watching movies on the PC connected via Onkyo AV receiver
4. Listening to music and watching YouTube videos on the PC via Onkyo AV receiver

My Music choice is as follows:

1. Chillout/Lounge
2. Classical/Waltz
3. Trance/Techno

So taking into consideration all the above, what headphones do you recommend me to purchase and why? My budget is max $150, so if there are other ones you think will suit my need, then please do recommend them too.

 

[DJ80]

Audio Technica M50x vs VMODA LP2

So I had started a thread on this but didn't realize we have a sticky topic. Therefore I'm pasting whatever I had on the thread here since I haven't got any response on my thread yet:

Original Thread: V-MODA Crossfade LP2 vs Audio Technica ATH-M50x


Hi - I need a buying advice between the Audio Technica ATH-M50x and VMODA Crossfade LP2.

Things to note:

• I don't currently have a portable amp that will be used with my iPhone 6S+. I may consider buying a one in the future if I can find a good one for cheap (also do recommend me some).
• I will occasionally be using the headphones with my computer which is connected to Onkyo HT-S5600 7.1 Home Theater system. This one comes with an AV Receiver (model HT-R592), so hopefully I'll get good quality out of that.

I'll be using the headphones for the following in descending order:

1. Playing games on the PC connected via Onkyo AV receiver
2. Listening to music on the iPhone without any external amp
3. Watching movies on the PC connected via Onkyo AV receiver
4. Listening to music and watching YouTube videos on the PC via Onkyo AV receiver

My Music choice is as follows:

1. Chillout/Lounge
2. Classical/Waltz
3. Trance/Techno

So taking into consideration all the above, what headphones do you recommend me to purchase and why? My budget is max $150, so if there are other ones you think will suit my need, then please do recommend them too.

No V-Moda... not for pure audio performance.
For a real good, cheap amp (powerful, and not for the road, like desktop), look at fiiO k5 or the Monoprice variant of the fiiO e09k (that has a DAC too) but the fiiO is pretty good in price/performance. For portable, maybe an 02 objective.

headphones:

Amazon.com: SoundMAGIC HP150 Premium Full Size Folding Headphones - Black: Home Audio & Theater
Amazon.com: Sennheiser HD 598 Cs Closed Back Headphone: Electronics

BUT... but...

If you can raise your budget just a tad bit, get an amp later... Get this: https://www.amazon.com/Monoprice-Mo...rd_wg=yLMeY&psc=1&refRID=YTMCF6JJC38JAR5NFY9R

It's performance is comparable to $400 headphones. You'll enter the league much sooner.