Best sounding ~$100 headphones?

I have a pair of Astro A40's and they're great, minus the sound quality when doing anything other than gaming. They're also way too big to take with me. What would you choose if you had ~$100 to spend on portable(ish), good sounding headphones? The more bass they have the better and it would nice if they have great build quality. I don't want ones that plug into your ear, rather ones that completely cover your ears. Thanks!

~350

 

I have heard wonderful things about the Grados Headphones. I will be getting the S60i's here within a few weeks.

 

I agree, the sound quality of grados headphones are really really good for their price.

 

Id check this and see if its still live: http://forum.notebookreview.com/not...22-audio-technica-m50-115-shipped-amazon.html

 

M50 if you can find them on sale

 

ATH M50 if you prefer closed. They fold down too. Grado SR80 if you prefer superaural. Both have very different soundstages though.

 

Another vote for the M50's. They aren't reference phones, but they are very fun to listen to. They fold up fairly small, and have tons of bass. If I set the EQ right with mine I can feel them physically shaking on my head.

For 115 they're a great deal. I spent around 140 on mine and don't regret it.

 

Alessandro headphones (designed by Grado).

 

Put in $40 more and buy an ATH M50. Period.

 

I used to own a pair of Grado SR60. If you are considering Grado, I would strongly advise you to try on a pair for comfort, and you must try them for at least 20 or 30 minutes.

My SR60, especially with the 'bowl'-type ear pads, would squeeze my ears to unbearable pain within 20 minutes. I can last a bit longer with the soft pads, but those too eventually become too painful to wear.

I currently use AKG K240 Mk.II at home and I leave a pair of AKG K77 at work. I can wear them all day long. The K240 are probably too bulky for transport and out of your budget, so I may suggest the K99 over the K77.

If you move around a lot and want something simpler, try the Koss Porta-pro. I can also wear these all day long.

 

Ultrasone HFI 780 ~$150

 

Thank you for all the suggestions so far and I will start looking into the pros and cons of each.

 

Audio Technica ATH-AD700/A700s, I have personal experience with both and I have only found that they suck for staying on your head if you walk around.

 

I received a pair of Grado SR125 as a birthday present a few years back. If you ever bought a pair of Grado, I guarantee you won't regret it. The sound quality is superb!

However, as a fellow poster pointed out earlier, it is best to try one out if you consider purchasing a Grado. The headphone can get pretty uncomfortable with long periods of use. But if you are OK after trying one on, you will not be disappointed with the quality!

 

I've got the ATH-M50's and the Ultrasone HFI-780's. I personally would take the M50's as they are more comfortable and the highs aren't as bright/harsh.

 

Anyone who recommends Grado for portable is cracked. Plus it's *way* overhyped. Even more than the M50.

The M50 isn't a bad choice, but it's not really suitable for portable use due to the cabling config - it's either a heavy coiled cable which drags, or a straight 3m cable which is not very practical. It does fold flat though, which might be a boon.

The Sony MDR-ZX700 is also not a bad choice - and it's reasonably priced, often way less than $100 - if you prefer a more evenly balanced (as opposed to the boom-tss balance of the M50, which is one of the main reasons people who just want something agreeable like it a lot) sound, as well as superior comfort. It isolates reasonably, and the cable is a portable-friendly length. Doesn't fold though, and the soundstage is a bit narrow.

 

If you prefer IEMs:

Multi-IEM Review - 207 IEMs compared (Fischer Audio Ceramique & SBA-03 added 12/05/11)

I have the RE0 and A151, both of which don't sound as great as the Alessandro MS1i, but the latter is open (which leaks sound) and I prefer smaller headphones on the go.