There is no "best" headphone at $500; headphones are very, very much a personal preference thing. You also did not mention what you would be using these for; are you using them at work? While traveling? Do they need to be compact? At home only? On your PC? With a portable device (if so, which one)? The more information you provide the better we'll be able to give you guidance!

That said, based on what you've said thus far I'd look very closely at the Denon AH-D2000 and, if you can swing it, the Denon AH-D5000. Those will give you the clarity of the Sennheiser HD650, but with a little more emphasis on low-frequency response (i.e. bass). There are always tradeoffs: The HD650 is going to have a wider soundstage, but the Denons will have deeper, more defined bass. You cannot have both by the nature of their design. Also: I find most Sennheisers to have too much clamping pressure; your mileage may vary. I haven't used the HD650's personally, only the 555, 595, and 598s.

I would also encourage you to consider Grado RS2i. I was priveleged to get an audition recently, and was impressed by both their open soundstage and solid bass. These are love/hate headphones, no question, but take a look at them.

Be very, very careful buying headphones that you do so from a reputable retailer. Sennheiser and Audio Technica are particularly prone to knock-offs, so if the price seems too good to be true, it probably is.

Lastly, if you're dropping this much on a pair of headphones, I urge you to create an account over at Head-Fi and pose your question there. Those folks are hardcore headphone enthusiasts, and will give you comprehensive feedback.

Good luck,

Boz

Ive been looking into getting a new stereo for my 02 Honda Accord, as the current stock radio is outdated. My problem is that the radio in my car is rather bulky and i dont see how a new raadio(Which is half as tall) would fit into. I know next to nothing about cars so i would appreciate some help.Zack0Holic

hello i have them now for about two weeks and i just love them the sound, the quality its just amazing i use it with a astro mixamp on the xbox 360 and i can hear everything now especially handy if some one is trying to sneek me from the back or is walking behind a wall and waiting for me this is an absolute improvement to my gaming gear and i recommend it to everyone who has the money en who is willing to pay it thx

the_punisher91

The Audio-Technica ATH-M50 is well under your budget and sound as good as headphones in the $300 range. They're not nearly as comfortable as the DT770s, but the DT770s aren't very portable, and you mentioned you would be traveling a lot. The ATH-M50s are probably the single best value in headphones up to about $250, when you start getting into certain Beyerdynamic, Denon, and Sennheiser models.

Good luck,

Boz

[QUOTE="NamelessPlayer"][QUOTE="SPBoss"]CRT = nice contrast and colours, crap resolutionSPBoss

High-resolution CRTs were available long before LCDs, and remained the standard for crystal-clear, high-resolution images for a long time. The only reason LCDs have taken over is practicality, the same reason that MP3s are more popular as a format than CD, despite the loss in quality. The drawback of bulky monitors that consume tons of power and use toxic chemicals (moreson than LCDs, anyway) outweigh the benefits of crystal-clear color and resolution.

Boz

Yup, I do want isolation. As for being in the game, the atmospheric sensation and being able to pinpoint sound direction is what I'm looking for. I do not have a sound card but it seems like I could easily purchase the Xonar DG for about 30~ dollars (I'm in the USA) putting the budget around $70 for the actual headphones instead I guess.Leafboy102

Nostalgia may be having some impact, here. I have a Sony KD-34XBR970 CRT Television hooked up to my Wii via Component Cables, which is basically native 480p. We just got Skyward Sword, and I'll be honest, it's laughably bad. The Wii just looks terrible. I'm a huge, huge Nintendo fan, but the console has aged very poorly.

The television is okay, but I wouldn't consider another CRT. It has problems with geometry, screen size is limited, it's huge, consumes a ton of power, and is limted in resolution (which is a problem when attempting to display computer output, such as text).

Colors are great, and it has a beautiful picture for SD and HD content (i.e. not True HD, or 1080p), but at this point an alternative format is becoming increasingly desirable. I certainly wouldn't go out of my way for a CRT, and have no desire to see the format return. It only became as good as it was because it had matured as a technology. Once OLED has some time to mature that's where I'm headed.

Boz

Hey guys, I really need a new headset. I'm currently "rocking" this headset, which I've had for about a year. It has done what it's supposed to do, but it frankly sucks. My budget is $150, but I really don't want to spend that much.

With that being said, the only headset I'm really considering at $150 is the Sennheiser PC 350, but I would prefer to spend a bit less (and hopefully retain the same or near quality). Suggestions? Ideally my realistic budget is like $100 - $125, but if there is nothing in that range (in terms of comparable quality to the Sennheiser headset), I guess I'll have to take the plunge.

Does not have to be wireless, although that'd be nice.

Edit - I think I may just go with a good pair of headphones and get a clip-on microphone. That way I can actually use the headphones for my MP3 player if I wanted, too.

-Karmum-

1.) So in general, "on the ear" is better than "over the ear right?" I mean if you had to choose. Cost and benefits? (I do not need to hear anything else, but are over the ear too bulky/heavy? How much is lost sound quality with on ear? )leopks

My first and foremost advice is to focus on comfort. You are going to want to try on headphones: Lots of them. If you've got microtia you probably want to start with over-ear headphones. On-ears actually sit on the ear itself. You've can see how they sit against the ear in pictures of the Grado 60i and 80i you mentioned. Over ears are going to sit instead around the ears, and usually do not touch the ear itself, meaning it may be more comfortable to have the headphone around your ears than on them, since your ears are not symmetrical. Now I could be wrong, you might find on-ears to be much more comfortable due to the shape of your ears; you'll never know without trying. If possible, find a local hi-fi audio store with a headphone rack and try some on. Otherwise search hard for a store with an excellent return policy. Note that over-ears are going to give you better sound isolation, meaning less sound will leak into the headphones, as well.

Consider the V-Moda Crossfade LP, which has memory foam cushions and are generally well-regarded. They are supposed to be super-comfortable, sit around the ear, and have great sound (if a bit bass-heavy). You can often find them on sale around $100 to $120. The more expensive Beyerdynamic DT770s are more expensive at around $200, but have excellent sound and are also amazingly comfortable. They'll fit around your ears no problem, and sit on a wonderful velour cushion.

I'd try the Sennheisers and M50s on before you consider buying. Depending on the size and shape of your head they may not be very comfortable. If the M50s are comfy for you, though, they're probably the best value in headphones out there, at the moment. I cannot speak to the Sony's you mentioned.

2.) Can that mic conversion mentioned work for an iphone? I mean could you use the cans and a mic as a head set for your iphone(Cause all the iphone speakers mentioned on headroom are either buds or not highly rated) Plus it would be cool to invest in one pair that I can use for gaming, workout, and phone, versus buying cheaper seperate pairs. I have a PS3,Xbox 360 and Iphone 4S, so is there a pair of cans that I can use with all three? I know I need to use a converter because my iphone is goofy.leopks

I do not use an iPhone (being a bit of an Apple-phobic), and cannot say. You'll have to do some Googling to see if there is anything that allows you to use regular headphones with a separate microphone. Initial signs point to yes.

3.)Any of the cans mentioned can switch all the audio to one side? (probably not)I found a company that puts both left and right audio channel in one ear bud. I used one called Scansound. Not great but no complaints. It is good for working out but not much else(sport ear-bud). Haven't tried the competitior One Good Earbud, but they looked the same. It is better than cutting one bud off (cause of the deformity no ear buds can stay in one ear)leopks

To be clear, I'm understanding that you basically want to convert all incoming signals from stereo to mono, meaning you are completely deaf on one side. By completely deaf, the audio canal does not function at all (meaning you cannot hear bass or any low-frequency sounds).

Most modern output sources allow you to use mono at the source but, if not, a small 3.5mm stereo to mono converter - less than $5 - will matrix the incoming signal for you. You should be able to get this adapter at your local Radio Shack.

Good luck, I hope you find the right headphone for you!

Boz

The Sony XB series - known as the "extra bass" series - is fine if you're a bass head. They're not balanced headphones, nor are they meant to be.

The Shure SRH750DJ are more expensive than the Audio Technica ATH-M50, so it's not a great alternative unless the Audio Technica's are not available in the OP's region.

Outside that I still recommend the JVC or XBs as inexpensive alternatives. I'll probably be picking up the HARX900s myself, in the near future.

Boz