Good Headphones...What should I Get?...

I drive my Senn HD650's with a SI T-Amp via an ASL UHC with spectacular results. Prior to installing the T-Amp, I had planned to purchase a Singlepower MPX. I found a local headphone nut who happened to have a Supra on hand and invited me over to give it a listen. It's a great amp, no question. However, the following week, I picked up the T-Amp on a whim, and well, it comes frighteningly close to the Supra.

While I don't love the T-Amp with my speakers (4ohm, 96db), it really seems to shine as a headphone amp. The T-Amp drives the 650's easily, and they have great synergy. I highly recommend this combo. Of course, you need a way to connect the headphones to the T-Amp, this is where the ASL UHC (universal headphone connector) enters into the picture. It's passive, inexpensive and effective. However, I had much less success with the ASL when using my Korneff 45. The ASL seems to not infringe on the music at all with the T-Amp.

I'm quite pleased with this setup. Unfortunately, I don't think I've played it for more than ten hours tops. I have so much invested in my big rig, I feel guilty listening to the headphones. Plus, I just don't find much time to listen to cd's, and I have my vinyl set up connected to the Korneff.

Anyway, if you plan to spend a good amount of your time listening to headphones, don't settle, a great system can be had inexpensively. When I was shopping for headphones, I was able to audition side by side Senn 580, 600,650 and Grado 225, and 325's. The sales folks were really busy that day, and I think they just forgot about me, as I was upstairs in an alcove. I was able to listen uninterupted for about 3 hours. The 650's seemed to be the most dynamic, detailed, and open, with great image and outstanding (for headphones) soundstaging.

Good luck and have fun

I'm just in the process of "converting" to headphones now, actually. I'll be in a dorm or studio apartment for the next couple years, it looks like. I'm going pretty all out: Stax Omega II driven by a HeadAmp Kevin Gilmore "Blue Hawaii" hybrid balanced tube amp with outboard PSU. But then, this will be my dominant, or even sole, form of serious listening for a while. I imagine you can do very well for a lot less with some of the other suggestions here - I almost went with the Sennheiser 650 myself. But I listen mostly to Early Music, and I want the transparancy, neutrality and detail of really good electrostatics.

I have two setups both driven by the Musical Fidelity V3 after owning several other amps. Great for the money. HD 600 and Grado Reference one's Are two top sets of cans!

Wellen,

If found myself in your postion, I would choose exactly the same equipment!

Thanks for all the responses, gentlemen ( and ladies, if any). It seems that Musical Fidelity/Sennheiser 600/650 combo would be a plausible solution and not that extravagant price-wise either($700.00 or so). While it's probably not the state of the art, yet it should serve my needs well. My main rig is a tube/SS combo, I catch myself constantly falling asleep while listening to music...I think I could also use the cans for those nite-time sleep inducing listening sessions and spare my main-rig tubes.
Cheers!