Best headphones you've ever heard/used

I find this interesting because my findings contradict a lot of other opinions on this thread.

I bought the Ety ER4S - used with various amps, HATED them, and returned them. Next to my MG Head + HD600s at the time, they sounded like a broken toy. Tried to like them every day for 2 weeks straight. No bass, thin mids, highs that hurt my ears. Rock music, jazz, and classical

I bought the Shure e5C - LOVE them for in ear phones. MUCH more - bass, dynamics, midrange texture, highs that don't hurt your ears than the ety ER4S.

So my two headphones currently are the Senn 650 + MG head amp for home use, and the Shure e5C + M Audio Audiophile USB with hard drive transport for work. I certainly prefer the 650s in general - More comfortable, more open sound, more of a "soundstage", but the 5cs sound great too.

For all people who are not a big fan of the sennheiser 580/600/650 on this thread... what amp are you using? In my experience, an amp is an ABSOLUTE necessity with these headphones, otherwise the sound will be dull, lacking life and dynamics and realism. The MG Head is a great match, for not too much dough, quality control at ASL is an issue.

Goatwuss,

I use the MGhead as well with the Senn 600s. I am a big fan of the headphones, and I use them for classical music such as Symphonies (they give better intrument location than the Grados), but when I listen to Grados on jazz, rock, etc. - they just seem to have more slam, detail, and they get my toes tapping.

I too travel a lot and despite the better sound quality, I do not carry headphone amps ala headroom as I always want to keep things light. I've gone a lot of headphones and earphones and the two best are etymoic research and shure...etyiomic has better treble extension and more air, while shure,,,,the 5C model in particular, ..is a bit warmer but better bass. If u headbang, shure is the way to go.

rsbeck,

I hope you are careful of the high volumes. Hearing damage is easier to do with headphones than with speakers.

I'm not trying to be your parent, just a caring audiophile.

I'm sorry, what'd you say? No, seriously -- I appreciate the concern, but I don't listen at really high volumes only pretty high volumes and then only for a little while. I may not be the sharpest potato chip in the bag, but I do know enough to avoid blowing my own ear drums to smithereens.