Recommendation for Headphones under $250

Apos has Hifiman Sundara for $299 now on sale. 

I've owned a lot of these, so I'll give my personal opinions. I happen to love several.

The Grado sound is in-your-face, fun, detailed, and punchy. I think sound stage is small until you move into the 325's, which are my favorite (I have not heard the X version). They have a very focused and forward sound, in general, though, so it's a flavor that is divisive. It's easy to hear them and immediately think, "Yep, this is what I was looking for." I think my preference for music that is recorded poorly kept me from committing to the Grado brand. 

The Sennheiser 580 or 600 headphones have a much more laid back presentation. Great detail, but with less airiness. They're comfortable and easy to listen to for a long time. I used 580's for over 10 years and upgraded to the 600's and had them for another 5. They were my choice for a long time. They take a little of the intensity and energy away, but the trade off is warmth and listenability. Very forgiving of poor recordings or amplification, IMO. In fact, they never sound bad. Haha. I have never wanted to turn them down. 

I moved those along for the HiFiMan Sundara headphones. As my stereo got better and better, I wanted that kind of space, air, and detail in my headphones. Sundaras are, without question, the most like a pair of high fidelity speakers strapped to your head, but not without excellent room-like atmosphere. The soundstage is very articulate and instruments are easy to pinpoint. I have been living with these since the Sennheisers. They're a lot of fun, but I'm considering a change back to Sennheiser because I cannot help but feel like I spend more time listening to the headphones than the music. I have never been able to engage with my music like I did when I had either the 580's or the 600's. Having said that, I think if you're looking for the lowest price point that can bring you the highest fidelity and get a really good taste of what's up the stream, get Sundaras. I see them for $200 often, which is the best deal on hifi cans I've ever seen. 

Another vote for the HiFiMAN Sundara.

If you’re sensitive to timing anomalies you really need to give them a listen.

I don’t like overpriced, overhyped, so-called ’High End’ products that are simply masquerading as the Emperor’s New Clothes.

The Sundara’s are nothing like that. They must be the best ever headphones at that price.

If you can’t stretch to them you could try their more affordable brethren the HiFiMAN HE400se.

These might just be the best value for money product in all of audio.

They are that good.

Focal Elegia discontinued. I snagged an open box pair from Adorama at $279. They were brand new. Easy to drive. Sound a little harsh at first but break in fairly quickly. They were $1k headphones originally.

I have a pair of 1More Triple-Driver Over-Ears Headphones and listen to them in addition to far more expensive jobs like Kennerton Rognir Planar, JM Audio Editions XTC-Closed, and RAAL SR-1b phones.  No the 1Mores don't do speed, space, and detail like the TOTL phones but their bass is fun and they sound pretty good for the money.  I don't think they are produced anymore but are available online on eBay and other used equipment sites for less than their original $250 retail price.  There are numerous positive reviews as well including one reviewer who pronounced them the world's best phones.  Well, maybe not, but gives you an idea of how much they punch above their weight.  If you get a pair make sure you get the silver colored US version that uses a graphene-laminated mylar driver and not the champagne colored overseas version that uses a metal (beryllium?) driver.