Top 3 Headphones

My three top headphones are:  RAAL SR-1b with transformer interface, the Kennerton Rognir Planar, and JM Audio Editions XTC-Closed.  I have heard (actually not heard) the RAAL CA-1a which are ribbon drivers with earcups and have their proponents of music with foundation, i.e. bass.  I am sure there are others out there but these three are the best I have heard.

Like many here I have owned a bunch of headphones, too many to list ($600-$3000 range). 

Truth be told, I sold them all and kept only the Grado PS500e with F-Cush pads (they increase the bass a bit). They are kind of dynamic like horns. Think of them as the Klispch of headphones. Not super refined but good for the money very dynamic. I chose them over 5 other pairs of headphones that were well over $1k. 
 

My recommendations would be the Grado 80x ($125) to see if you like the Grado sounds or the Grado hemp which is around $350 as these are also the warmer of the grados. The PS500e sounds a lot like the hemp with more refinement in the mids if you use the same pads on each (I owned both at the same time). I am not sure if they make the 500e any more though.

The other headphone I really like right now is the Audeze MM500. This is audeze’s best tuned headphone imo. It sounds much flatter and natural than the older models that have very recessed upper mids (lcd-x) and sound odd. The audeze bass is pretty amazing. Flat extended and very textured.  

As a trial I put the Grado SR60e ($80) and Sennhizer HD800S ($1800) in front of my wife running off a Chord Mojo and asked her which one she liked better for sound (she did not know the prices or brands prestige). She picked the Grado and more or less said it sounded more real in her words. I agree for what it is worth.

she uses a pair of Thiel 2.4 speakers every day in the living room and a pair of paradigms Shifts at her desk.