The headphone that started it for me was the HD598 SE, which I gifted to a friend who still uses it. My next best Sennheiser was the HD600, which is now in the hands of my brother in law. So while I don’t still “have” them, I didn’t let them stray too far from home.
Sennheiser HD598. 8 or 9 years ago? I’m still using it at work. The only thing I had to replace was the top cushion because it finally fell apart few years ago. It’s hands down the most comfortable headphones I’ve ever owned. It was a “gift” exchange with my best buddy on our birthday. The ridiculous excuse we had to invented to justify it when we just started working (broke). I don’t think I ever want to part with it. So much sentimental value.
My first good headphone: Stax SRD-34 and yes I still have them. They have been slightly modded to use larger over-ear pads like those AKG/Hifiman which to me makes them sound all the better with much better comfort and far cheaper than OEM Stax ear pads which only last 2-3 years with very little use.
My first “Good” set was a Stax SR-44 that I purchased in the late 70’s at a literal fire sale from a long gone higher end stereo store in Kansas City. Used them for years until they developed a hiss, probably
an issue in the adaptor. Stax had no presence in the U.S. at that time that I could find (pre internet) so I ended up giving them to my older brother. He has since passed away and I don’t know what happened to them.
I’ve been in this hobby far too long to still own the first ‘good’ headphone haha. For me it was the Denon D1001, which is now basically the Creative Aurvana Live - so it’s nice to see my initial entrance into this hobby come full circle. But as far as the first real ‘flagship’, or what I would have considered a flagship at the time, it was the original HiFiMAN HE-500. Sadly I sold it during grad school to afford instant noodles - the kind that comes in the bowl or cup because I didn’t have proper dishware. I remember meeting up with the buyer at my local grocery store, and then literally buying instant noodles with some of the money he gave me for it. That memory still haunts me. The moral of the story: think twice before selling beloved gear. Also, instant noodles are bad for you.
Nope. It was a Grado 60. Gave it away when I’m got Sennheiser 650s, which one eventually gave away ( in need of repair) after I got AKG 701s, which I replaced with HiFiMan 400is, and still have but they’re in need of repair. And have upgraded from there.
My first good headphone was the Koss Pro 4A, back in 1984. I still have it, kind of, because I bought another Pro 4A a few years ago–out of nostalgia as much as anything else. With an OTL amp and a little EQ it still sound pretty good.
Instant noodle technology at least in the US(probably most places outside of asia) is painfully behind
My first audiophile headphone was the 6XX which i loved and after a week thought I would never sell. A few weeks later I saw a deal on a 660s and the 6XX was gone forever.
I sold off half my collection during grad school to afford instant noodles and laundry money. The only remnants are the HD600 and UE TripleFi 10. How ironic to see someone else who had similar grad school struggles. Kudos (Y).