I’m an advocate for the Rode NTH-100 because it doesn’t care what drives it, sounding as good with onboard as it does a high end dac amp combo. Do your own research to see if it sounds like what you want. To me it’s the “consumer” sound signature but done right. As for the portable dac/amp you can get away with the apple dongle dac but only order it directly from apple. The Xduoo XP-2pro is excellent from drop if you want something separate from your phone. *Fiio FT1 is the more popular choice
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Hello!
I am quite new to this, coming from my momentum 4 wireless, which I do enjoy, but am looking for something wired and high fidelity. I was fortunate enough to get a fiio k5 Pro ess for 50$ from a friend but am a litttttlllleeee bit lost on headphone selection. I have a fairly varied music taste, including hip hop and edm, which is what scares me off just getting the HD6xx but I also play some FPS’s and want good soundstage for that (and jazz as well which I listen to alot while studying). Ive heard good things about the hd600s2, the mm100, the anadas, sundaras and editions xs. I am trying to stay under 350 used pretty much. Sort of just shouting into the void but any help is welcome and appreciated 
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Can’t say for hip hop and edm, but I like hd650 for rock and competitive shooters - surprisingly good clarity. But I probably have new revision pads which may bring more treble.
I personally don’t recommend planars for competitive shooters, I tried lcd-x, sundara, edition xs, arya, mm-500 and for me they work bad in competitive shooters.
There have been a few folks looking for upgrades in the $200-$300 range and I’ll post this link to a video (from this site’s staff) that gives suggestions for good value headphones / iems.
If you are using a phone/tablet with usb-c then you would need a dongle for the wired units. You have to check that the dongle has adequate power for the headphone you are looking at since some headphones are harder to drive.
I know this may create more questions than answers but there is no single recommendation that would be right for everyone. It takes a while to learn what you like and discover the best options for you.
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Welcome and danger. The better your music, the worse your studying.
We’ll be glad to get you into D or F territory. Tell us more about what you like to listen to and if you’ve actually compared open and closed back headphones for yourself. Are you willing to give up any social life to increase your headphone budget?
Are you US based and would you consider used equipment?
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Welcome
You seem to have looked at the obvious choices. We all know that Hifiman has some quality issues but the Drop Hifiman HE5xx at $229 is really worth considering, especially if you like jazz a lot. I have had the V2 HE-560 since it listed around $900 and sold around $600. Have not had any issues with it and it’s very good for jazz, classical, and fine with rock. Probably not your go-to for EDM, but it’s not bass light.
That said @NickZ has pointed you to a good resource. Personally I’d go HD-6xx just to have one for reference. And when you eventually get a tube amp you’ll be surprised how good it can be. (As you pick up the ZMFs instead as I did this afternoon).
It’s very hard to beat the HD 6XX in this bracket, as they are sold in large numbers can be had used for sub $200.
EDIT: Make that $130 to $150 on Ebay.
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Stretch your budget ceiling by $35.
JDS Labs Atom+ DAC/amp stack - $225
HiFiMan HE-400se - $110
You’ll be all set with much better sound and a DAC/amp stack that can grow with you for a long time in this hobby. Happy listening!
One warning: Someone coming from very V-shaped “consumer sound” headphones like JBL will think the mids-focused HD 6xx are very light on bass and treble.
Hmmm? The HD 600 is light on bass and has relatively elevated treble. To my ears the HD 6XX has elevated mid bass, average treble, and no deep bass – but it’s quite affected by amps. As @pennstac notes, it’s good to have as a reference.
My personal choice when starting was the HD 600, and it can be tweaked a lot too.
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Thank you both for your responses honestly I was just expecting to be shouting into the void, so I appreciate this alot! How do the he5xx and senheisers(or anything else very open to suggestions) stack against each other in punchiness? For sure not like a traditional audiophile thing to ask for, but it’s something I subjectively enjoy. And not sure if this is 100% legit I did’t check super close but they had open box he650 v4s for like 190 or something crazy if that’s a buy that I should just go for even if an “optimal” pick.
I have the HE-560, which is supposed to be the regular model number for the HE-5xx. It is smoother and has both deeper bass and more extended treble than the Sennheiser. @generic is accurate about the 6xx bass. It is not deep and somewhat mid-bass focused.
With adequate power the 6xx comes into its own. The mid bass is not muddy, and a touch of EQ can work wonders. Like all 600 series Sennheisers the midrange is right. One of the reasons it’s a standard.
Neither is punchy, but neither is a slouch either. I’m spoiled now, as are many of us here. If I want HE560 sound, I reach for the Rossons. Between the two, I’d pick the HE 560 more often. Especially for jazz. It’s “faster” if that means anything to you. Also cleaner and airier on the high end.
The the 6xx scales more. It can be more reflective of the sound chain. Pair it with a very good DAC and Amp and it will sound ummmm “more better”. Few headphones do that. But it will sound more better than itself on a worse chain, not more better than a better headphone on the same chain.
I hope this response is useful to you. I think the HE5xx would pair well with your DAC/Amp. It is excellent on my Fii0 K9 Pro
Note that it is considered good from here to talk about the headphones you know. I haven’t heard the Dan Clark. @generic and @NickZ are both reliable old hands like me (sorry Nick).
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Some serious hobbyists love punchy sound.
To my ears, HiFiMan are not punchy but airy and refined. They also raise build quality and durability concerns, and I don’t recommend them for that reason alone.
While out of your price range, Focal products from the Elex and above are punchy and defined. I attribute it to their metal drivers.
The Sennheisers are not expressly punchy, but good all-around performers. I hear dynamic drivers (i.e., Focal and Sennheiser) as more often synced/punchy than planars.
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Im from India and id rather not get used headphones. I haven’t actually compared open backs or closed backs i just thought that for commuting openbacks wouldn’t be usable because they have no sound isolation. Increasing my headphones budget at the moment is pretty difficult however one thing I can do is a spend a bit more on headphones rn and buy some basic and cheap amp and dac and upgrade later when I have the budget.
I wouldn’t mind going down to the d or f territory if everything sounds better down there.
I watched the video that was recommended by @nickz and its filled eith open backs so now imm veryy confused. Could you explain why open backs are alot more popular. I’d think sound isolation would be important.
Okay very positive on the 5xx, thank you! Last ask, sorry, is it worth considering something like the sivga luan I saw some positive reviews on those, or a closed back like the denon dh D5200?
Im willing to stretch it by 35 however im very confused about spending double on amp dac then your headphones. Could you please explain why they would be more important?
Thanks for your suggestion.
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Understood. But we’re writing from the perspective of a seasoned audiophile. Someone coming from a consumer sound signature will find the HD 600 and 650/6XX to be light on bass, without question. Stuff like the JBL and Sony wireless cans have booming, bloated, flatulent bass.
If you like punchy bass, avoid the HD 600 or HD 650/6XX. It’s more of a reference sound than excitable or punchy, especially if you’re coming from big-box wireless headphones from the likes of JBL, Sony or Beats.
Open backs usually have more air and wider soundstage because … they’re open. I’m not trying to be a smartass!
Closed backs are good if you need the isolation in an office, home or transit. But if you don’t, I would avoid. It’s tough for many headphone tuners to manage the sound bouncing around closed cups as easily as with an open grill. Some handle it with aplomb; others fail.
If you’re truly set on closed backs, get IEMs. There is FAR better value, variety and sound in IEMs at $300 or less than their closed-back over-ear counterparts.
I really really really hate things inside my ear it just feels awkward and idk somehow they just never become quite comfortable. I’ve tried the air pods in the past and I couldn’t even use them for a 30 minutes call.
I realize that now after watching the videos @nickz recommended and some others so im down for some open backs to just please no iems.