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[dr3upmushroom]

What are some good IEMs? I listen to a lot of music away from home and it's annoying taking a pair of cans around.

They'll be used to listen to 320kbps mp3s from a 5th gen iPod Touch. I don't really have a spending limit, though I'd like to hit a decent price/ performance ratio. If they're worth it I wouldn't mind paying a few hundred bucks for something like the Westone W4s that seem to review well, but if they're only marginally better than something a quarter of the price then I don't absolutely need the best.

I don't mind carrying an amp around either as long as I can get one that is portable.

To narrow it down I'd preferably like to keep it under or around $200 for the earphones and amp if they need one, but done hesitate to recommend something more expensive if it'll sound noticeably better.

 

[Majine]

Good wireless headphones with isolation?

 

[Septimius]

Good wireless headphones with isolation?

The problem with wireless headphones is that you need the amplifier in the headphones themselves. Numerous problems with quality make me say, that unless you have a dire need for wireless and/or you don't care about audio quality as long as it's "OK", you absolutely should refrain from wireless.

 

[GMM]

Looking to buy a new audio setup for editing video and down the line also plug a mic into and record.

Will this set give me good quality audio?:

Sony MDR-7506

Avid 9900-65143-12 Fast Track

 

[FoxSpirit]

I got the K550's for the times when the K701's are just impractical. The seal on them is great, people can only just hear what i'm listening to if they're right next to me. I do a lot of listening to music on the train and when working at uni, and they should be great for that. The low impedance means i don't have to lug an amp around either.

Just listened to the M.O.O.N. EP with these, I'm blown away by how good they are.

Wanted to chime in one the 550s, oh god they are good. They sound really nice out of the Clip+ but at home, driven from my Xonar DX, hell yeah. Say hello holographic imaging.

Only think that slightly lacks there is the bass solidity, that's actually better from the Clip+. Ah well, time to get a decent down the road, just an O2. I don't need anything special, just maximum purity.

Honestly, in Europe you can now get them for ~€190. I also saw around $250 online in the US. Fantastic price point. Go get them if you know the HD-800 is the best phone and don't have the budget ;-)

 

[LCfiner]

Good wireless headphones with isolation?

I've read good things about the Sony MDR-1RBT. it's the bluetooth model. it's quite expensive, though.

 

[Majine]

The problem with wireless headphones is that you need the amplifier in the headphones themselves. Numerous problems with quality make me say, that unless you have a dire need for wireless and/or you don't care about audio quality as long as it's "OK", you absolutely should refrain from wireless.

Thought the technology had "caught up" reasonably. Wireless is so nice, but guess I can live without if the audio is paying the price.

 

[MCD]

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0001FTVEK/?tag=neogaf0e-20

Is there anything similar to this? I have tried numerous headphone designs but this type of ear cushion and design (over ear/open/plain?) is the only one that I found comfortable.

I'd love to use this but it was so noisy probably because my room is full of devices and routers everywhere.

I'd love for it to be wireless because I am LAZY and hate wires but if there is none then at least something with the same design and quality expected from Sennheiser.

Please guide me GAF.

Sorry for bumping my post but anyone got anything similar?

 

[FoxSpirit]

Good wireless headphones with isolation?

What kind of wireless? Bluetooth? From a Base Station? Price wish?

Personally, I was pretty impressed with the AKG K-912 at a friends. The price is low low low and they sound rather nice. Not full HiFi but someone knew what that meant and properly tuned the headphone to sound good.

 

[yodathesoda]

Need some help buying a new pair of headphones. Everyone says don't get Beats, way overpriced etc. but what would they recommend instead that has the same style and size? I don't want something too overbearing when walking to or from work or at the gym. I listen to mostly hip hop.

Any recommendations?

 

[Got the Shakes]

Need some help buying a new pair of headphones. Everyone says don't get Beats, way overpriced etc. but what would they recommend instead that has the same style and size? I don't want something too overbearing when walking to or from work or at the gym. I listen to mostly hip hop.

Any recommendations?

I am no where near as knowledgeable as a lot of people in this thread, but I just bought a pair of UE 6000 http://www.amazon.com/Logitech-982-000079-UE-6000-Headphones/dp/B0094S36RI/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1359410843&sr=8-1&keywords=ue+6000 and I think they are really good. They seem to have plenty of bass for hip hop or rap.

 

[Septimius]

Thought the technology had "caught up" reasonably. Wireless is so nice, but guess I can live without if the audio is paying the price.

Well, it can't really catch up. Sure, it gets better, but so does headphones. You get more bang for the buck with wired, but if wireless is a high priority, I'm sure there are good ones out there. Again, the biggest problem is the amplification. A lot of people have dedicated headphone amps in here, so giving that up is hard for most.

 

[HiResDes]

http://www.jdslabs.com/item.php?fetchitem=46

?

YES that's it.

Mostly rock I guess. I'm not into electronic or hip hop music if that's what you are asking.

GR06

 

[MaximumFlipFlop]

My babies. Had them for 5 plus years now I believe. Best purchase ever. I pair them with my Astro Mixamp for gamiing... works very well.

 

[Detox]

The cable on my HDJ 2000's broke (sound only comes through one ear) anyway to replace it all I need is a generic XLR 3-Pin Female Socket to 3.5mm cable right?

 

[bigmit3737]

Hey guys I'm looking for something I can use to fall asleep. I'm going to mainly play nature sounds and maybe different types of gentle music, podcasts and general music which is constantly changing. I don't know if I should go in ear or over ear but I would like to spend around 50 -60 dollars. Thanks

 

[Dice]

I couldn't imagine falling asleep with my IEMs in. Those would be some sore ear canals in the morning, even with the airbuds. Then again, I always sleep on my cheek so any headphones wouldn't work for me. I have laid back with my Grados but they're really heavy (their #1 flaw) and always want to fall past my ears.

 

[lil smoke]

Looking to buy a new audio setup for editing video and down the line also plug a mic into and record.

Will this set give me good quality audio?:

Sony MDR-7506

I actually have those 7506s. They are my studio mixing "reality check" phones. They don't sound great, their hyped to accentuate nasties in the high end, they have sharp transient response so you can get detailed when working samples or mixing percussion. They are studio tools, which might be good for you depending on what you're involved with in your editing. If you aren't into audio, I would get something more neutral and comfy that'll help maintain your focus. The 7506s focus you on minute mixing detail, that is their M.O.

They are not music listening headphones, they will fatigue you, they do not have a great stereo stage nor are they very dynamic. They are the NS-10s on your ears.

 

[SteveO409]

Newegg has Sennheiser CX 200 Earbud Stereo Headphones for $30 - $17 w/ promo code EMCXWVL68 - additional $7 at final checkout = $6. Shipping is free.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16826106241



good price for throwaway earphones when I dont want to use my IEM

 

[FoxSpirit]

I actually have those 7506s. They are my studio mixing "reality check" phones. They don't sound great, their hyped to accentuate nasties in the high end, they have sharp transient response so you can get detailed when working samples or mixing percussion. They are studio tools, which might be good for you depending on what you're involved with in your editing. If you aren't into audio, I would get something more neutral and comfy that'll help maintain your focus. The 7506s focus you on minute mixing detail, that is their M.O.

They are not music listening headphones, they will fatigue you, they do not have a great stereo stage nor are they very dynamic. They are the NS-10s on your ears.

A question: why those?? Unless you are a hobby mixer. I mean, sure they highlight detail but give no info on the mix. And they fatigue as hell, how the hell can you intricately listen to music for hours when the sound is so cutting?

Why not plunk down on HD-800s? Isolation aside. Their resolution is actually better, their transients are superb and they are the most non-fatguing high-res phones I heard. Like, next to them, everything else has far too much of it's own characteristics and is not really honest with what I hear.

 

[HiResDes]

The cable on my HDJ 2000's broke (sound only comes through one ear) anyway to replace it all I need is a generic XLR 3-Pin Female Socket to 3.5mm cable right?

Yes I believe so.

 

[Coen]

Just ordered myself a pair of these:

Fischer Audio Jubilates. I've been sporting a pair of AKG HD172 for a couple of years but they started to fall apart. Can't wait for these to arrive. I'll post some impressions when they do.

My girlfriend's in the market for some portable headphones, preferably with a replaceable, detachable cord. Needs to be good in highs and mids, don't really care about the lows. Nothing to plasticy looking or colourful. Anyone have some advice for me?

 

[The Big Rig]

They look like wood FA-006's. If the sound is similar, expect them to be pretty neutral.

 

[mr2t]

Oh wow when I made my first post about wanting to get the AD900x's but waiting for them to get released here for a possibly cheaper price, I didn't realize no one posted them in here to begin with when they were announced.

For those that were concerned about the unique look of the AD700's, the AD700's successor the AD700x takes on a more practical appearance.



The AD900 successor the AD900x



The AD2000x


There is also an AD500x and an AD1000x.

Thinking about getting some open ear headphones in the AD900x-AD1000x range. Is there a big difference between the two? Any other models to consider?

 

[HiResDes]

Just ordered myself a pair of these:

Fischer Audio Jubilates. I've been sporting a pair of AKG HD172 for a couple of years but they started to fall apart. Can't wait for these to arrive. I'll post some impressions when they do.

My girlfriend's in the market for some portable headphones, preferably with a replaceable, detachable cord. Needs to be good in highs and mids, don't really care about the lows. Nothing to plasticy looking or colourful. Anyone have some advice for me?

Beyerdynamic DT-250s would be absolutely perfect. And the shape of your Fischer's actually kind of resemble my FA-011s, which are bass monsters when amped right...I'm very interested in how they will sound.

 

[Az]

I just received these cheap Panasonic in ear headphones. Can't beat the quality for the price. Got a pair for my wife too, she doesn't like the fit for some reason but it comes with different size plugs.

 

[Delusibeta]

So it appears my Sennheiser HD 205s is on it's way to the grave (I suspect I broke an internal wire in the moving cup, since there's no sound coming from it any more), so I'm looking at eBay and seeing Maplin is selling Sennheiser HD 202s (Mark 2, if that makes any difference) for twenty quid. [Edit: Amazon UK also has them for the same price] Are they any good?

 

[PAULINK]

Guys, I need some advice. I would like to own another good pair of headphones, preferably similar in sound to the ATH-M50's. I had owned one last year, and while it had the absolute perfect sound (I listen to mostly electronic and rock so the lack of bass didn't bother me), the cups were not comfortable on my ears at all. Ultimately I decided to sell it because I could not wear them for extended periods of time.

So my question to you guys, is there a comfortable set of good headphones that has a sound similar to the ATH-M50, price range $100-$200, and similar in durability (planning on exercising with them)?

 

[LEGGZZZZ]

Sooo audio-gaf, I'm interested in stepping my game up when it comes to music listening and gaming, and I know next to nothing about headphones. What are the best headphones for gaming and listening to music in the 200$ to 300$ price range? I would prefer closed headphones, and if the best of the best are open, I look into those as well (if I even used those terms correctly). From what I understand, sound stage is important for gaming. Thank you in advance to any recommendations anyone can offer, I appreciate it! Hopefully I can make a good purchase.

 

[HiResDes]

Guys, I need some advice. I would like to own another good pair of headphones, preferably similar in sound to the ATH-M50's. I had owned one last year, and while it had the absolute perfect sound (I listen to mostly electronic and rock so the lack of bass didn't bother me), the cups were not comfortable on my ears at all. Ultimately I decided to sell it because I could not wear them for extended periods of time.

So my question to you guys, is there a comfortable set of good headphones that has a sound similar to the ATH-M50, price range $100-$200, and similar in durability (planning on exercising with them)?

TMA-1, AKG K167 or Logitech UE6000 if you want over-the-ears

Sooo audio-gaf, I'm interested in stepping my game up when it comes to music listening and gaming, and I know next to nothing about headphones. What are the best headphones for gaming and listening to music in the 200$ to 300$ price range? I would prefer closed headphones, and if the best of the best are open, I look into those as well (if I even used those terms correctly). From what I understand, sound stage is important for gaming. Thank you in advance to any recommendations anyone can offer, I appreciate it! Hopefully I can make a good purchase.

Soundmagic HP100 or Logitech UE6000 if you want closed ones, though obvioiusly open is going to be better for gaming.

 

[DietRob]

Ok, so I read through the OP, nicely put together Des. However, I'm still walking away with some questions. I wouldn't consider myself and audiophile. I would consider myself a guy that enjoys a nice fitting comfortable pair of headphones with a mic.

I work from home and frequently make calls from Skype and Google Voice. I used to use Sennheiser PC 161 PC Gaming Headset and it was perfect for my needs. I loved the fit they were very comfortable to wear for 8 hours a day. Recently the mic went out on them so I had to run up to microcenter and just grabbed a cheap pair of Turtle Beach p11. I don't like them very much the sound quality seems worse and they are uncomfortable to wear for more than a few hours at a time.

Now to my questions. I didn't see anywhere in the OP how I can get a good pair of headphones and still have a mic. Are there add on's that work just as well if not better than the built in one on my PC 161's? Will I need to get a dedicated sound card? I'm open to buying a sound card in the $25-50 range.

Lastly I am willing to spend no more than $100 on a pair of headphones and mic. What do you think Can-GAF?

edit: I suppose I could just go and buy the Sennheiser PC 161 PC's again for 79.99 but I wanted to get an opinion here first.

 

[Geoff9920]

Ok, so I read through the OP, nicely put together Des. However, I'm still walking away with some questions. I wouldn't consider myself and audiophile. I would consider myself a guy that enjoys a nice fitting comfortable pair of headphones with a mic.

I work from home and frequently make calls from Skype and Google Voice. I used to use Sennheiser PC 161 PC Gaming Headset and it was perfect for my needs. I loved the fit they were very comfortable to wear for 8 hours a day. Recently the mic went out on them so I had to run up to microcenter and just grabbed a cheap pair of Turtle Beach p11. I don't like them very much the sound quality seems worse and they are uncomfortable to wear for more than a few hours at a time.

Now to my questions. I didn't see anywhere in the OP how I can get a good pair of headphones and still have a mic. Are there add on's that work just as well if not better than the built in one on my PC 161's? Will I need to get a dedicated sound card? I'm open to buying a sound card in the $25-50 range.

Lastly I am willing to spend no more than $100 on a pair of headphones and mic. What do you think Can-GAF?

You might want to consider something like the Mod Mic or a just a simple lapel mic which can be found for a few bucks.

 

[lil smoke]

A question: why those?? Unless you are a hobby mixer. I mean, sure they highlight detail but give no info on the mix. And they fatigue as hell, how the hell can you intricately listen to music for hours when the sound is so cutting?

Why not plunk down on HD-800s? Isolation aside. Their resolution is actually better, their transients are superb and they are the most non-fatguing high-res phones I heard. Like, next to them, everything else has far too much of it's own characteristics and is not really honest with what I hear.

Sorry i did not catch your response, but for what it's worth, I toggle between 3-4 sets of headphones, and 2 pairs of earbuds. For critical listening, I use Senn HD600. But yeah, the 7506 are industry standard. SONY tends to make affordable stuff thats geared towards consumers, ends up sucking, and then end up highly sought after items for major studios. A hobby mixer probably wouldn't get into the type of details like micro scultpting envelope slopes, and dipping high Qs from high hats LOL.

For actual mixing, I use monitors, but thats another thread!

 

[SolidsnackooFoxhound]

Just thought i would post my latest pick up. IE 80's with Walkman F Series.

 

[DietRob]

You might want to consider something like the Mod Mic or a just a simple lapel mic which can be found for a few bucks.

I looked at the site they are only selling non mute versions on back order. That won't work for me. There are plenty of times that I have to mute in order to yell curse words at my coworkers while on conference calls.

 

[PAULINK]

TMA-1, AKG K167 or Logitech UE6000 if you want over-the-ears

Thanks, the Logitech one looks really nice, but before I get one this time I think I want to try it out. I think I'll look for a headphone specialty store if such a thing exists.

 

[choodi]

Colleague at work wants new earbuds for listening on her iPhone 5.

Budget <$50.

Not sure what type of music, but build quality is probably a higher consideration than sound quality.

Any advice is appreciated.

 

[HiResDes]

Colleague at work wants new earbuds for listening on her iPhone 5.

Budget <$50.

Not sure what type of music, but build quality is probably a higher consideration than sound quality.

Any advice is appreciated.

Brainwavz M5, you can even get them with iPhone controls.

 

[RoninChaos]

My babies. Had them for 5 plus years now I believe. Best purchase ever. I pair them with my Astro Mixamp for gamiing... works very well.

Just got some.

Holy shit.

 

[Presco]

After a couple of days with my new AKG K550's, I'm really enjoying them. Capable across many genres and outstanding in terms of soundstage for a closed headphone. Excellent performance for vocals, accoustic, and especially classical. They are also great paired with a mixamp for positional audio in a multiplayer FPS. They are extremely comfortable for multiple hours of use but they have to be the most seal-dependent headphone I've ever used. They go from sounding amazing to terrible with a shift of a literally a few millimetres. Low frequencies suffer the most obviously. When there's a seal, the bass is clear and tight. With any shift, it is non-existent. There isn't much clamping force and they fit kind of big so if you have a small head then these headphones would be a huge waste of money without some modding. I can't really see a women being able to enjoy these unless they have a thick head of hear.

All that said, for any genre with a bit of an emphasis on bass, I prefer my JVC HA-S500. I actually can't believe how good (fun) they sound for their price. Just wish they were more comfortable. Think I'll be doing one of the pad mods but not sure which one will be best. I loooove the low end on them and don't want to sacrifice that with the wrong set of pads.

 

[HiResDes]

After a couple of days with my new AKG K550's, I'm really enjoying them. Capable across many genres and outstanding in terms of soundstage for a closed headphone. Excellent performance for vocals, accoustic, and especially classical. They are also great paired with a mixamp for positional audio in a multiplayer FPS. They are extremely comfortable for multiple hours of use but they have to be the most seal-dependent headphone I've ever used. They go from sounding amazing to terrible with a shift of a literally a few millimetres. Low frequencies suffer the most obviously. When there's a seal, the bass is clear and tight. With any shift, it is non-existent. There isn't much clamping force and they fit kind of big so if you have a small head then these headphones would be a huge waste of money without some modding. I can't really see a women being able to enjoy these unless they have a thick head of hear.

All that said, for any genre with a bit of an emphasis on bass, I prefer my JVC HA-S500. I actually can't believe how good (fun) they sound for their price. Just wish they were more comfortable. Think I'll be doing one of the pad mods but not sure which one will be best. I loooove the low end on them and don't want to sacrifice that with the wrong set of pads.

These supposedly won't alter the sound much at all.

 

[Joe]

Can anyone rate or tweak my budget setup?

- Sandisk Sansa Fuze + Line-out dock connector (~$60)
- cMoyBB amp ($60)
- These MonoPrice headphones ($25)

I really have no idea what I'm doing but I just want some HIGH quality tunes on a budget.

I'd save more and spend up to $100 on headphones if it is really, really worth it. I don't have much to spend but at the end of the day I want some really nice quality.

 

[Ambitious]

I'm looking for a wireless headset with surround sound for about $200. I only need it for gaming (PC/PS3/XB360), not listening to music. Any recommendations?
Sony's Pulse Headset is supposedly pretty good, but the surround feature only works with the PS3. Is it even worth it or is stereo good enough?

 

[Septimius]

Can anyone rate or tweak my budget setup?

- Sandisk Sansa Fuze + Line-out dock connector (~$60)
- cMoyBB amp ($60)
- These MonoPrice headphones ($25)

I really have no idea what I'm doing but I just want some HIGH quality tunes on a budget.

I'd save more and spend up to $100 on headphones if it is really, really worth it. I don't have much to spend but at the end of the day I want some really nice quality.

First off. Headphones are more important than an amp. An amp compliments good headphones. If you imagine headphones ranging from quality 1-10, and amps ranging from 1-3. That means if you use 300$ on headphones, you'll hopefully have gotten something up around 8 in quality, and if you get a 130$ headphone amp (like the Fiio E17), you'll get 2 in addition, and you're up at 10. So if you get $25 headphones, you're maybe at 3-4? And a 60$ amp will add 1, so you're at 4-5. If you get a 85$ headphones, you're likely up at 6-7. That's my way of looking at it, anyway.

The conclusion is that it shouldn't be a priority to get an amp unless you have great headphones. They can compliment a good set of headphones and make them sound even better. Due to the way headphone amps make your headphones work better, there might even not be that much to get with cheaper headphones.

Also. I've tried numerous headphone amps. All the way up to at least 100$, it didn't make any difference to me. It was first when I tried the Fiio E17 that there was a clear difference. You have to get over a certain threshold for the amp to improve the sound, and not just make things louder. And cheaper headphones are generally low in impedance anyway (around 32 Omh, compared to high quality headphones that are 250 Ohm, 600 Ohm or even more), and are generally loud enough for anyone, using an mp3 player out.

All in all. You should probably never have a more expensive amp than headphones, and the amp needs to be a certain quality to even beat the standard amp in most appliances.

 

[Joe]

First off. Headphones are more important than an amp. An amp compliments good headphones. If you imagine headphones ranging from quality 1-10, and amps ranging from 1-3. That means if you use 300$ on headphones, you'll hopefully have gotten something up around 8 in quality, and if you get a 130$ headphone amp (like the Fiio E17), you'll get 2 in addition, and you're up at 10. So if you get $25 headphones, you're maybe at 3-4? And a 60$ amp will add 1, so you're at 4-5. If you get a 85$ headphones, you're likely up at 6-7. That's my way of looking at it, anyway.

The conclusion is that it shouldn't be a priority to get an amp unless you have great headphones. They can compliment a good set of headphones and make them sound even better. Due to the way headphone amps make your headphones work better, there might even not be that much to get with cheaper headphones.

Also. I've tried numerous headphone amps. All the way up to at least 100$, it didn't make any difference to me. It was first when I tried the Fiio E17 that there was a clear difference. You have to get over a certain threshold for the amp to improve the sound, and not just make things louder. And cheaper headphones are generally low in impedance anyway (around 32 Omh, compared to high quality headphones that are 250 Ohm, 600 Ohm or even more), and are generally loud enough for anyone, using an mp3 player out.

All in all. You should probably never have a more expensive amp than headphones, and the amp needs to be a certain quality to even beat the standard amp in most appliances.

Thanks for the reply. I was reading the OP and came to the conclusion that if I get an amp I'm going to need at least something like the Beyerdynamic DT 770 250 Ohm headphones which are $170 on Amazon right now.

Decisions, decisions.

I really want high quality sound. I'm not sure if simply spending $100 on low impedance headphones and calling it a day will satisfy me.

 

[Deleted member 22576]

Does anyone here own a NuForce uDAC-2?
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B003Y5FRNS/?tag=neogaf0e-20


Its small and cheap which I like, its handsome as well. The amazon reviews mention using the senny 595, which is what I have. Just curious what I should keep in mind. It seems like a solid product.

 

[dead monkey uk]

Does anyone here own a NuForce uDAC-2?
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B003Y5FRNS/?tag=neogaf0e-20


Its small and cheap which I like, its handsome as well. The amazon reviews mention using the senny 595, which is what I have. Just curious what I should keep in mind. It seems like a solid product.

I can recommend the Fiio E17, been using it for 6 months. Really flexible about the type of inputs it can except and the internal battery has come in useful.

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0070UFMOW/?tag=neogaf0e-20

 

[SirIgbyCeaser]

Product Features
Feel the sound with BassImpact technology
Enjoy hi-fidelity 7.1 virtual surround sound
Crystal clear voice chat
Perfect for use with mobile devices
Comfortable for hours of gameplay
Preset modes optimized for select gaming genres
Stay informed with on-screen headset status updates

Gaf verdict ? I want to buy these for home, and the Koss PortaPro's for outdoors.

Could I sync the pulse headphones with a walkman? or sony cellphones? That would be a great feature.

 

[Synless]

Gaf verdict ? I want to buy these for home, and the Koss PortaPro's for outdoors.

Could I sync the pulse headphones with a walkman? or sony cellphones? That would be a great feature.

I like them, though the pulse gimmick doesn't seem to jive with me the way it does with others. That is too say, it works, but only until the 1/3 mark, anything after that and it distorts the music. Also, it comes with a cord that you can use with any device that takes 3.5mm jack. As a gaming headset they are top notch though, built in mic, great sound w/out pulse, and good control options. I think they are worth the money.

Edit* comfort from the band on your head can be an issue after long periods of use though.

 

[lil smoke]

Thanks for the reply. I was reading the OP and came to the conclusion that if I get an amp I'm going to need at least something like the Beyerdynamic DT 770 250 Ohm headphones which are $170 on Amazon right now.

Decisions, decisions.

I really want high quality sound. I'm not sure if simply spending $100 on low impedance headphones and calling it a day will satisfy me.

You want really high quality, you get what you pay for. There is no way around it in audio.

You should try to save at least $200 more for a better selection of phones a step up from high level consumers and into entry level audiophile.

The amp can come later. You have to be careful, a good amp will make you want to buy 3-4 more pairs of expensive cans!