To S. Andrea Sundaram,
So, the market is back up and I’m contemplating improved cans. My problem is, I like to stick my iPod in my pocket and walk around the house or airport, etc., so a dedicated amp is out of the question, unless it’s muy pequeño. Even then, I probably wouldn’t want a separate amp. If someone perfects a better iPod, I might go in that direction. But anyway, this isn’t the point.
I am curious about your advice in the under-$600 range. It can’t favor any type of music, because I listen to everything. Well, that’s not entirely true. I draw the line at lieder and misogynistic gangster rap. Otherwise, bring it on. So I need headphones with similarly catholic tastes. And I trust your judgment and opinions.
Carl
If you are going to be running the headphones directly from an iPod, you might want to consider the PSB M4U 2. Their active mode essentially gives you that extra amplifier that you don't want to carry around. In that mode, they have deep, powerful bass, an even midrange, and well-judged highs; they work with most genres. The only drawback is a little bit of hiss. Without dedicated amplification, I'm not sure that any $600 headphones would really sound that much better. You might get a little more openness, air, and detail, but most will lag significantly behind the PSBs in bass extension and dynamics. . . . S. Andrea Sundaram
