Headphones

For what use?

If it's for location work, the industry standard in Europe is the Sennheiser HD 25-1 (or the HD 25-SP if you are strapped for cash).
 
What do you want them for? Accurate reference check for mixing music or dialogue? Total isolation for recording? Something comfortable for long hours? Something for a boom op?

There are headphones suitable for all sorts of purposes. You can get a great set of closed-back cans for a boom op for less than $100. If you want them for mixing, you may be better off to spend the $$ on accurate speakers or room treatment (like, serious, professionally-designed treatment that takes the specific measurements of walls, speakers, and furniture into account).

For accurate reference headphones, search around gearslutz.com. For film-specific stuff, search here. For absolute isolation, Direct Sounds are $100, Vic Firths about $50. There's a lot of dynamite stuff out there in your range.

EDIT: John must have hit "post" the same minute I did!
 
Under your minimum, but I've been led to believe (many friends and sources) that the Sony MDR7506 are the de facto standard.
 
mkfotos.com said:
Under your minimum, but I've been led to believe (many friends and sources) that the Sony MDR7506 are the de facto standard.
Click to expand...

Only in the US - in Europe it's the Sennheiser HD 25-1 that's the standard - and the HD 25-1 are a lot more efficient than the Sony.
 
This is just for closed-back headphones:

An engineer I trust suggested the Shure SRH840s saying they were fantastic. They're at the top of your budget. I'd check them out just because he said so.

For my money, I've been very happy with Audio Technica AT-M50s. Used on location a lot so far and they've taken a beating quite well. Best $109 I spent on closed-back headphones.

I was never a fan of 7506s but the price they're going for now is hard to beat for the quality. I've had a secondary/backup pair of 7509s for over 10 years and apart from having to re-solder the 1'4" TRS they've been shockingly durable, even if the sound is not to my liking.
 
I just got a $40 pair of sennheisers (HD201) at git-center for a multitrack session. Killer bang for the buck set of cans. Closed-back, great for tracking or clients - I grabbed them by mistake when mixing and was surprised how well they held up.

I've been using the same set of higher-end Senn's for 15 years or so, and I can still order replacement pads & cables from the manufacturer - can't beat that!
 
Sennheiser HD 280 Pro. One of the best $99 you can spend.

Go down to Guitar Center or B&H or wherever and compare.
 
I'm very suspicious of those ebay headphones. I was tempted when I saw your post, but when I saw so many of them on ebay from China, I figured they are not really Sony headphones and decided to stick with a legitimate U.S. supplier.
 
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