I've been a dealer in a few great lines of headphones for years, been to audio meets and tried lots more, and shuffle in and out of things. I tried for a long time to cajole Senn into letting me be a dealer, but they refused b/c I don't have a fancy shopfront. However, my area rep had gotten me into the HD-800's during that process. I liked them a lot, but modding them and using EQ tricks to tame the 6khz spike and boost the lowest octave transformed them, for me. I consistently return to my beloved HD-800's in preference to every other set of cans I have ever had. And with classical, OMG. The imaging and openness of the sound trumps (for me) the lower distortion and deeper bass of other well-regarded cans. I am unclear as to why the TOTL generally has not obviously surpassed these cans (apart from the tweaks with the HD-800s). Anyhoo, used HD-800's, if you find them, are a great choice. My second choice is the Audeze LCD-2, which I think is the single best value in audio (esp. used) if you can tolerate the weight. On popular music, they're meltingly good, and oh that bass response.
NOTE: I have almost no hearing above 12khz, but below that is "on spec" for my age (mid-50's, and got tested last year) and not bad at all.
NOTE: I have not heard the new Stax SR-009s, though I deal in them. The money equation is tough, even at dealer cost, and then all the outboard stuff to boot.
NOTE: I have almost no hearing above 12khz, but below that is "on spec" for my age (mid-50's, and got tested last year) and not bad at all.
NOTE: I have not heard the new Stax SR-009s, though I deal in them. The money equation is tough, even at dealer cost, and then all the outboard stuff to boot.