Full-Size Headphones
Full-sized headphones have earcups that surround your ears without resting directly on the earlobes. This type of headphone is more properly called a "circumaural" (around the ear) headphone, but we don't like using the word as we have to explain it every darn time.
Full-size headphones fall into two major categories: sealed/closed, and open. Sealed full-size headphones isolate you from the distracting noise of the outside world while preventing headphone leakage from the earcups, a useful feature if folks are right next to you. Open-back headphones do not have a sealed chamber -- the earcups are fully vented to the outside world -- and thus allow you to keep tabs on what's going on around you (provided you're not turned up too loud!). Since there is no enclosed, resonant earcup chamber, it becomes easier to design a more 'airy' spacious-sounding headphone using an open earcup construction than one with a closed earcup design.
Because open headphones are better for general use around the home where it's nice & quiet while sealed headphones are better for use outside (or in noisy listening environments), we'll talk about those two types separately. Let's start with the sealed/closed cans.
Sealed Headphones
Under $100
Great-sounding sealed headphones are not a breeze to design. Poorly manufactured sealed-earcup cans can be 'honky' or peaky-sounding, kind of like talking through a megaphone. The low-midrange and bass response can also be unnaturally emphasized or "boxy" in cheapie sealed headphones. Hence, you're likely not going to find many impressive full-sized sealed cans priced significantly under $100 bucks. In fact, we've only found a few we like to talk about: the Sennheiser HD201 is one ---and it's WAY under $100, heck it's under $30! We quite enjoy this headphone when mated with any dedicated head-amp, and while it doesn't seal or isolate all that well, it does sound quite clean considering how dang inexpensive it is. And although they're not quite "full-size" designs, the mid-sized DENON AH-D1001K and the beyerdynamic DT235 are definitely worth considering when seeking excellent sealed-earcup category headphones under or close to $100. Right at that magic $100 mark is a great sealed headphone in our humble opinion, the Sennheiser 280Pro. This workhorse headphone does a very good job of attenuating ambient sounds plus the earcups fold up & inward toward the headband for easy travel. They're a smooth and even-sounding set of sealed cans... Nothing like it at the price!
Sealed Headphones, $100-$200
A bit further up in cost, the AKG k240 MKii is another fair-priced "semi-sealed" full-size headphone with OK isolation and solid sound quality for the money. We especially like these last two sealed cans mentioned above for location & concert recording, field mixing, DJ, and professional/home studio use as they are durable as a block of oak, offer quality sonics at the pricepoint, and do a respectable job of providing ambient noise isolation.
Sealed Headphones, $200+
As we go past the upscale $200+ "reference performance" threshold, we find the AKG K271 MKII headphone. The only flaw -- if we can even call it that -- we hear with these cans is a modestly lean bass response, but the remaining midrange/treble audio performance of this headphone is close to the top of the full-sized 'sealed' headphone category. Therefore, heavy rock/ hiphop/ trance/ big bass lovers should probably shy away, but those who are looking for midrange liquidity and silky highs from their sealed headphone will likely enjoy themselves. The full circumaural-earcup design of the Audio Technica A-700 offers amongst the most spacious, deep, and airy soundstage perspectives in the industry not to mention a fabulously comfortable oversize fit that rates about the best for folks who hate a too-tight headphone.
As we go even higher up the price point ladder, arguably the very best full-size sealed audiophile-grade headphones could be the Denon AH-D2000, the upscale Denon AH-D5000 and the simply stunning, truly world-class Denon AH-D7000. All deliver the accurate audio performance, fully extended dynamics, and expansive soundstage image depth of the top 'open-back' headphones but retain the isolation advantages of a closed earcup construction. The D2000 have an amazingly seamless, lively sound and a full, clear perspective throughout the entire frequency range while the warmer-toned big-brother D5000 model sports mahogany wood earcups and a smooth tube-like tonal/timbral presentation. The dreamy D7000 offers incredibly textural, deep access into the lowest foundations of the music without any sacrifices in the mids or highs; All are simply superb sealed headphone choices for demanding audiophiles and will be equally at home with a reference high-end audio system or partnered with a high-quality portable headphone amp.
Full-Size Open Headphones
So much for the full-size sealed/closed headphones; let's go back down to the bottom of the price scale and discuss full-sized OPEN cans now. The only headphone that really jumps out at us at this lower pricepoint is the Sennheiser HD485. This large, lightweight 'economy' headphone is designed for soon-to-be or newcomer audiophiles who want their music right between their ears. It hits the nail squarely on the head -- for the price. These open cans have a fairly big bass response but still retain good tonal balance throughout the entire frequency range. Oh heck, even the classical longhair on a budget could potentially love these with a nice HeadRoom headphone amplifier maximizing the HD485's sonic performance! (Also, consider researching earpad headphones for some great options under $100.)
Open Headphones $100-$200
At around $125, the Sennheiser HD555 is a really solid, smoothly-toned headphone given its wallet-friendly pricepoint. Sennheiser has truly head-dived into this wild 'n wooly mid-priced fray with this can which is less expensive and a lot easier to power properly compared to the MUCH better-detailed but rather inefficient HD600 model. The open-back HD555 remains a great bargain full-size open headphone choice for "starter" audiophiles using portable audio players like iPods, PC/laptop computers, & Mp3 players.
Open Headphones, $200 and up
Enter $220-$350 bucks headphone territory and you've suddenly climbed into lovely & rarified “Top Shelf” terrain. There are a number of close contenders in this category, the Sennheiser HD600, HD595 and Audio Technica AD700 among them. These headphones are great with the Sennheiser HD600 and HD595 holding down the polar ends of the sonic spectrum with, respectively, slightly 'warm' and lively/'quick' tonal signatures. The AT AD700 headphone is perfectly pitched down the middle with a superior soundstage depth, perfectly layered instrumental/vocal spaciousness, and a wearing comfort second to none.
Perched right at the very topmost of the heap, we place the AKG K701, Sennheiser HD650, and beyerdynamic DT880. If you're looking for nuanced detail resolution, refined musical authority and uber-expansive dynamic range, the beyerdynamic DT880 is lightning-quick without losing hardly any midrange clarity or focused bottom-end punch in the process. The Sennheiser HD650 is a seamlessly warm, organic, sophisticated and refined-sounding can with plenty of smooth and well-detailed lushness all around. Great soundstage image too. And the AKG K701 neatly splits the difference with a punchy, supremely dynamic sound that really does all things well but offers especially amazing instrumental texture and an expansive, authentic sense of musical space with a slightly leaner, more tightly focused bass response versus the HD650. All three of these cans are truly world-class, reference-grade headphones. They do have some serious audio competition from headphones of other types -- like the Shure SE530 in-ear earphones or the custom-only Ultimate Ears UE11Pro ear canal headphones (ECHs), for example -- but in the crowded full-sized open headphone category, these three are clearly THE top shelf.
One final aside: We highly recommend headphone cable replacements / upgrades for all high-end headphones intended for seriously demanding audiophiles. High-quality aftermarket headphone cables will greatly improve the audio performance of any of these reference-grade headphones! Cardas Audio in Oregon manufactures superb Sennheiser, AKG, and beyerdynamic replacement cabling that is well-worth its rather hefty price tag!
