Reference Headphone Recommendations

[HM-2]

I've currently got a set of AKG K550s which are my go-to headphones for basically everything. They're absolutely brilliant, but starting to get a bit tired so I'm looking at options to replace them. Looking to spend up to about £400, want something with excellent passive noise cancelling (I mostly use them at work), nice and neutral and basically as good in terms of sound and build quality as I can get. However, they need to be closed-back. They're typically going to be driven from either directly a PC/laptop, or from a DAC/headphone amplifier so I don't mind if they won't work with a phone or similar without a headphone amp.

Currently the Beyerdynamic DT 1770 PROs are topping my list, but I'd be keen for any other recommendations.

[Scrump]

Interested in the replies. AKG K550s are my favourite headphones and although I don’t need any new ones at the moment, always good to see what else I might like.

[HM-2]

I've noticed that Shure SHR-1540s can be had for under £400 so am currently leaning towards these. Though I said I wasn't too worried about driving the Beyerdynamics from mobile sources, I've noticed they're 250Ω impedance so possibly not that flexible across different sources in the absence of a dedicated mains headphone amp...

[devnull]

How flush are you feeling? I bought the Sony signature series MDR-Z1R and TA-ZH1ES headphone / DAC combo at a smidge under three grand.

Pricey, but it’s probably the best my ears will ever hear.

[HM-2]

Unfortunately not three grand flush
Looking to spend up to £700 for headphones and a second desktop headphone amp/DAC for the office. Around £400 for headphones probably.

[HM-2]

Has anyone got any experience of the Audio-Technica ATH-A1000Z and ATH-W1000Z?




Visually my preference is for the aluminum rather than the wood (what is it with HiFi kit and wood?) but that aside I've got no idea what the actual difference between them is.

[HM-2]

Just to wrap this one up, I ended up going for the Audio-Technica ATH-A990Z as they were on a pretty good Amazon deal.

For under £200, extremely impressed- head and shoulders above my previous AKGs with a balance that really fits my typical listening. Probably a bit less honest than the K550s, but much more clarity and depth, and really...well, fun. 95% as good as the A1000Zs I tried, but less than half the price...