Vintage Koss PRO-4AAAs [Well I bought them yesterday and they're on their way
]:
Why? Because I like the 'voicing'/tone of high-quality vintage speakers, and so headphones come into that category! Therefore, I generally prefer how they present music, compared with modern speakers or headphones.
Plus, I've always wanted an original pair of Koss PRO-4AAA, as back in the day they were used in top recording and broadcast studios around the world. For me Koss were the definitive headphone company (the original American one) and their designs had a unique sound, which was always unfailingly musical, and also transparent to the recording, giving voices and instruments a vibrancy and realism that was always very addictive
Grado headphones are a bit like that too, and also possess that 'buttery' mellifluous midrange, but without the visceral low-end punch and attack of the Koss. I guess that I just love how American 'cans' sound.
And, as a diehard 'SPPV' guy, I like owning gear that delivers maximum 'bang for your buck'.
I paid £210 for the above (near-mint condition) examples, which isn't an insignificant amount for a pair of 40 year-old headphones, but I know that with the build quality, design prowess and materials used, it will allow them to compete with many of today's designs, at least up to the £500 mark, and likely well beyond.
Plus, if you like retro [count me in], they look cool!
If I was buying brand new, high-end headphones, but still at a 'sensible price', then I'd go for these Audio Technicas:
Details here:
https://www.audio-technica.com/en-gb...ed/ath-ad2000x
A) Because I love the 'airy' and very natural sound of high-quality open-backed headphones, and B) because AT have the experience, technical prowess and wherewithal to design some of the very best headphones on the market, whilst still charging 'sane' prices, and I think that the ATH-AD2000X, on the end of a top-notch headphone amp, would be capable of true greatness!
Marco.