[Heady1977]

Many years ago - while working in Singapore I had the opportunity to work in the same building as the regional Sennheiser head-office. They had a really nice listening room with the complete headphone range (at the time). After a couple of lunch-times listening to the various options within my price range (at the time) I settled on three models. After further listening over a month at home I had finally chosen the HD 250 Linear II's and have been happy since.

However, I'm now in the market again for a new set of good headphones - something equal or better than my faithful HD 250 Linear II's.

I listen to everything from classical to rock to pop to ska and everything in-between. I'm a musician and like as little colour as possible to what was originally recorded i.e. Trombones should sound like trombones etc... Solid lower frequency response - but not boom boom base.

I've spent the last few days in London trying to find a place where I could listen to various Headphones - but alas could only find places like HMV with anything that allowed me to listen to anything - usually lower price range in a very noisy environment with non-suitable audition tracks.

Price not really a problem - just want something that sounds equivalent and is as good as or better then my faithful HD 250 Linear II's.
Closed back would be preferable - because of a sometimes noisy environment - and sound leakage. (i.e. I live in a shared house).

Looking on some on-line headphone shops there doesn't seem to be many closed back high quality headphones anymore.

As it appears that I'm unable to audition headphones properly - could any of the enlightened folks here able to provide some suggestions.

Thanks.

[padam]

If price is not a problem and you want the best, you might want to check the STAX SR-4070. It is a closed-back electrostatic studio monitor headphone. You also need an electrostatic headphone amp to drive it.
The issue with it might be that it is quite big and heavy so wearing it for extended periods can be a problem.
Update: I should add that there is a cheap equivalent as well, which is the STAX SR-X MK3. Unfortunately it is not as advanced since it is quite old now so it lacks a bit of bass and it is not closed either (despite that it leaks very little) but the electrostatic studio monitor 'magic' is still there, you might want to try this one first if you cannot try the 4070.

[Heady1977]

Originally Posted by padam

If price is not a problem and you want the best, you might want to check the STAX SR-4070. It is a closed-back electrostatic studio monitor headphone. ... a cheap equivalent as well, which is the STAX SR-X MK3. ... but the electrostatic studio monitor 'magic' is still there, ...

Thanks for this info. By any chance do you know where I could audition these?

[padam]

Originally Posted by Heady1977

Thanks for this info. By any chance do you know where I could audition these?

Here is a list of distributors but there might be much more:
Overseas Distributors

But you might want to try to snatch an SR-X Mk3 cheaply as well. The might go for as low as 100$ and at that price it is a bargain. But it is supra-aural so you might not like the comfort. It is very revealing so if there is a weak link in the system it will show it whether you like that or not. The deep bass problem can be fixed as well, although it is certainly not easy to do. The cheap way of driving it is with a speaker amp and an SRD-7 adapter, with a dedicated Stax amp it is even better.

I didn't hear the 4070 only owned the SR-X Mk3 (they are quite rare and very expensive) but it can be considered to be a much more advanced version of this studio monitor line (and it is closed) so it must be very good, only issue is the massive weight.

By the way, does your HD250II have a silver or the grey lining on the housing? I heard that the first variant is better-sounding.

[Heady1977]

Originally Posted by padam

Here is a list of distributors but there might be much more:

...
By the way, does your HD250II have a silver or the grey lining on the housing? I heard that the first variant is better-sounding.

Thanks for the info.

To be honest I'm not sure - the headphones are now 10000 of miles away. I couldn't remember a silver/grey anything on them until I looked at photos on google.

If I had to guess I'd say grey. I would have bought them sometime 2002-2003 if that helps.

[padam]

Thanks, I am thinking of trying a HD250

By the way, this is the combo you should be looking at:
AudiogoN ForSale: Stax SRM 717

A powerful solid state amp like the 717 should give a transparent and neutral sound with the 4070 (I had this amp and it is probably the best amp they made, even better than its successor).