From the best of my recollection, in that specified approximate price range, I have evaluated the Sony MDR-7506, Sennheiser HD-280, Sennheiser HD-580, Sennheiser HD-25, Grado SR125, Grado HF-1, Sony MDR-F1, Sony MDR-CD900ST, AKG K271S, Audio Technica ATH-900, Sony MDR-V700DJ, Sony MDR-V600, AKG K501, Beyer DT880(2005 version) and the Beyer DT880(2006 version).
As for favorites in that group, the Sennheiser HD-580 is good for very general use across genres; a sort of jack of all trades. For classical/acoustic music, the most realistic, tonally, was the Sony MDR-CD900ST. In fact, I would rate the MDR-CD900ST as one of the most realistic, tonally, for any price range of headphone. But it has a shelved down treble that may sound perhaps 'boring' to many people, especially with pop/rock. The Grado HF-1 was probably the best I have heard for 'exciting' rock/pop music sound in that price range. But that headphone is not available, except by way of the used market, and for much more than the original selling price. The Sony MDR-7506 is the best closed studio tracking headphone I have tried. The 2005 Beyer DT880 with anti-resonance modification is like a refined MDR-7506, with an even more linear response, but it is open, hence, no sound isolation. The AKG K501, with flattened pad modification, has very high quality midrange/treble for acoustic/jazz and other more acoustically based music genres. But it's bass response was too shelved down for my taste. Also, I can not stand a stock AKG K501 without pad modification, FYI.
I'm just shooting in the dark here. Please try to as specific questions about a specific headphone.
-Chris
