Help with Headphones setup

[dgshtav]

Don't know whether this is the right forum or not. Mods, please feel free to move this as you feel appropriate.

I am considering getting a reference/audiophile headphone setup and just don't know where to start and what to look for.

My music tastes are very varied and I really enjoy any kind of good music.

But primarily I enjoy the below the most:
* String instruments (Santoor, Violin, Sarod)
* Percussion (Indian drums/tabla)
* Vocals (Both Indian and Western)
* Saxophone, Flute
* Soft Jazz, Soft Rock.

I am not into electronic, hard rock, etc.

And I haven't got much opportunity yet to listen much of Piano, so I don't know what I am missing there yet.

That said, I am looking for some guidance on:
1. What should the considerations be in a headphones setup?
2. What are some of the good resources on the web that review such headphones
3. Is buying a used headphone a good idea?
4. What would be your recommendations for reference/audiophile grade HP-amps and HPs?

Thanks,
Dinesh

 

[Tod]

2: Here's a headphone-only forum. Way more than anyone ever needs to know, much discussion of products with questionable claims, but some good information there too.

http://www.head-fi.org/

Here's one of the better headphone retailers - prices fair to quite good, service and trustworthiness great. They also have the ability to compare frequency response, impedance, and other graphs for most of their products if you place value in those - just click on the graph on each phone page and it will give you comparison options.

http://www.headphone.com/

4. headphone.com sell their own amps, ranging from affordable to...products with questionable claims, you could say, certainly for the price... I have one from Channel Islands Audio for $400, and there are others around at or somewhat below that range. That said, good AVRs or preamps can have pretty good built-in headphone amps. I mostly use the one off my preamp and only use the CIA amp at the office.

 

[m_vanmeter]

if you already have a typical a/v receiver with a headphone out jack, than try your headphones without a separate headphone amplifier - often the receiver provides more than enough power for anything but the most inefficient headphones.

Without breaking the bank, I think any one of these units would satisfy your requirements for the music you like. Only if you decide you need more "umph" consider adding a headphone specific amplifier.

Sennheiser HD 600 or HD 595 - google for best pricing
AKG K702 http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=&sku=580610&Q=&is=REG&A=details
Beyerdynamic DT 880 - google for best pricing