Since I was 20, I have owned the following models (in order):

Sony MDR-V600
Sony MDR-V900
Sony MDR-CD2000
Grado SR225
Bose Noise Reduction Model 2
Denon AH-D5000

The Sony 600 and 900 were sold many years ago, but I still have the CD2000. I haven't been able to use them for about 5 years because my cat (Toonces) chewed through the cable. I did find a replacement cable, but Sony wanted around $130. The CD2000 is definitely the most comfortable, since the pads are very thick and large. It feels like pillows on your ears.

The Grado model was extremely uncomfortable, but it did sound good. The Bose model does a good job at reducing external noise and they are very comfortable, but they recently stopped working properly.

I recently sold around 280 DVDs on amazon and got a lot more money than I thought I would, so I decided to get some high end headphones. The Denons retail for $700, but I found them for $467. I've only listened to 2 soundtracks so far - Final Fantasy IV DS and Atelier Iris Deceitful Wings. First of all, the Denon model completely destroys Bose in sound reproduction. I can not tell you how good these sound. I'm like a little kid waiting to rush into a toy store before I put these on.

I have read that a headphone amplifier will make the Denons sound much better. I knew that about the Grados as well, but never got around to buying an amp. So I'm not sure how good they really sounded. I'm not sure what kind of headphone amp to buy, as they range in price from $100 to $4000 and all look roughly the same. I do want to get an amp for the Denons because of how good they sound without one.

It seems like a great waste to me that out of two soundtracks to enjoy your sweet new headphones on you would make one of them FFIV DS.

I bought a headphone amp to use when DJing at parties so I could hear over the speakers and crowd noise but I'd imagine that's apples and oranges when compared to the gear you'd need for those phones.  Something tells me most audiophiles will tell you that the $100 amp won't cut it for $700 headphones.

Anyway put those suckers to use on some good soundtracks man

Sennheiser EH-150 Evolution Hi-Fi Stereo Headphones

Paid $20 for them, delivered. So far, no problem! Not sure I would get much more out of a $400 pair of headphones. In fact, for that kind of money I could think of a few other things I'd rather own. Still, to each their own I am curious though, where are the Denon made?

cheers,

-avatar!

www.head-fi.org

If you want to know more than you ever wanted about headphones, headphone amps, and other headphone-related issues, that's the place to go.  You may also run into long-time STC poster Strohmie on that board.  The Denons are popular around those parts, so I'm sure there is plenty of discussion about which amp pairs well with them.

This might be what you're looking for:

http://www.head-fi.org/forums/f5/headph … 00-283519/

According to the box: Made in China

I had heard that Denon is a Japanese company and this seems to back that up:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Denon

I had read, thanks to the link by Crash, that the Denons need a good 24-48 hours of breaking in time with heavy bass music. So I have the Rockman Rock Arrange album going right now (there is a tinny noise coming from my bedroom). Prior to that it was the Rockman Megalomania doujin album.

  I think the FFIV DS overall sound is much improved over its SFC counterpart. I have spent more time listening to Celtic Moon, so I only have a vague familiarity with the SFC compositions. I'm hoping for a FFV and VI DS OST now.

  Some stuff that will be getting much play time shortly: Snatcher Battle PS (my least listened to Battle Album), Red Stone OST, Lost Vampire Killer (doujin album), Zelda Triforce Trilogy (another doujin), Lost Child Infinia, and the Rockman Zero remastered albums (which I recently acquired).

I hate ear bud headphones, with the rubber-or-whatever tips that you have to squeeze to get in your ear; it's work just to position them in your ears correctly; I can't do it. I still use those old headband models...sure, some may joke I look like a chick with headband style headphones, but, damn, I can't get those other ones to fit in my ears...

Man, ear bud headphones are all can use now. It all started with that pair that came with the original gameboy - used those for years until I broke them. Then I switched to these ones Sony makes and I've gone though 4 or 5 pairs of the same model in the last few years because I'm rather rough on them at work. That model rules yet I hate shelling out $9.99 for each pair when its something that small.

what about those people whose auditory nerves aren't located conveniently on the sides of their heads?

I just got stuck on this one statement.

Hehe, now I'm down to a little more than 400 DVDs. I just felt that 700 DVDs was too much, so some had to go. It certainly helps when it comes to shelf space.

Damn! Now imagine if instead of DVDs it was VHS...