Best High End Headphones in the 100-200 dollar price range.

I was a fan of Sennheiser and AudioTechnica before trying anything from Beyerdynamic. I own a pair of HD 439's and they served me well for 4 years. Sennheisers are known to design some of the most bleeding edge audiophile gear in the world, but at the lower end the audio quality seemed lacking. Sure, they beat out any headphone on the rack at brick and mortar stores; even beats, but I personally was longing for something better. That is when I tried AudioTechnica. I have long heard of AT's being touted by many musicians as their headset of choice, and being manufactured in Japan with that sleek wing design, I thought I would be a fan. To put it bluntly I disliked the fit on my head and the audio quality, while better, wasn't much better than my 439's. So I opted out and opted in for Beyerdynamic DT990's. I knew a few people who had them and they were at an alluring price. I was expecting something good, but not this good. When I took them out of the box I instantly knew they were of a certain quality that I only find on more higher end equipment. They had some weight, but it was good weight. The plush on the earpads felt invitingly soft. The all black finish was sleek and the whole package was just stunning. I plugged them into my amp and from then on I knew I couldn't go back to anything else. I can honestly say that I have never experienced my music the way I had before the DT 990's came into my life. Every instrument was not only heard clearly, but was vibrant. Muddled bass and background effects were now brought to life and I could actually pinpoint where they were placed during recording. Even movies and games were enhanced. The sound of someone speaking was crystal clear and it sounded like they were in the room with me. The soundstage was just perfect. Every time I get to put them on it is an absolute delight. And sure, I still use other headphones. I use earbuds when I am out and about but ever since I've experienced the DT 990's, the flaws of other audio gear are very apparent and noticeable. These headphones are amazing for the price and are worth every penny.Read full review

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