Mid-range Open Air Headphones Review

The HD595's are one of the most popular midrange open air headphones, and for good reason. They remain one of the best headphones available under $250, and can perform well for anything from classical music to gaming to hip hop.

Bass: Tight, clear. May be a tiny tiny bit weak.
Mids: Balanced, great detail. Can be a bit grainy. Female vocals sound awesome.
Highs: Clear, detailed, energetic, but not overpowering.
Soundstaging: Very deep and clear.
Comfort: Good for long listening sessions.

Cons: Jack of all trades, but master of none. If you listen primarily to a particular kind of music, these might not be your best bet.

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Audio Technica's AD700s were the first decent pair of headphones I bought, and are still my first choice for listening 90% of the time. Probably the best headphones in the price range for gamers and others who love a broad soundstage, such as classical listeners. They are known for sounding great even when driven by a poor source.

Bass: Tight, clear, detailed. A bit weak for bassheads, though.
Mids: Natural; may seem recessed to some listeners.
Highs: Crystal clear; may be overemphasized to some listeners.
Soundstaging: Best soundstaging in the price range. Ridiculously wide and deep.
Comfort: Amazingly comfortable, unless you have a small head.

Cons: The AD700s sacrifice bass strength for clarity, which will disappoint bassheads. This can be remedied with a good equalizer, however.

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Grado's SR 225s don't disappoint, delivering the famous "Grado sound". Likely the best in the price range for those listening exclusively to rock, metal, or anything similar.

Bass: Best in the price range--nice clarity, extension, and detail.
Mids: A bit forward, but smooth as silk.
Highs: Excellent (excessive?) extension, and incredible detail
Soundstage: Good for the music, but lacks in 'distance'. Sounds almost two dimensional.
Comfort: Supraaural headphones aren't my cup of tea, but they are fine for most listening sessions.

Cons: Definitely a genre-specific headphone. For anything other than rockish music, look elsewhere.

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AKG K601s are a great compromise between the lowend K501's and more expensive K701s. Those who like the AKG sound, or fans of amazing mids and soundstage, should give these a close look.

Bass:Weakest point of the cans; need an amp for good quality bass
Mids:Have the detail, extension, and clarity of a much more expensive set of 'phones.
Highs:Decent extension and detail, slightly harsh.
Soundstage:Amazing soundstage; very 'speaker-like' headphones
Comfort:Almost as great as the AD700s for prolonged listening. Also look great.

Cons: Need an amp for acceptable bass.

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The PROline 2500s are a great entry to the price range. Featuring all the best traits of Grado and Sennheiser, these cans make a big impression, and are a good choice for most listeners.

Bass:As good as the SR225s. Amazing quality for the price.
Mids, Highs: Nothing special, but nothing to complain about.
Soundstage: Above average. Good enough for most soundstage-centric listening.
Comfort: Not particularly good. Not actively uncomfortable, either, though.

Cons: Gritty, honest-to-source sound. Sounds like a weird con, but if your source is bad you'll notice more with these than with other cans, for some reason.

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