Hey guys! To coincide with the headphone buying advice thread, Ive decided to make a buying guide thread to simplify things because we wont always have the chance to answer right away. Of course, you should always ask in the thread if you arent sure, but Im assuming that very few people in this forum even know where to start researching, so heres a short buying guide to help you on your quest for better sound. Ill break it down into in ear headphones, portable over ear headphones, and around ear, circumaural headphones and open and closed. This is the work of approximately 2 hours.

You'll notice that there are no references to Beats. There's a reason for that. I own roughly 50 (fifty) headphones, I've heard at least 50 more. They. Are. Not. Worth. Crap. The Solos and Studios anyways. And the Tours. The Pros are okay, but they sound like headphones in the $150 range, and they're still breakable.

Here's what I think of the Solos: The Solos successfully give you neither deep bass nor clear sound. They're probably the worst value anywhere Even for $30 they'd be a sketchy buy since they sound so hilariously bad. I didn't really like my Klipsch Image Ones stock-it was so muddy that I've seen cleaner pigs, and they still handily beat the Solos. I don't mind the Studios or Pros, but the Solos are a crime to aural cavities everywhere. I preferred the JVC Marshmallows to them. They're a $5 earphone. The Solos are that tragically horrible. I could go on for hours about how much of an embarrassment to the hobby the Solos are, being outclassed by even Monster's cheapest products, but I'll save my time. But seriously, don't ever consider them.

The Studios are a bit of an embarrassment too. They're touted as being "what the artist intended." That's cool, if the only thing you listen to is rap for the rest of your life. What does Dre know about Miles Davis? Do you really think Miles wanted the sting bass to be louder than his trumpet? The Studios sound nothing like real life. Frankly,I've never head a headphone that sounds like real life. The closest I've ever gotten was the $700 Hifiman HE500, and they still didn't sound like real life. If they were marketed as a bassy headphone, I'd be fine with that, but the last thing we need is a bunch of teenie boppers who think bass is the only thing important with the sound mastering the music of the future. That's what Beats are essentially doing, and they're killing the music industry with that. In addition, they're advertised as having deep bass. No they don't. They don't even reach past 30hz, which I barely consider deep. They have midbass, which absolutely any headphone can provide. Don't even get me started on their midrange and treble. I don't mind how they sound, it's just that they sound like $50 headphones with a $300 price tag.

I may use some terminology thats unfamiliar to some of you, so whenever youre confused, refer to here: [ Register or Signin to view external links. ]

In Ear Monitors (IEMs.) These things are the most portable headphones you can get and generally have a better bang for buck under $150. After that, the law of diminishing returns starts to kick in and arent exactly worth the high prices they command (I say this owning 3 relatively high end IEMs and trying four others.)
There are two types of drivers-dynamic and armatures. Armatures are generally better for mids and treble, but they just dont have the timbre and bass impact dynamics have. If I had to make a choice, Id choose dynamics over armatures, but everyone has their own likes. I like timbre.

$5-$30: Im guessing every few of you have ever paid more than $30 for headphones, and are a bit skeptical. For those skeptics, Ive given you this section.

Bass heavy music like Dubstep and EDM:
($7) Monoprice 8320: These were all the rage at Head-Fi, performing well above their price range. Theyre also pretty detailed.
($10) Philips 3580: These are currently the fad at Head-Fi. They have a relatively bassy sound while having midrange and treble.
($15) XePort 5010: These are so far my favorite bassy IEM under $100. Its really insane how much bass these can put out while costing so little. And the best part is that they have tunable sound ports so if you feel like you want more midrange and treble, you can have it!
($30) MEElectronics M31: These are quite bassy as well, arguably with more punch than the 5010, but sound quite veiled in comparison.

Mid heavy music like Indie Folk, Rock, and most Pop:
($9) Earsquake CRO: Quite balanced sound, kind of fatiguing, these are $9, not much to complain about.
($10) XePort 3010: AMAZING. For the price that is. Theyre wonderful for Indie Folk, better than the MEElectronics CX21 at half the price!
($15) Earsquake SHA: Midforward sound, rough treble, you cant really get loud with these, but thats a good thing for your ears!
($20) MEElectronics CX21: These are a relaxed sounding IEM with a balanced sound, a good value indeed.
($25) KVC FXC51: Balanced sound, trebles a bit forward, you need to make a good seal with these!
$30-$80: This will get you some pretty nice stuff! Its not exactly top tier sound, but you get a ton of options.

Bass heavy music like Dubstep and EDM:
($40) Sony XB41EX: If all you care about is bass, get these.
($40) MEElectronics CC51: Not the bassiest, but quite fun for electronic.
($50ish) Xears N3i: These are amazing, but the catch is that you need to import them from Germany (And ask a lot of questions). If youre willing to jump through some hoops, just get these. I dont need to explain more.
($50) Monster Turbine: Despite being made by Monster, this is one of the few good bassy IEMs in this price range, since this price range starts to focus more on midrange and stuff. You can only buy them at this price at Monsters outlet store, and theyre refurbished, but theyre so worth it.
($50) TDK EB900: These are a step down from the Turbines, but if you want a BNIB IEM, these are pretty good! Better than the Sonys
($60) Brainwavz M2: These are quite good overall, but not the bassiest. If you care about things other than bass, this is a very good option.
($70) Fischer Audio Eterna: If you can get the rev.1 version, youll be rewarded with some EPIC bass.

Mid heavy music like Indie Folk, Rock, and most Pop:
($50ish) Xears XE200PRO: Same deal as the N3i. Youll need to jump through hoops to get these, but totally worth it.
($50) MEElectronics A151: These are somewhat warm sounding, but quite formidable indeed.
($50) Vsonic GR06: Nice vocals, especially females.
($62) Vsonic R04Pro: A bit warmer than the GR06.
($80) Hifiman RE0: If you can afford them, just get them. Seriously. The only problem is that they may lack bass, but otherwise, get them.

$80-$150: Probably the highest point before reaching the point of diminishing returns. Youll get some awesome values at this price.

Bass heavy music like Dubstep and EDM:
($100) Shure SE215: Only a bit bassier than neutral, probably wont satisfy extreme bassheads (frankly, this price range isnt for you).
($140) Klipsch X10: Probably the best youre going to get in this price range.

Mid heavy music like Indie Folk, Rock, and most Pop:
($120) Etymotic HF2: Etymotic is my favorite brand of IEMs, so Im a bit biased. These are an impressive value, but not if you like a decent amount of bass impact.
($150) Hifiman HE262: Arguably the best IEM in this price range for those wanting luscious mids. If you can afford these, go straight here.

$150-$250: This is the really good stuff before getting into the crazy price ranges.

Bass heavy music like Dubstep and EDM:
($170) Monster Turbine Pro Gold: In my opinion, the ultimate basshead IEMs for people on a budget.
($170) Futuresonics Atrio M5 (MC7): This is another option if the Golds ever get more expensive.

Mid heavy music like Indie Folk, Rock, and most Pop:
($170) Vsonic GR07: Incredibly balanced, may be too boring for some.
($230) Westone 2: Kind of a more fleshed out Etymotic ER4, but not really. A very good option.
($230) ACS T15: My current favorite. Its the closest thing to the ER4 with some extra oomph.
($250) Hifiman RE272: Probably the best overall IEM in this price range. I loved it.
($250) Etymotic ER4: Quite likely the most detailed IEM under $400.

$250-$500: This is the best of the best. I havent included customs (and I refuse to) because theyre such grey area, and Ive never tried one. If you care enough, you can do your own research.

Bass heavy music like Dubstep and EDM:
($300ish) Westone 3: Quite possibly the best bassy IEM this side of customs. The only downside is that they use balanced armatures.
($370) JVC FX700: The best bassy dynamic.
($400) Sennheiser IE8: The second best bassy dynamic (Ive described the differences of dynamics and balanced armatures). Its a bit more user friendly than the FX700.

Mid heavy music like Indie Folk, Rock, and most Pop:
($290) Audio Technica CK10: These were the old fad over at Head-Fi, and for good reason.
($350) Westone UM3X: Incredibly balanced sounding, tilting on the warm side.
($380) Earsonics SM3: This doesnt really have any flaws, but not guaranteed to be everyones favorite.
($400) J-Phonic K2 SP: Incredibly detailed, a true top tier IEM.
($400) Shure SE535: One of the best midranges in an IEM, period.
($400) Sony EX1000: This one specializes on treble and an airy sound.
($500) Westone 4: Arguably (Very arguably) the best IEM in this price range.

Portable headphones! These are, well, portable headphones for people that dont like sticking things in their ears. A portable headphones is basically something I consider a headphones you can lug around with you without qualms. They either fold or are neckable.

$0-$30: Yall are cheap. But there are some good options at this price range!

Bass heavy music like Dubstep and EDM:
($10) JVC Flats: Well, you can live with these.
($30) Panasonix HTX7: Bassy, bright, not a bad value

Mid heavy music like Indie Folk, Rock, and most Pop:
($14) Koss KSC75: Just buy these. Theyre cheap enough to not need an explanation; theyre just awesome for the price of 3 coffees.
($25) MEElectronics HT21: The best thing in this price range.

$30-$80: Youre getting up the ladder a bit, but Id still try to live with IEMs if possible.

Bass heavy music like Dubstep and EDM:
($40) Koss Portapro: These are a bassier version of the KSC75s.
($50) AKG K81/K518: These are THE portable bass headphones in this price range. You cant really do much better.

Mid heavy music like Indie Folk, Rock, and most Pop:
($40) AKG K430: Unlike the K81s, these have an opposite sound sig. Theyre kind of anemic-sounding, but have typical AKG mids.
($50) Beyerdynamic DTX300: The clearest things in this price range!
($70) Sony V6: These are tanks and they sound pretty good to boot. Theyre studio staples and it shows in their sound. Kind of. They arent exactly flat, but they dont have many extremes to their sound.

$80-$150: Now youre getting there! There are many more options in this price range.

Bass heavy music like Dubstep and EDM:
($100) AKG K181: Done. Your search is over. They even have a switch to set free even MORE bass!
($100) V-Moda Crossfade: If you dont like the looks of the K181, you could get the Crossfades, which are bassier, but way worse sounding. Tradeoffs.

Mid heavy music like Indie Folk, Rock, and most Pop:
($100) Audio Technica ES7: Pretty good, but try to save up for the HD25.
($150) Sennheiser HD25: The best package in this price range, and even above, since theyre so durable and good for rock.

$150-$400: Youre at the highest you should really go for a portable headphone at this point.

Bass heavy music like Dubstep and EDM:
($200) V-Moda M80: This is actually a good headphone, leaning towards the consumer sound, its an amazing value since its practically bulletproof.
($200) Phiaton MS400: In my opinion, the best looking headphone on the list. Thats real carbon fiber. It has a bassy sound that everyone should be able to enjoy.
($350) Ultrasone PRO900: The best headphone in this price range.
($400) Audio Technica ES10: The shiny option for bassheads. ;)

Mid heavy music like Indie Folk, Rock, and most Pop:
($250) Audio Technica ESW9: Can you say luscious mids?
($300) Beyerdynamic DT1350: This is a relatively new entry to the portable scene, and its taken the world by storm with its incredibly balanced sound.
($400) Sony Z1000: This is aimed to be a studio monitor. Well, its not neutral enough for that use, but it has a very pleasing sound indeed!
($400) Bower and Wilkins P5: Theyre pretty meh, but theyre warm and look nice.

To the Moon ($500+)

Bass heavy music like Dubstep and EDM:
($1300-$2000 depending on the version) Ultrasone Edition 8: Justamazing.
($1300) Ultrasone Signature Pro: Its too early to have any concrete impressions, but these seem to have a nice bassy sound.

Mid heavy music like Indie Folk, Rock, and most Pop:
($1100) Beyerdynamic T5P: I really dont know how these sound.

Full-sized headphones: Typically the most expensive, you usually have to aim high to get anything really good. These also usually need amps on the higher end.

Closed headphones: These are for the people that dont want sound to leak out. They usually have better bass due to the enclosure. Science stuff.

Open headphones: These are for people that dont mind if people hear your music. They usually have a great soundstage but generally lose out on mids.

$0-$30: You really should look at IEMs.

Bass heavy music like Dubstep and EDM:
($30, closed) Panasonic HTF600: These are really the only option, not because everything else is bad, well, yeah...pretty much.

Mid heavy music like Indie Folk, Rock, and most Pop:
Frankly, I cant think of any.

$30-$80: Still not many options, but there are a couple.

Bass heavy music like Dubstep and EDM:
($70, closed) Creative Aurvana Live: The only option at this price range; these sound pretty good!

Mid heavy music like Indie Folk, Rock, and most Pop:
($50, closed) Sennheiser HD448: This needs some extra powah, so an amp would be nice. These have a neutral sound, lacking in bass for some.
($50, open) Superlux HD668B: These are a really good value with their neutral sound. Probably better than the Sennheisers.
($80, open) Audio Technica AD700: I really dont want to recommend these, but theyre awesome for gaming. Music, not so much.

$80-$150: Youre starting to get some options!

Bass heavy music like Dubstep and EDM:
($130, closed) Ultrasone HFI-580: Much better than the Audio Technica M50s that everyone seems to love.
($150, closed) M-Audio Q40: Bassy, big, awesome.
($150, closed) Beyerdynamic DT770: You will probably die before these headphones break. Theyre also the bassiest things around.

Mid heavy music like Indie Folk, Rock, and most Pop:
($80-$150, open) Grado SR60-SR125: These are the classic rock headphones. These will make you tap your feet like no tomorrow!
($100, open) AKG K240: These are called the Funkalizers for a reason! Incredibly groovy headphones.
($130, closed) AKG K271: You will not find a better headphone for Indie at this price range. Metal is also amazing with these.

$150-$350: You can get the top-tier mid-end stuff in this price range!

Bass heavy music like Dubstep and EDM:
($160, closed) Ultrasone HFI-780: Have $200 and like bass? These are the best option for you.
($250, open, need an amp) Beyerdynamic DT990: These are a relative bass heaven.
($250, closed) Denon D2000: I dont like them, but a lot of people do. They have good bass, but a crappy midrange.
($350, open, need an amp) Sennheiser HD650: These are amazing all arounders. The only problem is that amping is a huge issue with these, but if you find an amp that works, these are up there with the best.

Mid heavy music like Indie Folk, Rock, and most Pop:
($250, open, need an amp) AKG K701/K702/Q701: These are probably the most polarizing headphones ever due to their plasticky sound, but its hard to deny that they arent good. (Even though Im not a fan of the K701, apparently the Q701 has some improvements.) Theyre also even pickier than the HD650 about ampage. If you find something you like though, theyll reward you with an amazing soundstage and amazing detail.
($300, open, need an amp) Beyerdynamic DT880 600ohm: These are bright, have less midrange than the Q701, and have a smaller soundstage, but they have fewer problems than the K701s.
($250-$350, open) Grado SR225/SR325: Same as the other Grados.
($350, open, need an amp) Sony SA5000: My favorite in the price range, but they certainly arent for everyone. Do a ton of research before buying a pair. I love them for electronic though.

$350-$800: Youre almost at the top, but this price range is really the highest any sane person should go to.

Bass heavy music like Dubstep and EDM:
($400, closed) Ultrasone PRO900: Like I said on the above, AMAZING bass. The rest is a bit iffy. They may be too bright.

Mid heavy music like Indie Folk, Rock, and most Pop:
($600, open, amp is optional) Grado PS500: A warmer version of the Grado sound, still quite good.
($700, open, amp isnt needed, but seriously. Do these justice.) Grado RS1: The pinnacle of the original SR-series sound.
($700, open, amp is ideal) Hifiman HE500: These are legitimately the best value in this price range, if value is even a valid word. But seriously, these things are amazing. My review: [ Register or Signin to view external links. ]

Ill go higher if I really have to, but Im going to start doing the homework I procrastinated on this entire winter break for now.

Hope this helps!