About £200 ish ...so..what headphones.?

They may look a bit old-fashioned, but they sound great: Grado SR80i. Well within your budget too.

Thanks Andy...looked at my nearest hifi place...then Grado and found these mega expensive phones...but then realised they could be delivered free!!....so thats ok then!! lol...thanls..I'' give the SR80i a look...

http://www.newcastlehifi.co.uk/products/ebz_product_pages/grado_ps1000.shtml

You should be able to source a pair of AKG K701's for that price. Well worth a listen if you can find a shop with a run in pair.

It is difficult to recommend headphones without more information really. What type of music do you listen to, what equipment are you driving them from etc and most importantly what type of sound signature do you prefer.

Both the previous recomendations are good cans but they are certainly not for everyone. The Grado's excel at some genres of music but are diabolical with others so not a good all round headphone, there are also comfort issues when used for extended listening periods. Both the Grado's & AKG's are considered by many to be bass shy some people like that others don't it is down to personal preference.

There are multiple options from Beyerdynamic and Sennheiser but it is difficult to recommend without more info.

You mention home recording. The AKG K271 Mkii are well in budget, leak virtually no sound and when you take them off they mute automatically. They are specifically designed with recording in mind. Would those features be useful to you?

eggontoast:

.....The Grado's excel at some genres of music but are diabolical with others so not a good all round headphone......

Save around another £600.00 or so and buy the Unique Melody in-ears that Clare mentioned    

PJPro:

eggontoast:

.....The Grado's excel at some genres of music but are diabolical with others so not a good all round headphone......

Which genres?

I got my Sennheiser HD650s for less than £200, but that was about 5 years ago (Turnkey in Charing Cross Road, I think).

I admit I was expecting them to sound a little more open than they do. But I like the foam Sennheisers because they are comfortable for long periods of time, and the 3m of cable is not to be sneezed at.

Not only 'extended' either.

In my case the dis-comfort kicked in after only 15 minutes......

Grado SR80i take some beating as suggested and come well within budget - leaving some money to put toward a headphone amp perhaps.. the K701 are also impressive with better clarity but losing some performance in the bass department to my ears. What music are you into or a mix of everything?

I too got some Sennheiser 650's in the play.com sale last year. £180.

The offers do tend to come up every so often.

Review wise, the 650's don't tend to win the awards as class leaders. However, if you were to drop them in the sub £200 category, they must be my hifi bargain of the century.....

Well said, Pete!