have it down to the grado sr 80s or the sennheiser hd 555s they are about the same price so if any has had both could you let me know how they compare.
I can't give you a comparison of those exact models, but I had the Sennheiser HD 545s (which I think is a discontinued model) for several years, and then after they shorted out in one ear (a common issue, probably from not-so-gentle use) I replaced them with a pair of Grado SR 125s, which I have now had for several years.
Both of these headphones are amazing. Both in terms of detail and clarity, and in terms of the amount of clean bass volume they can pump out. I used both pairs in studio situations where I was listening to my bass at what was, to be honest, probably an unsafe volume, and they both performed flawlessly.
Since I didn't get the Grados until the Sennheisers had already shorted out, I never got to hear them back to back, but the bottom line is, they are both so good that I think you will be happy with either. I think the main decision-point would be which form-factor you prefer. The Sennheisers will be a bit more effective in isolating you from room noise, if that is important to you, but even they are not totally enclosed like an old AKG model I used to have.
It might be worth your while to seek out a good stereo store where you can try out some of these. I know it is unlikely that you'd find a single place that has both, but you might still get some useful info out of it. When I bought my Grados, the store had several models to choose from -- SR 80, SR 125, SR 225, and maybe more. I started with the SR 80s, and really liked them, but I went ahead and tried the others too. At each price level I could hear a definite improvement in sound. I ended up buying the SR 125s because I didn't feel like I could afford the next level up -- but I definitely would have liked to get them! That was a fun experience to me, and I'd recommend doing it if you can find a place that offers several models. And good headphones sound so great that it is definitely worth stretching the budget a little to get the best ones you can afford.
Good luck!
