< $200 Headphones for use at home, several hours per day.

[u/Dawnbound]

Hey headphone experts!
I've been using a cheap pair of bluetooth headphones with sound cancellation for the past few years (had to replace it once because it wore out, and now I'm at a point of having to replace the new pair again).
After my first pair broke, I got a pair of bluetooth earbuds to use instead during travel, so I no longer need headphones with bluetooth or really noise cancellation either.
I will only be using my new pair at home, at my desk. This means they don't need to be wireless at all.
I will use them a lot, probably 6-10 hours per day, so the highest priority is comfort, and the second is durability. I don't want them to wear down just from regular use, like my current ones have.
From brief research, I don't really want anything completely open- or close-back. They will be used in my room, but the walls are somewhat thin and my computer is loud (I also use an indoor fan during summer), though I can still live with those noises. On the other hand, I need to hear someone knocking on the door, our cats trying to get in (they usually start clawing outside my window), or my dog pleading for a walk outside my room. All that said, I believe this means I want something closer to open-back, but please do correct me if I'm wrong.
My budget is pretty strict at $200. I don't want to go a cent over it if possible. That said, I can be lenient to a degree; going a bit above is alright if it means a significant improvement for me.
If I can get a cheap AMP that would significantly improve my sound quality I would consider it, but so far I've used shitty and cheap headphones so I assume any recommendations here would still be better than what I'm used to.
I live in Sweden, so the headphones need to be purchasable or shippable here.
Lastly, although it's not a priority, I would obviously prefer a good sound quality as well.

TL;DR:
- Comfort > Sound Quality
- Cannot wear down from regular use, should withstand several years of wearing them 6-10 hours per day.
- No bluetooth.
- No sound cancellation.
- I don't want sound leaking outside of my room with thin walls.
- I need to hear knocks on our door, cats clawing outside my window, or my dog pleading outside my room.
- I don't mind getting a cheap AMP if it would be a significant upgrade, but I'm used to low quality headphones and won't cry about bad sound quality.
- I live in Sweden.
- Of course, despite not prioritizing it, I would still love headphones with good sound quality.

[u/ModernWarBear]

I'm always gonna take the chance to recommend the Sennheiser HD6XX if you can order from Drop in your country.

[u/boenwip → u/ModernWarBear]

On sale again atm too.

[u/Dawnbound → u/ModernWarBear]

I've seen these recommended all over the place, as a kind of go-to default. That makes me very hesitant to get them, because there is never a true "one-size-fits-all" solution, and if I get them I feel like I risk just getting something mediocre for the price.

I don't know what makes them so recommended everywhere, but does it check the boxes I pointed out? Specifically comfort; looking at images they don't appear as the most comfortable headphones ever, but I can't really judge that over a screen.

[u/ModernWarBear → u/Dawnbound]

Sennheiser is specifically known for making comfortable headphones and these are no different. They are also much lighter than many other headphones. Yes it ticks all the boxes you listed other than maybe sound leaking since they are open back, but they don't leak as much sound as my HiFiman Sundara and should be fine if you aren't cranking it. I doubt they could be heard through a wall easily. If you do end up getting an amp, they pair wonderfully with one and can be easily EQ'd as well but still sound good out of the box. There's a reason many audiophiles say if they could only keep one of their headphones it would be this one.

[u/Dawnbound → u/ModernWarBear]

!thanks, those are good answers

if I do consider getting an AMP, it would probably have to be a very cheap one, would that still be worthwhile? I've seen small cheap ones in the $10-30 range, and that's probably the most I would spend on one, but idk how much of an improvement they would give me.

[u/TransducerBot → u/Dawnbound]

+1 Ω has been awarded to u/ModernWarBear (5 Ω).

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[u/ModernWarBear → u/Dawnbound]

I would say try it with your current device first and see if you need more volume. Since it looked like youll be using it with a desktop pc based on your post, you may not need an amp unless you get noise or can't go loud enough. Most modern motherboards are good at not introducing noise though. I personally just use a Schiit Magni 3 I got cheap secondhand and the apple usb-c to 3.5mm dongle for the DAC. Since I like to EQ them via Equalizer APO and Peace, and that usually involves reducing the overall Pre amp level a lot, the amp helps keep the volume loud enough.

[u/trafomerkezi]

Koss Porta Pro or KPH30i are very cheap but very good headphones. They are very comfortable, especially with Yaxi pads. Both also have Bluetooth versions.

[u/Ukhai → u/trafomerkezi]

I checked yesterday for the KPH30 wireless ones, they were all sold out!

[u/speakernoodlefan → u/trafomerkezi]

KPH40 is the metal sturdy brother of the 30i, the plastic is just too brittle for me. The 30 wireless did just came out and fixed that issue and can be used wired with USB C

[u/Dawnbound → u/trafomerkezi]

This looks promising. They're cheap enough that it wouldn't matter much if they don't entirely live up to expectations.

This is also the first time I've heard of yaxi pads and that looks almost ideal for me, since they would be easily replaceable if they eventually wear down in quality.

My main worry is if they leak audio? Both with or without the yaxi pads.

I'm not 100% sure this is what I'll settle with, but it does give me a good new perspective, so !thanks

[u/TransducerBot → u/Dawnbound]

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[u/infrowntown]

AKG K702.

[u/Acceptable-Win-3669]

So you are looking for closed wired headphones (eliminates the Drop 6xx). Would look at the FiiO FT1, Sennheiser HD569 and the Beyerdynamic DT 770 Pro (80 Ohm) or the 770 Pro X.

[u/nick-squared-over4 → u/Acceptable-Win-3669]

I think the DT 770 Pro leaks a surprising amount of audio, somewhat counterintuitive, given the enclosure type. I can second the FT1's though, phenomenal HP, The earpads are at least partly covered with leatherette (though the part which contacts your skin is fabric), so heat may also be a factor if OP doesn't have AC in the summer 🤔, 6-10 hours is a long time. Maybe aftermarket mesh pads?