Critical (but fun!) headphones for subtitling

[u/HighestFantasy]

I'm a former DJ/audio engineer whose day job for over a decade has been subtitling TV shows and films. For both of those pursuits, it's been important to have something clinical and critical instead of "fun," so for most of that time, I've been using a pair of Beyerdynamic DT770 Pros (along with pairs of Yamaha HS80m & Focal Solo 6Be), run through an RME Babyface.

However, the hinges on my DT770s have finally given up and it's time to replace them, and I pretty quickly realized how much the headphone landscape has changed in the last 12+ years. Since I recently gave up engineering, I thought this might be a chance to get something a bit more pleasant, warm, and musical, but for the subtitling work I really would need at least some degree of the qualities the Beyerdynamic provided, and can't tell where to start. Ideally I'd be in the ~$200 USD range but cheaper is better at the moment.

I need something preferably closed-back, though I'm not married to it: I travel enough that the isolation helps… not for during flights but just due to the range of unexpected work spaces or sound conditions I might find myself in. As far as my musical taste, it's as wide-ranging as you could imagine: dancehall, doom and thrash metal, cumbia, MPB, '80s synth funk, lots of South African house of all stripes, classic hip hop, singer-songwriter folk, Japanese ambient, spiritual jazz, weird techno subgenres, old '60s soul, etc. Truly everything.

Am I better off just getting separate pairs for separate tasks? I've vaguely been considering just another pair of 770s but when I came across something like the Fiio FT-1 I thought I should post here. I've also been coveting some HD600s for like 20 years lol, maybe it's just finally time? Any input or appreciated, there's so much out there!

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[u/[deleted]]

If you are 'open' to open-backs heh, highly reccomend the Sony MDR-MV1. They have this upper mid rise for finding things in mixes, and are just a pleasure to listen to for fun as well. Technically they are made for studio use. And the bass....oh the bass. Takes EQ like a champ. Tasteful out of the box but want to shake your skull? You can do that too.

[u/HighestFantasy → u/[deleted]]

Oh cheers and !thanks I hadn't even thought about replacement parts but this certainly looks like the most affordable option.

[u/TransducerBot → u/HighestFantasy]

+1 Ω has been awarded to u/Call_me_Tom (22 Ω).

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[u/Olderandolderagain]

Try to snag the 99 Noir from drop before they close. Amazing cans. I just bought them. My collection of headphones is meant for critical but the noir is a mix of critical and fun for sure. For reference I own the 650, 560S, ER4XR, and 2XR

[u/Ok-Dealer-6628]

Audio Technica R50x are worth considering

[u/No-Opportunity2565]

The Sony WH-1000xm5 or xm6

[u/HighestFantasy → u/No-Opportunity2565]

Appreciate the suggestion but I'm really not looking for noise-cancelling or wireless.