I agree with that assesment.
Will look into such a list but in making such a list I would either have to evaluate or measure all the cheap and interesting models from various brands.
This would be really time consuming and expensive as well.
Otherwise it might be quite possible some 'gems' are overlooked making such a list pointless.
The last time I visited a hifi store that displayed a line-up of various models (Sony, Sennheiser, Philips etc) I found most Sennheisers to sound pretty decent.
Even the cheaper models. Would not buy any of them as all had certain flaws or did not bring something 'fresh' to the table.
The same with a few Philips models and even 1 or 2 Sony's.
This means I would have to test all of them, listen to them with familiar music then visit other stores and seek for models brands I haven't heard yet.
Then have to call Thomann or something and buy-listen-return or resell stuff I could not find and then search on fleabay or Alibaba and order a shitload of Chinese models.
Would I have to include Bluetooth ? or NC ? and to what price range ? say 300 Euro ?
I guess I would have to evaluate over a 100 headphones and pick out the nicest sounding and have to toss 60 of them in the bin as they can't be resold.
Or just stick with a few of the easy to find ones and have an incomplete list ?
And then, after 1 year new models everywhere and some older models are no longer available and the list would have to be re-done for some part.
The longer I think about it the more I am inclined to feel that a complete list is pointless and would only please a few people.
Most headphone buyers are young kids... because they are cool wearing beats logo's and using them as 'jewelry' instead of enjoying music from them.
That list with neutral headphones thus won't be useful for the majority of people that want bass and great looks and 'names' (may even be fakes for some)
Apart from that... those youngsters will not visit fora like this.
Instead they look at others at school what 'the cool guys' are wearing, look on youtube or visit sites like r/headphones to see what the current flavour is.
I already have an
(incomplete) list with decent sounding headphones I heard in rather large price brackets.
One could have a look in the price bracket and if they can still buy those models do a search for prices ?
Cheap price point €15 – €50 (in alphabetical order):
Beyerdynamic DT235 (lacks treble finesse)
Koss KSC35 / KSC75 / PortaPro (top pick in the portable on-ear class)
Presonus HD7 (somewhat bright)
Samson SR850 (slightly boring)
Sennheiser PX100 / PX100-II (lacks subbass)
Superlux Superlux HD681-EVO with Chinese pads, HD662-EVO
Takstar Pro-80 (somewhat bassy)
NOTE: When buying Koss PortaPro headphones beware there are fakes out there that do not remotely sound anything like the original and are very bassy and lack highs. How to distinguish them can be found HERE.
Medium price point €50 – €200 (in alphabetical order):
AKG K181 (quite neutral) / K551 / K553 (fairly neutral slight treble peak))
Audio Technica ATH-M40X (NOT the M40fs version !), Audio Technica ATH-M50X or ATH-M50 >2012, ATH-TAD500
Beyerdynamic DT250-250 Ohm version (very neutral, some product variances, lacks treble finesse)
Creative Aurvana Live (a bit on the ‘warm’ side)
Denon DN-HP700
Fischer Audio FA-003 = NVX XPT100 = Brainwavz HM5 = Jaycar AA2065 = Studiospares M1000 = Lindy HF-100
Fostex T50RPmkIII, T40RPmkIII (lacks ‘air’ in the treble and subbass)
Goldring DR150 (only 2nd hand)
Grado SR60i/SR60e (a bit bright and lacks subbass, not very comfortable)
Philips SHP9500 (neutral, slightly lacks presence), SHL9505-uptown with SRH-940 pads
Roland RH300 (but only with Brainwavz HYBRID pads fitted)
Sennheiser HD555 / 558 / 595 / 598 / 238 / 239 / 439 / 250-II* / 580* (* only 2nd hand) HD6XX (Massdrop)
Sony MDR-1RA (with ports closed) / MDR-100AAP (on the warm/bassy side)
Skullcandy Aviator (warm/bassy)
V-Moda M80
Yuin G1A/G2
Zoro II HD
Higher price point €200 – €500 (in alphabetical order):
AKG K550 / K551 / K267 / K712 / K7XX
Audio Technica AT-R70X / ATH-MSR7
B&O H6 (newer version)
B&W P7
Beyerdynamic DT880 / DT990-edition / Custom One Pro / DT1350 (MUST try before buy) / DT1770, Amiron (most of these have a bit of a peak in the upper treble)
PSB M4U-2 (noise cancelling)
Denon D2000 (only 2nd hand)
Focal Spirit Professional (mechanical not the best)
Fostex TH-X00 (Massdrop only)
HifiMan HE400i / HE400s
Klipsch Image One
Master & Dynamic MH40
Meze 99 Classics (a bit darkish/bassy)
Mr Speakers Maddog (modified T50RP)
NAD VISO HP50
Philips Fidelio L2, X2
Sennheiser HD600 / HD650 (> 2013) / HD630VB / PXC550
Sony MDR-100ABN / MDR-1000X
Shure SRH840 / SRH1540
Thinksound ON-1