If you are going to be at NAMM, you really should stop by the Westone booth to hear our in-ear-monitors. For the most part, the whole conversation about over-the-ear cans disappears once you hear the 'truths' that these reveal. 25+ dB of background noise reduction (I get over 30 dB average across bands).

It's hard to describe in words actually until you experience them. The ES5 model (5 drivers in a 3-way crossover network per ear) let me hear the kiss of a brush on a ride cymbal on Lyle Lovett's "She's Already Made Up Her Mind" that I had not heard on ANYTHING before. At first I thought it sounded wrong, but then I realized, "no, that's what a gentle brush across a ride sounds like when you are standing right next to it. I've just never been anywhere quiet enough to hear it this way" Props to George Massenburg (sp?) for the recording.

The cool thing about IEMs, issues with mixing with cans known and notwithstanding, is that you can take them with you - including the quietness that they afford. Mixing/auditing recordings in a hotel room, bedroom, apartment, etc. becomes a reality.

Sorry if I'm gushing here. The thread title is 'Hi-End Headphones'. I make no qualms about the fact that I work for Westone.

Over the ear cans which are as revealing IMO, but don't provide the added benefit of noise isolation are Sennheiser HD-800 (most comfortable and open phones I've ever heard). Close second, STAX Lambda series http://www.stax.co.jp/index-E.html Also very open and easy on the skull.

-Scott

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