to use with my mp3 player. I'm tired of using these el cheapos. Ability to handle loud volumes without blowing out, durable enough not to break if I pack 'em loosely in a backpack full of rocks, bricks, broken glass, etc, and good clear sound are my general requirements.

np: Bebel Gilberto S/T

http://store.apple.co.nz/public/product ... ?pgid=BO03

I use these and they have been very good to me.

Sennheiser PX-100

Probably the most comfortable pair of headphones I've ever had, and they sound great. I tend to toss mine in the back seat, and they've held up. If you are more careful, they come with a hard plastic case they fold into. I used it all the time when I wore them at work.

In the same category are Koss PortaPros, which sound good despite being pretty bass heavy, but I broke them in about a month. Not too durable.

I have something like these by Sony and they've lasted the longest out of the 4 pairs of headphones I've bought so far. There's some Sony headphones that are almost identical to these but they're like $10 less but don't get them because the rubber around the cord started peeling off like 2 months after I got them. Also the cord to those ones I have now is seriously like 6 + 1/2 feet long.

studio kans

I've got the Senn PX-200's and have also been quite satisfied. They fold up very small for portability, and have pretty decent sound for $50.

I am very happy with my recently acquired Etymotic Research ER-6i's. The i is for impedance or sumpin', and it is designed to be used without an amp, and dam if it doesn't sound fine without an amp.

You must be willing to stick these little buggers in your ears, though -- that takes some getting used to. however, your reward is some of the best isolation on the planet:

Buy.com

They also come in black, but I was being a cheapskate.

i wear eaplugs with my earphones. i know that sounds weird, but it blocks out most noise from outside, i just turn the volume on a little louder and it's perfect. I hardly hear any people talking and hardly any cars honking.

ear buds are stupid.

yes, that sounds weird. You mean you put earplugs in your ears, and then wear headphones on top of those? That has got to sound awful.

I use earbuds on the go. At home I have a pair of $20 Sonys that sound decent.

Really miss my old pair of high-end Sonys. They sounded fucking great. "Professional" series or something like that. Used to use them for home recording too, to mixed results.

Yeah, Sony studio cans for me.

yes...i know it sounds weird. but living in nyc, you get alot of ambient noise so you can't hear any music with headphones. all you would hear is people next to you talking or cars zooming past you. but when you wear ear plugs then phones, the kind that goes over your ears and not in your ears, it removes excess enviromental crap. you have to bring up the volume, but you're not damaging your hearing because your adjusting it to a level you feel comfortable with.

Studio Kans have liquid filled ear cushions with a 29 decibel cut. All you will hear is your music, as they are serious isolation phones. There's a volume control right on one of the earbuds, and there's an 1/8th inch jack so you can replace your cord whenever it shorts out very easily.

Best phones i've ever had.

What's your budget? If you're looking for a decent upgrade for less than a hundred, go with the previous suggestion of the Sennheiser PX100/200's for portability. If you want some kick ass sound for about 10 bucks more, and aren't as concerned with the portability aspect, go with the Grado SR-60 (around $69 most places online). What most people consider a decent entry point into audiophile sound.

Do some research here to find out some more. The reviews seem to be pretty unbiased:
www.headphone.com

I have the Sennheiser HD-650s and the HD-555s...but that's a whole different ballgame. Although the 555s are what I use daily with my iPod and no amp.

These sound like the perfect headphones for me. I could never get used to the in-ear styles, and most noise-canceling headphones are close to worthless IMO. Thanks for the recommendation, Phil.

Yeah, but earplugs aren't flat (frequency response). This sounds like a terrible idea. Try this again -- at a reasonable volume -- without the earplugs, in an environment where isolation doesn't matter, and tell me whether or not you're getting the best out of your headphones.

Billy-
I've used these for years as my Studio phones and more recently with my Mp3 player. Best $100.00 you can spend. LOUD & CLEAR

Sony MDR7506 Large Diaphragm Foldable Headphones

Well designed Headphones with folding construction, 40mm driver unit, closed ear design, and 10Hz to 20kHz frequency response. Includes carrying case.

Grado SR60s can't be beat for the price.

Thanks everyone. Seems like there's lots of good choices here.
I appreciate the link to Headphone.com that was helpful. I don't think I want a very top of the line unit but I'm ok paying anything up to $200. I just want to make sure I'm buying the right one. I'm mostly going to be using them while exercising or while traveling so maybe size is more of a consideration than I was letting on. Still durabilty and quality of sound are my chief concerns. Maybe I'll narrow the pool and do a pool.

As long as I've got the soapbox, if anyone cares to recommend one of those backpack's with a mp3 jack, and a built in amp and speakers, I've been looking for one of those too. Fast'n'bulbous was touting a Osiris G-bag a few years back but it looks like that's been discontinued. Looking for something that could serve as a portable stereo on roadtrips/vacations mainly so perhaps just a small amp and speakers regardless might be the answer. Thoughts?

I really like my PX-200s, although someone stepped on them and one of the earpieces broke off. Still usable, but it's just not the same. I need to get another pair.

In general, I'd second the Sony MDR-7506/-V6 recommendation (same headphone). But when I sweat on mine, it totally corrodes the earpads, and they disintegrate. So if you're going to get those and use them for exercise, I'd highly recommend replacing the pads with velour ones from Beyerdynamic. Check out Head-Fi for details (it's on there somewhere). I think you can even wash them.

Ginormous $20 Koss over-ear phones. They make it about 2, maybe 3 years, then get broken / lost. Sound better than they should for the money, and isolate pretty well.

yeah - these are the ones. Def worth $100.

you can borrow mine to try if you'd like.

I've heard very good things about the Sennheiser HD201s, apparently amazing for the price.

Myself, I've got theBeyer DT 250-80s. Extremely comfortable with the velour earpads and all, but a little veiled in the high-end.

You might want to try posting this same question or looking around at head-fi, or check out direct user ratings here. Just watch out for all the cable upgrades and other forms of snake-oil they might try to convince you work.