Okay, I'm getting some new headphones and narrowed my choices down to three.

Vote in the poll and make comments if you wish.

Would really appreciate the help from the music experts, as I consider you all!!!

Audio Technica ATH-AD700

Sennheiser HD-280 Pro

Sennheiser HD-555 Pro

Thanks!!!

just to throw it out there...
I have a pair of these, and it is the happiest I have been with headphones in my life.
Super comfortable and great sound.
and affordable.

http://www.skullcandy.com/aviator/

Due to EU regulations with the frankly sinister agenda of preserving my hearing the European issued Ipods have a limited volume.

It's not so bad on new releases but anything released more than a a decade ago is a damn whisper.

Can anyone recommend earphones that are LOUD? I prefer in ears... a) because I'm considerate of other people and b) don't want to look like a hipster dick head.

Nice... no helpful input, and you managed to imply that I'm an inconsiderate hipster dick head. Thanks!

and c) I don't want to carry big headphones about with me all over the place. There, a practical, rather than offensive objection.

No offense taken... just thought it was funny.

Don't let the price fool you. I can HIGHLY recommend these. Loud, serious bass, and they sound better than all of the expensive headphones I've had over the years. Also very lightweight, not too snug, and well made.

Sennheiser HD 202 Dynamic Headphones

http://amzn.com/B000065BP9

Read the reviews.

at that price, it's pretty much risk-free

i'll have to pick these up

My son wanted a pari of over-the-ears phones and I got him those same Senn's recommended by Dalen. He love's em...uses them all the time.

Yup, we have the Senns that Dale posted, at work. Use them for editing. Good stuff. Cheap. Ours don't have the fancy cord winder though--that was going to be the flaw I pointed out. Super long cord. Consistently rolling over it at work.

Seconded. I broke my pair and I need to send them in for repair. Amazing sounding and comfy.

the HD-555 looks most comfortable, but I prefer my in ear buds with the squish rubber for portability, price, and sound.

I've owned both Sennheiser HD's you listed, and I prefer the 280. You can't really go wrong with either of those though.

One weird thing about the 555 was the headphone jack size was the huge one that plugs into receivers and they gave you an extension for smaller jacks...so whenever I wanted to plug into an iPod or whatever there was this huge extension coming off the iPod.

Completely agree, I was blown away by those and I have or have had headphones costing much more...note to self though, when placing them in the back seat of truck, make sure the cord isn't hanging out of the door causing it to eventually get snipped off by the road. No bueno.

Instead of replacing them, I switched to a not-as-great pair of AKG's I already had for over the ear use and got THESE so I can take calls and shit when I'm at the warehouse.

Can you go listen to them first or order all and return the ones you dont settle on? At that level (all levels really), personal preference and listening habits should win out.

I have 10 pairs of the 202s and they are OK for what they cost and what they are for. That is, they are cheap and their flaws are not glaring given the way most people listen to music.

I don't have any experience with the specific cans you list, but I tend not to like the sound of the low/mid-level Senns. I have a couple of pairs of the AKG K240S that I like- but I am not sure if that is representative of the AKG sound.

I suspect you are looking for a pair of closed headphones given your choices?

i'd stick with the sennheiser brand

i have a pair of eh150's that, admittedly, have a failing left can but have served me through many a recording session and workday last.fm stream.

Great buy for the price. I use this same model exclusively on the train to & fro. It's hard to believe these are the same price as the apple earbuds, which are truly the worst.

I have the HD-280 Pro, and I like them, but they do get hot.

I'll vouch for these too. I needed a pair of headphones quick and on a budget when my old set of Sennheiser's that cost 5 or 6 times as much kicked the bucket. For a fraction of the price the sound in these is about 85-90% as good as in my old pair.

i'm listening to the new junior boys in a pair of $85 Samson 850s and it's making me o-face quietly to myself

My new ones: Shure - SRH750DJ

Of the three, I only have direct experience of is the HD280PROs. They sound really good and block out background noise pretty well, but I can only wear them for short periods before my head feels like it's in a clamp. Perhapst I'm wearing them too tightly, though. As your other two options are open-seal, I'm not really sure where/when you plan on using these.

Since I started homeworking, I don't travel with my headphone amp or big cans as much, so my default home-listening phones are Senn HD595s ($60 more than the HD555s). Love 'em.