Studio Monitoring Headphones

[keitokyun]

I need a good pair of Studio Monitoring Headphones that will be used for audio editing and be hooked up to a digital piano. Budget of $250 and preferred brands are: Sennheiser, AKG, Audio Technica, Yamaha; but open to suggestions.

 Also, what headphones do you use for causal listening?

[quantum]

I've used the Sennheiser HD 5xx and 6xx series and have been very satisfied with them.  They are open back headphones, which I do prefer for critical listening.  The HD 518 is a great bang-for-your-buck model (really these are very good cans for the money), but if you can move up in the product line there are improvements to be had.  

Also consider if you want to get a headphone amp with your headphones.  It will improve the performance of the headphones, and is sometimes required for high-end models to produce their potential performance.

Keep in mind open back will leak sound.  It is fine if you are listening alone.  If you want more sound isolation you would need to look at closed back headphones.

[hfmadopter]

I would only add to what Quantum said and mention that the open back version tend to be a bit cooler in warm weather and possibly lighter weight compared to some closed back versions. I won't mention what I use because your budget is well above what I spent on them, you will get something better than mine.

[quantum]

Another thing to consider is ear pad material.  They come in a variety of materials such as vinyl, cloth, velour, etc.  For long hours of listening this becomes a factor.  If you can preview the headphones in your hand or preferably on your head it will give you a much better idea of the feel of the material.  Try to look for a store that will let you try them on - audiophile places would probably be more welcome to things like that. 

Earpads degrade over time, no matter the material.  So you may also wish to consider headphones that offer replaceable parts.  There are also models with replaceable cords, so keep that in mind.

Actually one of the things that I like about the HD 5xx and HD 6xx is the earpad material.  It is very comfortable to wear for long periods of time. 

[irrational]

I also second the HD6xxx range, but I think they are out of budget unless used.
I recently found a used pair of HD380 Pro very cheaply and they are pretty good. They seem to get all-round great reviews for studio work and should fit in your budget.

[richard black]

I used to review headphones for a hi-fi magazine so have tried quite a lot. My specific information may be a little out of date now, but I will say in general that I can't recall ever reviewing a bad model from Sennheiser. If one doesn't have an opportunity to try things out (and that's usually the way it is, sadly), I reckon you can't go wrong with Sennheiser at just about any price point.

Also quite keen on Grado and Beyerdynamic.