How many are serious headphone users?

I might get Grado battery powered amp for analog and Burson for digital, or two Bursons.

Good advice re: the amp, Greg.  I was reading the NwAvGuy blogs about getting the impedance between amp and headphones within the proper 8;1 ratio.  I'm sure my computer sound card does not meet that.

Agree that the HD580 were revolutionary in their time but something is off now.  I shouldn't have laid that on the Sennheiser's.

Inna: Sounds like you are exploring a similar space.  Let us know if/ when you complete your headphone/ amp set up.

Prof: Headphones are recommended on Airplanes ;-) but I gather not much else.  I'm still on the fence myself.

I own 12 sets of headphones ranging from $150 Massdrop Fostex T-X0 to Audeze LCD-4 and 7 dedicated headphone amps (I'm trying to reduce the size of my collection).

I enjoy listening to headphones, but probably only use them 15-20 percent of the time.  Listening to headphones doesn't convey the sense of scale that a pair of speakers does, but they are great at night or in the morning when I don't want to bother anyone else.  I have the HD800 (not the HD800S) and the Focal Elex, which is supposed to be kind of in between the Focal Elear and Clear.  

I understand the HD800S is supposed to have made the HD800 a little less "clinical".  I haven't heard them.  The HD800 are great if you like to hear everything that's in the music.  The Focal's are more fun to listen to and are still very detailed.  

While some higher end integrateds, DACs and preamps have decent headphone amps, you're usually better off getting a dedicated headphone amp.  

If you have situations where you'd like to listen to music and can't listen very loud because of others in the house or neighbors, then headphones are a great option (just don't listen too loud!) and you may find that you prefer the soundstage a good pair of headphones provides over speakers.  You won't know unless you try.

I haven't heard the HD580's, but from what I've read they are similar to my HD6XX's which are inexpensive but far from mediocre.  My suggestion would be to get a used headphone amp and see how you like the HD580's and if you find you enjoy those more, consider a higher end set of cans.  Don't be afraid to buy used headphones, I have purchased many and just buy a new set of earpads for them. 

Just got Grado RS-1 Classic buttonless, as new, bought on ebay from Europe. By audiophile standards I never seriously listen to headphones because I don't use external amp. Yet. I listen to a lot of music on youtube and sometimes Nakamichi cassette deck that has onboard amp - not particularly good. Before I used Grado 225e. I am thinking of adding headphone amp/dac for computer listening and another one for tape and records late night listening.
Senn., Focal, HIFIMan, Audeze, Grado - a matter of taste and sometimes depending on what you are listening to at the moment.
Stax electrostatic, of course.
So I am getting more serious than I was before.

Shirley you can’t be serious if you use headphones!

Thanks for the input Jim.  You haven't put me off but in some ways confirmed what I thought: That you are either a serious headphone user or not.

I listen to headphones all the time except when I go to my pals house every Wednesday and then we listen to his two speaker setup. At home I listen to Sennheiser HD800 with the Sennheiser HDVD 800 Headphone Amp. Unless you are willing to listen to them regularly they will probably never get broken in , mine took weeks and I use them for hours every day. These headphones can sound bass light until they come on song and then they can give glorious sounds. | do hope I havn't put you off !!!!