For your musical tastes and budget you are probably best off getting something like the Alessandro-Grado Music Series II (http://www.alessandro-products.com/) or the Grado SR-325, both of which are $300. The AGs are supposed to be a bit more neutral than their Grado cousins.
I have listened to Senn 580s, 600s, Etys, the Grado SR-60, and the AG Music Series Pro (cousin to RS-1)--for small small jazz and vocals the higher-end Grados are hard to beat.
Basically, Grados have incredible rhythm and microdynamics, give you an up-front, somewhat aggressive presentation, very transparent, very live.
Sennheisers are more laid-back, darker, cooler, much larger soundstage, and have an ease and loveliness about them that is wonderful in its own right. You can really sink into them and they are conducive to falling asleep in--the earpads are more comfortable than Grados. They benefit much more than Grados from a dedicated headphone amplifier like the above MG-Head, but they will still work well off a receiver or something (not too brilliantly on a portable CDP, though).
Etys are extremely detailed and precise and occupy a sonic medium between the above two headphones. The soundstage is smaller, though, because they fit in your earcanal. All deep bass is *heard* not *felt* for the same reason. They do provide excellent sonic isolation--23dB worth. If you ever intend to travel on airplanes with your headphones, these are the headphones for blocking out jet noise.
Hope that helps.
I have listened to Senn 580s, 600s, Etys, the Grado SR-60, and the AG Music Series Pro (cousin to RS-1)--for small small jazz and vocals the higher-end Grados are hard to beat.
Basically, Grados have incredible rhythm and microdynamics, give you an up-front, somewhat aggressive presentation, very transparent, very live.
Sennheisers are more laid-back, darker, cooler, much larger soundstage, and have an ease and loveliness about them that is wonderful in its own right. You can really sink into them and they are conducive to falling asleep in--the earpads are more comfortable than Grados. They benefit much more than Grados from a dedicated headphone amplifier like the above MG-Head, but they will still work well off a receiver or something (not too brilliantly on a portable CDP, though).
Etys are extremely detailed and precise and occupy a sonic medium between the above two headphones. The soundstage is smaller, though, because they fit in your earcanal. All deep bass is *heard* not *felt* for the same reason. They do provide excellent sonic isolation--23dB worth. If you ever intend to travel on airplanes with your headphones, these are the headphones for blocking out jet noise.
Hope that helps.