Best Headphone system under $1000???

@gosta 
 
For Rtings, never look at category ratings, look at each specific test. The AKG’s have much better soundstage, but they also have less bass, so their combined rating is similar.

I use phones for late night reading mostly, and after wearing out some very old Grado SR60s (I like the Grado "house sound") I replaced them with SR80s...improvement for sure...running an old iPhone that still connects with the net as a source. I recently bought a couple of Schiit Magni 3 amps (for bedroom and main system) and Grado SR325e aluminum body phones...amazing SQ that surprised me really, and they sounded great immediately with a world of difference over the el cheapo 60s and 80s. Found some "G" (large over-ear pads with hole in the middle, sold with top of Grado line phones, and 50 bucks from Grado) ear pad clones for around 12 bucks shipped from China...very comfy at least compared to stock ear pads.

Headphones are definitely a personal taste thing .   Hadn't used phones in years and stopped into Q Audio in Boston one day at lunch.  Tried on several Grado models from the 125s to the GS2000 and bought a pair of RS2e that day.  

Tried the Focal Elear and Focal Clear today in a shop and fell to sleep. Moved to the Sennheiser HD820 and woke up. Sounded like
my near-fields but a little thin and less dynamic. Very good separation though. Not too much impressed for that kind of money. They all need a special amp. The one used was the Sennheiser HDV 820. Beyer DT990 Pro seems like a good value... 

For those trying out grados for the first time the Grado PS500e is easily their best IMO. It has all the details of the others or more but softens the 2k midrange spike and has a lesser more balanced treble. Makes for a relatively warmer Grado (still bright). Sadly I had to get two pairs to get one with good driver matching. Order from some somewhere you can return them...

I have owned/used the following grados and choose the PS500e.

PS1000e (scooped out mids, they call it soundstage, I call it messed up tonal balance)

PS500e (good, light/fast sounding and punchy like good monitors, a little bright still, I love the close vocals).

GH1 (a lot like the PS500e but more colored mids, you can hear the wood in the bass for better or worse)

GS2000e (uhm no, really bad, just no, ear tweeters, funky soundstage)

RS2e (brighter and less bass than the PS500e, small spike at 2k)

RS1e (I don’t really rember these...)

RS325(pretty bright, probably the brightest Grado I owned, ok other wise)

RS225e (light on bass, more open mids from the models down, a poor mans RS1/2)

RS80e (Best buy, most of the Grado sound for under $100)

RS60e (warmer of the grados. Tuned like the PS500e but less open and detailed acrossed the whole frequency range.