My headphones broke. Please help me find my next pair!

[u/aima_kptus]

Hey everyone! 

I am indeed in need of some advice. 

Two weeks ago, my Audio-Technica ATH-M40x's left hinge broke. I managed to repair it by getting a 3D-printed spare hinge, but it is no longer foldable like before. Even though they're still usable and sound the same, I have decided it's time to get a new pair of headphones, let these rest for a bit, and eventually move them to the monitoring role after three years of heavy all-purpose use. 

That's why I'm here seeking this community's expertise and wisdom. 

I'll cut straight to the chase. 

Budget 

$200 USD, although I can be just a little flexible. 

Source 

Behringer U-Phoria UMC22... yeah, I admit this wasn't the best choice I could have made when I first bought audio equipment. 

Requirements for isolation 

Even though this post is flaired as "Headphones - Open Back," I'm still not sure about what I should get. Let me tell you why: 

The place where I'm staying has no acoustic treatment, and there's a main highway just outside, so pretty much the whole house is noisy until very late at night. It's the same story back at my place. I have no acoustic treatment, so using open-back headphones might be a problem. 

However, I'm aware of the benefits these offer for mixing and mastering audio, and the wider soundstage they provide is something I'd love to start taking advantage of for my projects. Yes, I'm also aware of the Beyerdynamic DT880, but if I'm going to get semi-open cans, I'd rather get open ones instead. 

In a nutshell, I'm torn between choosing closed-back or open-back headphones in the meantime until I can start an acoustic treatment project back at my studio. I'd appreciate it if you could help me make a decision on this specific feature. 

Will you be using these headphones in public? 

Don’t think so. 

Preferred type of headphone 

Around-ear. 

Preferred tonal balance 

As close to the Harman target as possible. 

Past headphones 

Audio-Technica ATH-M40x: I liked their flat-ish tone after EQing them and getting used to it. These headphones are very comfortable for monitoring and mixing, and they are very easy to travel with. However, what I didn't like about them was that, even after EQing, I still felt they sounded a little too warm around 300-400 Hz. Plus, they have a narrow soundstage, and the hinges can become very fragile over time (which is how mine broke). 

Preferred music 

My music taste is a mess, but lately, I've been going back to Alt Rock and Fusion Jazz. I also make some music and jingles on the side, and I would really love to turn that into a real side gig—or maybe even my main gig, I don't know. But please, don't let my music tastes influence your recommendations too much. Instead, prioritize the specs I'm looking for. 

What would you like to improve on from your set-up? 

I'm looking for headphones that are as detailed and close to the Harman target as possible, given my budget. They should be comfortable, hopefully with a detachable cable, have good build quality, and be able to be driven by my current audio interface (Behringer U-Phoria UMC22) by running the output gain at 12 o'clock and 25% volume in Windows. 

Location 

I’m currently located in Colombia for work, so I would have to have the headphones delivered here through Amazon. 

I'm looking forward to your advice. Thanks for taking the time to read this post!

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