(ok what's with rosity, I posted a pretty long reply and it brought me to some page with the forum listings, when I clicked back it was gone.) Anyway, yeah, I suggest you audition any cans before purchasing. Be warned, the SR80's, like all of the best headphones, are open air design, this prevents the closed soundstage and tin can effect you get with closed headphones. On the negative end though, they leak, a decent amount, so, probably a bad bet for public listening (not to mention they're pretty ugly) they are 100% 'for-the-sound' headphones, not for aesthetics. Also, the SR80's really do need a dedicated headphone amp, even out of your computer's sound card. You can build one for $20, or buy one for about $100 (entry level). This adds to the price. A good alternative to these are the Sony Mdr-A6's (not to be confused with the sony MDR-V600's, they are based on this design though, but fix all the bugs that made them suck and sold them for less) For $60 they are the best pair of sub $100 headphones you'll get at a department store (and extremely comfortable). My friend has a pair and they are very capable cans. They do (like the 600's) block out nearly ALL external sound while playing though, you won't be able to hear the smoke alarm, or the timer on the stove, a phone call, the kids yelling, anyone calling to you, an alarm clock, the dog barking to be let out (this sucks and leads to cleanup), martians invading, or the jolly green giant on a rampage in your neighborhood. Things of that nature. So yeah, for isolation (and to not bother others) I can suggest these sony's. If you need a more portable solution for running etc. Get the Koss Sportapro's or the Koss Portapro's. They both sound suprisingly good pricing in at $30 and $50. The portapros are really comfortable, I own a pair and use them often when on the go, the sportapro's are supposedly as good and cheaper, as well as more stylish. They were more recently released. Just thought I'd give my opinion (once again lol).