I also asked for new headphones this year.  I was torn between two models of headphones; the Senheiser HD-515's or the Grado SR-80's. My wife purchased the Senheiser's for me and gave them to me on my birthday. I was excited and opened them up to try them out.  I put them on and they sounded great.  Then my daughter wanted to try them, so I put them on her.  I was amazed at what I heard.  It sounded like she had speakers strapped to her head.  I could hear everything.  I listen to music at work the majority of the time. If everyone can hear what I'm listening to I would be lynched.  I apologized to my wife and boxed them up for returning. 

The next day I ordered the Grados.  I got them from a company called Audio Advisor.  I was amazed when the next day I found the FedEx shipping tag on my door.  I ordered them at 2:00pm on Thursday and they arrived on Friday.  Audo Advisor is located near Grand Rapids, which is about 2 hours away, but I didn't expect them to get here so fast.

I tried the Grados out. 

WOW

I've been working a lot this weekend and have had them on almost the whole time.  They sound a lot better than the Senheisers did, plus I don't think my co-workers will kill me from the sound.  The best way I can explain them is that they don't sound like headphones.  They sound more like I'm in a room with music playing and all other sound is gone. I'm so used to cranking up my headphones to listen to the music clearly.  I've hardly turned these up at all.  Even at low volume levels I can hear everything.  Needless to say, I'm very impressed with Grado. I read a lot of reviews that complained about how comfortable these headphones were.  As I said, I've had them on a lot over the last three days and I think they are very comfortable.