how bout bijou 3?its about rm170.maybe u could stretch ur budget a bit.try bijou 3,less bass,but really detail and quite bright.

Actually you prefer earbud... can try xbrand2 or xbrand 1, both also within your budget. I have 3 of them. PL20 is my first IEM, i am enjoy it so much until i get expose to my another earbud, pk3. After you listen to pk3, you will found that PL20 is really lack of bass. You need to push hard in order to get a satisfy bass for PL20. Pk3 also have a good clarity and detail just warmer and the bass is quite good. pk3 has a large quantity of bass but the quality of bass is just satisfactory.

Come back to xbrand2, i just get the both demo unit recently. (Too shame that, i just received the demo unit after a long time i coordinate the bulk for both the earphone). After i try them personally, I was surprised how good is the sound at the price. I also wonder how come Huangyong selling this earbud at this price.  But since i am just a helper, so i cant comment so much on his pricing. BUT for the SQ, the xbrand2 will even better than pk3 which cost around Rm130++. Clarity and detail, xbrand2 is slightly better than pk3 but just the sound is bright and not as warm as pk3. For the bass, there are few buyer say that the xbrand2 is bass shy. To my ears, the xbrand2 has better bass than PL20 in terms of quality and quantity as well. If compare xbrand2 to pk3 in terms of bass, pk3 will have better bass quantity. But for bass quality xbrand2 will be better. xbrand2 bass have better control and accuracy. 

xbrand2 is not comparable to pk2 yet. But xbrand2 is comparable to pk3.

Huangyong own pk2. From him, xbrand1 will be the one comparable to pk2. I don't have pk2 so cant really make a comparison. 

Audio TEchnica AD300
Audio Technica A300
Grado SR60
Alessandro MS1

^^ the headphone that doesnt require amp is Audio Technica... which is famous for not requiring an amp...

The Ms1 doesn't require an amp as it's extremely easy to drive sr80's shd be similar though I haven't tried one personally
For a budget of rm400, if you enjoy rock, and don't mind the up front and narrow soundstage, i strongly recommend Ms1

AD300 = open headphones
A300 = closed headphones ( added bass )

oh... there's no Ms1 liao... only Ms1i i believe...  ^^ if u wan cheaper.. look for 2nd hand at garage sales... ^^ i believe got ppl selling Ms1...

ops... i forgot Ath headphone sudah naik harga... AD300 is RM280 according to akabane@jackal's thread.... ^^ u can also try pming walabies... ^^

well, open back cans have better soundstage as compared to their closed backed brethren (we're talking same models here) .... but open back =/= big soundstage....soundstage also depends on the headphone
i think the sifu's here can give a more detailed explanation as to what gives a pair of cans an awesome soundstage

One question, would it be weird to see a person on the subway with Alessandro's MS1i listening to his music? :S

i tried using my ms1i on a bus before...

1.can hear everything "outside" very clearly, therefore, turn up volume a bit   
2.then... an aunty, 2 rows behind me goes...  "oi! u don't want to sleep, people want to sleep one leh!"
3.i kwai kwai go to sleep also lor...

i feel that the ad700 caters to a wider range of music..it's just that... it's too bright now when it comes to female voices 

nope. maybe some of the seniors here can tell u... 

I have bought my Alessandro's MS1i just now. COD with Walabies's partner in KL central a few hour ago.

omg...u circumcised the headphone 

ultimately, trust ur own ears. taste differs anyway. reviews are excellent for a guide but take everything with a pinch of salt 

AD900 

we are actually having a little gathering at genting highlands sometime in feb (if all goes well). look out for it at the audio technica thread. do join us if u are free. u can test all my low end cans up to akabane's super duper hi-end cans      not forgetting bro edifier's godly can     

err.... go genting and do research?