Audio Technica ESW9 at S$370-380 might exceed your budget, but it has a warm sound that suit female vocal.
The cheaper ES7 (within your budget) has a harsher treble and a bit analytical as compared too ESW9.
I'm using ESW9 and some of my diet include Emi Fujita, Katie Melua, Jennifer Warnes, etc, so really recommend this headphone if you can up your budget.

Havent tried MS1, but I used to own SR-80.
The SR-80 is more for pop or rock as the sounds characteristics is very forward, i.e. more in-yer-face.....

This post has been edited by widget: Dec 2 2008, 08:58 PM

Beyer ah?
I'm using DT880, 250-ohm for my home use and I'm sure the mid is not as smooth as ESW9.
The reason I'm using Beyer is coz my head is fairly large and this is the only closed headphone that I'm comfortable using for hours.
Not sure about DT440 coz I only tried the 770, 880 and 990 before decided to go for 880.

Senn and AKG are also suited for vocal, but Senn grip can be a bit tight for those with large head.
I've been listening to AKG 701 (loan set) for a few days and they sure sound nice on female vocal.
But the grip is still not as comfy as Beyer.

Used to own a cheaper Senn but still cannot take the death grip....
So my headphone choice is limited to Beyer, Grado and Audio-Technica.

Lately tried a seasoned AKG 701 and found that the grip is still tolerable, but damn difficult to drive as I'm using Darkvoice 336se at home.
I know it's the lower rung Darkvoice but dun wanna spend a fortune on tube, as I'm more into SS.
Thinking of ordering Corda Catente, but after trying Rudistor, becoming more confused

ES7 has more analytical and upfront sounds if compared against it's more expensive sibling, i.e. ESW9.
ESW9 is well known for it luscious mid, which to me is very good for female vocal.
Also, ES7 is not as comfortable as ESW9 although the design is almost the same, minus the wooden cups.

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Added on December 4, 2008, 3:25 pmBro,

Order a custom-made DT990 from Beyer Manufaktur lah
If I really wanna get DT990, 600 ohm, I'll customize it to be all black....
Saw a picture of a black 990 with black cover, looks very stealthy.

Just that I still prefer the sounds signature of 880 and you cannot change the steel cover to black, unlike 990.

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Added on December 4, 2008, 3:40 pmKinda regretted buying the DV 336Se.
I went for it as wanna venture into tubey, but definitely a wrong decision, that's why wanna go back to SS.
Rudistor or the cheaper Corda?

This post has been edited by widget: Dec 4 2008, 03:40 PM

Haha!
Just wanna see you post a high-res photo of a black 990 if you decided to order one....

The pic is ES7, the cheaper sibling of ESW9.
ESW9 is wooden cups, not shiny black plastic.

But if your music selection is hip-hop and rock, maybe ES7 will suit you more as ESW9 has more warmer characteristic.

ESW9 won't u cost that much.... maybe you're looking at the price of the limited edition ESW10Jpn?
ESW10 has darker wooden cup and diff. drivers compared to run-out-of-the-mill ESW9.

I've tried ES7 before but it's definitely not for me as the grip is not as comfy as ESW9.
With ESW9, I can use it for 2-3 hours in a/c room.
Sound wise, ES7 is more analytical, and the mid is not as luscious as ESW9.
If your music taste is mainly vocal, you should consider ESW9.

Should be < $400.
Got mine for ard $370 a few mths back, with some freebies from Wilson as I'm a regular there.

If it's in mint condition, you can consider that you're getting an already burn-in headphone