I didn't know people who were into mechanical keyboards cared about their hearing

here's a headphone ranking list from a dude who's even more into IEMs

the popular budget headphones around here tend to be the Koss KSC75

If you have windows or macos, you can really get into how folks evaluate headphones with this app

the thing we do differently here is share frequency response graphs and make jokes about them. a lump in one place means boomy, move it and it's shouty, etc.

Welcome to the subreddit. I guess that makes at least 2 of us that are into mechanical keebs. Its actually kinda funny that I just happen to be running Moondrop Tennence switches (yes, the audio company) on today's keyboard :)

As for what we do differently, I'm not sure I know what you mean but maybe running our headphones with balanced cables through an amp, EQed for neutrality?

As for budget picks, I'm personally a massive fan of the Porta Pros with Yaxi pads (I believe they're $39 on drop.com at this time)... They're just awesome fun straight out of the box although I do mostly run them EQed for neutrality on a Qudelix 5K. The Koss K75's are even cheaper at around $20 and more neutral, although I personally don't find them as much fun.

Another budget option might include the Phillips SHP9500 but it always comes down to personal preference and what you want to listen to...

We regularly have keyboard people here for some reason. I watched one episode of headphone podcast and like one third of it was about keyboards. Have you got your Koss headphones yet?

We recommed EQ Apo with AutoEQ for everyone so that they can try Harman target, which sounds like good pair of speakers.

We recommend gamers to ditch their gaming headphones and get audiophile headphones with a V-moda microphone.

We get our expensive audiophile headphones from bin stores for $8 thanks to our wives.

Hey bud, let me be the guy who told you up front just to buy the Koss KPH30i for $30 and save yourself thousands of dollars chasing the perfect headphone. It doesn't exist, but one listen to the KPH30i and you'll have an experience that is 90% just as good as any $200+ headphones. They look cheap, but they come with a lifetime warranty so don't let that stop you from trying them. I only wish someone had spoken up at the beginning before I started this hobby and told me about them! I enjoy trying different headphones, but these would have been just fine.

Right now IEMs (in-ear monitors) are really popular at the budget level. They've come a long way in recent years and a lot of Chinese manufacturers are delivering them at a low price point.

There's no consensus of which the "best budget headphone" is. IMO it's the Koss KSC75 for $20, but that's just one opinion and you could argue that the sound quality is put on the backburner because the build quality is bad.

I have one pair for my desk which I use for "critical listening" and gaming. That's my Sennheiser HD8XX. For mobile use, I use airpod pros. The convenience is just so good. For my steam deck I use the Koss KSC75.

if you told us what your budget is, people can recommend what they would buy.

So, much like mech keyboards, the joy of headphones is in finding what hits your subjectives. Are you a basshead? Treble junkie? Audiophile flat neutral killjoy? Do you prefer intimate sound or the widest soundscape you can find? Something that you can wear about town or only when you're sitting at your climate-controlled listening station?

Koss Portapros are an easy recommendation, provided you find them on sale. For $30 they're amazing. For $50, I'd pass. They get even better with some aftermarket pads on them (Yaxi pads are like $12).

If you're more into IEMs, you're flat spoiled by choice, and there's a new hotness cheap IEM about every four months. Most recently that's the Salnotes Zero and Truthear Hola, previously it was the Moondrop Chu. The BLON BL-03 used to be a big rec, and they're great provided you can get the bastards to seal (you pretty much need aftermarket tips). I've been eyeballing the Truthear Zero, though the last thing I need is yet another pair of cheap IEMs. The Moondrop Aria are a solid recommendation that stays under $100.

The great thing about IEMs is you don't have to think about amplification. Just get an apple dongle (or equivalent) and go.

I regularly delve into both communities and here's some interesting stuff I found:

1. Unlike mechanical keyboards, Headphones transducer and their pads account for more than 95% of the sound you'll be hearing. Difference from anything else in the chain (cables, DACs, amps, etc.) is miniscule and when present, will be nowhere as exciting as simply buying another pair of headphones. You'll also need a music source of decent quality, of course.
2. EQing your cans to a single FR target is comparable to putting foam into your keyboards. It might improve the sound, but you'll be making all your different headphones sounds very similar, if not exactly the same. When EQing, try to just tinker with what you feel the headphone is most lacking and leave the rest stock.
3. Keyboard mounting styles (gasket, top mount,) is comparable to transducers type (Dynamic, planar, electrostats). Different flavors for different people, and tuning one type to sounds like another is not easy.
4. Sennheiser HD6x lineup is the Cherry MX of the headphones, Old but gold. Whereas you'll only find vintage cherry mx users in the deep end, old mate senny is often recommended here. Also they last forever.
5. open-back headphones are perfect for listening to both your music and your keyboard. The classic argument "you won't hear them (the keyboard sounds) because you'll be using headphones anyway" doesn't apply with open backs.