So I've been considering a few options:

https://www.benscycle.net/index.php?m...oducts_id=2313
https://www.benscycle.net/index.php?m...oducts_id=2315
https://parts.spicercycles.com/page.c...ils&sku=HD8500
https://parts.spicercycles.com/page.c...ils&sku=HD8456

Anything else I should look at? I'm not really willing to drop down for a king or hatta just so you know.

you can get a tange passage (second link) for $8.40

https://jensonusa.com/store/product/H...d+Headset.aspx

i use it, and like it ... i might upgrade to the levin eventually but no complaints

you can get the levin at jenson aswell, for $20

I'm a fan of the STX/105 as a good value headset

The first question is if this is going on a nice bike or a beater bike?
Beater bike do post #2.
Non beater bike do post #3.

+1

I had this one on a bike, loved it.

https://cgi.ebay.com/FSA-SILVER-1-THR...QQcmdZViewItem

i wouldn't recommend the fsa headset iro/nomco sell

the metal is very soft

i've had a tange levin (#1) in silver for a couple years with no problem. it's nice and classy looking and i've had zero problems. i didn't know anything about it when i bought it but i'd recommend it to anyone.

you really can't go wrong with a 105 either though, i think it just depends what look you are going for... classic or modern

i have the shimano 105 on my 08 pista but i also have the tange levin cds in black jus sitting in my parts bin. but i decided to use the shimano instead cause i prefer sealed bearings over the loose ball ones. aesthetically speaking i prefer the looks on the tange cds.

jelly arent u using the bikeworksnyc fork ?

I got a ritchey headset for 10 from the n-word. im happy with it.

i'm curious as to why you're going so budget on such an important component...

i've had the 105 on my bike for the last 2 years and i love the **** out of it.

that said i'm springing for the dura ace on my next build

I guess that's a valid point. Number one, it's not a beater for me, but for most people it would be. It's just a pista with a new fork and a number of other upgrades but it's my only decent bike. To answer your question more directly though, it was on this board that I read a criticism of king headsets, saying that there's not a whole lot of difference when you're not doing anything overly extreme to your bike. If I heard wrong feel free to let me know, but the spicer guy told me this, "If you were to look at another sealed headset like king I cannot seeing paying over a $100 for a headset even if 10 year warranty. In 10 years you could not wear out over a $100 worth of shimano headsets in my opinion:" and that made sense to me. Lastly, all the headsets I've seen have been between 10 and 40 then upwards of a hundred. Are there any you suggest that aren't 100+ but also aren't "budget"? Sorry for the long winded post, I just have a lot of questions.

I'm guessing mostly because even cheapie headsets from 8-20 dollars are able to last and run smoothly and efficiently just as well as anything.
you just want to know which do and which might not.

as said above, the Tange Levin is a really good loose-bearing headset for the money - I ran one for a few years. Gene has a point about $100 worth of headsets in 10 years, but I still like King headsets (and hubs)!

Campy Records run about $65
Ultegra HD6410 - about $60
I would avoid the Stronglight Delta HS as I have heard of the needle bearing breaking down too quickly.

like kidtwisty said - don't go with a price thinking it will out-perform a lower cost item. Sometimes that may be true, but not all the time.

Get a used Record HS

Huh? This is the one component you can easily skimp on. It's the least stressed, not part of the fixed gear drive train and even a $10 headset will do you well if you repack it/take care of it.

Another thing to keep in mind that if are doing a conversion, sometimes the fork steerer is cut so short that you can't put something like a 105 modern hs on it. The stack height is much more than the old shimano ones.

You just answered it in part. Having to re-pack a headset is something you shouldn't have to do anymore. More than that, the difference between a loose bearing headset and a higher end sealed cart headset is noticeable IMMEDIATELY. Add a bunch to that if you ever ride in dust/dirt/rain/salt/etc, as everyone does. The headset is not a component to be skimped on whatsoever; it plays a pretty important role in how your bike handles (and for the record, does go through quite a bit of stress).
It's the difference between night and day, and that's before we begin discussing durability.
Using a nicer sealed bearing headset vs a $10 set is like throwing a frisbee vs a dodgeball. That's a weird analogy, but it really illustrates the difference nicely.

JellyMeetsJam, i ride shimano 600 on my nishiki conversion (rain bike) and dura ace on my bob jackson. Both are sub $100 (the 600 is significantly lower), and both are terriffic; +1 on bitboss' ultegra recommendation. I'd seriously consider avoiding a loose bearing headset if at all possible, as repacking a headset every month or so can be a real pain (and not repacking it can be even worse). A well installed quality headset can be pretty much ignored and adds a ton to a pleasant riding experience.

I hope this was a joke

it wasn't, but maybe it was a bit over the top.
when i rode loose bearing headsets, i probably cleaned them once every three months or so. sometimes more if i felt one of my bikes was turning sluggishly, but i don't think i ever had to once a month-- not sure why i said that.
but i will add that even a freshly packed headset doesn't rotate as smoothly as a well made sealed bearing set (in my experience), maintenece frequency aside.

I honestly didn't think I would notice much of a difference between a Cane Creek S6 and a King, and I did. I also notice a difference between a classic Tange Levin HS and a 105. Headsets are something people short on, but they really shouldn't.

Hah! I love it.

i bought an 8 dollar tange once, i pitted it in a month...

then i found a cool old shimano 600 headset. it has cartridge bearings and works much better (no pitting).

i even had the luck of finding 10 dollar cane creek headsets that use the same bearings (bought 2) so i am good forever i think...

I need a JIS 1" headset with a 32m stack. I am looking at the tange levin at jenson: https://jensonusa.com/store/product/H...d+Headset.aspx

would the tange levin work?

what does CDS mean? What's the difference between what Jenson offers and what VO offers ( https://www.velo-orange.com/talealhe.html ) And I would need the 27.0 for JIS correct?

I got a Passage for $9 so I could build a frame to see if I liked it. I liked it so I got a Shimano 105 for $50. It is as solid as a f**ing truck and will last at least until Obama is re-elected. There is no comparison in quality. Ya get what you pay for.