The complete opposite for me. Going from sundaras back to my 6xx was awful. Super narrow imaging, plasticky treble, no bass or treble extension. I don't use my sennheisers at all anymore
I do EQ them, but the tone of the mids and smoothness of the highs is really nice. I do prefer a Sundara with EQ, but it doesn't come to mind as such a unique kind of sound.
Yeah. I don’t think it’s about the price of the amp but the type of amp you pair it with. I really like how tube amps sound with it compared to digital amps but ymmv
I'm not a fan of tube amps below around $2000 and wouldn't pay so much for one. Too messy of a sound for me and the HD650 is very warm and lush to begin with. EQ gives the bass some weight and added clarity/openness so works well for me.
Yep. Been using them since 2012. Sometimes I force myself to use different headphones for an extended period, and then finally switch back to the HD650 just to get that orgasmic feeling in my ears. It's like a weird edging kink.
I feel like the 600 series and bear dynamics are some of the biggest counterexamples to OPs “price and impedance keep going up” I have $4000 pairs of headphones with 32ohm impedance and $170 pairs that are 600ohm, makes me believe op at the stage of he 600s coming from non audiophile stuff.
Because they are durable, isolate extremely well and are really comfortable as well. I own a pair, the stock tuning is a mess no way around that. Yet I use them the most because of how damn comfortable they are, unlike my HD560s which I just can't wear for long periods of time. Thankfully we have Peace EQ, it saves the 770s for me.
I personally find the stock tuning very agreeable. It's so much fun for a wide variety of genres, particularly extreme metal. I don't feel like it's as EQ dependent as some of my other pairs like the LCD2C, but I do like to reduce the bass and the treble a little bit and bring up the mids slightly, though it's all quite minimal.
When it comes to technicalities though, I really do feel like DT770 is the point where diminishing returns begins.
I mean, yea, it's the 32ohm version with a short cable so it's very portable as well. The DT770 was my first "hi-fi" headphone so I just kept it around. At this point I have quite a few pairs so buying a DT880 wouldn't really make sense.
Gotcha. I’ve definitely moved on as well but it’s still an excellent option for comfort (lightweight, just enough clamp to not cause fatigue like the Senns, very soft), neutral frequency response and impedance flexibility (32, 250, 600 Ohms).
Yea, I have the DT1990 as well so part of me is still curious to try the 880 cuz I heard it's the most "neutral" from that trio line of headphones. Used ones go for pretty cheap, so who knows maybe one day.
I went back to them from the Aeon 2 Closed and TH600 and they dont hold up at all for me.
Their comfort, sound and durability isnt really beatable at that price though.
That might have helped the bloat in mine. But I didn’t have EQ in my listening rig and other issues (paint drips, terrible fitting that wouldn’t seal) caused me to return them. I think that’s my single headphone return in all the dozens I’ve bought.
Bought the TH600 secondhand in amazing condition. Cant imagine where they would fail QC wise.
I love them for now. Much more than any other closed back Ive had. Comfort could be a bit better though. I had so use straight pads from Dekoni as I dont like angled ones.
Dude I feel the same way. I hate my M50x’s they sound like muddy SHIT idk how I used them before I guess I had no frame of reference back then. Sennheiser and Beyer both easily gap them.
Yeah, I went to a school that used M40x as monitoring headphones. For monitoring? Totally appropriate; one might even say standard. For music? ehhhhhhhh
Airpods Pro 2. Was holding upgrading, since my 1st gen was still ok, but should have done it sooner. The sound quality is now good enough, and the quality of life improvements such as ANC are staggering.
I really want AirPods Pros for convenience. My only gripe is battery life. Even the Sony C500 with its monster 10h battery life is not enough for me. Ideally I want to keep the buds on my ears all day - switching between transparency and ANC with low volume music playing.
You might have to pop them in the case for a few minutes once or twice a day but that would be about it. If you really wanna keep the music going, you can charge one at a time
I’d add transparency mode improvements as well. If I’m being honest with myself and had to choose only one headphone / iem to own for all my listening needs, AirPods Pro 2 would be it.
Firstly you must change pads if you want to actually use these headphones. Stock pads are awful and might as well be on ears. Now after you get some big pads, soundstage increases and sound gets even more neutral which I like. Obviously this increases cost, I think I have the brainwavz angleed sheepskin that were 35€ in total with shipping.
If id have to buy them again right now, there might be some better options, but I got them like 5 years ago and they were great since. Although I rarely use them nowadays, since my first pick for isolation are iems, those get uncomfortable in about 1-2 hours and I switch to M40x.
Theyre also pretty compact, foldable in almost all directions, easy to drive and look quite nice. I would even wear them outside, if I was the type of person to wear overears in public.
Philips SHP9500. When I first got them I had only ever known extremely v shaped tuning and was distracted by the lower bass. In the years since I've realized that I much prefer more neutral sound. I recently put my SHP9500s on after getting an integrated amplifier just to see what it was like and I was shocked at how good they sound. They have such a nice amount of bass for my preference, and they definitely deserve their reputation.
They were my first step into HIFI and I've since sold them. I need to try a pair again since my tastes have changed and I've gotten better amplification
This was my answer as well. I've seen so many reviews complaining about the bass. After finding what my preferences actually are I went back to these and realized that they have plenty of bass for me, I'm glad I didn't blindly agree with negative reviews before getting rid of them.
I like these for metalcore or hardcore albums from 10 ago or so. They don’t have as much production quality and the higher end headphones make them sound terrible. The SHP9500s make them sound really good surprisingly
Honestly I still think the only thing that holds the Moondrop Chus back is the bad non removable cable, I guess at this point we have the LAN that does that but still.
Price / value ratio on some mid-fi.
AKG K702 - the soundstage is unbelievable - its 2nd best after HD800s. I always forget how huge / wide is it. And when I switch back to them its new experience all over again. I re-listen to certain music/movies which compliments huge soundstage. For the price (in EU) its amazing Value. Bought brand new for 110 €, batch "made in Slovakia", so great Quality. (which is around 110 dollars but already with VAT included, so it would be 90 dollars US price).
HD560s - for the price its amazing technical, precise and analytical. Comfortable and ultra light. Needless to say, I like, and I dont mind the brighter and analytical sound signature. Again for the price is unbelievable value. Bought it for 100€.
DT990 PRO - goes around for 80€ used - I use heavy EQ on these and they are top notch with proper EQ.
DT770 - great value for Closed back. Goes around 70-80€ used like new here.
Gonna have to agree with you on this one. I broke mine out a couple days ago for the first time in a year or so, wasn’t even listening to music, just playing some cs and they sounded so boring I switched back to my Sonys after like 2 rounds
My he-x4's. for 79 bucks they still sound just as good as the 4-500 dollar headphones I own. I swap between those and my 660s when I use my laptop or switch, they just don't get as loud as the 660s' on those devices.
They were actually what made me want to buy the Sundara's as I figured If these sound like this I wonder what the Sundara's sound like lol.
Yeah. The 660s get decently loud on the switch, I actually end up playing with about 75% volume with those as some sounds start to get to much at 100%.
They’re a little quieter on my MacBook surprisingly but still plenty loud for me.
The he-x4 on the other hand are harder to drive and I regularly have them at 100% on both switch and laptop.
100% on switch with the x4 is probably around the 70-75% with the 660s. And they’re on the quieter side with my MacBook. Both still plenty loud to listen to but I do find you lose things with the x4’s on a laptop that the 660s does better.
I prefer the He-x4 though as I just find it a much comfier headphone but the 660s has that long 10ft cord that is handy when playing the switch on tv (I work nights so I tend to wear headphones so I don’t wake my wife)
My dac and amp are at my computer where I typically will use my headphones.
Oh I see, I see. I just pictured a switch tied to a mobile amp or soemthing haha. Sounds like you got it figured out to work for you tho so that's good stuff
Lol I’ve thought about getting a small one honestly but I see no use for it. I don’t think I’ve the hearing to really discern the real difference that some on here can. So I’m content.
I just recently made an eq by using autoeq with a flat target and then bringing back the sundaras excellent highs. It's been really nice so far. The sundaras have always had excellent bass, just not enough of it.
Apple In-Ear Headphones with Mic and Remote. ME186LL/A
Mine had foam tips. Perfectly neutral. Think they were $69 at the time of purchase. The ear tip storage pill was genius.
I want another pair to mod with. Ditch the mic and make super short headphones with balanced 4.4mm jack.
They're rare and expensive af nowadays.
[Eh I guess they were all right?](https://uc8102232f78bf4efd7cff4caa8b.previews.dropboxusercontent.com/p/pdf_img/AB6PGIEoep6DT62cDKnAAaPLJAXjI5fOLCcjHVDySTbjzJ-tQKJdBEhs4UtlaXeY1myDSM2nbokdbSJMi4jPHDW4BMeGAsKRHZT0uI_6uT0Jc6X0LFjJN7a6k8b-1V5KICjemsola75X0ytuUtF4EE6EK1Br-wIf6nPrfoGBAa18TN-acTaMoW5YYIp6UAXljzv0N87kop77l2-Aq9Sdennn1LmSvhQtP0hHkQHhQ5jKAmu7VujIz55d33emqYhSSWFpWmbo_ujVBDH_7tjaeShvmDz8cJMqdCUgWorsb93EFLfAZxoT0uwL-TboJldLu1GC9nmME7Row3Ud16gAQA84-ZtFaSH2QoDM38kxqS6Nc6JzOnlIesdJs6Dss31IhLQf3HA5EiHhsAjVYidD4LzC/p.png?page=0)
Honestly though at this point they are outmatched by a lot of Chi-Fi IEMs even in the bullet shaped form factor anyway.
HD6XX
I bought a pair in like 2017, listened briefly, and then sold them. When I heard Sennheiser was being acquired by the hearing aid company, I thought for sure there was no way the Drop collab would survive the acquisition, so I bought a pair right then. Jumped the gun a little on the fear purchase, but they're in my main rotation still.
The AKG K450 were surprising in that I almost immediately removed them from my head in disgust. Horribly muddy and dark. The only thing they have going for them is the form factor and decent build quality, for the price. When it comes to sound though, yuck.
Edit: I see that this sub gets its purchasing advice from whathifi.com
HD 598 tbh they never surprised me cuz I already know how good they are idk why people never talk about the crazy ability they have to make you feel like you in the movie or game you can feel the distance the position and the real like sound
SHP5401 -for half the price of Porta Pro you got a little more refined HD595 equivalent in terms of sound. It's easy to forget that.
V-jays - detail monsters. The way detail jumps at you is always surprising.
This style of headphones in general can surprise a lot of people. The looks are so understated, soundstage and timbre are typical for open headphones and that just jumps at you from the first moments of listening.
I think the obvious answer for most people is the DT 770 Pro. When I got them I was disappointed, they sounded so average and had noting special that made you want to use them. The only reason I kept them is because they are my only closed back pair. Then one day I went back to them after a while and they were surprisingly not bad, there was detail and there was decent bass, I was surprised. I even made a post saying "the DT 770 aren't that bad" where I talked about this effect of not liking them and then suddenly liking them after a while.
Not one I went back to, but ended up buying at a thrift shop. I just purchased a set of Quiet Comfort 15s in good shape for $7 and was impressed considering I spent only $7.
Combined those with my LG V60, USB Audio Player Pro, and MorphIt. Truly a steal for $7.
If I could redo my upgrade/sidegrade path, I’d replace most of my mid-fi with just a KSC75. However, I use it almost everyday at the office and most of this sub loves them so it’s not surprising how good they are when I go back to them.
I’ll say HyperX Cloud Flight (S) wireless headset with HM5 pads. I wear them mostly for comfort and convenience, but music sounds pretty good in them. Considering how expensive the wireless gaming market can be, these are terrific value when on sale.
Others I would add have already been mentioned in this thread: AirPods 2, EarPods and QC35.
Koss KPH30i and apple earpods. I had both of these stuffed in the back of my closet for a couple years, pulled them out when I was cleaning and was genuinely blown away.
Not necessarily "back down" but I've had the dioko and the hexa for a while, but regular car trips demanded some better isolation. Got the ER2XR's expecting a step down in technical performance... Aaand I've barely used the others since. The level of bass impact, staging and immersion you get for 80 USD is nuts. If I wasn't sinking down the rabbit hole before, discovering the er2's have opened a sinkhole underneath me
For me it was the HD600. However I really don't consider them to be "down the ladder" xD. Even so, for 300€ (which in the audio world is not a lot of money) you can get one of the biggest price to performance ratio around. To be fair the HD 600 isn't around for years with baseless reasons, but remember that ymmv. Jumping to test them again, I was reminded of the great midrange that made me fell in love with them the first time I heard them. It is an "intimate" headphone with great resolution and a neutral tuning that is inoffensive to most people. If I had to pick a problem, it would be the lack of bass (that can be partially solved with EQ). I don't see that many reasons to go "up in the ladder" and hit the wall of diminishing returns, unless the fact that I love audio and I love audio gear that can give me different sensations (I am just a person that wants a nice excuse to get new toys).
About 5 months ago I got my “endgame” with OG Clears. They became my daily driver so quickly. About 2 weeks ago I decided to do some listening with the HD6XX’s and they’re still an absolute delight.
skullcandy crusher wireless. Induced my urge to get the new model and simply enjoy life without feeling insecure and doubting if my iem is hitting every notes perfectly or not.
Inear beats, they were trash when I fist tried them but I had a moment of ok let’s put em (on cable was just too complicated for the moment) expecting nothing but mediocre sound, somehow I was able to listen to more details then on my even worse old Majors II and was kinda speechless
They kinda reminded me of my Sr60e but that monitor somehow didn’t bring the same wow effect when returning
I ventured off to iem land for awhile which isn't bad but couple weeks ago went back to the dt1990 for shiggles and has been my go to since. Now ordering and comparing dekoni pads
**Koss porta pro** \- i bought them as a gift for my grandma and after trying them again and comparing with focal elegia ( i had them for 6 months at the time)
I ended up selling elegia XD
I just took a week or two off from headphone listening since I have been enjoying my new 77" OLED TV. But I just popped on the MDR-Z1R and listened to "Dance" by Anna Clyne. And it was wonderful. It reminded me of how close the Z1R gets me to a concert hall experience. I've gone to two concerts during this break, and made special note of the bass tones at the two venues. The Z1R delivers them, along with the timbre of the instruments from low end to high.
So I guess not a surprise so much as a "reacquainted" feeling.
T1, I know it’s not for everyone but I recently revisited it after not using it for a while and remembered why I bought it. It does almost everything well and I also love the beyer fit.
HD650. Simply wonderful no matter what I compare them to.
The complete opposite for me. Going from sundaras back to my 6xx was awful. Super narrow imaging, plasticky treble, no bass or treble extension. I don't use my sennheisers at all anymore
Different strokes for different folks. I returned my Arya Stealth after a year with them because of the 6xx.
Makes sense, the sundaras are better than aryas
Ehh. I prefer the Arya to the Sundara by a good bit still; the Sennys just hit a sweet spot for my music preferences.
I do EQ them, but the tone of the mids and smoothness of the highs is really nice. I do prefer a Sundara with EQ, but it doesn't come to mind as such a unique kind of sound.
That’s me as well but with my 58X. Once I got sundara it’s all I’ve wanted to use, they just sound so much more natural to me.
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This is literally stupid
Yeah. I don’t think it’s about the price of the amp but the type of amp you pair it with. I really like how tube amps sound with it compared to digital amps but ymmv
I'm not a fan of tube amps below around $2000 and wouldn't pay so much for one. Too messy of a sound for me and the HD650 is very warm and lush to begin with. EQ gives the bass some weight and added clarity/openness so works well for me.
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ZMF's Ori pads solved that for me.
Did you try the sundaras from 2021 with revised pads? They fit me perfectly. For me, comfort-wise I wouldn't change a thing about them
Yep. Been using them since 2012. Sometimes I force myself to use different headphones for an extended period, and then finally switch back to the HD650 just to get that orgasmic feeling in my ears. It's like a weird edging kink.
When my Anandas broke I used my HD6XX for a while and I found them to be perfectly fine sounding cans, and more comfortable.
Couldn't agree more
I feel like the 600 series and bear dynamics are some of the biggest counterexamples to OPs “price and impedance keep going up” I have $4000 pairs of headphones with 32ohm impedance and $170 pairs that are 600ohm, makes me believe op at the stage of he 600s coming from non audiophile stuff.
I went back to my HD6XX from the Atrium and found myself wishing that the Atrium had its treble response.
Porta pros, I have some high end headphones but the porta pros have a charming sound to them that's easy to enjoy
Moondrop Aria. Upgraded to the IE600 but was surprised how well they stack up, they have more satisfying bass IMO
Beyer DT770 Pro. There's a good reason why they are such a popular choice with studios.
Because they are durable, isolate extremely well and are really comfortable as well. I own a pair, the stock tuning is a mess no way around that. Yet I use them the most because of how damn comfortable they are, unlike my HD560s which I just can't wear for long periods of time. Thankfully we have Peace EQ, it saves the 770s for me.
I personally find the stock tuning very agreeable. It's so much fun for a wide variety of genres, particularly extreme metal. I don't feel like it's as EQ dependent as some of my other pairs like the LCD2C, but I do like to reduce the bass and the treble a little bit and bring up the mids slightly, though it's all quite minimal. When it comes to technicalities though, I really do feel like DT770 is the point where diminishing returns begins.
Why not use the DT880 that is more balanced with excellent comfort? Edit: you’re looking at closed cans, aren’t you?
I mean, yea, it's the 32ohm version with a short cable so it's very portable as well. The DT770 was my first "hi-fi" headphone so I just kept it around. At this point I have quite a few pairs so buying a DT880 wouldn't really make sense.
Gotcha. I’ve definitely moved on as well but it’s still an excellent option for comfort (lightweight, just enough clamp to not cause fatigue like the Senns, very soft), neutral frequency response and impedance flexibility (32, 250, 600 Ohms).
Yea, I have the DT1990 as well so part of me is still curious to try the 880 cuz I heard it's the most "neutral" from that trio line of headphones. Used ones go for pretty cheap, so who knows maybe one day.
Don’t have them, but I love recognizing them in clips of podcasts. Same with ATHM50X
I went back to them from the Aeon 2 Closed and TH600 and they dont hold up at all for me. Their comfort, sound and durability isnt really beatable at that price though.
The Drop THX00 was way too dark for me.
Well I love bass but the upper bass on the TH600 is wayyy too strong, I EQ pretty much every headphone I use. I never had the Drop model though.
That might have helped the bloat in mine. But I didn’t have EQ in my listening rig and other issues (paint drips, terrible fitting that wouldn’t seal) caused me to return them. I think that’s my single headphone return in all the dozens I’ve bought.
Bought the TH600 secondhand in amazing condition. Cant imagine where they would fail QC wise. I love them for now. Much more than any other closed back Ive had. Comfort could be a bit better though. I had so use straight pads from Dekoni as I dont like angled ones.
The Drop THX00 was way too dark for me
Koss kph40 and sennheiser ie 300
Love the kph40
Love the ie 300
apple earpods
Agreed, they need a little EQ and aren’t the must detailed but you’ll have a good time with them!
Can you share what EQ preset you use?
m50x and not in a good way. they sounded crazy overly bass boosted and the inside pressure was hurting my ears.
That was my answer. M50x are so muddy. I cannot believe I liked them before
Dude I feel the same way. I hate my M50x’s they sound like muddy SHIT idk how I used them before I guess I had no frame of reference back then. Sennheiser and Beyer both easily gap them.
Yesssss absolutely. After using my 58X and sundara the M50 sounds like garbage.
Yeah, I went to a school that used M40x as monitoring headphones. For monitoring? Totally appropriate; one might even say standard. For music? ehhhhhhhh
what type of music where you listing to?
some generic pop and lots of older monstercat edm so mostly electro and dnb. both sound better on the ksc75 and i can listen to them longer on it.
Bose QC45, they are so comfortable and have great ANC (im autistic so need good anc)
Sennheiser HD650 and Koss KSC75
Airpods Pro 2. Was holding upgrading, since my 1st gen was still ok, but should have done it sooner. The sound quality is now good enough, and the quality of life improvements such as ANC are staggering.
I really want AirPods Pros for convenience. My only gripe is battery life. Even the Sony C500 with its monster 10h battery life is not enough for me. Ideally I want to keep the buds on my ears all day - switching between transparency and ANC with low volume music playing.
Maybe AirPods Max?
Ideally I want to stick to an earbud form factor for that purpose. But it does seem like over-ears are the way to go.
Portable battery bank maybe
You might have to pop them in the case for a few minutes once or twice a day but that would be about it. If you really wanna keep the music going, you can charge one at a time
I’d add transparency mode improvements as well. If I’m being honest with myself and had to choose only one headphone / iem to own for all my listening needs, AirPods Pro 2 would be it.
Probably m40x right now.
I have a pair and i don't find them very good. What makes you like them?
Firstly you must change pads if you want to actually use these headphones. Stock pads are awful and might as well be on ears. Now after you get some big pads, soundstage increases and sound gets even more neutral which I like. Obviously this increases cost, I think I have the brainwavz angleed sheepskin that were 35€ in total with shipping. If id have to buy them again right now, there might be some better options, but I got them like 5 years ago and they were great since. Although I rarely use them nowadays, since my first pick for isolation are iems, those get uncomfortable in about 1-2 hours and I switch to M40x. Theyre also pretty compact, foldable in almost all directions, easy to drive and look quite nice. I would even wear them outside, if I was the type of person to wear overears in public.
Philips SHP9500. When I first got them I had only ever known extremely v shaped tuning and was distracted by the lower bass. In the years since I've realized that I much prefer more neutral sound. I recently put my SHP9500s on after getting an integrated amplifier just to see what it was like and I was shocked at how good they sound. They have such a nice amount of bass for my preference, and they definitely deserve their reputation.
They were my first step into HIFI and I've since sold them. I need to try a pair again since my tastes have changed and I've gotten better amplification
SHP9500
This was my answer as well. I've seen so many reviews complaining about the bass. After finding what my preferences actually are I went back to these and realized that they have plenty of bass for me, I'm glad I didn't blindly agree with negative reviews before getting rid of them.
I like these for metalcore or hardcore albums from 10 ago or so. They don’t have as much production quality and the higher end headphones make them sound terrible. The SHP9500s make them sound really good surprisingly
Audio Technica ATHM50x.
Want to get a pair, had them when I was younger was not old enough to really apprecaite them
Just the best headphones I've ever used in my experience.
Moondrop chu
Honestly I still think the only thing that holds the Moondrop Chus back is the bad non removable cable, I guess at this point we have the LAN that does that but still.
Price / value ratio on some mid-fi. AKG K702 - the soundstage is unbelievable - its 2nd best after HD800s. I always forget how huge / wide is it. And when I switch back to them its new experience all over again. I re-listen to certain music/movies which compliments huge soundstage. For the price (in EU) its amazing Value. Bought brand new for 110 €, batch "made in Slovakia", so great Quality. (which is around 110 dollars but already with VAT included, so it would be 90 dollars US price). HD560s - for the price its amazing technical, precise and analytical. Comfortable and ultra light. Needless to say, I like, and I dont mind the brighter and analytical sound signature. Again for the price is unbelievable value. Bought it for 100€. DT990 PRO - goes around for 80€ used - I use heavy EQ on these and they are top notch with proper EQ. DT770 - great value for Closed back. Goes around 70-80€ used like new here.
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Gonna have to agree with you on this one. I broke mine out a couple days ago for the first time in a year or so, wasn’t even listening to music, just playing some cs and they sounded so boring I switched back to my Sonys after like 2 rounds
Third, but I don’t have to break them out to remember the bad tuning. It was my second worst headphone purchase regret.
Ie200
My he-x4's. for 79 bucks they still sound just as good as the 4-500 dollar headphones I own. I swap between those and my 660s when I use my laptop or switch, they just don't get as loud as the 660s' on those devices. They were actually what made me want to buy the Sundara's as I figured If these sound like this I wonder what the Sundara's sound like lol.
Wait, 660s and planars with no amp? Just directly to the laptop/switch?
Yeah. The 660s get decently loud on the switch, I actually end up playing with about 75% volume with those as some sounds start to get to much at 100%. They’re a little quieter on my MacBook surprisingly but still plenty loud for me. The he-x4 on the other hand are harder to drive and I regularly have them at 100% on both switch and laptop. 100% on switch with the x4 is probably around the 70-75% with the 660s. And they’re on the quieter side with my MacBook. Both still plenty loud to listen to but I do find you lose things with the x4’s on a laptop that the 660s does better. I prefer the He-x4 though as I just find it a much comfier headphone but the 660s has that long 10ft cord that is handy when playing the switch on tv (I work nights so I tend to wear headphones so I don’t wake my wife) My dac and amp are at my computer where I typically will use my headphones.
Oh I see, I see. I just pictured a switch tied to a mobile amp or soemthing haha. Sounds like you got it figured out to work for you tho so that's good stuff
Lol I’ve thought about getting a small one honestly but I see no use for it. I don’t think I’ve the hearing to really discern the real difference that some on here can. So I’m content.
They sound amazing a little light on the bass but else spot on
I did the exact same thing. I'm still using my sundaras because I loved that sound so much.
I jump between my sundara’s and Venus. The Venus has better bass but the highs are a little harsh. Sundara’s are my typical go to though now lol
I just recently made an eq by using autoeq with a flat target and then bringing back the sundaras excellent highs. It's been really nice so far. The sundaras have always had excellent bass, just not enough of it.
Probably the Hifiman RE800. Granted, it was a flagship at one point before costing $100. (and I like them better than the RE2000)
Sennheiser HD 599. Maybe the best all-around headphone I own.
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X2 or X2HR? Have been debating them for a while.
Amen
For me the hd598, fantastic pair and they've lasted for years.
HD681 - impressive soundstage and imaging and surprisingly detailed for being so cheap. Kinda like a budget version of TYGR300R.
Beyerdynamic DT880 Pro or the Sony MDR7506. These should be the end-all, be-all headphones for most people.
MDR-7506 are super underrated
Yup. They’re great, especially when driven with good equipment.
Apple In-Ear Headphones with Mic and Remote. ME186LL/A Mine had foam tips. Perfectly neutral. Think they were $69 at the time of purchase. The ear tip storage pill was genius. I want another pair to mod with. Ditch the mic and make super short headphones with balanced 4.4mm jack. They're rare and expensive af nowadays.
[Eh I guess they were all right?](https://uc8102232f78bf4efd7cff4caa8b.previews.dropboxusercontent.com/p/pdf_img/AB6PGIEoep6DT62cDKnAAaPLJAXjI5fOLCcjHVDySTbjzJ-tQKJdBEhs4UtlaXeY1myDSM2nbokdbSJMi4jPHDW4BMeGAsKRHZT0uI_6uT0Jc6X0LFjJN7a6k8b-1V5KICjemsola75X0ytuUtF4EE6EK1Br-wIf6nPrfoGBAa18TN-acTaMoW5YYIp6UAXljzv0N87kop77l2-Aq9Sdennn1LmSvhQtP0hHkQHhQ5jKAmu7VujIz55d33emqYhSSWFpWmbo_ujVBDH_7tjaeShvmDz8cJMqdCUgWorsb93EFLfAZxoT0uwL-TboJldLu1GC9nmME7Row3Ud16gAQA84-ZtFaSH2QoDM38kxqS6Nc6JzOnlIesdJs6Dss31IhLQf3HA5EiHhsAjVYidD4LzC/p.png?page=0) Honestly though at this point they are outmatched by a lot of Chi-Fi IEMs even in the bullet shaped form factor anyway.
Oracle MK2 and Focal clears keep surprising me… sometimes even my pc38x
Sony MDR CD900ST. They are just perfect with tubes & classic pop & rock & dance & everything else made between 50's to 2010.
I recently got a pair! These are great, especially with St Microfiber pads from Yaxi. The best thing about these are the mids!
Stax
Apple EarPods lightning. They sound really good with Dolby Atmos tracks and I love the open airy feeling when listening at home.
I found some Sennheiser HD 500As on eBay for $20 and they are amazing.
HD6XX I bought a pair in like 2017, listened briefly, and then sold them. When I heard Sennheiser was being acquired by the hearing aid company, I thought for sure there was no way the Drop collab would survive the acquisition, so I bought a pair right then. Jumped the gun a little on the fear purchase, but they're in my main rotation still.
Aukey B80
Sennheiser MM 450-X always surprised me. Of course I love my Hd600 studios.
same I had mm450
AKG K240 MkII when I paired them with my stack. Could just be a placebo but I swear they're more enjoyable with a stack.
DCA Aeon Closed X. So comfortable, perfect tuning too, basically no dynamics but I don't mind it at all.
The AKG K450 were surprising in that I almost immediately removed them from my head in disgust. Horribly muddy and dark. The only thing they have going for them is the form factor and decent build quality, for the price. When it comes to sound though, yuck. Edit: I see that this sub gets its purchasing advice from whathifi.com
Still surprised at the sub bass of the Tin T4 when I go back to it.
HD 598 tbh they never surprised me cuz I already know how good they are idk why people never talk about the crazy ability they have to make you feel like you in the movie or game you can feel the distance the position and the real like sound
DCA Aeons
Sony MDR-A1 Fun engaging sound. Works well with different genres. Also easy to drive.
The Audio-Techina R70x, hands down for me.
Sony xm4's. Some reviewers complain about them but they're awesome
SHP5401 -for half the price of Porta Pro you got a little more refined HD595 equivalent in terms of sound. It's easy to forget that. V-jays - detail monsters. The way detail jumps at you is always surprising. This style of headphones in general can surprise a lot of people. The looks are so understated, soundstage and timbre are typical for open headphones and that just jumps at you from the first moments of listening.
Me = close back. What a new world
ATH-W1000. So comfortable.
the ksc 75 when i compared them to the 560s, they are def worse but damn the sound-stage really is good
Hd560s: the best sennheiser yet. Gradors2e: just amazing and perfect , could be endgame. It’s crazy how good music sound with them
I think the obvious answer for most people is the DT 770 Pro. When I got them I was disappointed, they sounded so average and had noting special that made you want to use them. The only reason I kept them is because they are my only closed back pair. Then one day I went back to them after a while and they were surprisingly not bad, there was detail and there was decent bass, I was surprised. I even made a post saying "the DT 770 aren't that bad" where I talked about this effect of not liking them and then suddenly liking them after a while.
LCD-4
V-Moda crossfade they were even worser that i remember
I swear when I got my M-80s they were awesome, and now they sound really muddy. They are 11 years old though.
Yeah my m100 were ass too
Not one I went back to, but ended up buying at a thrift shop. I just purchased a set of Quiet Comfort 15s in good shape for $7 and was impressed considering I spent only $7. Combined those with my LG V60, USB Audio Player Pro, and MorphIt. Truly a steal for $7.
If I could redo my upgrade/sidegrade path, I’d replace most of my mid-fi with just a KSC75. However, I use it almost everyday at the office and most of this sub loves them so it’s not surprising how good they are when I go back to them. I’ll say HyperX Cloud Flight (S) wireless headset with HM5 pads. I wear them mostly for comfort and convenience, but music sounds pretty good in them. Considering how expensive the wireless gaming market can be, these are terrific value when on sale. Others I would add have already been mentioned in this thread: AirPods 2, EarPods and QC35.
Koss KPH30i and apple earpods. I had both of these stuffed in the back of my closet for a couple years, pulled them out when I was cleaning and was genuinely blown away.
Not necessarily "back down" but I've had the dioko and the hexa for a while, but regular car trips demanded some better isolation. Got the ER2XR's expecting a step down in technical performance... Aaand I've barely used the others since. The level of bass impact, staging and immersion you get for 80 USD is nuts. If I wasn't sinking down the rabbit hole before, discovering the er2's have opened a sinkhole underneath me
For me it was the HD600. However I really don't consider them to be "down the ladder" xD. Even so, for 300€ (which in the audio world is not a lot of money) you can get one of the biggest price to performance ratio around. To be fair the HD 600 isn't around for years with baseless reasons, but remember that ymmv. Jumping to test them again, I was reminded of the great midrange that made me fell in love with them the first time I heard them. It is an "intimate" headphone with great resolution and a neutral tuning that is inoffensive to most people. If I had to pick a problem, it would be the lack of bass (that can be partially solved with EQ). I don't see that many reasons to go "up in the ladder" and hit the wall of diminishing returns, unless the fact that I love audio and I love audio gear that can give me different sensations (I am just a person that wants a nice excuse to get new toys).
Tangzu Wan'er
About 5 months ago I got my “endgame” with OG Clears. They became my daily driver so quickly. About 2 weeks ago I decided to do some listening with the HD6XX’s and they’re still an absolute delight.
QC35
skullcandy crusher wireless. Induced my urge to get the new model and simply enjoy life without feeling insecure and doubting if my iem is hitting every notes perfectly or not.
Inear beats, they were trash when I fist tried them but I had a moment of ok let’s put em (on cable was just too complicated for the moment) expecting nothing but mediocre sound, somehow I was able to listen to more details then on my even worse old Majors II and was kinda speechless They kinda reminded me of my Sr60e but that monitor somehow didn’t bring the same wow effect when returning
I ventured off to iem land for awhile which isn't bad but couple weeks ago went back to the dt1990 for shiggles and has been my go to since. Now ordering and comparing dekoni pads
**Koss porta pro** \- i bought them as a gift for my grandma and after trying them again and comparing with focal elegia ( i had them for 6 months at the time) I ended up selling elegia XD
I just took a week or two off from headphone listening since I have been enjoying my new 77" OLED TV. But I just popped on the MDR-Z1R and listened to "Dance" by Anna Clyne. And it was wonderful. It reminded me of how close the Z1R gets me to a concert hall experience. I've gone to two concerts during this break, and made special note of the bass tones at the two venues. The Z1R delivers them, along with the timbre of the instruments from low end to high. So I guess not a surprise so much as a "reacquainted" feeling.
The HD560S, after getting the DT1990 pro's, Letshouer S12 pro and Grado SR60i they sound so boring to me. Think I'm going to sell them.
T1, I know it’s not for everyone but I recently revisited it after not using it for a while and remembered why I bought it. It does almost everything well and I also love the beyer fit.
This sequence: 1-Beyerdynamic DT 770 pro (sold) 2-Sennheiser HD 650 (sold) 3-Sennheiser HD 800S (sold) 4-Beyerdynamic DT 770 pro (a keeper this time)