I have really been enjoying the 560s lately. I don’t think you’d be disappointed with those. I’ve been listening to mine mainly with the BTR5, and it sounds fantastic-especially vocals and guitars. The only issue with that set up is the long unruly cable, bit that can be remedied pretty easily.
Just to add up a little, if you want to buy new and experiment a little I recommend www.headphones.com . They occasionally have some open-box discounts, and they offer a 365 return policy, were you pay shipping but they refund the value if you keep everything good. I think it’s a decent option for try and return, specially outside the US.
Just beware of this on their sale and open box items as this subject has been raised here before …
ELIGIBLE PRODUCTS
Special order, sale and open-box items are not covered by our 365-day return policy. However they are usually covered by the manufacturers warranty.
I think all sound like good recommendations. You can’t go wrong with the HD600’s.
Sundaras are also well respected, but they are planars, so you need a good amp.
Also, you can’t go wrong with Sennehiser’s, I think that HD560S are also well respected, but not sure how they would compare to the HD600’s.
I like my iBasso SR2’s for vocals… but depending on where you get these, they range from ~500 USD - 600 USD. Since they are quite sensitive, you don’t need a lot of power to drive them. This sounds like a pretty tough punch above your budget, but thought I’d bring them up.
I also have the HD6XX which are amazing for vocals. If that’s how the HD600 sounds, I would buy the HD600’s. Very open and spacious, gorgeous mids, well extended highs.
Thanks again, I already own the sundaras, im looking for something different, less analytic and revealing, more focused on the mids.
Im concerned with hd 560s that they may be too flat and similar to sundaras, but they seem way better for the price than the hd 600. I’m only picking between those 2 at this point, since they fit my head way better than the already comfy sundaras, and can drive them good.
I owned the Sundaras for a while, but they never came together in a cohesive way for me. I’d call the 560s analytical, but still musical. Very good and complete presentation. I also like them more than the 6xx–similar vocals with, again, a more complete presentation.
Im quite big fan of the 880 600 ohm as well as sundaras for female vocals.
thats a great insight, do you think the 560s are different enough to justify owning both? how much more organic/musical do you find them?
me too! I just get fatigue very easily from both the bass and the treble on the sundara, lol. love that punch but it hurts after 2hrs.
ah I see so something smoother/ darker. yeah then I will second the previous recommendations for the akg’s reccomended up above as well as the sennheiser 650 or if you can import the 58x that would be excellent as well. but depending on import fees it might now be worth
Im looking to test akg’s headband before buying any, sennheiser tends to have great discounts and warranty where I live, importing drops seems too unpractical to me.
Oh, yeah… drop stuff gets too expensive with import fees.
Too much bass and treble causes ear fatigue. This is why I avoid V-shaped stuff.
For sure give AKG’s a listen, and I don’t think you can go wrong with Sennheiser’s - just make sure to pair them up with a brighter amp, otherwise you will kill off too much of the upper end. Sennheiser’s are known for being very open and airy, while I am not too informed about AKG’s - but they seem pretty well built
If at some point in time you do find the budget for the iBasso SR2, I can tell you that they are my most listened to headphone. Especially for vocals and instruments. They have a well defined bottom end that isn’t excessive, very refined mid-range (the main reason they are my most listened to headphone), and a very good upper-end extension that also isn’t excessive.
Besides that you are getting a package that is worth well over its msrp (imo). Either way, don’t want to rant about it too much if they are not within your budget and comfort zone.
Way above budget for now, will keep them in mind for the future.
By now i’ve decided to go with 560s when they are on stock or the 600 if they are discounted before that. Easy free returns for both so cant go wrong.
Changed the title to less than < instead of greater than > cause my OCD just couldn’t take it no mo’.
BTW, I think based on your amp and what you’re looking for the HD58X is the HP you want. I know you said you don’t have access to Drop, but maybe find it used if it’s accessible?
I love my HD580, I love my HD600 they’re different but also similar where it counts in the voice. If you go the HD600 route though I don’t think you’d get the most of your amp pairing. HD58X is a very amp independent headphone introducing benefits of its own while maintaining the good mid-centric signature of the Sennheiser genetics. It’s also much cheaper in the used market than the 600.
You got it, happy that you made up you mind =)
Ive had no luck finding them used on head fi for example, dont know where to look, ebay and such skyrocket the price even when used. guess ill keep looking for these as well, but its less practical…
Around 260usd open box with shipping and taxes is what ive found lol
Maybe with my chinese tube buffer and warmer zen dac the 600 will sound good enough? The magnius is super powerful on the balanced
I’m not sure what to tell you about owning both. I’d say get the 560 and decide for yourself. I personally don’t find anything on the 560 fatiguing. To me they sound extremely accurate and organic–more so than my Elears. I do feel like the Elears have more resolution and better seperation, but I also feel they color the music more. Verdict is still out on whether the 560s can replace my Elears for my daily drivers, but I’m going to give them some more time. I really like them both.
save for hd600. they are the vocal kings and do well with music. drop stuff are mostly decent deals, but they come with qc and longevity issues as they are cheaply made. 6xx are modeled after the 650’s. 58x after the jubilees. both do well with music and vocals, but the best vocals are on the 600’s.
you will be fine with the that combo. the zen series plays very well with hd600 series. and as long as you do not try to ruin your hearing, they get plenty loud just off of the zen dac. tube buffer will give you even more gain. the bass boost is perfect for 600 series as the low end is the only thing weak on them.
btw i own and use a zen dac and a bottlehead crack. i use them both equally with my 600’s. depending on what music i am listening to.
edit: and i find genre to not so much be the issue, as much as time frame. i find stuff recorded before the 80’s as a whole sounds better on the crack. stuff more modern tends to sound better on the zen.
Thanks again to everyone for your insights. After watching a ton of reviews im going with the 600, and sennheiser sells them for less than 300 in my country, im just waiting for them to restock.