Hi guys. New to the headphone hobby. Short story: I was unable to use headphones a few years ago. I am pretty sensitive to sound everything bothers me and also my ears are pretty sensitive. I couldn’t use headphones or earphones before ( they sound just fatigue me). 6 months ago I discover this new world and find out my problem was cheap/consumer headphones where the problem.
I need advice to figure out the sound signature that doesn’t fatigue me or bother me. I will tell you what i have tried and my experienced with some headphones . I am sensitive to sound so I can spot difference, but as I don’t know anything about audio I don’t know what I am hearing.
Headphones used:
Sony xb700: First headphone I bought. Bought it for the big pads. I thought they would be comfortable. They fatigue me after 30min. I don’t remember why maybe highs. Also my ears got hot when I used them)
Sony PlayStation gold headset 1st gen: likes how they sound but uncomfortable.
Few years later I decide it was a time to upgrade. And that’s when I enter the rabbit hole lol.
Dt 990 pro 250ohm/ micca g2: treble murders! I used them for a month. I felt they had no bass and the treble was sibilant. On games the treble felt boosted 10x more.
Hd58x/ micca g2: I really like this. They moment I tried for the first time I really felt the audio world was something I was missing. Problem: fatigue me after 30min. The bass guitar sounds to over power and I think they have to do something with the mids.
He4xx/ micca g2: loved this headphones. The most noticeable difference was the clean effortless sound ( i think planar are easier to my ears, not muddy bass just impact;) ) They sound open and relaxed. The treble don’t bothered me in any way. Prefer them for music not for games. I could use them for 2h. Because I really like them so much I decide to buy and upgrade. Sold them to buy Sundara.
Akg k7xx/ micca g2: after using the he4xx. I found them thin and bothersome. But after exclusively using them for 2 weeks I found out that I really like them. They mids sometimes sound weird, like aggressive and forward and sometimes they sound relaxed. I like them for music but I prefer them for gaming. The huge soundstage with bass makes them really enjoyable. I was going to keep them for gaming. I like this headphone. After the sundara arrived I decided to take the akg upgrade path. I sold them to buy the k712 pro later. Really like the sound, relaxed and wide soundstage. If the akg k712 pro is a direct upgrade I will buy them.
Sundara/micca g2: I had mix feelings with these. They don’t sound as planar as the he4xx, they sound more like a planar dynamic. They are not a direct upgrade from the he4xx. I like them but the mids are to forward and aggressive. They amount of detail is beautiful. But I think this mix of aggressiveness and detail kills my ears. I can only used them in my morning coffee sessions to get me the boost of energy and can only used them for 30min before they fatigue me.
Sennheiser Pxc 550/Bluetooth iPhone: First on ear closed back I use. I can tell you that they are my daily driver for workout. I could use them for 2h without fatiguing me. They bother my ears after the 2h mark. I like them for workout only, I prefer open back for home listening. I found the sound signature to be pleasant. The bass is fine, not bothersome but not lacking. They sound clean without the room sound most closed back sound. I decide to look for he frequency response to understand what I like. I find a dip on the upper bass, maybe this dip make the bass and bass guitar not to forward.
Meze 99 Noir/micca g2: I really don’t know why I bought them. I knew the bass was going o bothered me. After 20h of used I sell them. To much bass and they were uncomfortable for my head and ears. They pads didn’t help.
Dt880 600ohm/ micca g2: let me just say that this are my favorite headphones of all I have had and still my favorite for he rest of the list below. They sound clean, fast, tight bass. After 2h, sometimes I find them bright but I just lower the volume a little and can used them for more time (5h+). I want to go the dt880 upgrade path but I am trying out the mid to under 200$ before jumping. Want to try t1 gen2, Amiron home and dt1990.
Dt990 600ohm/ micca g2: I like them. I felt they sound similar to the dt880 with boosted treble and bass, hollow or fast decay vocals?, wide soundstage. This dt990 don’t fatigue me in any way I could use them the same time as my dt880.The treble seems smoother than the pro 250. They still have some sibilant in some songs.
Fidelio x2hr/ micca g2: I don’t like them so much. They sound like hd58x, beautiful and musical. But the mids are to forward and the voice sounds like shouting. I tried lowering the volume but then the voices loss all the presence. I think I like the bass on the dt990 more (tight and impactful). Same as sundara and hd58x. 30min mark usage.
Dt770 80 ohm/ micca g2: I like this. Sounds like a small soundstage dt990 with less bass. Bass is tight. They don’t sound like closed back.
2 days later. My new liquid spark arrived . Without going into much details. Micca g2 amp: v shape with intimate and forward mids, small soundstage. Liquid spark ( LS) more neural. Big soundstage and much more detail.
Fidelio x2hr/ LS: relaxed the mids a bit, not to forwards. Still not liked them so much as other headphones. I still have them.
Dt990/ LS: relaxed the sound a little. The bass and treble take a step back .Second favorite headphone almost reaching dt880.
Bought but without time to test.
Nighthawk/ LS: to much bass. After a few minutes they felt like the bass disappear and you feel immersed. Using micro suede pads.
Sennheiser hd599/ LS: untested.
What I found of my research.
Treble: can be bright but not overkill
Mids: not forward but I like front singer.
Bass: tigh. Not loose or muddy. Guitar and bass guitar fatigue me.
Soundstage: I think wide and relaxed.
After I try some more mid fi. I will go a step up.
Upgrades found:
He4xx > edition xx
K7xx > k712 pro
Dt880 and dt990 ( I think I will keep both) >
Amiron, dt1990 and t1 gen2 ( I will buy the 3 of them on the future . I will decide which one or ones I like lol)
To try list:
Hd600
Hd6xx
Argons
M1060c
Dt880 pro
Dt770 250ohm
Neumann
Akg k553