Go Atom. It’s by FAR the best amp in that price point and is better than many amps that cost hundreds more.
Yeah, as Zeos said, we’re priviledged. Headphone amps are a new thing. 10 years ago this thing would have cost 1000$.
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here’s a question
for some open backs under 100$
would you prefer the SHP9500s or the Grado SR80e?
they both seem similar but I’ve heard rave reviews of both
or if there are more, or better, ones let me know
I’ve never had the Grado’s, but they are on my list to try some day, and I loved my 9500s. They had a treble peak at either 4 or 5k Hz which could get annoying but even with how treble sensitive I am I didn’t have a problem. Plus, if you add a V-Moda boom pro it’s a fantastic gaming headset. I actually took a set of mine and did the close back mod with them that Z reviewed. They are quite fun but I wouldn’t recommend them for anything but a fun side project or a 2nd or 3rd set of headphones.
im thinking if getting one closed back and one open back headphones
since the HE4XX drop ends in 5 days I won’t be able to get them so I’m trying to look elsewhere for my open backs
im still decided on my 1mores for the closed back but I’m still tryna find possibly a good budget open back
I heard the grados are good but idk
can I have the source for the measurements between the atom and 789? cause I kinda have a hard time believeing thats the case.
For the budget SHP9500s, HD6XX, HD58X, AKG K7XX they all pretty good. They also Confy and can be used many hours.
Have owned the Fidelio x2 also and yes, they have ton of bass more but… after listening like 1-2hours the bass really starts being annoying and just dumm… only buum buum buum and more buum specially with electronic and bass pointed music. Sold them out.
Still using the SHP9500s and HD6XX as daily headphones, both are good. They just are great bang for the buck.
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Good video comparison of my personal picks for open backs under $200. Check out some of the comments as well from metal571.
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@MadGman
out of the two, which one is more “fun”
like I know the 6XX are supposed to be analytical, but I don’t wanna get fatigued wearing them because they aren’t any fun you know?
I also really like bass so maybe the X2s are a good choice but maybe not, unless the SHP9500s have nice bass
This one has Atom measurements/789 comparisons.
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ah thats actually great to hear. so the only thing you are really missing out on is a balanced connection and the thx technology, I already own a liquid spark might pick one up in the future.it’s not like I can really hear the big differences between amps anyway.
Atom drives my 4xx fine at 12 o clock
if you really want to have a fun pair of headphones the X2’s are a much better choice or go with a planar like a he 4xx . if you are considering the shp 9500s might as well get the 58x . for your budget they are a good step above the 9500x and has punchy enough bass to be fun.
Grados are like beats, but for treble. I’ll be harsh: Both are defective by design. I’m sorry, but I got SR60es, which have less mids and treble peaks than SR80es, and I just can’t stand them. Funny thing: You get a paper with SR60es saying, with kind words, “be careful with the volume to prevent hearing damage”. That’s because you can’t enjoy the bass and the kick drums at normal volume without getting hearing damage because of the highs.
Still, I have not sold my pair yet. Why? Clarity. Impressive clarity. Glorious to listen to at low volume. Glorious to sit back and relax with open-back headphones. But I rarely use them. They’re headphones with tinnitus included. They add a ton of unwanted high, and very high frequencies. So you will not enjoy them with most of your music. Get SHP9500s instead.
With EDM, depending on the genre, it could be vocal-centric, or with plenty of instruments/complex, etc. I’m going to assume you need HPs with some bass presence, acceptable timbre when tracks include traditional instruments, punch, and doesn’t get too congested. A used Oppo PM-3 (does a lot well across the frequency spectrum, a touch grainy) or on-ear Sine (a bit more fun and warm, less sterile), HE4XX (a little short on low end extension, but well executed soundstage and a touch bright in the upper registers, nice midrange), 99 anything (boomy, loose bass, v-shaped, lush), DT990 (a touch bright in the treble, decent bass response, better than 880 in terms of extension and punch), I’m sure I’m missing a lot, those are just off the top of my head. I’ve owned them and also listen to EDM and produce synth-pop centered around 808s and strings/piano. Personally, my reference HPs are the Elex and their execution is fantastic for EDM. Very visceral and textured bass, a good, a slight uneven presence in the upper midrange/lower treble that doesn’t take away from female vocals and just enough clarity. There’s body in the lower mids to center mids that doesn’t come off as muddy, and leave some the HP great for critical listening without being too sterile. My other daily driver is the Ananda which also has great extension and slightly warm, not as cool as the Sundara, and has a smoother treble. I like it for vocal trance and cyber trance, tropical house. I use the Elex for Florida breaks, elektro, electro-pop. I think for a little more, you’ll get more (with relative value and you’ll spend more to gain less as you go up to about $1k), but in perspective, $200 for good HPs that punch above their weight-class, is a smart and good way to go. A lot of the above recommendations won’t steer you wrong, but you’ll definitely have to give them a listen first.
Also, if you want to check the transparency, musicality, and accuracy of your upstream and downstream gear, give John Cage’s 4’33” a listen 
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808s are my favorite type of artificial bass lol they’re so good
yeah but that’s the main issue because I don’t have any way of trying out and listening to any of these recommendations so I’m trusting y’all and your words in hopes of finding something good. could you repeat the HP names because I’m a little confused on which ones are which
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lmao I just figured out HP is headphones nvm
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@RiceGuru
I’ve really convinced myself of the HE4XX but the drop ends soon and my paycheck doesn’t come in the time frame that the drop ends so I think I’m out of luck on those. Zeos really convinced me on them but Massdrop is just really finicky.
so other than that I was considering the HE400i, the 6XX, the 58x Jubilee’s, the Grados, and the Phillip’s, but two of those are already off my list (the Grados and the 6XX) so now I’m looking for nice, fun, bassy headphones
dont worry they end the drop like everyday and it comes back everyday. if not wait till next week it will come back
this one is pre order though
and if I buy them I want them now not in 10 years lol