Looking for some headphone recommendations. Budget is generous with around $1,000 but I’m willing to stretch up to $1,500 if I can hit all my needs and then some.
SOURCE
I have a THX 789 and SMSL SU-8.
SOUND PREFERENCE
Love bass with extension and slam but don’t want it muddy. I listen to lots of vocal heavy music so I need the midrange to be clear. I’m slightly treble sensitive so I’m fine with this being rolled off. I like good imaging for gaming and hearing where different instruments are placed. I don’t need super wide soundstage but a little would be nice.
OTHER NEEDS
These would be my new dailies and probably get worn at least 5 or 6 hours at a time on the low end so comfort is important. I would prefer closed backs for isolation and low sound leak but good high end closed backs seem to be rare so that might be difficult. I’d consider open backs that don’t have crazy sound leak.
SOME I’VE THOUGHT ABOUT
Audeze LCD-XC, ZMF Atticus, ZMF Aeolus, Sony MDR-Z1R (big stretch)
I listen to a wide range of genres but primarily hip-hop, hip-pop, alternative and some really hard to quantify stuff. I should probably just make a playlist…
If you need any clarification or have any other questions let me know!
Something you might like would be the campfire cascade? Great bass extension with warm sound and a fair amount of detail. Also not too heavy on the treble. Pretty comfortable and not fatiguing
I think the LCD xc does sound up your alley but the mid-range and vocals might be a bit pulled back for what you describe you want, but a very solid offering for sure.
Also what headphones do you own at the moment, and what do you like/dislike about them
I own the ether CX, they wouldn’t be my pick. They do a lot of things well, but they aren’t bass cannons, and they are an odd headphone. Sometimes really good sounding and others like your listening to music recorded in a cardboard box.
If you wanted to go Dan Clark/ Mr speakers, I’d probably look at Aeon 2 Closed, I haven’t heard them, but they are well liked.
wow really? people used to be crazy over this phone. zeos loved it and was pissed when drop came out with its version and it sounded the same at nearly half the cost lol
I think just general tastes and preferences towards sound signature change over time. Like m0n said the dca/MrSpeakers stuff can sound compressed to some folks and it seems like the current taste is more towards a wider dynamic range at the moment
Definitely considered the cascades but they seem to be unobtanium atm. I started out with m50x and then moved to dt1990s. The m50x is kinda tiring, boring, and slowly but surely falling apart. The dt1990s just have too much treble for me so I sold them. Now I’m looking for something much more fun and conducive to longer listening sessions. It also helps that I have more disposable income coming in lol.
I agree the MDR-Z1R is beautiful and definitely wins the aesthetics contest but ouch my wallet. Also sad to hear that it might not sync well with the 789…
I think the only high end headphones I have been really tempted to buy is the Focal Clear. Fabulous sound, wonderful build and industrial design and beautifully presented. They are expensive but ooze quality in every way. Most other headphones just feel and sound very over priced to me and I can think of some where I would rate much cheaper mid range options from the same manufacturer as being better.
I love my Audeze LCDX / 3F but they are open and bleed sound. If I were to get closed it would be Fostex TH-900 Mk2. I’d also love to hear the TH909’s as well or the TH-900 sapphires.