So, post states the question. Right now I am kinda digging around while burning in the Aeon Open X I have noticed one solid complaint that I don’t appear to be getting over and its that the comfort for me is kinda meh I find myself taking it off too often despite sounding amazing. SO I am right now digging around for a similar headphone that sounds like this with it’s laid back warm bright signature as this sounds like a better Sundara. We have those headphones out there that can be great sounding but awful comfort, to me one of the worst lately was the PM-50 which sounded GREAT but the comfort was just bad without replacements, and vice versa. Opinions are open.
What is comfortable to you? That is really difficult for me to speak to. Nighthawks with the pad swap and my 95x are very comfortable imo. edit: good sound as well lol
Well, I may as well fit this in since it was gonna be a double sided post that fell through so let me adjust this. I was just sitting there talking to m0n comfortable to me is a round or oval it just has to be a wide cup padding something that doesnt horribly hug into my ears, and I have big ears as in big enough that even the aeons are pushing my ears due to the clamp force and the sundaras and carbons are to small in my case they just arent very comfortable. Could be perhaps that I just am not a fan of thick leather and the thick suede on the carbons. Trying to find a headphone that has a medium - large sound stage no less than medium, warm sounding but bright sparkle on highs, good deep bass nothing excessive, mids can be recessed or neutral just nothing crazy as long as theres enough timbre clarity and clean sound, lastly and this is the big one thats causing me trouble to find. Aeon and sundara in particular have a less intimate sound to them, as in its not in your face with its sound, at the same time it has a medium width staging with a noticeable depth to it and thats what I am looking for. However, aeon in particular is a very uncommon headphone as its a planar v signature regardless. Theres been someheadphones that fit me just fine like the beyers and others that dont like the sundara yet smaller fit me like the 58x jubilee I think it depends on the headphones design and pad choice. I don’t seem to do very well with really deep cups either somewhere around medium seems fine and the dt 1990s is like the perfect amount for me. I need a headphone with THAT style of sound but with a large enough soft ear cup to fit my dang ears lol. I seem to do best with Velour which tends to provide a cleaner brighter sound anyway. It’s just that the dt 1990 is far to analytical i need something more laid back with with i posted up above. Something smooth and laid back with that nice depth and less intimacy would be completely ideal especially if its a warm sounding headphone
So far we have gone down several recommendations here but nothing seems to properly fit what I am looking for. not sure if this headphone even exists outside the aeon and sundara… reaching out to people here asking for advice on this. cuuuuz I am completely out of them… Budget screw it at this point you may as well say $700 new or some crap… i dont even know at this point… you can get this stuff much cheaper used so I guess if its possible to get it used for $500 maximum its fine.
mayeb contact dekoni or ZMF or any pad maker to see if they make any pads that fit your ears well will say it will change the sound of the headphones you put them on but at east you will have pads that fit your ears and you can out them on any headphone. cause the only headphones I can really think of really fitting well adn comfortably not neccesarily sound the part are audeze cans but they are above budget
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I mean, to be fair I could just increase the size of the sundara pads but I like the aeon sound more and that is a bit of an issue haha. So, now it’s like… okay so I asked m0n how to describe that sound I hear with these two and I found the explaination… its that depth and lack of intimacy kind of like stepped back sound yet still warm. I have gone through all these headphones and only those two have had this sound to them so I am looking for that particular sound while having either compatability to like an xl pad or just a good size pad already on it… I already looked into the pad companies… pretty much any of the xl pads work fine and the thinner pads I find more comfortable instead of those SUPER deep plush pads aeon for one has this kind of pad… pretty sure thats definitely at least an inch thick of padding with a hefty clamp force and heavy weight to the headphone itself.
So the T1 gen 2 comes to mind as that is a more relaxed warm sound supposedly with sparkle in the highs still etc. Since you know beyer works for you that may be an option. Also the 95x is a good option, but it is medium to more intimate soundstage. Natural and warm, you can bump the bass to get some more warmth and kick without messing with the sound signature. Relaxed and clear with huge earpads and light to no clamp. Really great for long sessions. I went from 1990 to it and I’m not going back. Plus I have the nighthawks for even more wub wub LOL. If you dont like the stock velour there is limited pad selection for them, but I can confirm that Fong Audio took care of me for some Vesper hybrids which are great. Dekoni has the fenestrated as well etc.
EDIT: it does not have slam though so that is the big missing point going from the beyers.
The problem with beyers is they are very up in your face on it very bright very analytical and very intimate with it. If its like the 1990 or 1770s its not what I am looking for. nighthawk doesnt have the sound either. sounds like the koss doesnt either this seems to be a bit of a grey area…
Dont forget the AKG style then, or even the HD800 those are supposedly both wide, but I dont know how warm the 800 is tbh. Maybe chance it with the 700 if on a budget 
I’m at a loss since I find the staging on the 95x to be pretty near perfect for me on my preference and Ive not got experience with the WIDE bois to know the difference LOL
You’d probably have to pick up the sundara or aeon to really see what I am talking about in particular in this case. It’s definitely noticeable.
maybe try the amiron homes? they are pretty laid back beyers warm sound really clear mids treble is pretty laid back for a beyer but still present and nice deep open back bass
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Well I have had the HE560v3 and after the mod to the grills it was very wide sounding to me, open and airy etc. Id say the 95x are prob slightly closer than that. There have been comparisons between sundara and HE560 so maybe those will help for my frame of reference.
Audeze(lcd2c) would fit the bill personally if you had the budget. again with the treble tho that is an issue. it is a room like feel when listening to them compared to the 1990(open air feeling in a field etc.)
From my experience with beyer they are always up in your ear and pretty intimate. theres not much depth . They have huge staging but they come with a lot of intimacy and are loud straight into the ear. If I am wrong on that idk. @Mufflertape never tried the he560 or 95x so I dont know… If its similar to the sundara then maybe. I mean at this point bout to just kinda throw my hands up and throw in the towel i have no idea where to turn. Sick of blindly just trying headphones on only to have them be the polar opposite.
Amiron and T1 gen 2 are supposed to be pretty similar in that regard.
HE560 is supposed to be, they occupy the same price position. I’ll find the vid. and link it
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honestly i think its time to chill for now and apreciate what you have. and when this virus is done and audio meets and shows start to show up you should attend a few and you will maybe find what you like
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also by depth im think i know what your talking about and the best thing i can really think of is to do some pad rolling honestly. if you wfind a good headphone and comfort or the sound just needs some slight tuning the pads can maybe fix that
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i would also say the audio stores will also open up but i dont know if brick and mortar audio stores will survive this pandy though
Yeah its kinda like that arms length sound its odd but still I find it really enjoyable. It makes the sound much deeper overall and a hell of a lot more immersive. The issue with meetings and audio stores Rice. There is quite literally only like one of worth mention near me and thats Sweet water who barily carries anything. I have a guitar center too but again… except sennheiser they don’t carry really anything oh and audeze but those are outta my price range anyway. Alright so, Ordered ananda(bigger earcups supposedly the upgrade to the sundara found it cheap has a return.), T1, and amiron home. I was gonna look into the ELEX but I don’t think thats what I am looking for… I see reviews and they always state a MASSIVE soundstage but that its very loud. Honestly wondering at this point if its a distinctive brand sound. The aeons have that and very particular versions in hifiman have that. If thats the case then aeon 2 should also have it but also the ananda and edition xx since they came after.
Watching the video, the best way I can explain the sound generically is the sound isnt a “in your head” effect it doesnt blast you in the ears its not aggressive… its that distant laid back sound you get. if you ever sit in a theater you have that subtle low toned distant sound that is very particular. Apparently Verum 1 may have this after reading into it… dunno yet would have to ask someone who owns the Verums. Going to finish this… if the k95x does indeed share this sound effect I will most definitely consider an instant purchase.