I have a small collection of cans and I’m looking to expand it by adding something unlike the rest. I just want something different and any suggestion is welcome. The Budget is $500 but I can bump it up to $1k if you can think you’ve got something special. Flair says open back but closed backs are also welcome.
I currently own the following which is powered by a JDS Atom Stack:
-Sennheiser HD660S
-Beyerdynamic DT 770 pro 80ohm
-Drop x Fostex T-X0
-Koss KPH30i
-Audio Technica ATH-M40x
I suppose different really depends on your own personal tastes, there are some really good headphones in that price range though:
A lot of what I have listed you’ll need to look at used for as some can’t be found new anymore, or are above your budget new. But you can find some really great deals on used gear if you’re ok with going down that route.
you want different? go eStat!
A few options are:
All should be quite different from what you own.
I’ve been told that I could use a can with more soundstage. So aside from all your suggestions, I’ve been looking at the Philips X2HR and the AKG K70. The price also makes them really easy to get.
I’ve had my eye on the Sundaras, Elex and the LCD-2C but have had a hard time justifying why to add them to my collection.
The Sundara’s are fine. I had mine for almost a year before selling them. Nice smooth sound, but nothing special.
I picked up the LCD-2 Classic’s recently and do like them much better than the Sundara’s which they replaced.
The Elex’s are, to me, a Great headphone. W-shaped so lot of highs, great mids and more bass than I expected. Cost me more than the LCD-2 Classic’s and worth every penny, to me.
There’s lots of answers here, but what is it you’re trying to hear differently?
Obviously planar/e-stat recommendations would be easy.
The MUCH-DISCUSSED GL2000 could give planar design and soundstage and a sound signature that everyone has an opinion on.
I came to suggest Koss 95X/ESP-950 just based on the initial “something different” motif.
I honestly do not know. My ears are not trained to be on an audiophiles level so I figured I would need variety to learn the differences in each pair of headphones. But when I first started out I chose a pair because of how different they functioned. Example, I got the 660s as my daily drivers but sometimes I don’t want to hear outside noise so I got the DT770. I got the T-X0 because I got the opportunity when they first dropped and they would be my first planars. The ATH-M40s were because I wanted a sound signature that was V-shaped and the KPH30i because why not.
TLDR, I’m still new to the hobby
I’d suggest that you take some time to listen to each of the headphones that you have and work out what you like about each and what you would maybe want to improve, it doesn’t need to be as technical as trying to hear more details, you could just think of it as you want more bass etc.
I’d suggest going for something higher end that improves on what you like rather than getting something just different as you’ll be more satisfied with your purchase then.