Looking for Some Isolation

Headphones Headphone Discussion / Help
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I’ve been using Philips SHP9500’s through a SMSL M6 for about 4 years. I use them for music (4-6hr) and gaming (1-2hr casual) daily. They sound good. I feel that these are lacking a bit in bass.

Why i’m looking for something new: My setup is in a common room and i’d like to get a new set of headphones with more isolation and less sound leakage. I’m thinking closed or semi-closed will be the answer.

Budget: Flexible, but i’d like to keep it under $500

Music: I listen across many genres. Indie, EDM, and Piano Instrumentals would be my top.

PC Gaming: Hearing footsteps accurately is nice, but not to the insane point of sacrificing music listening quality. I’m play games for fun, not for money.

DAC/AMP: I’d like to stick with the SMSL M6 for now if possible, unless you’ve got a compelling reason for me to replace it.

Look: Don’t care

Comfort: These will become my main set and be on my head for 6ish hours a day. I’d like it if I wasn’t in pain or constantly adjusting during that time.

Portability: If my past 4 years with the SHP9500’s says anything, these will be at my desk with an amp within reach permanently. I don’t need to worry about packing them up and bringing them with me anywhere unless I move.

Sound: It’s hard to describe what sound signature I like when the SHP9500s are the only decent headphones that I’ve had. If I’m ever in a car with the crap 3 slider EQ, I end up with BAS +2, MID +0, and TRE +6 if that helps any. I don’t like bass to cause distortion over what i’m listening to, but I do appreciate the punch when it’s intended.

Modding: I’m not interested in going deeper than a pad-swap at this time.

Purchase: I’d like something that I can go out and buy from Amazon or another retailer now. I don’t want to wait on a drop, custom build with a 14 week backlog, or to hunt through auction sites.

I’ve watched a lot of Z’s reviews and there seem to have been quite a few good options brought to the market in the past 4 years. Hopefully y’all can help point me in the right direction.

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For what you are looking for, the 177x go would be pretty dang nice, but that is on drop so that’s most likely not something you would want to go with, although it fits the bill pretty well imo. The beyerdyanmic t5p might be something you can get as an alternative, but you would want to look used (they are around the below 500 range used)

The focal elegia would kinda be up your alley imo but might lack bass for you, and in games it’s alright but not fantastic

The headphones mentioned would get a sound quality bump with a better amp imo, but it’s not necessary

This all being said, I would say you really might want to consider a beyerdynamic dt770 250 ohm, imo it would preform well in games, work well for what you listen to and want, and has great isolation and comfort and won’t break the bank. This being said, you would want to grab an amp like the liquid spark to better drive the 250 ohms

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You are quick! The 177x that you’re referring to are these, correct? If so, it looks like they’re ready to ship soon, so I wouldn’t be adverse to them.

I’m currently running my M6 from my optical out (I have issues with USB noise on my board). Would I just add the liquid spark to the stack using RCA interconnects to get an extra boost for these?

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Yes. The 177x go is fairly easy to drive but still sound great. Wider stage and great imaging with a balanced signature with good detail and technicalities. Pretty impressive overall imo. Build and comfort are rock solid, and this beyer has a detachable cable so that’s good to have. Comparing them to the 770 250 ohm, the 770 250 ohm has equal width but not as impressive spatial recreation, is more v shaped (what you do with your eq), and has less detail, but does have equally good comfort but not as good build (but it is a fair bit less to try out first)

Comparing the 177x to the shp9500, the beyer will be a fair bit more refined in signature (although more of a slight w shape), the beyer will have a more impressive spatial presentation, more detail, and imo just kinda an overall upgrade, but it might not sound as open as the shp

That is correct. For the 177x go though I would grab a magni 3+ instead imo, to balance it out a tad

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Trigger pulled. Will report back in when set up. Thanks for the advice @M0N!

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Nice, curious to see what you think of them :+1:

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OK I’m 2 weeks in with these. So I think that I’ve had enough experience to write up my feelings…

For week 1 I went with the velour pads and no EQ. Everything felt/sounded superior to my SHPs. The isolation that I’ve been looking for was also there.

Week 2 I went to the leather pads to get a bit more of a seal and I like their sound better. About halfway though the week I applied a Harman EQ from Oratory1990. I prefer the sound of this EQ.

I can legitimately say that I have found detail in songs that I’ve listened to thousands of times that I didn’t know was there before.

These have been fun to listen to and comfortable. I have them on for hours at a time with no issue at all.

My only complaint is the cable that comes with the DT177x. It’s got so much memory. I’ve put in a request for a custom from Hart Audio. EZPZ fix for that.

Thanks for the advice on adding a Magni 3+ amp to my stack. It has been a nice addition!

Thank you for your help @M0N!!!

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Nice, glad you are enjoying them :+1: