Hi there guys, I would love to get an opinion from you for my next step in my headphone collection.
Right now I own:
Headphones:
Sennheiser HD560S; (My favorite and daily driver right now)
AKG K712 PRO; (My first decent headphone)
Koss Kph30i; (Unfortunately broke on one side, but cheap and good)
Fostex T50RP. (That I modded but I didn’t like that much the sound even when it was new, while now it’s a little bit better but I am not satisfied yet)
Earphones:
Tin Hi-fi T2;
Blon BL03.
As DAC I have a Topping E30 and two amplifiers, Darkvoice 336SE (that I started to tube roll) and a Topping A30 PRO, which I like both.
I am the kind of guy that likes to have different headphones with their own set of qualities because I want to try and learn about the different aspects of it.
That said I want to do the next step and pass to some sets of headphones ranging from 350$ to 650$. If I feel satisfied I think I will pass to headphones like the Arya or anything on that price range.
I’m looking for 3 to 4 headphones with these characteristics:
An openback headphone that sounds wide and detailed, not in an artificial way, quite critical but not stressful and with good soundstage;
A closedback headphone with a more intimate and warmer sound, that is able to isolate me well from anything outside, with good base extension;
An headphone more focused on timbre that makes you listen and enjoy more your music instead the audio quality; (I know this one is quite abstract and personal but I still want to know your opinion)
Last one an headphone with high impedance, 250Ohm or similar, to pair with the darkvoice. (This one could be literally one of the 3 above so if one has this characteristic I would just go for 3 instead of 4)
I already have some candidates like the Sundara or Edition XS for the first category, and Grado SR325X for the third, but I want to hear from you guys before moving on.
I listen to pretty much anything, from industrial rock and electronic music to bossa nova or orchestral, that’s why I didn’t go too deep with characteristics in the different categories. I’ve posted this on another forum too because I want as many opinions as I can get.
Sorry for this long post and thank you for your attention. (^^)
Sundara/XS sounds good to me. Will not be compatible with your DV.
DCA Aeon Closed, won’t work for DV. Meze 99. But, can we ask what you didn’t like about the T50RP, and also what is the use-case - Is this one more for on-the-go?
Given that you enjoy the 560s, own an OTL tube amp — hard to not recommend the HD6__ series of 300Ω cans. This covers #4 also.
Hm think for 1. Your option is good alternative would be a used beyerdynamic t1.2 for around 400$ used has a bit more soundstage than the hifiman but the treble spikes could be problematic but with the DV i think you should be fine if your not mega sensitive
For nr2 i too think an DC closed x/rt is a good choice otherwise a closed fostex/Denon would also be interesting but those are quite bass heavy so not sure they fit you perfect
3&4 imo is definitely a Sennheiser hd6xx or if you’re lucky and find a used zmf aeolus for a real good price
About the T50RP I’ve found them boring, I feel they lack resolution and dynamics, maybe it’s just my pair, they even do a strange sound on one side on certain base frequencies. And not only when the volume it’s high. And this happened even before the mods.
Thanks, my problem is that I live in Italy, so I could buy from Drop but taxes / shipment price and time togheter I would prefer to buy non Drop counter part, I would not pay that much more and the delivery is fast. Plus it’s easier to send them back in a short time in case I need.
HD650 seems to be intriguing, and the price for a new unit right now is 100€ less then the 660s. People say they get quite different with tubes so I am curious.
Anyway guys, what do you think about the fostex purplehearts?
If you like your bass and aren’t treble sensitive and the price is good ( would say under 400€ ) they’re nice cans
Not the cans for your DV but otherwise a nice HP
I think I am quiet treble sensitive. At least I could not totally enjoy my K712 PRO because of the treble that sometimes was harsh, at least to me.
For the base I’m not a basehead but I like a good and punchy base sometimes. Possibly that doesn’t kill other frequencies, thou on the closeback I’m looking for a warmer timbre with nice base. Kinda funny but not too stressfull.
Hm think the purple heart wasn’t that bad treble wise but the th 900 would be a no go i think
If the k712 can be harsh to you then the tr50 should also have some peaks if not it would be more the high mids to low highs that are problematic for you
To be more clear, It’s not that I couldn’t listen to the K712, I had them for a long time before passing to the HD560S, it’s just that I didn’t enjoy them too much when I had treble peaks.
In regards to the T50, yes they had the same problem but by modding them I solved it. Now I am playing with mods sometimes but I can’t get where I want with them. Anyway right now I’m not focussed on them, to me they are just a set to have fun with when I want to go DIY. I’ve built myself an amp and restored an old lenco l75/s in the last three years, but it’s just to have fun and get the satisfaction of having something that I made myself.
I think that for the closed back I should look for a Dynamic, it’s always harder to find the right one on this price range.
Well if the div is strong in you, you also could try a Denon ah d5000 or d7000 and mod them
If price wasn’t s concern is would look at Lawton mods but those beautiful cups can get expensive quickly
But for those Denon you can also find other hacks to get them sound better and I would think it’s a better starter then the tr50 for you
Same can be said about the purple heart cause it’s nearly the same driver ^^
Another thing for your tube could be a semi open Beyer dt880 600ohm, but it also could be a bit peaky for you
he hasn’t been lurching as much lately, but I will try to summon @M0N and see what he says are good headphone to pair with a tube amp besides the HD600.
the HD600 are vastly different than the HD560s, so it would be an entirely different listening experience.
Something like the ATH-R70x would also work in here, I forget about that.
Could probably cut one of the headphones out of this budget and do some dollar-cost-averaging and do a ZMF.
Beyers seem a little too bright for me in general, BUT what about the closed back ones? Since they should be more V-shaped, are them all aggressive on highs?
I’m asking this questions because I am thinking to get the HD650 for 3rd and 4th pick, that are more mid forward/neutral, and maybe a V-shaped closed back for 2nd pick would be a good counterpart, thou I just don’t want to get destroyed by murderous highs.
Since I live in Italy with all the taxes and shipment, the 6XX would cost me a similar price and it would be harder to get assistance in case I need it, that’s why I’m not getting them.
I saw many people quiet enthusiast with the HD650 in general, with tubes or not, so for my 3rd/4th pick they seem to fit really well. The HD600 seems to be good too, but I am more cuorious about the 650s. About the R70x I don’t see the same enthusiasm by most people, I’m sure they’re good headphones as all the ones that are getting mentioned, but still I am not convinced too much.
So to keep this list updated.
Still Sundara or Edition XS
Maybe something like the 177x or 1770 pro?
(and 4) HD650. (That I think will join my collection soon enough)
With a bit of luck a used 650 can be had for 150€, maybe invest in a pair of new pads for them because those do fall in after a few years
If your a bit afraid of the Beyer peaks in the 1770 and the 177x are unobtainium because of Europe , try the foam inserts from beyerdynamic for the tygr or Amrion home from the Beyer shop, those seam to tame the peak most are afraid of
Nice suggestion, that could be nice. I am wondering if the 1770 pro with those inserts would sound like the 177x. Maybe with a set of leather pads to make them more isolated.
Besides the difference in impedence that problably would make it still sound different.
You can power it with very little power from the Darkvoice, the volume knob is always less than 9 o’clock. About the sound it really depends on the valves you mount on the Darkvoice, so it’s hard to give an opinion.
Right now I’m mounting on my DV one Sylvania 6SN7 GTB and one Sylvania Gold Brand 6080, the sound is quite warmer and seems more spacious in general. It is better to ear the difference yourself because each DV owner will just describe it’s own experience.
, try the foam inserts from beyerdynamic for the tygr or Amrion home from the Beyer shop, those seam to tame the peak most are afraid of