Jose Hidalgo
Addicted to Fun and Learning
Hi everybody, and Happy New Year!
As some of you know, I have a small collection of headphones (see my sig). The main ones are: HD 600, Nighthawk (Wood & Carbon), 99 Classics, Sundara (with 2020 revised earpads). I have never managed to fall in love with the Sundara, so I'm thinking about letting it go. Here's why:
But before I let go of my Sundara, I need to find a decent alternative. Unfortunately I don't know if such alternative even exists!
So here's what I'm looking for:
Let me know if I have forgotten something. Thanks!
As some of you know, I have a small collection of headphones (see my sig). The main ones are: HD 600, Nighthawk (Wood & Carbon), 99 Classics, Sundara (with 2020 revised earpads). I have never managed to fall in love with the Sundara, so I'm thinking about letting it go. Here's why:
- I find it just a bit too heavy at 372g. Granted my Nighthawks are 346g, but they have an amazing suspension system that makes them seem much lighter. The Sundara doesn't have that.
- I don't find it as comfortable as the others. To be honest it depends on my mood, but subjective impressions count too.
- I'm not a huge fan of its "industrial look" (raw metal, etc). It's not ugly, it's actually well-built, but I prefer the look of my other cans.
- For critical listening, my EQed HD 600 is just as nice. The EQed Sundara may be a touch better in the bass range, but other than that, I'm not sure.
- For relaxed listening, my EQed Nighthawks are great too.
- For travel, there's always the closed 99 Classics, plus a pair of Bose QC15 that I use from time to time.
But before I let go of my Sundara, I need to find a decent alternative. Unfortunately I don't know if such alternative even exists!
So here's what I'm looking for:
- I don't care about the stock sound, because I always EQ my headphones to whatever target curve I desire, using my own app (see my sig). So I would rather say that I care instead about the "potential when EQed". That's the main thing for me. The best example would be my Nighthawks: arguably bad-sounding without EQ, and great sounding once EQed correctly.
- I care about comfort, weight, and looks (headphones are displayed in my living room, my wife and our friends see them all the time, so looks matter too in my case).
- I have a E30/L30 stack which is enough for most headphones, so the chosen headphone needs to be able to be driven by that.
- The Sundara is currently my only planar, so I'd like to find a planar replacement. Unfortunately planars tend to be heavy, so... fingers crossed for finding a lighter/more comfortable one. If not, I'm open to everything else.
- Budget should be similar to the Sundara (<=350 €). I may consider second-hand and exotic stuff, no worries (maybe a more expensive headphone with a second-hand price within my budget? ). eBay auctions are a good option if I know what to look for (I got my Nighthawk Wood that way, practically new, for about 200 € ).
- Last but not least, I live in Europe, so price needs to be acceptable on this side of the ocean.
Let me know if I have forgotten something. Thanks!