Closed headphones below 500

[utahj]

I don’t own the K371 anymore. While I love the sound of it, I just find the build quality below par…and well auditory memory is very fleeting.
I did however compare the E3 with my HD620S not that long ago, and the DCA is what I would call an upgraded K371 aka Harman Target down to a t.
The HD620S is more in the vein of most Sennheisers I find in that there is more warmth in the low mids alongside a more meaty bass delivery.
I’ve often called it a ‘closedback HD650’ which is somewhat of an exaggeration, but I still feel it does the same thing in a closedback design: warm, realistic sound that pairs well with just about any genre I care to throw at it.
I find the mids and treble some of the very best I’ve heard over a closedback and I normally don’t even care for closed headphones.
Against the E3 I would go back and forth as to which one I prefered soundwise, but the all-around comfort and usability made the Sennheiser a much better choice for me.
Here is a frequency response of the E3 vs HD620S. I know you wanted a K371 comparison, but take this as an a/b against it’s better sounding big brother which is tuned very similarly. Like I mentioned earlier auditory memory is whack. One thing I can attest to though is that both comfort and build quality is significantly better over the Sennie vs the AKG
View attachment 390338

Thanks! I follow your thinking and this is helpful. The DCA E3 looks like a solid K371 upgrade -- of course, like the OP, I'm trying to stick to a sub-$500 budget. I'm also looking for something relatively portable, which has me shying away from amp requirements, and, generally, planar magnetics (the ones I've tried feel enormous on my head), including the Aeon mentioned above -- in spite of its apparently excellent Harman tuning.

 

[solderdude]

FT3 is open and FT1 is closed.

 

[utahj]

FT3 is open and FT1 is closed.

Haha! should have caught that -- hadn't looked at the FT3 too closely yet.

 

[solderdude]

An audible upgrade from FT1 is the HD620S but seal is an issue with those as well as fit (hence the weird hump in many of the measurements).
Much less of a problem/issue with FT1 which is more comfortable.

 

[Mr Swing King]

Thanks! I follow your thinking and this is helpful. The DCA E3 looks like a solid K371 upgrade -- of course, like the OP, I'm trying to stick to a sub-$500 budget. I'm also looking for something relatively portable, which has me shying away from amp requirements, and, generally, planar magnetics (the ones I've tried feel enormous on my head), including the Aeon mentioned above -- in spite of its apparently excellent Harman tuning.

My post was more intended as an HD620S recommendation. Personally I find it every bit as good as the E3, but slightly different in presentation
Regardless of the 150 ohm the headphone is actually very easy to drive due to it’s high sensitivity. I run them without problems from a dap as well as my old iPod Nano.
It is probably not as bassy as pictured in the previous graph - something I didn’t really think about until Solderdude mentioned seal.
For reference, I use thin-armed glasses and don’t have any issues getting a good seal.

 

[utahj]

My post was more intended as an HD620S recommendation. Personally I find it every bit as good as the E3, but slightly different in presentation
Regardless of the 150 ohm the headphone is actually very easy to drive due to it’s high sensitivity. I run them without problems from a dap as well as my old iPod Nano.
It is probably not as bassy as pictured in the previous graph - something I didn’t really think about until Solderdude mentioned seal.
For reference, I use thin-armed glasses and don’t have any issues getting a good seal.

Yes, I read your post that way! But I also get the sense that K371 vs 602S may come down to preference for Harman tuning vs the "Sennheiser sound." I don't have experience with the favored Sennheisers -- I've avoided the 600/650/6XX line due to lack of bass. The 560S has real appeal (or the 490Pro if I want to max out my budget), but I need sound isolation and some . So I plan to give the 602S a try. May also check out the Austrian Audio hi-x60. Good points about seal as I wear glasses -- thanks for your input!!

 

[utahj]

An audible upgrade from FT1 is the HD620S but seal is an issue with those as well as fit (hence the weird hump in many of the measurements).
Much less of a problem/issue with FT1 which is more comfortable.

I'll be curious how AdrenalinH likes the FT1. It popped on my radar as a surprise <$500 contender (a bit like the Audeze Maxwell: good frequency response, seemingly well made, not exactly what I'm looking for, but could be really good?)...

 

[bevok]

Will follow this thread - I love the sound of the K371 and haven’t had any build issues (hey its not made of titanium but its under NZD$300 ) - the only thing that bugs me is the really microphonic cable due to the exit angle on the ear cups. Trying to find a similar sounding alternative without blowing the budget has been a challenge. I just got really excited about the FT1 watching DMS’s review (

) but was a bit concerned reading the review @solderdude posted about the angle of the connectors, might end up with the same problem. I was surprised by the comment that the FT1 is much bassier than the K371. DMS’s measurements:

 

[solderdude]

You can always put angled connectors on the original cable (or any other cable with 3.5mm connectors) to get the cable more forward.

Do note that the K371 and FT1 in the plot are taken on different measurement fixtures.
The measurements below are measured on the same fixture:

 

[surroundman]

FT1 and SRH840A are much bassier than K371 and need modifications or EQ.
The K371 can be used 'as is' when looking for 'Harman type tonal balance'.

Both the (modified) SRH840A and EQ'ed (filtered) FT1 are pretty easy on the ears and sound good/pleasant they just cannot hold a candle to the sound quality of the HD620S.

With EQ available, which one among the FT1, SHR840A and the K371 would be the better choice considering build quality and earpad size (the larger, the better)? (Also, which one would be best with glasses?)
Thanks for your contributions.

 

[solderdude]

Build quality:
FT1 > SRH840A > K371

Fit and Comfort:
FT1 > SRH840A > K371
pads:
FT1 > SRH840A > K371

Seal dependency (pads):
FT1 > SRH840A > K371

SQ out of the box:
K371 > FT1 > SRH840A

Bass impact:
FT1 > SRH840A > K371 (bass is very seal dependent)

Treble quality:
K371 > SRH840A > FT1

With EQ, sound quality:
SRH840A > K371 (with good seal) > FT1

My order of preference for closed Back:
HD620S > (modified and filtered) DT1770pro, modified an filtered SRH-840A > filtered FT1

Looks:
FT1 > SRH840A > DT1770 > HD620S

for completeness:

 

[bevok]

You can always put angled connectors on the original cable (or any other cable with 3.5mm connectors) to get the cable more forward.

Do note that the K371 and FT1 in the plot are taken on different measurement fixtures.
The measurements below are measured on the same fixture:
View attachment 391454

Good point, I've tried to find something like that (angled connector) for the K371 (miniXLR) but no cigar. That comparative plot is really helpful thanks, bit cautious about that upper bass hump on the FT1 (I use ipad for most listening so no EQ) but on the whole looks like a good option.
I had seen some lukewarm reviews of the 620s (realise thats out of scope of this topic) but your ranking makes me ponder that (although I see that has some potential microphonics issues too). Fair to say similar to the K371 but slightly less edgy treble?

 

[solderdude]

I have one mini XLR (angled) left.

Ipad has lots of (parametric) EQ possibilities.

Both K371 and HD620S need a good seal.
Treble quality of the HD620S is better than the others.

I had to bend the HD620S headband and remove the rubber stoppers to create a good fit on my head so HD620S will not give a good seal on all heads and suspect that is the reason for the lesser reviews (and measurements on human shaped HATS).

 

[bevok]

I have one mini XLR (angled) left.

Ipad has lots of (parametric) EQ possibilities.

Both K371 and HD620S need a good seal.
Treble quality of the HD620S is better than the others.

I had to bend the HD620S headband and remove the rubber stoppers to create a good fit on my head so HD620S will not give a good seal on all heads and suspect that is the reason for the lesser reviews (and measurements on human shaped HATS).

I’m very tempted to try the HD620S, wish I could listen prior to purchase though. Question re the angled mini XLR (yes I love the K371 sound and would still like to persist with it) - Did you make that yourself or purchase? I can’t seem to find anything suitable.

Cheers

 

[solderdude]

Aliexpress item 1005004837083104

worked well for DT1990 (which it was used for)
Don't know if it will angle out forward on the K371 though.
The 'unlock button' has to point outwards for the cable to come out on front of you. It looks as though it may not work for K371.

They also have 4-pin angled mini XLR

 

[bevok]

Bummer. Just did another session with the K371, it really is lovely! Hopefully I might have the chance to listen to the 620 next week - from reviews I’m pretty comfortable build and comfort will be great, it’s just down to the sound signature. The FT1 really intrigues me too, unfortunately not available in retail in NZ yet.

 

[paudio]

The dynamic drivers in the FT1 look massive. I think I am more interested in hearing a FT1 than the HD620S

 

[solderdude]

FT1 has '60mm' drivers.
In reality the active diaphragm = 50mm in diameter but this is indeed bigger than most.
Size does not say everything though.

The FT1 driver is a bio-dynamic rated 50mW and 34ohm and 117dBV

The HD620S is more 'neutral' and has better treble quality and is 36mm in effective diameter, 112dBV and 150ohm.

 

[10dB Down]

Ultrasone open back

 

[solderdude]

Ultrasone open back

This thread is about closed back < 500.
Ultrasone is.... well... an acquired taste.