Closed headphones below 500

[GratefulDAC]

@solderdude, thank you for the explanation. I had not considered the seal. Perhaps open back would be better for me, but maybe I should just revisit the monitor problem. Maybe using the Genelec or Neumann corrections will allow me to get an accurate representation near field on a desk. Unfortunately a very expensive solutions.

 

[solderdude]

A measurement mic is actually not expensive ... well cheap ones do exist and they will do fine.

The UMIK-1 or imm6c are USB mics and don't need mic-pre-amps or interfaces.

 

[markanini]

@solderdude, thank you for the explanation. I had not considered the seal. Perhaps open back would be better for me, but maybe I should just revisit the monitor problem. Maybe using the Genelec or Neumann corrections will allow me to get an accurate representation near field on a desk. Unfortunately a very expensive solutions.

If you are like me open-back bass will not be as satisfying as closed-back, EQ or not.

 

[vulkarie]

I can recomended the Sony MDR-M1

The FT1 have a good sound, yes, but I didnt like the design of the headphone so much (the hinge can get wobbly after a while) + its heavier than what I like usually..

For the price that it offer, yes its good package for sure

 

[vulkarie]

If you are like me open-back bass will not be as satisfying as closed-back, EQ or not.

Tbf, I like the open-back bass a lot more like the Audeze LCD X, HE1000SE more than closed back. Granted, maybe I havent tried any real good bass for a closed-back.

 

[markanini]

Tbf, I like the open-back bass a lot more like the Audeze LCD X, HE1000SE more than closed back. Granted, maybe I havent tried any real good bass for a closed-back.

Which closed-backs have you tried?

 

[vulkarie]

Which closed-backs have you tried?

Not really highend stuff I guess like the many variant of beyerdynamic, sony's, fiio ft1, meze classic, focal azurys etc

 

[Adamant11746]

Jumping on this thread to ask @solderdude a couple questions about the Austrian Audio Hi-X60. I have a set of Sennheiser HD 620s that I'm mostly happy with, but I keep wishing for just a few mm more vertical space. I can fit my ears in, but have very little room for error in placing them (maybe 5mm split between the top and bottom). According to your measurements on DIYAudioHeaven the Hi-X60 has 5mm more room vertically and an almost negligible amount of extra space horizontally, but I'm wondering if you remember how much the pads compress. The 620s has enough depth, but 1) the pads on that don't compress much compared to some, and 2) I don't think I'm quite lined up with the little bump where the pivots connect so I might have more room than you measured. The 28mm depth you measured on the Hi-X60 should be enough if they don't compress too much, but I've run into some very soft pads before (Sivga SV021 for example, 30mm deep but compresses down to almost nothing on my head).

If it helps, headphones I've tried before are Sennheiser HD 620s (currently using), DCA Aeon RT/Aeon 2 (mostly fits if I remove the tuning inserts, but my ears just barely brush the driver covering), Sennheiser HD 580 Precision (borrowed from my father before I got the 620s, had to put Brainwavz Oval pads on them to get enough vertical space at the cost of sound quality) and several brief demos at CanJam SoCal (Meze Elite was very comfortable but is insanely priced and open back, Meze Liric wasn't quite big enough, Sivga SV021 had pads that compressed way too much, Austrian Audio Composer was too shallow but otherwise had enough room and is both expensive and open back, various egg shaped Hifiman headphones were comfortable but open back). Also, I do wear glasses but it looks like the HD 620s and the Hi-X60 react pretty similarly to a seal breach so if I am okay with the 620s I will probably be okay with the Hi-X60 in that regard (please correct me if I'm wrong about them being similar, I'd hate to buy them and then have to return).

 

[solderdude]

The pads of the Hi-X60 do not compress much.
One of the few headphones with even more room for the ears is HD800(S).

 

[Adamant11746]

The pads of the Hi-X60 do not compress much.
One of the few headphones with even more room for the ears is HD800(S).

Thank you! It sounds like they may be what I'm looking for then. I'll have to decide where to get them (maybe Guitar Center, if what they have on their website about being able to try in store is accurate). Unfortunately the HD 800s, on top of being really expensive, is both open back and somewhat unstable on my head due to the low clamping force. It is very comfortable though.

 

[solderdude]

yep ... HD820S but I would not recommend that one over the Hi-X60.
The X60 has some excessive treble though.

 

[Adamant11746]

yep ... HD820S but I would not recommend that one over the Hi-X60.
The X60 has some excessive treble though.

The elevated treble on the Hi-X60 shouldn't be a problem, given that I'm pretty comfortable using EQ at this point. Kind of funny when I think about it actually. I originally installed EqualizerAPO to apply a negative preamp for IEMs and a couple months later I was EQing everything other than a couple exceptionally well tuned IEMs (which I later figured out didn't fit properly, the reason I switched to headphones).

I actually considered the HD 820s because it was roomy and I have EQ capability, but not only does it not have enough clamping force to seal on my head it also is out of my budget now that I've spent so much on IEMs that don't fit.

 

[solderdude]

Yes crazy expensive (even when discounted).