Headphones recommendations for enjoyment?

[unpluggged]

I just noticed that the HD 650 is now $500 on Amazon! Wow, I paid $350 for mine in Nov '24 - unbelievable.

Amazon is a marketplace where all sorts of sellers sell for any price they want.

They are $299 on Thomann currently, and also there is the Drop HD 6XX for $179 right now.

 

[Leeken]

Aeon2 closed are as good as I’ve heard,with the added bonus that other members of my family can be in the room,and I can’t hear them and they can’t hear me,can take or leave eq,probably my personal end game.

 

[Ste_S]

What headphones do you guys use for ENJOYING music? There's a lot of analytical pairs out there but that's not what I'm looking for. Some of the cans I was considering are:

Ananda Nano ($420)
HD650 ($500)
HD660S2 ($600)
Arya Stealth ($600)
Meze 109 Pro ($800)

I'm not really wanting to go much more expensive than this, and yes I'm fine with EQ. Just wanting to know what you guys use.

A couple of questions:

Will you be using them in an environment where sound leakage would be an issue, or alternatively, in a noisy room? If so, open back headphones are out, try closed back or IEMs
If open back are ok, be aware that out of the box they will have a bass drop off. You seem ok with EQ, but just wanted to make you aware as it sounds like you want a punchy / v-shaped sound.

 

[DEALUX]

FiiO FT1 PRO is a cheap alternative and enjoyable without EQ a bit similar to the HD660S2 which also is enjoyable without EQ.

I think it's currently the best bang for buck headphone but I still EQ it slightly. It has the least annoying (i.e. least harsh or "grainy") treble of any headphone that I tested and good overall clarity for the price. Only needs slight tweaking for the most treble sensitive.

Edit: I don't push the bass too hard because I noticed this driver has a "rattle" around 30 Hz, not sure if high THD or just the enclosure vibrating but this isn't uncommon on open headphones (HD600 "rattle" was even more noticeable with bass boost).

 

[feebleton]

A couple of questions:

Will you be using them in an environment where sound leakage would be an issue, or alternatively, in a noisy room? If so, open back headphones are out, try closed back or IEMs
If open back are ok, be aware that out of the box they will have a bass drop off. You seem ok with EQ, but just wanted to make you aware as it sounds like you want a punchy / v-shaped sound.

I have a pair of iem's for outside the house usage, these would be for in home usage, primarily stationed at my computer

 

[Doodski]

I have a pair of iem's for outside the house usage, these would be for in home usage, primarily stationed at my computer

Open back or closed headphones is a pretty important decision. Myself I have open backed and I can hear things in the house that are important as compared to closed backs.

 

[ilomaenkimi]

What headphones do you guys use for ENJOYING music? There's a lot of analytical pairs out there but that's not what I'm looking for. Some of the cans I was considering are:

Ananda Nano ($420)
HD650 ($500)
HD660S2 ($600)
Arya Stealth ($600)
Meze 109 Pro ($800)

I'm not really wanting to go much more expensive than this, and yes I'm fine with EQ. Just wanting to know what you guys use.

Open backs:
Sash Tres SE(this is soooo good) and Fiio FT5
Closed:
DCA Noire X is on order.
I had Fiio FT1 before, it was very good for the price but too much bass for me.

I don't use eq.

 

[Doodski]

yes I'm fine with EQ. Just wanting to know what you guys use.

Are you using Windows or Mac for the PC source? I'll recommend something nice.

EQ Software for Windows, Linux, macOS, iOS/iPadOS and Android.

Any suggestions are welcome. Post suggestions here. I will gather the details and add them. Thanks. :D This will be organized as results come in. @sweetchaos made a guide for PEQ filter data input and operation. For crossover software go here. Windows: AutoEQ four easy steps to make your...

www.audiosciencereview.com

 

[Bow_Wazoo]

What headphones do you guys use for ENJOYING music?

Not the Sennheiser HD. I find them uncomfortable, so enjoyment is impossible.

 

[solderdude]

Open backs:
Sash Tres SE(this is soooo good) and Fiio FT5
Closed:
DCA Noire X is on order.
I had Fiio FT1 before, it was very good for the price but too much bass for me.

I don't use eq.

FT1 = closed dynamic driver and quite bassy.
FT1 pro = open planar magnetic and is basically a 'better' Sundara and is better sounding than the colored and more expensive FT5.

Not the Sennheiser HD. I find them uncomfortable, so enjoyment is impossible.

Lower the clamping force and they become quite comfortable. The only real downside for me is the narrower stereo imaging.

 

[ilomaenkimi]

FT1 = closed dynamic driver and quite bassy.
FT1 pro = open planar magnetic and is basically a 'better' Sundara and is better sounding than the colored and more expensive FT5.

FT1 pro has some issues with bass resonances. Haven't heard it. Hope they fix that.
FT5 is coloured, yes. In a way i like; it's a very relaxed, has very powerful and "strong" sound. Never causes fatique.
Very good opposite for Sash Tres SE, that's why i have both.

 

[solderdude]

I did not hear any issues with bass on my FT1. I suppose reproducing a 30Hz sine at high level might produce some harmonics or could make 'noises' depending on leaking and or construction. At normal to loud listening levels I heard no bass issues. I heard no rattles (outside of the headphones) while sweeping 10Hz-30kHz at almost 100dB SPL either.

If I did not already have a treble peak filtered (and cheap 2nd hand) Sundara I would have kept the FT1 pro.

FT1 pro is quite enjoyable even without EQ, certainly at this price-point. Longevity and aftermarket support is a big question. No original spare parts are available for any of the FiiO headphones.

 

[DEALUX]

I did not hear any issues with bass on my FT1. I suppose reproducing a 30Hz sine at high level might produce some harmonics or could make 'noises' depending on leaking and or construction. At normal to loud listening levels I heard no bass issues. I heard no rattles (outside of the headphones) while sweeping 10Hz-30kHz at almost 100dB SPL either.

It sounds like the driver enclosure is resonating around 30-40 Hz, there is an additional sound when a sine wave is played. You don't need to push it to loud levels at all. I can hear it in some songs when the bass decays into the lower frequencies.

 

[Roland68]

I've been leaning toward one of the Sennheiser pairs, thanks for the suggestion!

The HD 650 Refurbished is currently available in the Sennheiser outlet for €222.90.
You can't go wrong with these, but you have to act quickly because they always sell out in a short time.
They are carefully checked and measured by Sennheiser and come with a full 2-year guarantee.
HD 650 Refurbished