Just searched and my city have no such a store unfortunately, I tried EQing my hyperx I like clarity and neutral good bass Ik that hyperx is not as good as the headphones I mentioned but that is my capabilities
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Take your time looking, considering. Most cities that had them don't have them any longer. My local BestBuy used to have a nice Magnolia department with higher-grade audio equipment within the store, and one of those walls: the store is still here, but those audio resources are both gone. The problem with those walls anyway is that behind the walls, the cables are connected to amplifiers that will generally be better than most consumers have or will be using. It would be more meaningful for you to be able to test candidates with say, a CD player they carry, playing your CDs, ideally, or music you know well. A good store with a good return policy is best so you can review the candidates with both
your music and your equipment, in your home, over at least a weekend or even a Sunday.
I currently am trialing the Fiio FT1 Pro. I like it so far, but I have a week left to make sure. I've tried and returned HiFiMan's HE400SE and Edition XS. Most planar magnetics are too big, ugly, and bright for me, and this Fiio is none of those and will be probably my last planar try, regardless. This is mostly because I have been highly satisfied for decades with the dynamic drivers of Sennheiser 598s, in particular: I own and use two -one with balanced cables (first with a 2.5mm end, and now with 4.4mm). Over the years, I have also trialed and returned the HD600 -twice, and the HD650, once. It was after the first (surprising) 600 return that I got a second 598 several years ago, after they'd been discontinued. Other candidates since have not been better either -for MY equipment and tastes. For an even longer time, I have enjoyed my only closed-backs -Sony 7506, for which I have balanced extensions too. (BTW, one thing that impresses me about the FT1 Pro is that it ships with both 3.5 and 4.4mm cables -nice ones. But I can't recommend it or any other headphone because I don't know
your tastes or preferences.)
Amazon is not in most of our cities either, but they ship to our doors for free and most of us do have convenient drop-off stations when we need them prior to that 30th day -again, for free. My next trial will be of a Fiio K11 R2R, by the by -arrives Wednesday. I'm planning it as the last round of my FT1 Pro trial as well. This will/would be my first -and probably only- headphone amplifier.
Enjoy your patient shopping and your music!
