Looking for a better headphone with budget of no more than $500

[C_Y]

Hello Forum
I am a student studying film sound production, currently in my senior year. I have been using M50x headphones before, but they are now severely worn (frequent sweating causes the leather of the earmuffs to fall off). This time I want to change to a headphone with better low-frequency and better frequency response and a budget of no more than $500. It is best if it is more durable. It seems that there are many choices but I don’t know what is suitable for me. Does anyone have any better suggestions? Thank you.

 

[Karmacoma]

You're not looking for headphones with flat frequency response, you're looking for headphones with a balanced response. Flat frequency response is something you want for loudspeakers, not for headphones.
Check the Harman target curve history, you'll figure out one or two things.
Now here on asr you'll find a database of measurements, a list of headphones reviewed based on their compliance with the lastest Harman curve + subjective critic. Akg k371 comes to mind as a very reasonably priced one, with a very close to perfect response (curve), but the confort and durability might not be great at all. For the rest roam the forum and i'll let other people answer, I don't know much.

 

[C_Y]

You're not looking for headphones with flat frequency response, you're looking for headphones with a balanced response. Flat frequency response is something you want for loudspeakers, not for headphones.
Check the Harman target curve history, you'll figure out one or two things.
Now here on asr you'll find a database of measurements, a list of headphones reviewed based on their compliance with the lastest Harman curve + subjective critic. Akg k371 comes to mind as a very reasonable priced one, with a very close to perfect response (curve), but the confort and durability might not be great at all. For the rest roam the forum and i'll let other people answer, I don't know much.

Oh thanks for your suggestion and criticize. I have corrected my post. And yeah, I actually need to learn more about this.

 

[Alingram]

Hello Forum
I am a student studying film sound production, currently in my senior year. I have been using M50x headphones before, but they are now severely worn (frequent sweating causes the leather of the earmuffs to fall off). This time I want to change to a headphone with better low-frequency and better frequency response and a budget of no more than $500. It is best if it is more durable. It seems that there are many choices but I don’t know what is suitable for me. Does anyone have any better suggestions? Thank you.

The build quality and bass response of Beyerdynamic DT 1770 Pro is superb. It retails for 400$ but its impedance is 250 ohms, so you need a good audio interface to drive it. You can also check DT 700 Pro X which also has a good build quality and bass response. This one is 48 ohms and retails for 270$.

 

[Leejb1970]

For £150 you can’t go wrong with the new FiiO FT1.

 

[sharock]

For £150 you can’t go wrong with the new FiiO FT1.

Still waiting for this to be in stock at UK retailers. Do you have one? Not sure I trust Aliexpress.

 

[Leejb1970]

Still waiting for this to be in stock at UK retailers. Do you have one? Not sure I trust Aliexpress.

I don’t have one but would buy it if in the market for sub £500 headphones. I’ve ordered a few items from them. No problems with any transaction and I try to stick to the official stores.

 

[solderdude]

Still waiting for this to be in stock at UK retailers. Do you have one? Not sure I trust Aliexpress.

Aliexpress is the official outlet for FiiO

 

[sharock]

They don't have any stock in the official store. There's only a bunch of random Aliexpress stores. I'm sure it will appear soon in the UK.

 

[Graph Feppar]

In my opinion the world best open back is HD490 Pro and best ANC wireless closed back is Airpods Max, both are within your price range.

 

[Karmacoma]

In my opinion the world best open back is HD490 Pro and best ANC wireless closed back is Airpods Max, both are within your price range.

Above 1kHz, Airpods max FR is pure mayhem, Bose quiet confort 45 outperforms it largely (when turned on).

 

[Graph Feppar]

Above 1kHz, Airpods max FR is pure mayhem, Bose quiet confort 45 outperforms it largely (when turned on).

I prefer Max treble, I A/B them side by side with QC45. Even if that is true, thats irrelevant for me as advanced EQ user with windows APO. Airpods Max are also significantly louder than QC45, that means more headroom for EQ, more freedom to make them sound whatever you like. They are also far more consistent when it comes to FR changes due to position on head. They have much lower distortion in everywhere including treble.

With all these factors together, it makes EQing Max easier than QC45.

 

[Karmacoma]

If you consider EQing, this thread becomes a different thread, if FR is irrelevant to you, you should state it before giving an advice.

 

[Graph Feppar]

If you consider EQing, this thread becomes a different thread, if FR is irrelevant to you, you should state it before giving an advice.

I like Airpods Max FR more than QC45 FR even without EQ across the whole spectrum but the bass especially I find much superior on Airpods. The QC45 have the widest soundstage in ANC headphone I ever heard and they are feather light so I agree they are also good choice.

Did you try QC 2023? They started selling Quietcomfort SC which is Quietcomfort 2023 but cheaper with soft bag instead of case. They have it for 200€ on German Amazon, that is killer deal.

 

[Pictus]

They don't have any stock in the official store. There's only a bunch of random Aliexpress stores. I'm sure it will appear soon in the UK.

I am satisfied with the FT1 and got mine from Deep Space 3C Store https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005007797585314.html
Discount coupons in the front page https://www.aliexpress.com/store/1103850650
It's a new store, but I decided to take the risk.
From the store to here(Brazil) it took 15 days.

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Hello Forum
I am a student studying film sound production, currently in my senior year. I have been using M50x headphones before, but they are now severely worn (frequent sweating causes the leather of the earmuffs to fall off). This time I want to change to a headphone with better low-frequency and better frequency response and a budget of no more than $500. It is best if it is more durable. It seems that there are many choices but I don’t know what is suitable for me. Does anyone have any better suggestions? Thank you.

Check the FiiO FT1, the reviews:

https://diyaudioheaven.wordpress.com/headphones/measurements/fiio/ft1/ (Do not miss this TOP review from Solderdude)

One moment, please...

FiiO FT1 REVIEW – SHOCKINGLY GOOD

Priced at a modest 149 USD, the FiiO FT1 might initially seem like just another mid-fi option. But don’t let the price tag deceive you—this is an audiophile-grade headphone. The FT1 delivers such i…

www.headphoneer.com

FiiO FT1

Almost everything you could want from a closed back under $200

www.pragmaticaudio.com

 

[petebone]

I am satisfied with the FT1 and got mine from Deep Space 3C Store https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005007797585314.html
Discount coupons in the front page https://www.aliexpress.com/store/1103850650
It's a new store, but I decided to take the risk.
From the store to here(Brazil) it took 15 days.

--------------------------------------------------------



Check the FiiO FT1, the reviews:

https://diyaudioheaven.wordpress.com/headphones/measurements/fiio/ft1/ (Do not miss this TOP review from Solderdude)

One moment, please...

FiiO FT1 REVIEW – SHOCKINGLY GOOD

Priced at a modest 149 USD, the FiiO FT1 might initially seem like just another mid-fi option. But don’t let the price tag deceive you—this is an audiophile-grade headphone. The FT1 delivers such i…

www.headphoneer.com

FiiO FT1

Almost everything you could want from a closed back under $200

www.pragmaticaudio.com

In the ad in the Deep Space 3C store for your headphones, it says "Feiao". Are we sure these are legit?

 

[Pictus]

In the ad in the Deep Space 3C store for your headphones, it says "Feiao". Are we sure these are legit?

In Portuguese the word feião means very ugly.

The box came with an authenticity stamp/label like this

Since the product was very well made and had good sound, I didn't check it.
But for you, number 3885068660864241
https://servicequery.fiio.com/checkProductCode

 

[petebone]

In Portuguese the word feião means very ugly.

The box came with an authenticity stamp/label like this

Since the product was very well made and had good sound, I didn't check it.
But for you, number 3885068660864241
https://servicequery.fiio.com/checkProductCode

Phew. I think you are good to go. I always get worried about stuff on aliexpress. Also, thanks for the security code link.

 

[Steven Holt]

For £150 you can’t go wrong with the new FiiO FT1.

@amirm please review. If what I'm reading is true, this could be a game - changer.

 

[solderdude]

It isn't a game changer but when looking for a nicely made and comfortable closed headphone with decent isolation, not super seal dependent and a bit bassy/warm character that can be driven directly from a phone, isn't picky for output resistance and is in the $150 range then this should be on the top of the list and I prefer it over the K371, SRH840A, ATH-M50X and DT770.