I'm looking for a new set of closed back headphones. I can use EQ and I most probably will EQ, but I need them to sound very good even without EQ. I'ld like to keep the EQ for the last fine-tuning. Not for fixing a broken frequency response.
What I currently own and what I think about them:
- DCA Aeon RT closed : Very comfortable. Very nice build quality. Sound without EQ is absolutely not to my taste. They sound sharp. Lower mids are missing and the higher mids are so overwhelming even the bass sounds thin (while it is there). With EQ these are great. Very power hungry.
- Beyerdynamic DT770 pro 250Ohm with Dekoni (elite velours?) pads: Very good comfort. Clumsy cable. Very good build quality. Good amount of bass, reasonably good mids, very sharp treble peak that can annoy me (but does depend on the music) Sound warmer then K371. I like the DT770 more.
- AKG K371 with Brainwavz earpads: Reasonably comfortable to wear. Reasonable build quality (I have not had any issues with them). Horrible cables. Good amount of bass, a bit too much eargain(?)/shouty upper mids, too much treble. Where there's a narrow peak in the DT770's, here it sounds like the whole treble is lifted. For listening at lower levels these are still fine.
- Sennheiser HD6XX: Comfortable but maybe just that little bit too much clamping force. Good build quality. Lacking lower octave. Very nice mids. Good treble. Love 'm but really missing those bass notes. Sometimes they seem to lack a little openess ... if that even means anything...
- Hifiman Sundara: Reasonably comfortable. Not too heavy but maybe lacking a little in clamping force. They feel like they rest on my head with the headband. Mediocre build quality, although they are still working fine and in 1 piece. Horrible cable. Maybe controversial, but I think these sound even a little better than the HD6XX, but have the same issue in the bass region. No sub-bass at all. They sound a little more forward but then again they don't. I can't exactly pinpoint what it is.
So I think I like the harmann OE curve with just a little less eargain.
I'm planning on selling the DCA's. I like them least (without EQ!) of all the ones I have. The K371's are in use by my partner. She likes them a lot. The DT770's assigned to the TV set (for when one of us stays up late and wants to whatch a movie). So I want some closed backs for the home office/listening room.
Headphone amp is the SMSL RAW-MDA 1. So I think I have enough power for most headphones on the market. The device will not be the issue if I don't like what I'm hearing.
Budget: I would like to keep it below €300.
Short list:
- FiiO FT1
- Sennheiser HD620S
- Beyerdynamic DT700 pro X
Your thoughts?
Which one would you choose from the shortlist?
Other options then the ones from my shortlist? (got measurements?)
What I currently own and what I think about them:
- DCA Aeon RT closed : Very comfortable. Very nice build quality. Sound without EQ is absolutely not to my taste. They sound sharp. Lower mids are missing and the higher mids are so overwhelming even the bass sounds thin (while it is there). With EQ these are great. Very power hungry.
- Beyerdynamic DT770 pro 250Ohm with Dekoni (elite velours?) pads: Very good comfort. Clumsy cable. Very good build quality. Good amount of bass, reasonably good mids, very sharp treble peak that can annoy me (but does depend on the music) Sound warmer then K371. I like the DT770 more.
- AKG K371 with Brainwavz earpads: Reasonably comfortable to wear. Reasonable build quality (I have not had any issues with them). Horrible cables. Good amount of bass, a bit too much eargain(?)/shouty upper mids, too much treble. Where there's a narrow peak in the DT770's, here it sounds like the whole treble is lifted. For listening at lower levels these are still fine.
- Sennheiser HD6XX: Comfortable but maybe just that little bit too much clamping force. Good build quality. Lacking lower octave. Very nice mids. Good treble. Love 'm but really missing those bass notes. Sometimes they seem to lack a little openess ... if that even means anything...
- Hifiman Sundara: Reasonably comfortable. Not too heavy but maybe lacking a little in clamping force. They feel like they rest on my head with the headband. Mediocre build quality, although they are still working fine and in 1 piece. Horrible cable. Maybe controversial, but I think these sound even a little better than the HD6XX, but have the same issue in the bass region. No sub-bass at all. They sound a little more forward but then again they don't. I can't exactly pinpoint what it is.
So I think I like the harmann OE curve with just a little less eargain.
I'm planning on selling the DCA's. I like them least (without EQ!) of all the ones I have. The K371's are in use by my partner. She likes them a lot. The DT770's assigned to the TV set (for when one of us stays up late and wants to whatch a movie). So I want some closed backs for the home office/listening room.
Headphone amp is the SMSL RAW-MDA 1. So I think I have enough power for most headphones on the market. The device will not be the issue if I don't like what I'm hearing.
Budget: I would like to keep it below €300.
Short list:
- FiiO FT1
- Sennheiser HD620S
- Beyerdynamic DT700 pro X
Your thoughts?
Which one would you choose from the shortlist?
Other options then the ones from my shortlist? (got measurements?)