Next steps

[Barossan]

My current listening includes Hifiman HE6se and Grado SR325x. I listen to a lot of folk and acoustic, female vocals, some classical, some prog rock. I like the clarity, cleanness, detail and range of the HE6se but I really like the openness, lightness and life I get from the Grados. I use a Jot 3 at one listening spot (for HE6se in particular), a topping dx5 ii or Mcally dongle with the Grados.

I’d love to find some headphones that gave me the best of my current pair and would be grateful for suggestions as to next steps. Is there a way to capture the best of the Hifiman and the Grados in a single unit, without breaking the bank? I would be prepared to look up to $2000 AUD.

 

[staticV3]

The answer, like most times, is DSP:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JVW53wmo-04

 

[davmol]

To me the descriptive terms you used of "clarity, cleanness, detail and range" vs "openness, lightness and life" are not exactly chalk and cheese, so it's probably worth investing a little time to try and find out exactly what frequencies (or ranges) are found in one pair but missing from the other. I find it can be useful to play back your favourite song(s) and identify any sections that are particularly enjoyable, or harsh / irritating and then look at the frequency ranges that are dominating in those songs. Then you can tie your descriptive terms for what is present or missing back to something you can boost or cut with PEQ, and maybe achieve what you are looking for i.e. the best of both.

 

[Barossan]

To me the descriptive terms you used of "clarity, cleanness, detail and range" vs "openness, lightness and life" are not exactly chalk and cheese, so it's probably worth investing a little time to try and find out exactly what frequencies (or ranges) are found in one pair but missing from the other. I find it can be useful to play back your favourite song(s) and identify any sections that are particularly enjoyable, or harsh / irritating and then look at the frequency ranges that are dominating in those songs. Then you can tie your descriptive terms for what is present or missing back to something you can boost or cut with PEQ, and maybe achieve what you are looking for i.e. the best of both.

Sensory descriptors are always challenging. It is a different language for someone new to the field (like me).

I have been experimenting with the EQ in Audivarna across the two sets of headphones, trying to compare and contrast, and trying to find adjectives that convey what (I think) I am hearing. I had been leaning towards thinking that it was the quality of the sound rather than the frequency - timbre rather than pitch - or other aspects of the sound production (decay etc..) that I was hearing, and whether this was a quality of the driver technology or implementation - maybe control v. responsiveness. Or perhaps even factors like the seal and clamping - I have a big head and have had to adopt custom solutions for the headbands for both sets. I have found the Grados in particular change sound if I hold them more securely to my head, while the Hifiman sit more heavily but securely.