Recommend Some Non-Fatiguing Headphones with Great Sound Stage and Detail

[josiah]

Hi everyone! I have developed ear fatigue over time... I know realize it's when I use my Series XS and Arya Organic for extended periods of time.

I am looking to get back to some of the detail and sound stage I can get lost in again that doesn't cause the fatigue. I do not have the issue with my FT1 or Kali IN-5 Speakers. The new headphones need to keep the detail even when the volume is on the lower side. I generally listen to music in the dB 55-65 range. My budget is under $600.

Thanks!

PS: I am only guessing what the issue is. If anyone else has an idea, let me know.

 

[josiah]

Just wanted to post an odd update. I tried @Markelian hack to put cotton under the cups. I can now listen to my Hifiman Edition XS again.

I would like to find a good closed back headphones but I keep ending up going back to my Fractal Design Scape for that... Still looking for good closed backs that beat the FT1 and Audeze Maxwell... They have to exist...

 

[DVDdoug]

I have no idea what fatigues you...

till looking for good closed backs that beat the FT1 and Audeze Maxwell... They have to exist...

Again, there is some personal preference so your favorite headphone may be different from someone else's.

Headphone "sound" is mostly about frequency response which to some extent can be tweaked with EQ. The main exception is that some headphones distort when you try to boost the bass.

Harman Curve
Understanding Headphone Measurements (video)

The FT1 is reviewed here so you can look at the frequency response curve and think about what you like or don't like about it before comparing to something else you are considering. (I don't see a review for the Audeze Maxwell.)

Note that "detail" isn't defined or measurable. I think of it as high-frequency response but I was surprised to learn that some people describe headphones with more distortion as "more detailed"!

Soundstage isn't measurable or quantifiable either. It mostly comes from the recording and the listener's brain with very few people getting a realistic soundstage illusion. It can be influenced by frequency response but most people don't want to sacrifice frequency response for soundstage.
Headphone soundstage survey

And, it turns-out that there is almost no correlation between sound quality and price, which you can see if you sort the reviews here by price or "recommended".