The most overrated and underrated headphone you tried?

[dark132]

overrated: Stax SR007 GS1000
underrated: kossA250 DenonD7000

 

[Audiobernd]

Overrated: Sennheiser HD 600, 650 and 660S2, Meze 99 Classic, Meze Empyrean.

Underrated: AKG K812, Beyerdynamic T1.3, Hifiman HE6SE V2.

I love the ones I marked as "overrated" though. I just think they are not as good as most people think they are.

 

[Limopard]

Overrated: Beyerdynamic T1 (Gen 1 and 2). Not too bad, but if you like the sound, get a 1990 pro for half the price.
Underrated: Shure SRH 840. Really competent mid-priced sealed headphone. There is some appreciation for it, but it should be louder.

 

[Dz1]

The most overrated headphones for me is the Hifiman Ananda V3. Its good to see that this website doesn't fall for the lies I've seen said about this headphone by various YouTubers and other review websites. I think Hifiman headphones in general are overhyped.

The most underrated headphones I have tried are the Aune AR5000. They are my new favourites, but not many YouTubers are reviewing them and when they do they seem reluctant to do so, almost as if they were forced to do so by their subscribers.

After my experience with the Hifiman Ananda, I no longer trust any reviewer on YouTube as not one of them said they were bad headphones which they most definitely are. I think they get too many free headphones from hifiman, so they are reluctant to criticise Hifiman products.

I am so glad I found this website though because it was the ratings from members here that led me to get the Aune AR5000 and Sennheiser hd560S. If I relied on YouTubers then I would still be buying overhyped Hifiman products.

 

[Mr Swing King]

I think the Maude Technical ATH-R70X is often overlooked. There are so many fans of the Sennheiser 6 series that go all out with tube amps and such to pair with the high impedance cans that it puzzles me the R70X hasn’t caught on to said crowd with a similar, but slightly warmer sound, as well as it’s 470 ohm impedance. It is also extremely comfortable if the user doesn’t have big ears

 

[Mr Vinyl]

Celest Pandamon (iem) and Aune AR5000 are both underrated in the Western hemisphere, in my opinion.

 

[Robbo99999]

Most overrated: HD800
Most underrated: K702

Both optimised through EQ of course. Albeit one of my K702 units was measured by Oratory so I could remove all unit to unit variation variables for the EQ, so probably why I attach "most underrated" to K702 - so this is a bit of a unique situation - but the headphone does have great potential in my eyes if you can get the frequency response right. HD800 has not been a revelation so far and because the stock pads have changed to now be the HD800s pads then this makes Oratory EQ's less accurate. Oratory says he's measured about 25-50% of his units of HD800 with the new HD800s pads and that it doesn't make a significant difference but solderdude's measurements show the pads to make a significant difference, therefore this marries with my experience that Oratory EQ for HD800 is not quite right - haven't been able to tune it perfectly myself & bass is not good quality with that headphone anyway - disappointing overall due to expectations but an OK headphone in scheme of things. In my mind the biggest hurdle with headphones is getting the frequency response right which unit to unit variation as well as real on head variation between individuals are variables that get in the way of audio nirvana - one way of counteracting this is to use a headphone that has low unit to unit variation as well as low measured variation on real heads between different people - unfortunately there is not a whole lot of information to make strong decisions on this front! There was a study that showed both HD800 & K702 to have low on head variation between different people, so that's a plus point for those two headphones (see following pic which shows up to 2kHz only, and K701 is essentially same headphone as K702 structurally so results would be the same):

Either way, it's all about the frequency response - both measured & what you receive when you wear it along with low enough distortion. Still not enough information to be sure about what you're buying ultimately. These are the drawbacks of headphones currently - Oratory EQ's can help but it's not a guarantee of what you will receive at your own eardrum - it's a lot less reliable than buying a good measuring speaker that's been measured on ASR if you're looking for true neutrality (but you do have to sort out room modes with speakers though).

(IEM's might be more reliable if you don't mind sticking stuff in your ears (see wax build-up issues), and I had a good experience/experiment with Truthear Zero Blue just I realise sticking stuff in my ears is a no go - IEM's gonna be a bit more reliable if you can get good fitment & don't mind sticking stuff in your ears.)


EDIT: 1st Sept 2024: crossed out all this stuff because I managed to get what is a really good EQ out of the HD800. That doesn't mean everything I crossed out above is not applicable or correct, just that it comes down to getting the EQ right, and HD800 does have some good potential, not a disappointment anymore, see following post for details:

HD800 owners thread

This is kinda old, but might be worth to try/read. https://www.head-fi.org/threads/the-most-reliable-easiest-way-to-eq-headphones-properly-to-achieve-the-most-ideal-sound-for-non-professionals.796791/ Didn't find any newer method. Bloody hell, he takes a long time to get to the point! I have...

www.audiosciencereview.com

 

[Oldson]

overrated for me would have to be the Meze 109pro.
trialled at home a year or 2 back along with the Quad era1.
preferred the quad but bought neither

 

[pk500]

overrated for me would have to be the Meze 109pro.
trialled at home a year or 2 back along with the Quad era1.
preferred the quad but bought neither

Yep. I tested the 109 Pro ($799) and the Audeze MM-100 ($399) side by side in July at 46 Audio in NYC. Liked the MM-100 better.

The 109 Pro is a solid can but overpriced. It's not that special.

 

[Robbo99999]

I've revised my previous post (just a few posts above this one) and crossed out most of it, and provided an explanation at the bottom, not all that I crossed out is irrelevant, but just take a look at my previous post & skip to the end which is the stuff in bold that's not crossed out.

 

[yourmom210]

one underrated set of IEMs in my collection is the Drop x Hifiman RE-00 from years ago. Nice and very nuetral response, EQ in some bass and it’s phenomenal and so detailed. Cable sucks tho.

 

[Alfy]

I feel a lot of Beyerdynamic headphones are overrated. My T5P 1st gen definitely were when they released, with basses too strong and annoyingly shrill highs.

The one I feel is underrated is the Amiron. Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying it's a good audiophile headphone, but I think that's not their main purpose in the first place, after all the full name is "Amiron Home". They're fantastic for movies and games, the signature makes those use cases very enjoyable, and they're incredibly confortable for long sessions. 500 bucks might be too much for many just for that, but hey, I feel 90% of stuff that has a 3.5 jack is overpriced anyways.

 

[KMSA]

overrated: audeze lcd-2
underrated: akg 701

 

[Aynsley]

Most disappointing: Sennheiser HD6XX

I purchased a pair of Sennheiser HD6XX after reading numerous consistently favorable reviews that described them, and other members of the HD600 family, as the equivalent of a audio gold standard. I felt that I owed it to myself to try them.

My initial reaction was one of disbelief. The sound was creamy and claustrophobic. It was like listening to music with my head inside a cardboard box, or switching from FM to AM radio.

Months of web research have led me to conclude that I'm one of a very small minority that finds the HD6XX unsatisfactory. What still bothers me is that all other headphones that I've tried sound very much as described by audio reviewers. The HD6XX is the exception.

I should add that I'm of advanced age and can't hear much above 12 kHz. This doesn't prevent me enjoying other headphones and IEMs from a wide range of manufacturers.

 

[Roland68]

Most disappointing: Sennheiser HD6XX

I purchased a pair of Sennheiser HD6XX after reading numerous consistently favorable reviews that described them, and other members of the HD600 family, as the equivalent of a audio gold standard. I felt that I owed it to myself to try them.

My initial reaction was one of disbelief. The sound was creamy and claustrophobic. It was like listening to music with my head inside a cardboard box, or switching from FM to AM radio.

Months of web research have led me to conclude that I'm one of a very small minority that finds the HD6XX unsatisfactory. What still bothers me is that all other headphones that I've tried sound very much as described by audio reviewers. The HD6XX is the exception.

I should add that I'm of advanced age and can't hear much above 12 kHz. This doesn't prevent me enjoying other headphones and IEMs from a wide range of manufacturers.

You must not forget that there is also the possibility that there is a defect or something is wrong.
Even if you bought it through DROP, I would contact Sennheiser support and ask them to check these headphones.

 

[InfiniteJester]

You must not forget that there is also the possibility that there is a defect or something is wrong.
Even if you bought it through DROP, I would contact Sennheiser support and ask them to check these headphones.

I also agree with him. All the Sennheisers I have tried sound very claustrophobic and wrong, except the HD 599, which are surprisingly good once you EQ them.

I remember when I was younger and people were raging about Grados and Sennheisers and I just thought that all headphones were terrible if those two were the best.

Then I tried an AKG 701 and was blown away.

 

[Postlan]

Most disappointing: Sennheiser HD6XX

Many people claim that DROP version is the same as Sennheiser's, but atfer comparing HD6xx with my very old HD600, I returned HD6XX. Well, mostly because how it looks, but the sound is not the same. Both I and my son didn't think HD6XX sounds better than my old Zennheiser.

 

[Graph Feppar]

Most over rated, I tried Edition X, HE400i and Sundara. Horrible distorted ragged peaky dirty resonant sound, comfort and build quality not good either. Hifiman is by far the most overrated headphoje brands.

Most under rated = Apple. Airpods Max are the ANC bluetooth GOAT. Super low distortion, louder than competition, despite being heavier than rest they are more comfortable to everything becose the earpads are super deep and roomy, earpads are breathable, headband distributes weight flawlessly and they are the best, the benchmark for ANC performance.

On top of that their frequency while not summit fi audiophile like is best out all the mainstream ANC headphones, their boosted sub bass is exemplary, tastefull, superior. On top of that they have second widest soundstage I ever heard in closed back headphone and the sound changes far less when moving them on my head or breaking the seal.

Airpods Max also doesnt change the sound when going wired or changing between ANC on and off unlike 95% of other ANC headphones that undergo wild changes between all modes of operation.

Its cool to hate on Apple in audiophile circles becose Apple is big evil greedy corporation and their products are aimed at normies with mind of herd herbivore but the truth is their massive R&D budget really shows in the superiority of their engineering. There are audiophile ANC headphones like Bathys or Dali IO 12 or Solitaire T or Mark Levinson 5909 and while their sound is little better, their ANC is far inferior and they cost 2-3x as much and thus are mere impractical sidegrade for rich. I hate Apple too but it is what it is, the Max are the GOAT of ANC.

 

[Roland68]

Most over rated, I tried Edition X, HE400i and Sundara. Horrible distorted ragged peaky dirty resonant sound, comfort and build quality not good either. Hifiman is by far the most overrated headphoje brands.

Most under rated = Apple. Airpods Max are the ANC bluetooth GOAT. Super low distortion, louder than competition, despite being heavier than rest they are more comfortable to everything becose the earpads are super deep and roomy, earpads are breathable, headband distributes weight flawlessly and they are the best, the benchmark for ANC performance.

On top of that their frequency while not summit fi audiophile like is best out all the mainstream ANC headphones, their boosted sub bass is exemplary, tastefull, superior. On top of that they have second widest soundstage I ever heard in closed back headphone and the sound changes far less when moving them on my head or breaking the seal.

Airpods Max also doesnt change the sound when going wired or changing between ANC on and off unlike 95% of other ANC headphones that undergo wild changes between all modes of operation.

Its cool to hate on Apple in audiophile circles becose Apple is big evil greedy corporation and their products are aimed at normies with mind of herd herbivore but the truth is their massive R&D budget really shows in the superiority of their engineering. There are audiophile ANC headphones like Bathys or Dali IO 12 or Solitaire T or Mark Levinson 5909 and while their sound is little better, their ANC is far inferior and they cost 2-3x as much and thus are mere impractical sidegrade for rich. I hate Apple too but it is what it is, the Max are the GOAT of ANC.

I can't understand your statements, except for the sound of the Airpods. The Apple Airpods sound good for such earphones, but can't keep up with the well-tested wired IEMs for €25-50. Such IEMs can also be expanded with Bluetooth, but not quite as compactly.
Can I ask what kind of device or amplifier you used to operate the Susvara and HE400i?

 

[DEF]

Overrated: Sennheiser HD 600, 650 and 660S2, Meze 99 Classic, Meze Empyrean.

Underrated: AKG K812, Beyerdynamic T1.3, Hifiman HE6SE V2.

I love the ones I marked as "overrated" though. I just think they are not as good as most people think they are.

I had the AKG K812 and they had far to little clamp.
Otherwise... sibilance issue. Then somewhat okay.