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What are the WORST headphones of 2024?

TippyDi

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Everyone's listing the 'best' headphones of 2024. How about the other end of the spectrum? What do you think are the WORST headphones/earbuds released in 2024 and why?
 
These may well qualify;


JSmith
 
The Samsung Earbuds 2 Pro have been horrible. Issues in order of occurence.

1- Sent them to Samsung warranty contractor as there was a issue and they sent back new everything under warranty.
2- The telephone capacitive touch sensing operation ceased to answer calls. The right earbud stopped operating too. I sent them to the same contractor and they deemed the earbud and the base unit to be at fault. The issues arose about the time the warranty expired. I was offered new earbuds for ~$300. I paid ~$240 for them when new.
3- I used the earbuds with the left bud operational and the right side with a tiny bit of treble high frequency output for months. The right side died when I was out in -15C temps.
4- Now they are completely useless.

Poor customer service, lack of care and attention and the setup with a contractor outside of Samsung providing the warranty service meant I was treated like a number.
 
For me personally - Sennheiser HD 800S

1 sound clinically sterile and cold without EQ
2 to eq them I have to saw off the right part of the frequency response (upper mids and highs)
3 their bundled cable is just too long
4 unlike other headphones like beyerdynamic dt 770/880/990 they just don't sound right from the start
 
For me personally - Sennheiser HD 800S

1 sound clinically sterile and cold without EQ
2 to eq them I have to saw off the right part of the frequency response (upper mids and highs)
3 their bundled cable is just too long
4 unlike other headphones like beyerdynamic dt 770/880/990 they just don't sound right from the start
Are these headphones of 2024 though?
 
The DT1770pro mkII and DT1990pro mkII are released in 2024.
Don't think they qualify anywhere near 'worst headphones of 2024' though but they aren't an improvement over the original ones though.

I don't do IEMs nor earbuds nor wireless and chances are there are some horrors in those categories.

(HD800S was released in 2016)
 
In terms of falling far short of expectations:
Grell OAE-1

 
The DT1770pro mkII and DT1990pro mkII are released in 2024.
Don't think they qualify anywhere near 'worst headphones of 2024' though but they aren't an improvement over the original ones though.

I don't do IEMs nor earbuds nor wireless and chances are there are some horrors in those categories.

(HD800S was released in 2016)
Head I was referring to the HD800S which seemed to be the main focus of the post.
 
For me personally - Sennheiser HD 800S

1 sound clinically sterile and cold without EQ
2 to eq them I have to saw off the right part of the frequency response (upper mids and highs)
3 their bundled cable is just too long
4 unlike other headphones like beyerdynamic dt 770/880/990 they just don't sound right from the start
Sennheiser HD 800S : 2016
 
DCA E3 because I can't afford them:p
 
Head I was referring to the HD800S which seemed to be the main focus of the post.
I know that's why I mentioned the release date... the DT770/880/990 also are not from 2024 besides 'DT770' 'DT880' and 'DT990' do not exist either, there are many different versions of all of them and they sound very different.
Well... the DT770 Pro X limited edition is released in 2024.
His post appears to be a rant against the HD800S (he seems disappointed)
 
I know that's why I mentioned the release date... the DT770/880/990 also are not from 2024 besides 'DT770' 'DT880' and 'DT990' do not exist either, there are many different versions of all of them and they sound very different.
Well... the DT770 Pro X limited edition is released in 2024.
His post appears to be a rant against the HD800S (he seems disappointed)
Blaine from Headphones.com likes them :D
 
Regarding trials, let's say that in general we designate what we like, the most beautiful woman, etc.
Be positive, punk !
 
Worst headphones released in 2024 eh?

Raal Immanis qualifies methinks. Insane price tag for what essentially is a poorer take on a Hifiman…now with more reflections and subbass roll-off.
It also weighs in at over 600 grams which is inexcusable imho.
The new Beyer DT770 Pro X is also awful…I mean who wanted MORE treble from their DT770?!??
Also heard a JM Audio XTC 2.5 that perhaps takes the cake. Similar to a DT770 actually only with scooped out mids and an absolute piercing treble performance. Looks nice though.

Best headphone of the year? Hmmm…
5 way tie for me:
Auribus Sierra
Sennheiser HD490 Pro
Focal Hadenys
HFA Dahlia
Hifiman Arya Unveiled
 
I know that's why I mentioned the release date... the DT770/880/990 also are not from 2024 besides 'DT770' 'DT880' and 'DT990' do not exist either, there are many different versions of all of them and they sound very different.
Well... the DT770 Pro X limited edition is released in 2024.
His post appears to be a rant against the HD800S (he seems disappointed)
If I buy something in the year 2024, and it is produced in the year 2024, it is from 2024.
No matter if the first time the product was sold was year X
You can still buy a DT770 in 2024 without the limited edition thingy
 
Raal Immanis qualifies methinks. Insane price tag for what essentially is a poorer take on a Hifiman…now with more reflections and subbass roll-off.

They sound nothing like Hifiman to my HRTF. Just look at FR. I actually liked it more than my Susvara original and ZMF Caldera Closed, and is currently on the top of my personal subjective preference.

Worst one for me was HarmonicDyne x Zeos Eris sounding worse than mainstream Bose and Apple headphones to my HRTF and my preferences
 
Worst headphones released in 2024 eh?

Raal Immanis qualifies methinks. Insane price tag for what essentially is a poorer take on a Hifiman…now with more reflections and subbass roll-off.
It also weighs in at over 600 grams which is inexcusable imho.
The new Beyer DT770 Pro X is also awful…I mean who wanted MORE treble from their DT770?!??
Also heard a JM Audio XTC 2.5 that perhaps takes the cake. Similar to a DT770 actually only with scooped out mids and an absolute piercing treble performance. Looks nice though.

Best headphone of the year? Hmmm…
5 way tie for me:
Auribus Sierra
Sennheiser HD490 Pro
Focal Hadenys
HFA Dahlia
Hifiman Arya Unveiled
This is exactly why the human ears plus brain are so decisive in our hobby. I own the DT770 Pro X... absolutely love them. Which means I don't find them too trebly. I listen to a lot of ECM label jazz on Qobuz, which means well recorded instruments, notably the drum set. I adore the sound of the hi-hats and cymbals on these records, through these headphones. But hey, that's just me. On a side-note, have people actually listened to the headphones (any), or are they just assuming by looking at the curve graphs?
 
This is exactly why the human ears plus brain are so decisive in our hobby. I own the DT770 Pro X... absolutely love them. Which means I don't find them too trebly. I listen to a lot of ECM label jazz on Qobuz, which means well recorded instruments, notably the drum set. I adore the sound of the hi-hats and cymbals on these records, through these headphones. But hey, that's just me. On a side-note, have people actually listened to the headphones (any), or are they just assuming by looking at the curve graphs?
I have the normal DT 770 Pro and also love them
 
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