What headphone(s) do you own ?

[don'ttrustauthority]

Sundara - my main home headphones. I’m listening to them now. However, I tend to listen to my Kali LP-6V2 monitors much more than my headphones.

HD560S - my main work headphones. I think I like the Sundara’s better, but not by much.

7Hz Timeless - maybe not totally neutral (even with eq), but I love the sound.

Truthear Zero- my go to IEM. I tend to listen to these more than the Timeless. I love the sound and they fit my ears. The more I use them the more I gravitate to them. I might even say these are my favorite headphones. They certainly get the most use.

This is the best collection. Each choice is first rate with zero weaknesses.

 

[middlemarch]

Sennheiser HD580 (purchased in 1993, best audio investment in my life, bar none. Two pad changes, sound good as new)
Sennheiser HD700 (purchased used recently, love them with EQ, adequate bass, don't understand why they get such a bad rap)
Shure SRH 1540 (closed back, efficient, sound very good, call them my rock and roll cans)
Dan Clark Aeon RT (closed back, NOT efficient, WOW phones, good for everything! made be buy a Topping L30|| for headroom)
Use an Atom+ for all but the Dan Clarks, Shure doesn't really need an amp driven by my M1 Pro Macbook Pro

 

[Music707]

For use with my main system:
AKG K 501
Denon D9200
Focal Clear
MrSpeakers Aeon Flow Closed

For use with my desktop system:
Massdrop X Sennheiser HD 6XX
Ultrasone Signature Pro

IEMs:
AKG N5005
Etymotic ER2SE
Moondrop Aria
Moondrop Kato
Truthear X Crinacle Zero

When I have the necessary space available the Ultrasone serves as my travel companion, too.

 

[khensu]

Hi all,
Been lurking/reading for about three months now. I only started visiting this site when I decided to read about planars (bad mistake!). Never was much of a headphoner before then. Sure, I've had many pairs over the years, but nothing worth mentioning. I've been loving all the reviews here. In fact, I have amir to thank for the fact that I am now running Roon (and love it!), but I digress.

The headphones I bought first:

HE400se - Love 'em or hate 'em, you can't argue about the value. Even without EQ (pre-Roon), I was blown away. Granted, these were my first decent headphones. I couldn't believe anything could sound that good at this price point (bought at $109). Have tried various EQ settings since then and am loving the settings recently posted that aim to make these sound like the HE-1.

A month or two later, got another itch:

Oppo PM-3 - From ebay with brand new pads... $135. Looks like I got lucky here as these are typically selling for about double that price. The ear cups are a bit small, so I'm always adjusting these on my head to make them comfortable. Not a huge fan of these without EQ, but with EQ they sound very nice. Open-backs aren't always convenient, especially when you're always the first one up in the morning

I was contemplating checking out the HifiMan Edition XS next, but on New Year's Eve I took the plunge and paid for the Roon lifetime subscription. Yeah, it hurt. For the purposes of continuing my long-standing marriage, my next set of headphones will have to wait.

Thank you all for the great information and reviews!

 

[Robbo99999]

Sundara - my main home headphones. I’m listening to them now. However, I tend to listen to my Kali LP-6V2 monitors much more than my headphones.

HD560S - my main work headphones. I think I like the Sundara’s better, but not by much.

7Hz Timeless - maybe not totally neutral (even with eq), but I love the sound.

Truthear Zero- my go to IEM. I tend to listen to these more than the Timeless. I love the sound and they fit my ears. The more I use them the more I gravitate to them. I might even say these are my favorite headphones. They certainly get the most use.

This is the best collection. Each choice is first rate with zero weaknesses.

Yep, solid!

 

[phrwn]

Update from the last time I thought I was done...

Desktop/home
E-Mu Teaks are out because of a newfound comfort incompatibility with my new glasses. A shame because they're great. I replaced them with the Focal Elex. I tried DT1990's first but found the clamp force unbearable. The Focal's are comfortable enough and sound excellent plugged straight into the PC headphone jack.

I briefly tested a Topping E30 II/L30 II stack and could hear no discernible difference between that and my motherboard, so I simplified and got rid of the Topping pair.

Noise isolation
ER4XR. Very happy with these. Passive isolation like earplugs and great sound quality. I read some comment elsewhere that Etymotic basically solved IEM's with their ER range and, having tried a bunch up to the 64 Audio U12t, I agree. I don't need anything more.

Phone calls and late night TV
Airpod Pro (Mk 1). Massive convenience when paired with iPhone or Apple TV, good enough sound that I'm not thinking about it (for calls and movies/TV, bit joyless for music).

And with that I've happily lost interest in the whole gear cycle and just punt money on Bandcamp downloads instead.

EDIT: this is all without EQ as well. I lost interest in that too, mainly due to getting bored with all the variables and constantly wondering whether I was getting the best out of whatever I was listening to.

 

[posvibes]

@solderdude what is the difference between "filtered" and "EQ'd"? I noticed you delineate between thos two terms in your posts?

 

[xeizo]

I can't really speak for him, but I suppose filter is physical like toilet paper in front of the drivers. EQ is software, or hardware, applied before the signal reaches the headphone.

 

[solderdude]

@solderdude what is the difference between "filtered" and "EQ'd"? I noticed you delineate between those two terms in your posts?

'Filtered' is my passive filter that only addresses the issues that need addressing but leaves the tonal character as is and does not require any software so works on all gear both analog and digital.

'EQed' can be the Kameleon, which is an active filter which works on all sources and does not require digital manipulation (all analog), or I mean using parametric software EQ.

'Modified' is the usage of physical mods to the headphone, changed porting, modified drivers, usage of felt, paper, cotton or pads.

 

[Bow_Wazoo]

HE-1000V2 Stealth.

The predecessor already left the competition without a chance, at the latest when the price was reduced to $2000.
The Stealth is even better and is definitely an upgrade to the V2 non Stealth. More speed, more resolution, significantly more punch, texture and control in the bass. The sound is less diffuse and the imaging / positioning is better as a result. And best of all, the Stealth costs $2000 as well.
The stealth pushed the V2 non stealth off the throne!

 

[Peterinvan]

Grado just has no respect for their customers. The totl has an even worse cable than the bottom.

Grados are easy to modify to add 3.5mm sockets. This allows you to try a large number of balanced cables.

 

[The Moose]

Been lurking/reading for about three months now. I only started visiting this site when I decided to read about planars (bad mistake!). Never was much of a headphoner before then. Sure, I've had many pairs over the years, but nothing worth mentioning. I've been loving all the reviews here. In fact, I have amir to thank for the fact that I am now running Roon (and love it!), but I digress.

The headphones I bought first:

HE400se - Love 'em or hate 'em, you can't argue about the value. Even without EQ (pre-Roon), I was blown away. Granted, these were my first decent headphones. I couldn't believe anything could sound that good at this price point (bought at $109). Have tried various EQ settings since then and am loving the settings recently posted that aim to make these sound like the HE-1.

I'm somewhat sImilar to you. I've been occasionally lurking on here for a few years on and off, but started properly lurking after visiting a friend of mine last month. He had some DCA Expanse headphones and let me use them. I realized just how much I'd been missing out on for years.

I ended up getting the HE400se for $79 (b-stock even though I cannot see a scratch or dent on them) and a Schiit Heresy ($65) used on the AVExchange subreddit. I was going to just use my LG V20 as an impromptu DAC while I waited for a good deal on a proper desktop DAC. Then I came across a clean used SMSL SU-9 for ~half what it is new on that same subreddit. It's completely overkill for my setup, but I don't think I'll need/nor want to buy another DAC for several years. Also, I like having a volume on the DAC. It gets around the Heresy's issue of the L/R channels being slightly off depending on the volume level on the amp.

The HE400se's don't compare to those Expanse headphones, but man are they magnitudes above any other pair of headphones I'd used before, and I think I'll be happy with them for the next few years. Getting to listen to all the Motown I grew up with on these things really shows me just how much of the songs I'd missed out on on my father's old 3-way speakers as a kid.
Also, all those FLAC files I have now genuinely can make a difference.

I ended up using Equalizer APO for EQ as it's free, and it works well enough for me (and the fact that sweetchaos posts Amir's EQ adjustments translated into that program makes it easy).

Amir having reviews on here that provide relatively accurate measurements is lovely because honestly I don't know what the subjective terms such as, "bright, warm, full, etc" mean. I prefer numbers; makes comparisons so much easier.

 

[khensu]

I'm somewhat sImilar to you. I've been occasionally lurking on here for a few years on and off, but started properly lurking after visiting a friend of mine last month. He had some DCA Expanse headphones and let me use them. I realized just how much I'd been missing out on for years.

I ended up getting the HE400se for $79 (b-stock even though I cannot see a scratch or dent on them) and a Schiit Heresy ($65) used on the AVExchange subreddit. I was going to just use my LG V20 as an impromptu DAC while I waited for a good deal on a proper desktop DAC. Then I came across a clean used SMSL SU-9 for ~half what it is new on that same subreddit. It's completely overkill for my setup, but I don't think I'll need/nor want to buy another DAC for several years. Also, I like having a volume on the DAC. It gets around the Heresy's issue of the L/R channels being slightly off depending on the volume level on the amp.

The HE400se's don't compare to those Expanse headphones, but man are they magnitudes above any other pair of headphones I'd used before, and I think I'll be happy with them for the next few years. Getting to listen to all the Motown I grew up with on these things really shows me just how much of the songs I'd missed out on on my father's old 3-way speakers as a kid.
Also, all those FLAC files I have now genuinely can make a difference.

I ended up using Equalizer APO for EQ as it's free, and it works well enough for me (and the fact that sweetchaos posts Amir's EQ adjustments translated into that program makes it easy).

Amir having reviews on here that provide relatively accurate measurements is lovely because honestly I don't know what the subjective terms such as, "bright, warm, full, etc" mean. I prefer numbers; makes comparisons so much easier.

I know what you mean. Is the 400se the be-all and end-all? Not by a long shot. However, they probably get me 90% of “the way there” compared to the various headphones (or buds) I used to use, which were definitely more in the “maybe you’re half-way there“ category

 

[The Moose]

I know what you mean. Is the 400se the be-all and end-all? Not by a long shot. However, they probably get me 90% of “the way there” compared to the various headphones (or buds) I used to use, which were definitely more in the “maybe you’re half-way there“ category

That's the way I think about it. For me, the 400se will be the headphones I will use until I can actually afford the Expanse (or whatever version of it is available in the future) and an amp that can drive it.
Then again, I say that now, but I've said stuff like that in the past. Clearly I didn't follow that with computer components, monitors, upgrading car parts, road trips, and so on and so on...
Hopefully I can hold off on getting anything too over the top for the next few years!

 

[Palladium]

Only a pair of $70 used Sony WH-1000XM3s, and still collecting dust in the travel bag.

 

[evilted]

In the order in which I acquired them (approximately):

Sony MDR-CD1700 (2nd ever pair of decent headphones)
Sony MDR-NC20 (first noise canceling headphones, intended for travel - creaky folding headband, typical Sony house sound)
Audio-Technica ATH-50x (loaned out indefinitely)
Sony MDR-1000X ('first gen' WH-1000X; used as utility headphones around house when cleaning, etc.)
<------ start of pandemic related acquisitions> ------>
Philips Fidelio X2HR
Sony MDR-Z7M2
Hifiman Sundara (2020 version)
Fostex T50RP (w/Brainwave leather pads - leave these at my work office)
Dekoni Blue
Modhouse Argon MkIII (based on Fostex T50RP)
Focal Elex (Drop.com)
Sennheiser HD 560S
Grado SR60x
Sony WH-1000XM4 (for work related webex/zoom calls when I want some environmental isolation)
Sennheiser HD58X Jubilee (Drop.com)
Sennheiser HD6XX (Drop.com)
Beyerdynamic DT880 (600 Ohm)
Beyerdynamic DT990 (600 Ohm)
Meze 99 Noir (Drop.com)
Hifiman Arya (Stealth magnet)
Hifiman Edition XS (Stealth magnet)

Earbuds/IEMs:
Sony MDR-XB55AP (multiple pairs, stashed in laptop bags, draped on cardio equipment, etc.)
Sony WF-1000XM3 (battery in one unit not holding a full charge any longer)
Moondrop Starfield
Sony WF-1000XM4 (use interchangeably with WH-1000XM4s for work at home, but mostly for use away from home; case & 'phones much smaller & pocketable than XM3)
Moondrop x Crinacle Blessing2 Dusk

In the past I've also owned:
Sony MDR-V6 - first 'real' pair of headphones; likely discarded when pleather disintegrated in favor of the CD1700s (wish I had kept them as a reference; oh, well)
Sony MBT-1RBT - gave away when I got the MDR-1000X which added noise cancellation
Hifiman HE400se - couldn't resist the price; gave away when I 'replaced' them with the Hifiman Edition XS

With a few exceptions, I bought most of the things listed based based on reviews/reputation. The HD6XXs I bought solely as a reference since everyone in mid-fi uses them as such (personally, I prefer the less expensive HD58X Jubilee to the HD6XX) - looking at my list, it's probably obvious that I am not a fan of headphones with prominent midrange! Related, the first 'good' pair of headphones I ever listened to were AKG-240s, and I did not like them at all - the upper bass and midrange seemed unnaturally boosted, IIRC (it's been 40 years since that experience). The MDR-V6, which I bought several years later, was vastly more enjoyable to me, especially the deep bass extension. Using some headphone test tracks, I'm also aware that in my 'old age' I can't really hear anything over 14kHz these days. I wonder to what extent my listening preferences would be different if I could still hear all the way to 20kHz?...

Favorite cans are definitely the Aryas. Not really looking to get anything else at the moment, though I think the HD 800S is something I would enjoy after auditioning.

 

[Robbo99999]

That's the way I think about it. For me, the 400se will be the headphones I will use until I can actually afford the Expanse (or whatever version of it is available in the future) and an amp that can drive it.
Then again, I say that now, but I've said stuff like that in the past. Clearly I didn't follow that with computer components, monitors, upgrading car parts, road trips, and so on and so on...
Hopefully I can hold off on getting anything too over the top for the next few years!

Perhaps also try Oratory1990's EQ's too, as his are about as thorough as you can get with EQ's based on the GRAS measurement device. Amir doesn't specialise in EQ's, he measures just one unit & then eyeballs the frequency response to create his EQ, whereas if you use an Oratory EQ it's often based on measurement of multiple units of that headphone model and the EQ is done more exactly to the Harman Target Curve. All his EQ's for loads of different headphones are here:

index/list_of_presets - oratory1990

r/oratory1990: Mostly covering topics like headphones, in-ear headphones, acoustics, electroacoustics, acoustic tuning, headphone design …

www.reddit.com

And your 400se is amoungst them is here:

Dropbox

www.dropbox.com

 

[xeizo]

Perhaps also try Oratory1990's EQ's too, as his are about as thorough as you can get with EQ's based on the GRAS measurement device. Amir doesn't specialise in EQ's, he measures just one unit & then eyeballs the frequency response to create his EQ, whereas if you use an Oratory EQ it's often based on measurement of multiple units of that headphone model and the EQ is done more exactly to the Harman Target Curve. All his EQ's for loads of different headphones are here:

index/list_of_presets - oratory1990

r/oratory1990: Mostly covering topics like headphones, in-ear headphones, acoustics, electroacoustics, acoustic tuning, headphone design …

www.reddit.com

And your 400se is amoungst them is here:

Dropbox

www.dropbox.com

I tried most of those, I think Amirs sounds the best compared to those(more open and clear), even if I have done a couple of minor tweaks on top

edit. Oh, I remembered wrong, it was not Amir but another member. It was the curve replicating Sennheiser HE-1 that I like the most. Better than Harman target imo.

 

[Carlo2AC]

Kept as in still own but not sold (yet) ?
kept as in stored but not used ?
kept as in 'collection that is hard to part with' ?
kept as in used most often ?

Used most often: HD800 (with non Harman EQ), DT1350 (portable duty with EQ) and recently for closed usage (max a few hours) modified Creative Aurvana Live! 2.
Used now and then depending on mood and need:, modified/filtered DT770, filtered DT1990, modified S4X Reference 1.1, filtered HD560S
Kept (hard to part with): HD650, HD58X (modified, filtered), HD681 (modified, filtered), Edition XX, Audeze Sine (modified, filtered), HE35X(modified, filtered), old DT990(600) and a few prototype headphones.
Have not sold (yet)

Why ? Because I either like the sound + comfort or they have some kind of 'sentimental value' to me or have not put them up for sale (yet)

What is your HD800 EQ?

I smiled when i saw the HD681, how bang for buck they are

You opted for the DT 770 instead of the DT 1770? what is the most comfortable closed back you have used?

 

[solderdude]

Typo... should have written DT1770.
For the HD800 I use the Kameleon (analog EQ).
Not the same as digital EQ and not to Harman target measured on an industry standard fixture.