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What headphone(s) do you own ?
- Thread starter solderdude
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Not that insaneYou’ll want to buy the OAE1 I have on the classifieds then
Meze 109 Pro (Primal - paid $1000) -
My daily drivers, and honest to god I hope they stay that way. I do NOT want to spend any more on headphones because these suit my needs very well, look gorgeous, and were already quite expensive. Compared to everything else I've used, it's like putting on glasses for the first time. The frequency response is alright, pretty balanced but quite sibilant though I was able to pinpoint those specific peaks and attenuate them to get a very balanced sound, that's just about perfect to my ears. Speaking of EQ, they respond exceptionally well to it! They can take much more drastic changes before causing the rest of the frequency spectrum to become somewhat muddy.
AKG K712 Pro (paid $350) -
Gradated from these; my father now uses them to watch movies when he can't use his 5.1 home theater setup. Compared to my current monitors, they lacked a little bit of everything. They have worse transient performance/dynamics, a less desirable stock frequency response (It just sounded plain bad to my ears comparing it with after I EQd it for the first time with an AutoEQ preset to correct for them), a less immersive soundstage, and are quite a bit loose and end up sliding down my head over time, though I don't mind that too much as I generally stay still at my desk. This is not to say they weren't good, they are pretty competent compared to anything I'd ever heard before, and I believe they served me very well for the ~3 years that I used them for.
Airpods Pro (2nd Gen - paid $200) -
I use these when I need a wireless connection. These are also the only ones I don't EQ, as they don't respond very well to EQ and when using them on an iPhone it's a pain to set up EQ anyway. They have a nasty notch at around ~12k and another higher in the spectrum, making them anything but the "air"pods to me. EQing them brought the frequencies to light but they ended up sounding really crusty, like they were lower quality than everything else in the spectrum, so I ditched the EQ. They still sound alright though and are definitely usable, and I am still impressed with the bass and how powerful it is given the drivers are so miniature.
My daily drivers, and honest to god I hope they stay that way. I do NOT want to spend any more on headphones because these suit my needs very well, look gorgeous, and were already quite expensive. Compared to everything else I've used, it's like putting on glasses for the first time. The frequency response is alright, pretty balanced but quite sibilant though I was able to pinpoint those specific peaks and attenuate them to get a very balanced sound, that's just about perfect to my ears. Speaking of EQ, they respond exceptionally well to it! They can take much more drastic changes before causing the rest of the frequency spectrum to become somewhat muddy.
AKG K712 Pro (paid $350) -
Gradated from these; my father now uses them to watch movies when he can't use his 5.1 home theater setup. Compared to my current monitors, they lacked a little bit of everything. They have worse transient performance/dynamics, a less desirable stock frequency response (It just sounded plain bad to my ears comparing it with after I EQd it for the first time with an AutoEQ preset to correct for them), a less immersive soundstage, and are quite a bit loose and end up sliding down my head over time, though I don't mind that too much as I generally stay still at my desk. This is not to say they weren't good, they are pretty competent compared to anything I'd ever heard before, and I believe they served me very well for the ~3 years that I used them for.
Airpods Pro (2nd Gen - paid $200) -
I use these when I need a wireless connection. These are also the only ones I don't EQ, as they don't respond very well to EQ and when using them on an iPhone it's a pain to set up EQ anyway. They have a nasty notch at around ~12k and another higher in the spectrum, making them anything but the "air"pods to me. EQing them brought the frequencies to light but they ended up sounding really crusty, like they were lower quality than everything else in the spectrum, so I ditched the EQ. They still sound alright though and are definitely usable, and I am still impressed with the bass and how powerful it is given the drivers are so miniature.
Buddser
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Wow, I red this thread and a lot of headphonelovers has a lot of headphones... I wondered do you all have a spare time to use all of these (I mean those of you who have 20+ headphones)?
I have a few headphones in comparison:
Open, wired:
Audeze LCD-5 (my main headphones for listening to the music, long listening sessions);
Audeze LCD-X (don't use it anymore).
Closed, wireless:
Audeze Maxwell (headphones for gaming and YouTube);
XBOX Wireless Headset (don't use it anymore, back then used it for gaming);
Sony WH-1000XM5 (headphones for commuting).
I have a few headphones in comparison:
Open, wired:
Audeze LCD-5 (my main headphones for listening to the music, long listening sessions);
Audeze LCD-X (don't use it anymore).
Closed, wireless:
Audeze Maxwell (headphones for gaming and YouTube);
XBOX Wireless Headset (don't use it anymore, back then used it for gaming);
Sony WH-1000XM5 (headphones for commuting).
I own a lot of headphones but my top three are Aune AR5000, Hifiman he400s and Philips X2.
The rest have to go because the Aune AR5000 has just blown them all away with it's quality. My hd600 probably has to go as well. I got rid of hifiman sundara and hifiman Ananda as they were not good enough, especially the awful Anandas.
A bit of a rant here but Hifiman has been the most disappointing headphone company constantly churning out rubbish after rubbish at inflated prices. We're up to Version 3 of the Anandas and they still sound awful. So I'm not sure what Hifiman are playing at. Rant over.
I also have focal clear and focal elears, but the AR5000 has put them on the chopping block as well. The Philips X2 may have to go as well as it's not very clear sounding compared to the others, although I do like its bass.
Anyone new to this hobby, take my advice and just buy the Aune AR5000 and save yourself a lot of wasted time wading through crap looking for the ideal headphones.
The rest have to go because the Aune AR5000 has just blown them all away with it's quality. My hd600 probably has to go as well. I got rid of hifiman sundara and hifiman Ananda as they were not good enough, especially the awful Anandas.
A bit of a rant here but Hifiman has been the most disappointing headphone company constantly churning out rubbish after rubbish at inflated prices. We're up to Version 3 of the Anandas and they still sound awful. So I'm not sure what Hifiman are playing at. Rant over.
I also have focal clear and focal elears, but the AR5000 has put them on the chopping block as well. The Philips X2 may have to go as well as it's not very clear sounding compared to the others, although I do like its bass.
Anyone new to this hobby, take my advice and just buy the Aune AR5000 and save yourself a lot of wasted time wading through crap looking for the ideal headphones.
I found them quite sibilant too. Harsh even. And I do like my dose of treble. After all the favorable reviews I was quite underwhelmed by the 109. It definitely wasn't the holy grail for me.
Audeze LCD-3 - mostly for chill listening sessions, i had previosly LCD-2f (2015) so it was natural upgrade and i mean it. LCD-3 is way better then 2's. (2023y)
Fostex TH900 MK2 - they can wake up even dead, they have so much energy - rock, house, techno, any kind of bass music or very dynamic one - they shine there!
Fostex TH900 MK2 - they can wake up even dead, they have so much energy - rock, house, techno, any kind of bass music or very dynamic one - they shine there!
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dresler
Member
I've had my DCA Stealth for about half a year. At no point during that time, have I reached for the EQ on my ADI-2 DAC, which was otherwise a nigh-daily occurrence with my HD800S (always felt the urge to tweak things a tiny bit here and there, never quite happy with them). I feel just as happy with the Stealth now as the day I got them, they just sound so "correct", no matter what I'm listening to. I genuinely cannot put into words just how happy I am with them, as sappy as that sounds...
(For what it's worth, I would probably have been (almost, probably) just as happy with the DCA E3, but the irrational part of my brain would have complained about the (very likely completely inaudible) extra distortion that it has compared to the Stealth.)
I also have a HD600, which I will never part with. Absolutely fantastic pair of headphones those are, despite their obvious deficiencies.
Besides that, the Focal Clear (the original, not the MG) is one of few headphones I've ever regretted selling. Despite their deviance from neutrality, they did some things very well. They had a sort of in-your-face energy, that works really well with my genres of choice (mostly Metal and Rock, primarily Progressive). Alas, I sold them for a ZMF Eikon at some point, which, admittedly, didn't end up working out so well for me.
(For what it's worth, I would probably have been (almost, probably) just as happy with the DCA E3, but the irrational part of my brain would have complained about the (very likely completely inaudible) extra distortion that it has compared to the Stealth.)
I also have a HD600, which I will never part with. Absolutely fantastic pair of headphones those are, despite their obvious deficiencies.
Besides that, the Focal Clear (the original, not the MG) is one of few headphones I've ever regretted selling. Despite their deviance from neutrality, they did some things very well. They had a sort of in-your-face energy, that works really well with my genres of choice (mostly Metal and Rock, primarily Progressive). Alas, I sold them for a ZMF Eikon at some point, which, admittedly, didn't end up working out so well for me.
Mr Swing King
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^If you still want that in-your-face sound back again from the Clear, then simply spring for another. Doesn’t really matter what edition new or old, Mg or Pro, it’s still the same headphone in different colour schemes
dresler
Member
Oh, I've been tempted, many times, to purchase a Clear once more. With how much I enjoy the Stealth, though, I can't really justify it, between saving for other things, such as a proper speaker setup, and (hopefully, somewhere down the line) an entire house.^If you still want that in-your-face sound back again from the Clear, then simply spring for another. Doesn’t really matter what edition new or old, Mg or Pro, it’s still the same headphone in different colour schemes
That said, I was under the impression that the difference between the Clear and the MG was more significant. I guess not. Makes sense though, I still very much enjoy my fathers' Clear MG, whenever I'm over for a visit. It's got peaks and dips in all the right locations, for the sort of music we like
Dazerdoreal
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In-Ear Fidelity – Headphone Graph Comparison Tool
Easily compare industry-standard frequency response measurements of hundreds and hundreds of headphones.
crinacle.com
The Clear MG does differ from the Clear.
(But not the Clear MG Pro, so it seems.
)Mr Swing King
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If you measure the same headphones with different pad wear that is the kind of result you end up with
Dazerdoreal
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Okay. But even if it is just the pads, it means that buyers should take care not to buy the non-pro MG (Focal pads are not that cheap).
Mr Swing King
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Focal pads are way too expensive, I very much agree.
For the price you can get a brand new headphone.
For the price you can get a brand new headphone.
Do you have any experience with different hi end headphones in comparision? im thinking about E3 too or maybe someday LCD-5
Leejb1970
Member
I’ve just acquired the Hifiman HE1000SE at a great price. These join the Utopia 22 (no issues), Meze Liric, AKG K701, AKG 550 MKiii, AirPods Pro 2, Sony WH1000M3 and WF1000XM4. Happy for now!
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