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What headphone(s) do you own ?

From a headphone enthusiast, lover and collector ...

(selected part)

== Over ears ==
Hifiman SUSVARA
Focal Utopia 2022, Clear OG, Elear
Meze Elite Chameleon (limited to 10 pc)
Meze Elite Silver Jet Black
Meze Empyrean I
FInal D8000
Hifiman HE1000V2
Hifiman HE6 "4 screw"
Hifiman Sundara, 560V4, HE6SEV2, Edition XS
..
T+A Soliatire P-SE
Ultrasone Founders Edition (Open)
Austiran Audio The Composer
Heddphone One
Sennheiser HD 800S
Audio Technica ADX5000
Audeze LCD-2F, LCD-2 Rev 2.2 NF, LCD-X, LCD-XC
2x AKG 812 (made in austra, made in slovakia)
AKG 240, 340, 500, 501, 601, 701, Q701, K702 75th Anniversary, K712
AKG 1000
beyerdynamic T5p, T1 2nd Gen
Fostex TH-900
Denon AHD-7000
Grado RS1i, The Hemp (modded), SR60i
Alessandro MS1i
Sony MDR SA5000, Z7, 2x MA900, XB700, V700J
Shure SRH 1840, 1540, 940, 440
Audioquest Nighthawk
MrSpeakers AEON Flow Closed
Dan Clark Aeon 2 Noire
Ultrasone Edition M Black Pearl Plus
Quad ERA-1
iBasso SR2
Aune AR5000
Sennheier HD 25 (all variaitons), 600, 650, 660S,660S2
Sennheier HD 540 Refernce II, Reference GOLD Edtiion
beyerdynamic DT 770 Pro, 880 (600 Ohm), 1990 Pro65
Austrian Audio Hi-X65
MB Quart QP 400
....

== Stax ==
Lambda Pro
Lambda Signature
L700
SR009

== Inears ==
Final A8000
ProPhile 8 (PP8)
Sennheiser IE600, IE900Shure SE846
beyerdynamic Xelento
Empire Ears Valkyrie MKII
Cayin Fantasy
Noble Kaiser Encore
Moodrop Variations, x Crinacle Dusk Blession2
Campfire Andromeda 2019, Solaris 2020
iBasso IT04, IT07
Oriveti OH500
Softears RSV
4x Ultrasone IQ
Raptgo Hook-X
7Hz Timeless
Letshuoer S12 Pro
Etymotics ER4SR, ER4XR, ER3XR, ER2SE
...
 
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From a headphone enthusiast, lover and collector ...

(selected part)

== Over ears ==
Hifiman SUSVARA
Focal Utopia 2022, Clear OG, Elear
Meze Elite Chameleon (limited to 10 pc)
Meze Elite Silver Jet Black
Meze Empyrean I
FInal D8000
Hifiman HE1000V2
Hifiman HE6 "4 screw"
Hifiman Sundara, 560V4, HE6SEV2, Edition XS
..
T+A Soliatire P-SE
Ultrasone Founders Edition (Open)
Austiran Audio The Composer
Heddphone One
Sennheiser HD 800S
Audio Technica ADX5000
Audeze LCD-2F, LCD-2 Rev 2.2 NF, LCD-X, LCD-XC
2x AKG 812 (made in austra, made in slovakia)
AKG 240, 340, 500, 501, 601, 701, Q701, K702 75th Anniversary, K712
AKG 1000
beyerdynamic T5p, T1 2nd Gen
Fostex TH-900
Denon AHD-7000
Grado RS1i, The Hemp (modded), SR60i
Alessandro MS1i
Sony MDR SA5000, Z7, 2x MA900, XB700, V700J
Shure SRH 1840, 1540, 940, 440
Audioquest Nighthawk
MrSpeakers AEON Flow Closed
Dan Clark Aeon 2 Noire
Ultrasone Edition M Black Pearl Plus
Quad ERA-1
iBasso SR2
Aune AR5000
Sennheier HD 25 (all variaitons), 600, 650, 660S,660S2
Sennheier HD 540 Refernce II, Reference GOLD Edtiion
beyerdynamic DT 770 Pro, 880 (600 Ohm), 1990 Pro65
Austrian Audio Hi-X65
MB Quart QP 400
....

== Stax ==
Lambda Pro
Lambda Signature
L700
SR009

== Inears ==
Final A8000
ProPhile 8 (PP8)
Sennheiser IE600, IE900Shure SE846
beyerdynamic Xelento
Empire Ears Valkyrie MKII
Cayin Fantasy
Noble Kaiser Encore
Moodrop Variations, x Crinacle Dusk Blession2
Campfire Andromeda 2019, Solaris 2020
iBasso IT04, IT07
Oriveti OH500
Softears RSV
4x Ultrasone IQ
Raptgo Hook-X
7Hz Timeless
Letshuoer S12 Pro
Etymotics ER4SR, ER4XR, ER3XR, ER2SE
...
Wow :D with such a list, any favorites, standouts, etc.?

Wondering particularly of your opinion of some of those old AKGs like the K501 and K1000! Also always found the Sony MA900 interesting but never found a copy. Had a lower end MA300 and it was not good.
 
Just curious ...
What headphone(s) do you currently own ?
Which one(s) is(are) used the most, or is your favorite ?
At this time I only wear wireless headphones that are connected via a base station to either my stereo or computer
Currently I use my SENNHEISER RS 220 the most.
 
Current lineup :
  • Sennheiser HD 560S
  • Sennheiser HD 599
  • Focal Celestee
Used to have an ATX M50x and a small over ear AKG, both of which but especially the first that I remember enjoying a lot, but that was so many years ago I couldn't compare them to recent ones.
Having a bit of a comfort/clamp issue with the Celestee, despite loving the passive isolation and sound, so I've been fantasizing about Denon 5200 (and 9200 as a potential endgame) on the close back side...
 
The Denons do lack attenuation from outside noises (which one usually buys a closed headphone for) because of the 'acoustic optimiser' which basically is an intentional leakage from the outside to the rear of the driver... kind of a bass-port.

The Denons are very comfortable and sound 'lush'.
 
Sennheiser HD660s - I use these in my studio or living room when it's too late for speakers;
Austrian Audio x60 - I use these in the house when my girlfriend is watching something I don't like, in the train and in the office.
 
The Denons do lack attenuation from outside noises (which one usually buys a closed headphone for) because of the 'acoustic optimiser' which basically is an intentional leakage from the outside to the rear of the driver... kind of a bass-port.

The Denons are very comfortable and sound 'lush'.
Yes, absolutely, I did read that. That would not necessarily be a big issue for me for a relatively quiet (voice level of noise) office setting for example, and great comfort would be a huge plus. However, I haven't seen anything about what seems to be the potential (and crucial) consequence of this lacking attenuation : do you know if they also leak a lot of sound to the outside ? Which the open back SH do a lot, and which the Focal has the strength to largely avoid
 
There is some leakage to the outside when you play it really loud.
 
How do you like the JT1? What do you use to drive them?
Just measured/reviewed the FiiO (jade Audio) FT1
 
I got my first pair of "big boy" headphones: FiiO FT1s. I should have them on the 6th, and I am looking forward to moving away from the Apple Earpods I've been using for years :cool:
 
Wow :D with such a list, any favorites, standouts, etc.?

Wondering particularly of your opinion of some of those old AKGs like the K501 and K1000! Also always found the Sony MA900 interesting but never found a copy. Had a lower end MA300 and it was not good.
I started in 1994 with an AKG 500 that cost me 300 DM. For a poor student, it was a lot of money back then, especially for headphones, even for a normal person. But I still have them. They work like the first day and are definitely one of the most comfortable headphones I know. They sound wonderfully airy, spacious, but with little bass. The K501 has more bass and is considered by some to be the best AKG. OK, I wouldn't go that far, as there is also a K812 or even headphones like Austrian Audio The Composer. But all of these cost 10x-20x more ....

The K1000 runs without competition. It's simply a legend with unique design. They are not headphones, but ear speakers. They do not touch the ears and hang right and left in front of the ear with air in between. What a cool thing. With little bass, but unrivaled airiness. No matter what complex, orchestral music, how loud you listen to, it never gets on your nerves, it always keeps the overview, where with many more expensive headphones you are forced to reduce the volume because the sound somehow disturbs you.
I only realized it again recently when I listened to the following track: Spikey Cars (Extended Version) Junkie XL - Mad Max: Fury Road (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)

I don't see the headphones as competitors, but rather find at least one characteristic in each headphone that it does best. Regardless of the price, depending on the music, mood and situation, each headphone can be better than a significantly more expensive headphone. For some tracks, for example, I like the Aune AR5000 (ca. 350 USD) better than the SUSVARA (7 kUSD). No lie. But that doesn't make the AR5000 “better” than the SUSVARA, which is of course in a different league ...
 
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About the Sony MDR-MA900
It's a great pair of headphones, very light at just 111g, Magnesium construction, angled 70mm(!) drivers, and very airy sound, with amazing bass. However, a little dark for my taste, not to say warm, which some people like more, like the HD 650, for example. I'm more of a bright listener.
Of course, I also have a version modded with mini-XLR jacks, which I use with Van den Hul cables. Because, I once bought it from a studio/sound engineer. :)
 
im running some bose qc15 (actually the third now) for 12 years as my PC headset.

it doesnt measure well i believe (couldnt find any measurements on it as its ancient). its not even wireless.
but then why?

ive tried many in the past, in ear, over ear from all different brands, cheap, expensive. all of them didnt even came close. not even the newer bose versions of it.
if they did sound great, they had terrible comfort, if they had good comfort they didnt had ANC, didnt sound great or other issues.... none of them ever ticked all boxes

except the qc15

- i can wear them for 12+ hours non stop without stress, fatigue, ear pain or any moisture buildup (see sony xm5 and apple airpods max moisture damage issues...)
they like disappear on your head. i sometimes forget that im wearing them and pull my audio interface off my desk when standing up
- the battery for the ANC lasts me 1...2 weeks and is a rechargeable AAA which i can swap in 5 seconds instead of having a charging cable hanging there for 30mins every 2 days when i forget to charge it. and its easily replaced when i fails or becomes too low capacity.
- it has good, i mean really good ANC. even just a laptop fan becomes annoying if you are used to good anc. you can play music quietly and still hear everything without it getting fatiguing.
- changeable ear pads that cost almost nothing. from PU leather to real leather and "cooling gel" pads, replaced in a minute and cost less than 15 bucks.
- its just ON / OFF. no app fiddling, no modes. completely analog inside, no dsp.
- if a driver breaks (which is very unlikely on the qc15 compared to 25 and newer, where it happens a lot) i wouldnt replace them with no-name but get a used qc15 off ebay for 10..15 bucks and be happy for another 1..2 years. thats how one of my three have failed. the other one developed a very slight hissing
- that weird bose cable plug. yes its non standard i get it but i use mine as a headset, so i attached a microphone there and wired it up to a 2x3.5mm cable.
do that on a 3.5mm or (with the newer bose) 2.5mm jack.. it will break off immediately
- its robust. heck its indestructable. they landing on the floor, get thrown around. they can take it. never had a cable break or hinge snapping.
- it sound is good to me, not the best but good enough for a all day, every day. it goes low and it can do it at a good level. highs doesnt sound distorted or have any sibilance to me, cant relate the saying "no highs, now lows, must be a bose" in this case. but i can say all of the newer (qc25, 35, ultra etc.) are a step back in my opinion
 
I started in 1994 with an AKG 500 that cost me 300 DM. For a poor student, it was a lot of money back then, especially for headphones, even for a normal person. But I still have them. They work like the first day and are definitely one of the most comfortable headphones I know. They sound wonderfully airy, spacious, but with little bass. The K501 has more bass and is considered by some to be the best AKG. OK, I wouldn't go that far, as there is also a K812 or even headphones like Austrian Audio The Composer. But all of these cost 10x-20x more ....

The K1000 runs without competition. It's simply a legend with unique design. They are not headphones, but ear speakers. They do not touch the ears and hang right and left in front of the ear with air in between. What a cool thing. With little bass, but unrivaled airiness. No matter what complex, orchestral music, how loud you listen to, it never gets on your nerves, it always keeps the overview, where with many more expensive headphones you are forced to reduce the volume because the sound somehow disturbs you.
I only realized it again recently when I listened to the following track: Spikey Cars (Extended Version) Junkie XL - Mad Max: Fury Road (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)

I don't see the headphones as competitors, but rather find at least one characteristic in each headphone that it does best. Regardless of the price, depending on the music, mood and situation, each headphone can be better than a significantly more expensive headphone. For some tracks, for example, I like the Aune AR5000 (ca. 350 USD) better than the SUSVARA (7 kUSD). No lie. But that doesn't make the AR5000 “better” than the SUSVARA, which is of course in a different league ...
Impressive, what amplifier do they drive with?
 
Impressive, what amplifier do they drive with?
With so many headphones, I naturally also have a lot of amplifiers and DACs. Among others, I use SPL Phonitor XE DAC768, Questyle Fifteen, Questyle Twelve Master, Violectric V281, C.E.C. HD53N, Pro-Ject Head Box DS2 Balanced, Topping D90, massdrop THX AAA 789, ... and portable devices such as Questyle CMA18p, Chord Mojo 2, ifi micro iDSD Signature, Cayin RU7, Questyle M15, Dragonfly Cobalt, LOTOO PAW S1, ifi Go Bar ....
I use the Cayin N7 (DAP, Amp) and Cayin C9 (hybrid tube amp) as an endgame duo for portable solutions.
This means that I can try out a combination that I didn't have before almost every day, as the mood takes me.
It's very exciting and fun because there are always surprises. I know it's a luxury, but I'm well aware of it :)

Currentyl I am checking the set Ferrum OOR + HYPSOS to drive my SUSVARA.
 
Only two that I use fairly often and I seem to skew towards “vintage” in all my audio gear:

Pioneer Monitor 10

IMG_7934.jpeg


My favorites and most used- Sansui SS35 monitors

IMG_7935.jpeg
 
Current fleet:
Audio Technica ATH-R70x
Audio Technica ATH-M50x
Beyerdynamic DT1990 250
Beyerdynamic DT880 Edition 600 (balance mod)
Beyerdynamic DT770 Pro Limited 250 (balance mod)
Dan Clark Audio Aeon X Open
Dan Clark Audio Aeon X Closed
Hifiman Sundara Closed (Custom Cans Edition)
Hifiman HE400SE (Custom Cans Edition)
Hifiman HE6SEV2
Sennheiser HD6XX
Fiio FD5
Simgot EA500LM
Simgot EA200
Truthears Crinacle Zero Red
5 Proprietary (client prototype) Hybrid Dynamic/Electrostatic headphone prototypes of various versions
5 Proprietary (client prototype) IEMS of various shapes colors and flavors
Probably 5 TWS IEMS from Sony, Sennheiser and Fiio
Sony WH-1000XM5
Sennheiser Momentum 4

I think there are some Sony studio cans poking around somewhere and probably another Hifman or two I'm forgetting. I have 3 Topping amps, 4 Topping DACs, 2 Fiio DAC/Amps, 3 Proprietary client DAC/Amps, an Xduoo TA-66 OTL amp, a home brew OTC amp, a G1217 Project Polaris amp, a home made R2R DAC from the 1990's and like 20 other dongle DACs poking around to run all this garbage. I think I need to have a garage sale.
 
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