What headphone(s) do you own ?

[etc6849]

That's not for me... I could never do better than professionally done headphone measurements like Oratory1990's or VSG's measurements (although there are always small variations in headphones, I'm just not sure my ear is that good to account for them). The Harmon 2018 target curve sounds really good to me as well.

I did go freestyle in my theater with the target curve (I like a downward sloping curve with ~5dB more for lower bass), but that's not headphones... Plus I still measured everything with RoomEQ Wizard, so not sure how freestyle it is.

Have you attempted going freestyle on the PEQ settings and adjusting by ear to see what comes of that?

 

[Doodski]

there are always small variations in headphones

There are variations in each persons' ears too. That's why I asked if you ever go freestyle.

 

[hurricane]

AirPods Pro 2
Shure SRH840
B&O H6
7hz zero 2

 

[drdominodog51]

This is my current collection in order of preference.

Fiio FT1 Pro
Moondrop Chu II
HD 6XX
Sony MDR-M1
MDR-7506s

I just picked up the FT1 Pros this week and they’re easily my favorite. The factory tuning on those is perfectly in-line with what I like (compared to the HD6XX eqed to the Harmon curve or anything else I’ve tried), but the bass clipping at relatively high volumes is slightly annoying.

 

[etc6849]

Yep, I'm not against having a 3d scan done someday of my ears and head for a custom head related transfer function, then adjusting the EQ using maths. I just think my ears could be fooled if I just start changing stuff based on sound.

There are variations in each persons' ears too. That's why I asked if you ever go freestyle.

 

[Svperstar]

Dropped off my Audeze CRBN yesterday to be upgraded to CRBN2. As a bass head I am excited as bass seems to be the primary focus of the improvement of CRBN2 but apparently everything is upgraded, not just adding a bass port.

 

[johny_2000]

Dropped off my Audeze CRBN yesterday to be upgraded to CRBN2. As a bass head I am excited as bass seems to be the primary focus of the improvement of CRBN2 but apparently everything is upgraded, not just adding a bass port.

It would be interesting to hear from you about your CRBN2 experience.

 

[JoetheLion]

Focal Utopia 2022.

I had the Focal Clear for a long time. A great pair of headphones. But the better is the enemy of the good, so I sold the Clear and invested in the Utopia.

Interesting observation: I had a wow effect for the first thirty seconds, everything sounded (even) better.

But that fades over time. The longer I remember the Clear, the more I wonder whether the Utopia really makes such a big difference that it is worth (to me) three times the price. In the meantime, I no longer believe that. If you don't have a direct comparison, you “get used” to the good sound of a good headphone and don't miss the even better sound of a considerably more expensive one.

Just as you certainly don't do yourself any favors if you eat in a three-star restaurant every day.

So I think I would enjoy headphones like the Denon AH-D9200 or the Dan Clark Audio Noire X just as much. And would give me the better feeling that I hadn't spent several times as much.

 

[IXOYE]

I own Sennheiser HD600 and HD800s and see no reason to upgrade at all

 

[Svperstar]

I own Sennheiser HD600 and HD800s and see no reason to upgrade at all

I told myself that when I got the HD800. Great headphone

Been interested in electrostats for 20 years and curiosity finally killed the wallet

 

[johny_2000]

Been interested in electrostats for 20 years and curiosity finally killed the wallet

What amplifier did you connect them to?

 

[Svperstar]

What amplifier did you connect them to?

I have my gear listed in my sig. I started with the Stax T1S completely unmodded, then I moved to the Stax 717, then finally a Blue Hawaii BJT and Carbon. I bought everything used.

Also picked up the Topping EHA5 out of curiosity and its a great starter amp, I just wish it didn't shut itself off with heavy EQ applied.

 

[m0pher]

My first real headphones were the Audeze EL-8 Titanium cans that were released I think primarily as a demo product to show off what was possible via the then-new Lightning port on iPhones and the DAC/amp that was engineered within the Cipher cable. They went with me everywhere and the build quality wasn't great, so last year I replaced them with the Meze Empyrean II, DCA E3 and ZMF Caldera Closed.

 

[hvbias]

Focal Utopia 2022.

I had the Focal Clear for a long time. A great pair of headphones. But the better is the enemy of the good, so I sold the Clear and invested in the Utopia.

Interesting observation: I had a wow effect for the first thirty seconds, everything sounded (even) better.

But that fades over time. The longer I remember the Clear, the more I wonder whether the Utopia really makes such a big difference that it is worth (to me) three times the price. In the meantime, I no longer believe that. If you don't have a direct comparison, you “get used” to the good sound of a good headphone and don't miss the even better sound of a considerably more expensive one.

Just as you certainly don't do yourself any favors if you eat in a three-star restaurant every day.

So I think I would enjoy headphones like the Denon AH-D9200 or the Dan Clark Audio Noire X just as much. And would give me the better feeling that I hadn't spent several times as much.

How do you think the Focal Utopia compare to Sennheiser HD580/600/650 if you owned them?

 

[Mikig]

Don't insult me though!
AirPods Pro2! The only ones I use. Even though I have two headphone amplifiers and a very basic old one, I don't use them.

Question: how does an AirPods 2 pro like mine fit into the headphone panorama, in terms of objective performance? The functionality is wonderful, very complete, but in terms of performance?

 

[Somafunk]

Don't insult me though!
AirPods Pro2! The only ones I use. Even though I have two headphone amplifiers and a very basic old one, I don't use them.

Question: how does an AirPods 2 pro like mine fit into the headphone panorama, in terms of objective performance? The functionality is wonderful, very complete, but in terms of performance?

In terms of performance?, perfectly decent and endgame for 99% of the population who can now forget about headphone angst and get on with their lives and experience joy.

 

[Mikig]

In terms of performance?, perfectly decent and endgame for 99% of the population who can now forget about headphone angst and get on with their lives and experience joy.

Thanks for the reply!

 

[Robbo99999]

Don't insult me though!
AirPods Pro2! The only ones I use. Even though I have two headphone amplifiers and a very basic old one, I don't use them.

Question: how does an AirPods 2 pro like mine fit into the headphone panorama, in terms of objective performance? The functionality is wonderful, very complete, but in terms of performance?

You could experiment by buying a cheap IEM that's been measured here on ASR that fits the Harman Curve, I think there's a few that are close to Harman Curve for only 20 odd dollars, along with low distortion. Beyond that I wouldn't get obsessed with it. You've spent $20 and if you like it then you keep it and that's it.

A quick search here on ASR & I'd recommend one of these to try:

7Hz Salnotes Zero IEM Review

This is a review, listening tests and detailed measurements of the 7Hz Salnotes Zero IEM. It was kindly donated by a member and costs US $22 ($20 on Amazon now). The molded plastic looks cheep and the left and right markings barely visible. The included tip was extra soft/thin which may be a...

www.audiosciencereview.com

7Hz x Crinacle Zero:2 IEM Review

This is a review, listening tests, EQ and detailed measurements of the 7Hz x Crinacle Zero:2 IEM. It was kindly donated to me by a member and costs US $24.99. The cable is soft and longer than typical which I like. They take fair amount of effort to push it but then they make a reassuring...

www.audiosciencereview.com

 

[Mikig]

You could experiment by buying a cheap IEM that's been measured here on ASR that fits the Harman Curve, I think there's a few that are close to Harman Curve for only 20 odd dollars, along with low distortion. Beyond that I wouldn't get obsessed with it. You've spent $20 and if you like it then you keep it and that's it.

A quick search here on ASR & I'd recommend one of these to try:

7Hz Salnotes Zero IEM Review

This is a review, listening tests and detailed measurements of the 7Hz Salnotes Zero IEM. It was kindly donated by a member and costs US $22 ($20 on Amazon now). The molded plastic looks cheep and the left and right markings barely visible. The included tip was extra soft/thin which may be a...

www.audiosciencereview.com

7Hz x Crinacle Zero:2 IEM Review

This is a review, listening tests, EQ and detailed measurements of the 7Hz x Crinacle Zero:2 IEM. It was kindly donated to me by a member and costs US $24.99. The cable is soft and longer than typical which I like. They take fair amount of effort to push it but then they make a reassuring...

www.audiosciencereview.com

thanks, but if I want to use these with an iPhone I would need the famous dongle, right?

 

[Robbo99999]

thanks, but if I want to use these with an iPhone I would need the famous dongle, right?

I guess so, and that would be perfectly fine, Apple Dongle was less than $10 wasn't it, and it's good enough in terms of enough power and it measures good enough to not be an audible issue. Amir measured it here way back in 2018:

Review: Apple vs Google USB-C Headphone Adapters

This is a review, detailed measurements and comparison of Apple's USB-C adapter to the current and last version of Google Pixel headphone adapters. The Apple adapter costs just $9 including one day shipping for free. The Google dongle costs $12. Not that any of these are large by any stretch...

www.audiosciencereview.com