For me this is an inevitable consequence of people who buy several things to try then return the ones they don't like.Amazon just repackaging returned products and selling them to others. That's the problem with them.
I like the X2 not for music or critical listening, I think it is only good for bass-based action games and movies.Hi,
Have any of you guys tried the Philips Fidelio X2? (open backs 50 mm driver). They reproduce the auditory dynamism of the bass & punch of percussive music comparably satisfactory . The only other open back, mid priced, headphones l've owned that produced a discernable "bass drum a like" low end were some hifiman planars. I think they were HD400's, though not as light & comfortable as the X2's.
I wrote up this review almost 5 years ago now.
https://www.head-fi.org/threads/mid-fi-challenger-phillips-fidelio-x2-vs-sennheiser-hd650.776490/
I like the X2 not for music or critical listening, I think it is only good for bass-based action games and movies.
If you are well acquainted with decently setup bookshelf speakers already, I would suggest you give the Raal SR1a a listen. They are open by design, so will not be a like for like comparison with any closed headphones.
Its a radically different listening experience to typical ToTL headphones you might have tried.
Something like an open Superlux, I think.What other open back dynamic headphone ,within the same price range, do you suggest competes with the X2 for low end production. FYI, it won't have a smaller driver.
Koss Pro DJ 100 - Tony Bennett edition
This is really just an early DJ200 I think.
This is by far one of my all time favorite headphones, but only with the M50 pads.
In the last 20 years i've probably owned 20 of these. I prefer it to the Shure SRH-840 and old M50.
Sennheiser Franken HD-650
I took my old HD-580 frame and installed HD-650 drivers and the HD-650 grill.
Does it measure different still? Possibly due to less clamp.
Rarely gets any use these days. Sounds sort of muffled at times, but just barely.
I never was a fan of the HD-600, but do like this a lot.
AKG Q701 bass modded
Probably my #2 all time favorite headphone and has gotten the most use.
The bass mod really improves the sound of this and it will NEVER be reversed.
My only issue with this is that the comfort is very good, but not great.
It does make some creaking sounds if you have glasses.
Beyerdynamic DT-990 Pro (250 ohm)
By far my favorite headphone between all versions of the DT-770, 880 and 990.
I actually find the DT-880 too boring (and not just because of my music!).
Weird fact, I can't use the DT-880 without pain because the cups are too shallow. I don't even have big ears!
Another weird fact, I had a DT-770 600 ohm that was one of the most neutral headphones I ever heard.
Must have been a defect!
Anyway, this DT-990 gets the most use NOW out of anything I own. I love it.
Mine doesn't have excessive bass (not much clamp) or too much treble. It's perfect to me.
I love the slightly extra low bass it has over the HD-650 and Q701.
What amazes me about this headphone is how dramatically different it sounds between tracks.
I don't experience this much with the HD-650 or Q701 (but did on the K712!).
AKG K400 EP/LP
With the Q701 there is no reason to listen to these.
I don't find them to be anything special and are severely lacking in bass.
I actually scored an EP new in box on Amazon for about $50 a few years ago.
Box smelled like it had been in someones garage for 20 years though!
PS I wish I still owned the K601. I preferred that over the OLD K701, but not the Q701.
I enjoyed reading your write-up.
I know you can still get DT-990 Pro (250ohm) new.
How old are your 990 Pro's? What headphone amp do you use?
Were your 880's the 600 ohm version?
S.
The DT-990 Pro was purchased new by me about 2-3 years ago. Loved them ever since and could easily stick with these as my only headphone. They are an absolute steal IMO when they are often on sale for $130 or so.
One regret I have had when I once had a headphone addiction was that I purchased too many varieties of the DT-770, 880 and 990. I think I tried them all. When I say that, I mean 32ohm, 250ohm and 600ohm etc. I know some will say here that they sound the same, but I think they may measure slightly different.
My 2nd favorite might be the DT-770 Pro 80, but that had massive amounts of low bass. Way too much for me really.
Also read there are some DT-770 600 ohm versions out there that are a bass monster.
Right now I use the Schiit Magni 3+ and love it for all my headphones. I picked that over the Heresy and don't regret it at all.
For the last 8 years and still today I also use the Headroom Micro Amp. Has tons of power and drives everything i've thrown at it. Transparent IMO but never saw measurements. It was my old upgrade from the terrible Asgard 1.
Micro Amp sounds extremely similar to the Magni 3+, but for some reason the Magni 3+ makes my brain think there is a wider soundstage. Bizarre right? I wonder what changes cause my brain to think this? In a blind test, this is the only change I would notice maybe.
I noticed this on my DJ100 and DT-990 Pro when I upgraded to the Magni 3+.
Makes the DT-990 Pro and DJ100 almost sound like open headphones.
Don't you find the DT990 to be too treble heavy? Usually when I make adjustments on mixes with them, I end up correcting the highs because I tend to muffle things when i use the dt990. I find the DT770 more balanced in the treble but still a tiny bit much for my taste.Koss Pro DJ 100 - Tony Bennett edition
This is really just an early DJ200 I think.
This is by far one of my all time favorite headphones, but only with the M50 pads.
In the last 20 years i've probably owned 20 of these. I prefer it to the Shure SRH-840 and old M50.
Sennheiser Franken HD-650
I took my old HD-580 frame and installed HD-650 drivers and the HD-650 grill.
Does it measure different still? Possibly due to less clamp.
Rarely gets any use these days. Sounds sort of muffled at times, but just barely.
I never was a fan of the HD-600, but do like this a lot.
AKG Q701 bass modded
Probably my #2 all time favorite headphone and has gotten the most use.
The bass mod really improves the sound of this and it will NEVER be reversed.
My only issue with this is that the comfort is very good, but not great.
It does make some creaking sounds if you have glasses.
Beyerdynamic DT-990 Pro (250 ohm)
By far my favorite headphone between all versions of the DT-770, 880 and 990.
I actually find the DT-880 too boring (and not just because of my music!).
Weird fact, I can't use the DT-880 without pain because the cups are too shallow. I don't even have big ears!
Another weird fact, I had a DT-770 600 ohm that was one of the most neutral headphones I ever heard.
Must have been a defect!
Anyway, this DT-990 gets the most use NOW out of anything I own. I love it.
Mine doesn't have excessive bass (not much clamp) or too much treble. It's perfect to me.
I love the slightly extra low bass it has over the HD-650 and Q701.
What amazes me about this headphone is how dramatically different it sounds between tracks.
I don't experience this much with the HD-650 or Q701 (but did on the K712!).
AKG K400 EP/LP
With the Q701 there is no reason to listen to these.
I don't find them to be anything special and are severely lacking in bass.
I actually scored an EP new in box on Amazon for about $50 a few years ago.
Box smelled like it had been in someones garage for 20 years though!
PS I wish I still owned the K601. I preferred that over the OLD K701, but not the Q701.