Which headphone(s) of "inferior prestige" do you come always back to?

[RikB]

Sennheiser HD598. Easy to drive without a headphone amp, really light and comfortable. They lack low end bass and the top end but everything sounds good on them.

 

[aravaioli]

Focal Clear, at least according to this forum.

That was funny....

 

[HereYaGo]

Sennheiser HD598. Easy to drive without a headphone amp, really light and comfortable. They lack low end bass and the top end but everything sounds good on them.

I got rid of the 598 after a couple of weeks of lying to myself. They were my first ever openback headphones and they were so highly rated on amazon at the time. They sounded very warm and veiled. Gunshots in counter-strike sounded dampened like they were muffled. I remember someone saying they sounded like listening to music from behind a closed door, lol. They are also where I learned the term "sennheiser veil"
Interestingly the HD560S seem to be nothing more than HD598 with more neutral fundamentals below 1khZ to get rid of their warmth and a ever so slight bass extension, lol. I ended up replacing my HD598SE with Philips 9500s cause at least they had treble clarity and neutral fundamentals.

 

[phrwn]

This is a good question. I've been using Cooler Master MH751's all week since I had to pack the E-Mu Teaks away amidst some minor construction. Suddenly the value of a slightly less delicate headphone seemed important and the CM's sound fine. In fact the Teaks better sound significantly better when I go back to them or they'll be out.

 

[markanini]

I got rid of the 598 after a couple of weeks of lying to myself. They were my first ever openback headphones and they were so highly rated on amazon at the time. They sounded very warm and veiled. Gunshots in counter-strike sounded dampened like they were muffled. I remember someone saying they sounded like listening to music from behind a closed door, lol. They are also where I learned the term "sennheiser veil"
Interestingly the HD560S seem to be nothing more than HD598 with more neutral fundamentals below 1khZ to get rid of their warmth and a ever so slight bass extension, lol. I ended up replacing my HD598SE with Philips 9500s cause at least they had treble clarity and neutral fundamentals.View attachment 130135

Additional foam in the back ports, absorbing the upper bass bump, could turn these into a HD560S performance. But the HD598 go for $200 already. At least it possible so save them with modding.

 

[Beershaun]

My Bluetooth headphones. Specifically my Sony wf-1000xm3. They are just too convenient and unobtrusive when out walking.

 

[Cylphio]

Ksc75 headband and balanced cable mod... wonderful 50 euro spent

 

[JWAmerica]

The HK AE-S IEM needs minimal EQ. It consistently sounds better than many more expensive headphones that I have tried. I am still looking for a worthy successor.

 

[don'ttrustauthority]

Koss KPH 30i

 

[jmos]

Vmoda m100 master for on the go use. These just sound right to me. Though they are not that popular

 

[_thelaughingman]

Koss Porta Pro Classic.

 

[JJB70]

The AKG IEMs that were bundled with my last mobile phone (Galaxy S10). Cheap (you might go as far as saying I paid nothing to get them) and yet surprisingly good and a very solid daily beater for commuting and uses where I might not want to risk something that cost more.

 

[Bernd]

That was funny....

Was it ??

 

[NiagaraPete]

Grado SR80e. Comforatble and I can hear the Mrs calling.

 

[Vuki]

DT770pro

 

[Thalis]

K240 MkII... daily driver actually

 

[xingfei]

"inferior 'prestige'" don't know but I still like my 2 decade old Coby CV-200, they got everything I need... the sound.

 

[HiFidFan]

Bose. They're my only pair, so I always go back to them.

 

[seerious]

I bought some CAL SE’s the other day and they’ve floored me.
They’re my second insta-recommendation after the Moondrop Aria.