I'm still relatively new (since 2020) to the audiophile world, but these are my current go-to headphones. Dynamic Driver: Sennheiser 6xx IEM: FiiO FA7 Planar Magnetic : Hifiman Sundara Also, I'm currently using a JDS Atom stack. Idk if I'll ever need to upgrade but once I cross over the 1k mark is when I'll consider it.
Wow, so many - I only have one head ESS Labs 452H Two Way headphone with Heil AMT Tweeter And a humble Schiit Magni 3+ Fed by a Quad CD67 CD Player
Modded Grado SR-325 with custom maple cups and Beautiful Sounds headband/pads for main rig, Grado HF-2 with Beautiful Sounds headband/pads for second rig. Closed cans AT MSR-7 with Brainwavz pads for computer rig.
Just raided my storage and found an ancient Telefunken TH (was it TR?) 600 Headphone And my old Sony cans which I bought for 40 Socks. But the sound like 20 socks ... Urgh, the Telefunken has mold on it and I remember it sounded like Campbells soup cans I throw it away
Currently evaluating after (foolishly) disposing of a set of Grado SR80e phones. Phones currently in flux: - Sennheiser HD 600 (2019 "Avantgarde" - same specs as prev incarnation) - Grado RS2e (still breaking in) - Sennheiser HD 599 (ivory / brown) [similar overall tonal character to the HD 600s] Tried and rejected: Grado "The Hemp Headphone" (lovely lower frequencies, decent mid-mids and sound stage; but, glass shatteringly shrill upper mids / lower trebs). The SR80es were wayyyy more enjoyable to listen to, at least for me. If the RS2es don't stay, then it may be a case of swallowing some wounded pride and plumping for a fresh set of SR80s. Or, explore some new (headphone) horizons.
I had never heard of the brand before, but one of the places I regularly buy from had a sale on Floyd Rose FR52BK headphones for $42., so I figured it was time to try something new. Sound quality is great and outside noise is virtually cancelled out.
Bose QC35II- ANC headphones for doing work around the house like mowing the lawn Bose NC700- ANC headphones for my all-day wireless work at home Microsoft Team calls and streaming movies on my tablet Bose Quiet Comfort Earbuds- wireless ANC buds for one the run listening
I don't like using headphones, never have. But I have a pair of Grado SR80e with Sennheiser earcups (which are more comfortable than stock).
Probably the Sennheiser HD650 w/ Silver Dragon cables for listening enjoyment, but when I’m editing a needle drop, I reach for my stock AKG K601. All get jacked into my Auralic Taurus MkII.
Senn 650 HiFiMan HE 400i when I want all the detail. I have more in the fleet but those are the constants.
started with hd650, then upgraded to modded hd800 with bass bost via ifi amps, and now im using Focal Utopia.
There are better cans I suppose, but I keep going back to the ones I've known for decades: on-air studio and at the compyooter: AKG K-240 production studio and critical listening: Sony MDR-7506 (with Beyerdynamic ear cushion replacements)(these also work with the MDR-V6's, by the way). I'm so satisfied landing on these choices so long ago, I may never have the curiosity for a headphone amp, or a $200 set of higher-end cans. My first headphones, were actually two midrange drivers taken from an old VM console stereo, padded by yellowing foam, and connected via an old coat hanger. And I went directly from that to Koss Pro-4AA's, until college. I've worn Sennheisers that leak around your head and cause studio mic feedback, rugged-but-clunky plastic-cushioned "sportscaster" headsets; one PD even made us walk around with earbuds plugged into walkman-like cassette-radios, so we were never out of touch with the air signal (unless we ventured into half the spots in the building where it cut out!); and I've tried almost every fellow jock's set of headphones, just to see what they were hearing. These days, there's no substitute for the sound you've "grown into". I could find better headphones, but I'll never get better familiarity.
Currently, I have 4 sets of headphones: Beyerdynamic T1 Gen. 2 (since 2018) LB-acoustics Mysphere 3.2 (since 2019) Neumann NDH20 (since 2020) Stax Lambda Nova Signature (since 1995) with an AKG K812 on the way - it was too cheap to resist. At the moment, the Beyerdynamic gets the most attention. This may change when we move out of our townhouse to a larger house.
I have a vintage pair of AKG K-340 electrostatic headphones. They are hard to drive high impedance cans. I drive them with a Darkvoice Tube Headphone amp. I switched the tubes that came with it to some NOS tubes. Its a poor man’s Stax alternative. It’s a nice combo revealing without being harsh, but I rarely listen to headphones. I like the sound of speakers. For everyday play, on the go, I have a nice pair of KEF M-400s that are collapsible. They have a mic in line so you can use them to talk on the phone too. They are not totally honest but they are fun. I got them on sale and they exceeded my expectations. At the price I paid I love them, but if I paid full price I would just be satisfied not overjoyed. I don’t want to lug around $200+ headphones in all kinds of weather. They can get lost or stolen it seems wasteful to me. Why use nice headphones to listen to compromised compressed music files in noisy distracting environments like the subway?