What are your go-to headphones?

Discussion in 'Audio Hardware' started by Penny24, Jan 19, 2021.

  1. peskypesky

    peskypesky Forum Resident

    Location:
    Satantonio, Texas
    Takstar Pro-82.


    [​IMG]
     
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  2. Mayidunk

    Mayidunk Just passin' through...

    Location:
    New England
    Beyerdynamic DT880, 600 ohms.
     
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  3. Swann36

    Swann36 A widower finding solace in music

    Location:
    Lincoln, UK
    I have a few pairs .....i should explain that i suffer from tinitus which means for prolonged spells at times i cannot tolerate listening to headphones at all...although i do use them for listening to some tinitus therapy sounds ...i can't call it music ...but an hour or so does ease things for me ... during these spells i can tolerate music through loudspeakers and indeed it gives me great listening pleasure.

    Right onto the headphones

    When i can listen well, my best serious listening is with the Stax L300 Ltds which bring out many details that my ears miss with anything else and volume increases simply allow more & more within the music come through without making it too loud, although the SR-Xs (converted to run off pro bias so the same headamp as the L300s) do run them close, for everyday brief or less serious listening it's either the Ethers or NightHawks both give an open & airy sound, if i need isolation then it's the Ultrasone's they are very light but do give a 'closed in sound', the M&D MH40s are my take anywhere phones now, which the Ultrasones used to be.

    MrSpeakers Ethers (originals)

    [​IMG]

    AudioQuest NightHawks

    [​IMG]

    Stax SR-X
    [​IMG]

    Stax L300 Ltd

    [​IMG]

    Ultrasone Edition 8

    [​IMG]

    Master & Dynamic MH40 which i can't add as a pic ...
     
  4. FrankieP

    FrankieP Forum Resident

    God, i can’t even remember when I first got my Sony MDR-7506. Pretty sure it was before my kids were born so probably 1999-2001. Still have it and use it. Just changed the pads every so often. My other go to ( for studio work) is the Focal Spirit Professional.
     
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  5. Mike Rivera

    Mike Rivera Senior Member

    Location:
    Northeast Florida
    I have at least five pairs of headphones, but my go-to are my Sennheiser HD 580 and my Grado SR225. I bought both over ten years ago and love them both equally, in different ways ...

    The laws of diminishing returns keeps me from buying newer models ... These both sound very nice ...
     
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  6. Juan Matus

    Juan Matus Reformed Audiophile

    I have the Sennheiser HD600 but to be honest don't use them all that often.
     
  7. johnny q

    johnny q Forum Resident

    Location:
    Bergen County, NJ
    Grado SR225.....…..despite my constant complaining about them :)
     
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  8. fuse999

    fuse999 Forum Resident

    Location:
    Texas
    Sennheiser HD800
     
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  9. Speedmaster

    Speedmaster We’re all walking through this darkness on our own

    Location:
    The Netherlands
    Hi, been reading through this thread because I’m looking for a good (entry level) audiophile headphone to pair with a Marantz PM5005.

    Which one would you guys advice me to buy (budget is 200,- max)?
     
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  10. TerryB

    TerryB Forum Resident

    Location:
    Calais, VT
    My killer closed backs are the Shure 1540.
     
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  11. Black Elk

    Black Elk Music Lover

    Location:
    Bay Area, U.S.A.
    The Massdrop Sennheiser HD6XX. They will grow with you as the quality of your headphone amps and sources improve.
     
  12. Ephi82

    Ephi82 Still have two ears working

    Location:
    S FL
    The Denon AHD series are outstanding, particularly if you like low end without boom. They are accurate and balanced enough to use for critical listening to augment my JBL monitors when I mix in my home studio. Unfortunately, I think these were discontinued but I highly suggest finding lightly used ones, if you can find them.

    I also like my Audio Technical M-50x which fold up nicely for travel and sound excellent for the price point. These also handle the low end in a satisfying manner.

    the Beyer Dynamic DT 770 are workhorses in the studio when recording and are very comfortable and stay on your head. They really kick in the low end, and that’s why drummers and bassists love them. They aren’t the most transparent and accurate, but if you crave a lot from the low frequencies, these will deliver without excessive boominess
     
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  13. PineBark

    PineBark formerly known as BackScratcher

    Location:
    Boston area
    Hifiman HE-560 (open back)
    MrSpeakers Ether Flow C (closed back)
    Shure SE 530 IEMs for on-the-go
     
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  14. slovell

    slovell Retired Mudshark

    Location:
    Chesnee, SC, USA
    I've read good things about them, but I've never had a chance to hear them.
     
  15. TimB

    TimB Pop, Rock and Blues for me!

    Location:
    Colorado
    I have a ton of headphones, and I do most of my listening with them. Mostly I use one of my electrostatics, bu I use my Koss esp950 the most.
     
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  16. TimB

    TimB Pop, Rock and Blues for me!

    Location:
    Colorado
    When you no longer need the Stax SRX let me know. Mine are good, but it would be nice to have a second set.
     
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  17. ChrisR2060

    ChrisR2060 Stereo addict

    Location:
    North Carolina
    Mine are:

    Sony 7506 - I Acquired this headphone last year. I have kept it on my short list for way too long. I love it, neutral and detailed, isolating, but I have been using it only for conference calls lately because I also bought a few months ago...
    ... The Grado 225se - Great headphones, a little hard and bright in the long-run, not for all genre of music, but detailed with a surprisingly wide and deep soundstage giving a great sense of spaciousness, something I did not think was possible with headphones.
    AND the Sennheiser 598 (open back) - smooth, easy and comfortable when I get tired of the other two. Not impressive in terms of texture, dynamics, soundstage and details compared to the other two but easy to wear when I need laid back sound.

    I am now looking for a laidback, lush headphone (open back) that also offers texture and detail.
     
  18. concorde01

    concorde01 Active Member

    Location:
    New Zealand
    Sounds like Audeze LCD-2F should be considered (although I'm selling mine to fund an LCD-3F)
     
  19. Penny24

    Penny24 Forum Resident Thread Starter

    Location:
    San Francisco, Ca
    why not?
     
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  20. PopularChuck

    PopularChuck Senior Member

    Location:
    Bay Area
    Etymotic ER4XR in-ears with their balanced cable into an Earman Sparrow DAC/amp right into my MacBook Pro while working. It sounds remarkably good. My LFD amplifier doesn't have a headphone jack
     
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  21. Doc Diego

    Doc Diego Forum Resident

    Location:
    Nevada
    Home, an old pair of Sony MDR-V6. Outside, either the Shure se215 or JBL Reflect Flow iems. Budget but enjoyable.
     
  22. kevin

    kevin Senior Member

    Location:
    Evanston IL
    Grado SR125e's are my go to headphones.......well worth the cost imho.
     
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  23. Swann36

    Swann36 A widower finding solace in music

    Location:
    Lincoln, UK
    They are really good .... i got them from

    Mjölnir-Audio – Home of all things electrostatic

    He had uprated to pro-bias and refurbed the plates with film produced to his own specs & added the latest Stax 'silver' cables etc to ensure they would be fit for another 50 years service .... i power them & the L300 Ltds with a Stax 353X energiser.... as Mjolnir's own Head Amps are sadly a little beyond my budget at present, although i have read so many rave about them ...
     
  24. John Buchanan

    John Buchanan I'm just a headphone kind of fellow. Stax Sigma

    Birgir Gudjonsson (and Kevin Gilmore) design the amps together, AFAIK. Very competent team and anything they produce should be near bomb proof and be able to push the Stax headphones to the outer limits of what is possible.
     
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  25. tumpux

    tumpux Well-Known Member

    Location:
    NY
    When someone who has post about Stax phones since forever vouch for a builder, it is a sign that their product is worth to have.
     
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