What was your first pair of high-end headphones?

I had a couple of pairs of Grado RS2 (the original and the e version) but not exactly high end. I now have GS3000e which are the only headphones I’ve been happy with.

 

Yamaha HP-1's too. Had them till about 1995 when my 5 year old stepped on them and broke them. I hope he's doing well with the Gypsy family I shipped him off to.

 

I had those, too! The price seemed astronomical to me. And YES. They hurt after a while.

 

The AAA's are lighter and more a bit more comfortable. The highs are more balanced on them as well. Both have excellent bottom end and pretty much eliminate outside noise. They are heavier cans and I could never wear them for multiple hours, but then again, its just a matter of time until any headphone,
including inner ears will become uncomfortable. I've replaced the gel-filled ear cushions over the years and both pairs are still good to go.

 

What do you think about these? Are they worth the big price? I am thinking about getting them!

 

Not much into headphones. Only got them because the wife didn't want to hear my music all the time
But my first high-end(for me) are the Grados Prestige SR325 that I got last year....from the wife for Xmas.

 

I love the Denon neutral sound! Especially after taking full control away from Fostex.

 

Likewise. IMHO they're the best closed backs for the price point hands down. Now if I could only figure out a way to afford the AH-D9200.

 

I love mine and they're worth every penny. I found mine used and in like new condition on EBay for $625 shipped. Great bass, mids, and highs with a deep soundstage. Go for it!

 

The only expensive headphones I have ever owned are the Grado SR325is. They still perform wonderfully and I see no need to look further.

 

My first "audiophile" headphones were a at-the-time new technology pair of Wharfedale 1D1 Orthodynamic headphones. Ugly, clumsy, and they needed regular loudspeaker power, but for their time they sounded wonderful. I still have them, along with Stax and Sennheiser headphones I have picked up along the way. I currently use HD-650s most of the time when not using regular speakers.

 

Say Hey timind,

Yes, I have a weakness for these too. You inspired me to pull these out and have a listen tonight. Thanks! Sennheiser HD-420.

 

I bought a pair of Koss HV-1 phones in the 70's


Followed by the Koss Pro4AAA



I have replaced the pads on both over the years and still have them both... still working just fine...

These days, I use various Grado phones, which bear a striking resemblance to my original Koss HV-1 phones...

 

HiFi Man HE400. Still have them. I was late to the high end headphone party . They still sound awesome !

 

Tbh, i was hoping to see some late bloomers in this thread. A few of these headphones are discontinued Lol

 

I’m a headphone guy, but I won’t pay silly money for them. My favorite open-backs are the Sennheiser HD660s. If I need to use closed backs, I use the Sony MDR-1am2. And for in ears I love my Etymotic ER4-P2, made in Wisconsin!

 

My first high-end headphone was a Sennheiser HD580 a bit over 20 years ago. The HD580 sill can hang with the high-end headphones of today when paired with a good tube amp.

Unfortunately for me I didn't discover good headphone amps for another 10 or 15 years. I never knew what the HD580 were capable of when I bought them and still didn't know for over 10 years after owning them. It wasn't until around 2008 that I went to my first head-fi headphone meet and heard what the Senn 580 could sound like from a really good tube amp. Wow! Unfortunately my reaction to that was that an amp like that costs about $3000 too much. I was convinced I could achieve a similar wonderful sound for $500 or less. So I churned through several sub $500 amps in pursuit of that futile dream that lower cost amps could do. Wasting money in the process that could have been better spent on just buying a big-boy amp in the first place. It took me until 2014 to realize the futility and buy a big-boy amp (a used Cavalli Liquid Fire). Still only a hybrid. So I'm still only half-way there to tube nirvana. I do plan to buy a pure tube amp eventually to pair with my hybrids.

The problem with high-end headphones is that there is no end-game headphone. You'd think that by spending $1800+ on a headphone you'd be able to get something with no compromises and be end-game. That is not the case. The $1800+ headphone game is much the same as the sub $500 headphone game. Just with more money on the line if you make a mistake. The $1800+ headphone game is the same as the sub $500 headphone game. There is no best $1800+ headphone or end-game $1800+ headphone. All have faults that lead you to wanting/needing another $1800+ headphone to pair with it to compensate for those faults. Much like playing the sub $500 game where you end up with 2 or 3 sub $500 headphones that each compensate for the faults of the others. The high-end headphone game is no different. You're just playing with headphones that cost $1800+.

I'm on the hunt for a $1800+ headphone that gets me to want just that one headphone at that price level. It's like looking for a unicorn.

 

Hey there Penny24,

You crack me up. If you want a current, audiophile headphone to get started, grab a Sennheiser HD-600, 6XX, 650 and you will thank me later.

After that you can branch out in many directions and they are all good.

Big T

 

My first truly high-end headphone was/is the Fostex TH900 mk2.

No I don't believe in there being one ultimate headphone for someone: diversity is wonderful.

 

Stax SRD-7 / SR-X. Only ones I've ever owned. Still use them daily.

 

My first “real” pair of headphones were the Beyerdynamic DT 880’s. The 300 ohm version.

I didn’t have a proper headphone amp when I purchased them, it was only after using a Headamp Gilmore V2-SE that I heard what those cans could sound like.
That was my headphone Gateway drug.

 

Koss Pro4AA-->HD430-->HD580-->Headphile K-340-->Team Grado. @Tyler ...I have a modded V2-SE in my second system. Great amp!!

 

Beyerdynamics DT990 Pro. Don’t know if they classify as high end but they sound pretty good.

 

Say Hey Tyler,

Wish I was in Hawaii this morning and telling you this personally on the beach. However, since that isn't happening until my vaccine arrives, please know that I agree with you!

The DT-880/250 with the Bottlehead Crack/Speedball is something special. Every record spinning is a memorable experience! I use a Schitt Mani phono preamp to dig out the sound in the grooves. Along with the Shure V15 Type IV it will grab your attention, to say the least!

Mahalo.

Big T

 

At that price, at least be sure to get a stereocorn...