Current Events > What headphones do you use most of the time CE?

(+) Yeah! (+)

Been a while since I talked about audio stuff. What are your main drivers for being out and about? Or at your console/desktop/TV?

For my desktop I've been using a Fiio E10k DAC + Amp and DT 990 Pro headphones. Super warm, decent bass, but I'm a sucker for good treble/high notes which these excel at. I really miss my legendary AD700s but my cat destroyed them last year.

For earbuds/phone I've been having a lot of trouble finding a pair that I like, tbh. I could definitely use some recommendations here.

ATH-HL7BT, through a Fiio K7

Open back, super comfy, would probably be the perfect sound signature if I didn't have high frequency hearing loss. Best headphones I ever bought. I think they're still Japan exclusive

MarthGoomba posted...

ATH-HL7BT

Those are beautiful! A friend had a pair. They're, funny enough, similar to the AD700s I was just talking about but with much more modern tech and an improved version of the same magnet drivers. Man, I feel you on the hearing loss, for me it's the other way around. I lost a lot of mid and low range hearing but my highs/treble recognition improved to compensate. These 990s are almost too warm for me, I need to crank the e10k to uncomfortable levels to get the balance I want. Fatigue is real.

How do you like your K7?

Sony ZX110NC Noise-Canceling Headphones

I don't typically use headphones, but they're fine for when my audio would be disruptive or there's background noise I want to diminish.

Giacomo_Hawkins posted...

Sony ZX110NC Noise-Canceling Headphones

I don't typically use headphones, but they're fine for when my audio would be disruptive or there's background noise I want to diminish.

I have a pair of noise canceling Sony WH1000xM4's and let me tell you, the triple price difference doesn't matter much. I'm genuinely not wild about Sony headphones. Their noise removal tech is second to none, it can genuinely drown out the train station or subway almost completely. I use them as glorified ear plugs. But the sound quality is such ass.

Just bought a new pair of ATH-A990Z headphones a couple weeks ago to replace my 15 year old ATH-A700s for my desktop PC usage. I kept them going with replacing the earpads and soldering new jacks on over the years but the plastic frame/swivel around the right ear broke apart. The current earpads and jack were both pretty worn down as well so figured it was time to lay them to rest. Still breaking these in a bit and tweaking the EQ settings to find a sound I like so not sure if I like them better yet or not.

I also have like a 10 year old set of ATH-S700 BT for use when I'm out or traveling (I don't use them much so they've lasted awhile) but I have a newer set of Sony XM4s for listening around the house (also used them at work when I used to have an office job).

C-zom posted...

How do you like your K7?

It's pretty much the perfect dac. Got it for its optical input so my Switch(through TV optical out) and PC can use the same headphones and speakers, with convenient toggles for everything.

Bose QuietComfort 35 II headphones for when I'm at the desktop or flying. Bose QuietComfort earbuds for walking or gym. Bose A20 aviation headset for when flying an airplane.

sony wh1000xm4

They are very comfortable, have Bluetooth and last 20 something hours before needing a new charge and most importantly they cancel noise.

Grado SR-225e

C-zom posted...

I have a pair of noise canceling Sony WH1000xM4's and let me tell you, the triple price difference doesn't matter much. I'm genuinely not wild about Sony headphones. Their noise removal tech is second to none, it can genuinely drown out the train station or subway almost completely. I use them as glorified ear plugs. But the sound quality is such ass.

Sound quality is good if you use tidal and play the 360 reality songs.

Bose QC 45s at home since they're super comfortable headphones

Jabra Elite 85t earbuds at the office

bose QC

Sony MDR-v6

AirPod pro 2

kage_53 posted...

Sound quality is good if you use tidal and play the 360 reality songs.

What do you mean 360 reality songs? I'll look into tidal!

Pitlord_Special posted...

Just bought a new pair of ATH-A990Z headphones a couple weeks ago to replace my 15 year old ATH-A700s for my desktop PC usage. I kept them going with replacing the earpads and soldering new jacks on over the years but the plastic frame/swivel around the right ear broke apart. The current earpads and jack were both pretty worn down as well so figured it was time to lay them to rest. Still breaking these in a bit and tweaking the EQ settings to find a sound I like so not sure if I like them better yet or not.

I also have like a 10 year old set of ATH-S700 BT for use when I'm out or traveling (I don't use them much so they've lasted awhile) but I have a newer set of Sony XM4s for listening around the house (also used them at work when I used to have an office job).

How are you liking the 990zs? I've heard good things, I haven't had time to demo a pair yet though.

Beyerdynamic DT770 80 ohms

With a fiios portable amp and a old astro mixamp pro TR that I use on the playstation or xbox.

MarthGoomba posted...

It's pretty much the perfect dac. Got it for its optical input so my Switch(through TV optical out) and PC can use the same headphones and speakers, with convenient toggles for everything.

Nice man. It looks dope. I have a Schiit Modi Multibit 2 for my "main" audio setup, so to speak, where I route my instruments or consoles through. It's a bit unwieldy, and I have mixed feelings about it. I've read similar reviews to my complaints and was actually thinking of swapping down in price point to a K7 since I find Fiio is a much more reliable company for build quality.

Edit: The MB2 needs a tube preamp and other highly expensive, niche audiophile stuff to "warm up" and it sucks out of the box. Reviews I'm reading say the K7 doesn't.

A few years ago I spent a couple weeks trying to find some good headphones. Tried all the demos I could find in shops, ranging from $100 to $800. From the major/common brands like Sony, Beats, Bose, ect. They all sounded terrible.
I ended up getting a PDP Afterglow Prismatic headset, and couldn't be happier. No idea why it sounds so much better to me than the more expensive other ones, but .

C-zom posted...

What do you mean 360 reality songs? I'll look into tidal!

https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/a/forum/5/53d0c550.jpg

Just download the Sony headphones app and configure it.

Just be warned Tidal is very expensive compared to other music apps because their audio is way better than Spotify and other music apps. They do offer a 30 day free trial.

EarFun Free Pro 3

Just a nice pair of Sennheisers. Can't remember the model tho.

Sennheiser HD 560S at home on desktop

Moondrop Blessing 3 for phone and sometimes laptop

Airpods Pro for when I don't wanna fuck with a cable

SkittyOnWailord posted...

A few years ago I spent a couple weeks trying to find some good headphones. Tried all the demos I could find in shops, ranging from $100 to $800. From the major/common brands like Sony, Beats, Bose, ect. They all sounded terrible.
I ended up getting a PDP Afterglow Prismatic headset, and couldn't be happier. No idea why it sounds so much better to me than the more expensive other ones, but .

Gigantic drivers, you probably love bass or mid range. Their 50mm magnets from PDP are accounting for 95% of the cost of that headset. Means you like warm, heavy sound. A big problem for a lot of those demo showrooms (Harder to find these days outside of music stores, but I remember when Tweeters, Radioshack, Circuit City etc had them) is that they route into some BS $100 receiver through a splitter so they all sound too similar.

What I mean to say is, depending on the cost or ohms or both, most headsets sound remarkably identical until you get more power behind them through an amp or DAC, but splurging on that cost is a "risk" if you don't know the kind of profile you're getting beforehand. You could drop 2k on a soundstage and /hate/ it, if you hate crisp highs and low volume mixes, for example.

kage_53 posted...

https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/a/forum/5/53d0c550.jpg

Just download the Sony headphones app and configure it.

Just be warned Tidal is very expensive compared to other music apps because their audio is way better than Spotify and other music apps. They do offer a 30 day free trial.

Thanks man. I don't know how Tidal slipped through my fingers. I don't mind the cost, I generally keep my monthly streaming expenses low and Spotify blows ass via quality/connection to me. Might be worth the upgrade. Did you think so?

I needed some good headphones for the gym, that wouldn't have any risk of falling out of my ears mid workout. So I got the Bose Sport Earbuds. They have little hooks that keep them in my ears, so I love them.

My most used headphone since 2021 is the hd600. I have it hooked to a rme adi 2 dac. I eq its bass +5.5 db at 105 hz. Prob used it at least a thousand hours more than my next used headphone which is probably the hd800s.

My collection rn consists of:
Another hd600,Hd6xx, Hd800s, Hd560s, Focal utopia, sr009s, sr007mk2, another sr007mk2 but with the ports sealed, Staxl500mk2, Wh1000x, Wh1000xm3,Bose qc 35, Hifiman sundara, Hifiman arya, Zmf verite, Zmf verite close,

For iems:
Sal notes zero, Thieaudio monarch (broken bass driver on one side), Thieaudio clairvoyance, Qdc anole vx, Cca cra, Truther x crinacle zero (i lost them somewhere and can't find), and the Qkz vk4 og black version

My fave sound-wise is the focal utopia w/ a bass boost eq. it's a nice upgrade from the eq'd hd600 imo. Better bass (punchier and deeper). More sparkly treble. Its mids are not as forward as the hd600 which gives me the illusion of a larger soundstage tho not as large as like the hifiman arya and hd800s. Not sure how it'd compare to the dt990.

Only reason why I barely use the Utopia is because it weighs around 500 grams (490g but without cable taken into account). Gives me a Hotspot too because of its band not fitting my head that well.

My reference point for neutral is the hd600 since I've used it the most. It's a much different sound sig than the dt990 looking at graphs. Ive actually never heard beyerdynamics.

I don't mind eqing headphones I don't like (like the sr009s and two zmfs) to the harman curve but with straight bass from 1k hz to 250 hz (harman curve has a -2 to -3 db dip around 250 hz which i dislike).

For iems the salnotes zero and truthear x crinacle sound similar to the hd600 but with deeper bass. Iems in general seem have deeper bass with a good seal..

C-zom posted...

Thanks man. I don't know how Tidal slipped through my fingers. I don't mind the cost, I generally keep my monthly streaming expenses low and Spotify blows ass via quality/connection to me. Might be worth the upgrade. Did you think so?

I like spotifys interface a lot more but there is a huge audio quality between the two apps. Best thing I can say is try the free tidal trial and cancel the subscription before it ends if you dont want to pay for it.

C-zom posted...

Gigantic drivers, you probably love bass or mid range. Their 50mm magnets from PDP are accounting for 95% of the cost of that headset. Means you like warm, heavy sound. A big problem for a lot of those demo showrooms (Harder to find these days outside of music stores, but I remember when Tweeters, Radioshack, Circuit City etc had them) is that they route into some BS $100 receiver through a splitter so they all sound too similar.

What I mean to say is, depending on the cost or ohms or both, most headsets sound remarkably identical until you get more power behind them through an amp or DAC, but splurging on that cost is a "risk" if you don't know the kind of profile you're getting beforehand. You could drop 2k on a soundstage and /hate/ it, if you hate crisp highs and low volume mixes, for example.

I tried the demos a little before Covid started. So it was relatively easy to find demos at the time, especially in California.

I think it's the mid or higher pitched sound I liked better. I hated any deep bass most of the ones I tried had.
I even went into an actual Bose shop. After trying about 10 demo units, I asked one of the employees if they had ones with less bass, more like a phone's speakers. He look like I just insulted his entire being. XD

But I hardly know anything about speakers. I only went with what the demos showed me. I'm a complete n00b to audio stuff.

Ratchetrockon posted...

My most used headphone since 2021 is the hd600. I have it hooked to a rme adi 2 dac. I eq its bass +5.5 db at 105 hz. Prob used it at least a thousand hours more than my next used headphone which is probably the hd800s.

My collection rn consists of:
Another hd600,Hd6xx, Hd800s, Hd560s, Focal utopia, sr009s, sr007mk2, another sr007mk2 but with the ports sealed, Staxl500mk2, Wh1000x, Wh1000xm3,Bose qc 35, Hifiman sundara, Hifiman arya, Zmf verite, Zmf verite close,

For iems:
Sal notes zero, Thieaudio monarch (broken bass driver on one side), Thieaudio clairvoyance, Qdc anole vx, Cca cra, Truther x crinacle zero (i lost them somewhere and can't find), and the Qkz vk4 og black version

My fave sound-wise is the focal utopia w/ a bass boost eq. it's a nice upgrade from the eq'd hd600 imo. Better bass (punchier and deeper). More sparkly treble. Its mids are not as forward as the hd600 which gives me the illusion of a larger soundstage tho not as large as like the hifiman arya and hd800s. Not sure how it'd compare to the dt990.

Only reason why I barely use the Utopia is because it weighs around 500 grams (490g but without cable taken into account). Gives me a Hotspot too because of its band not fitting my head that well.

My reference point for neutral is the hd600 since I've used it the most. It's a much different sound sig than the dt990 looking at graphs. Ive actually never heard beyerdynamics.

I don't mind eqing headphones I don't like (like the sr009s and two zmfs) to the harman curve but with straight bass from 1k hz to 250 hz (harman curve has a -2 to -3 db dip around 250 hz which i dislike).

For iems the salnotes zero and truthear x crinacle sound similar to the hd600 but with deeper bass. Iems in general seem have deeper bass with a good seal..

Sucks about the Monarchs bro, they're second to none full stop. Even with your entire list they belong in the top #3 without a doubt to me. I've never heard a more accurate soundstage in my life, but I am in the same exact camp as you. Had them on warranty, the left side driver shit the bed, got my money back and didn't trust the brand again with thousands of my dollars.

Utopias rule but they're so finnicky. I'm glad you laid out your frequency and ohm preferences because that's the exact kind of tuning they need to get rolling.

tho not as large as like the hifiman arya and hd800s. Not sure how it'd compare to the dt990.

The 990s have a gigantic soundstage with minimal intrusion. Officially they're for audio reproduction. I do a lot of game design and modding as a hobbyist, and knowing what a "level" soundstage is to the average bear can be tough but they're phenomenal reproduction headphones. They're closer to the hd800s out of the box, or the Aryas with a slight bass reduction.

SkittyOnWailord posted...

I tried the demos a little before Covid started. So it was relatively easy to find demos at the time, especially in California.

I think it's the mid or higher pitched sound I liked better. I hated any deep bass most of the ones I tried had.
I even went into an actual Bose shop. After trying about 10 demo units, I asked one of the employees if they had ones with less bass, more like a phone's speakers. He look like I just insulted his entire being. XD

But I hardly know anything about speakers. I only went with what the demos showed me. I'm a complete n00b to audio stuff.

Nah man don't sell yourself short just because some of us are spouting technical jumbo, you've got a good ear. How was the Bose shop besides for your dislike for their brand? I haven't been in a good demo arena in ages.

If you like PDP drivers, give Sennheiser a try for your next upgrade!

C-zom posted...

Nah man don't sell yourself short just because some of us are spouting technical jumbo, you've got a good ear. How was the Bose shop besides for your dislike for their brand? I haven't been in a good demo arena in ages.

If you like PDP drivers, give Sennheiser a try for your next upgrade!

The shop was good. They had a bunch of different higher-end stuff for sale. They had home speakers too, not just headphones. If I was into audio, I'm sure it would have been great.

And thanks. I'll look into Sennheiser if/when these ones wear out. The plastic/rubber around the earpads on mine has already all rubbed away.

My main pair is a set of HD 800.

on my main system right now - hifi man sundara (planar dynamic) driven by a topping 50 series amp

on my PC sivga something(i forget what model) driven by a fiio k5

mid next month my main system will be hi-fi man arya organic driven by a cayin h1-a1 MK2 valve amp

Bose QC2

Beyerdynamic DT 770 Pro

blows everything else I've tried out of the water lol

Ratchetrockon posted...

My most used headphone since 2021 is the hd600. I have it hooked to a rme adi 2 dac. I eq its bass +5.5 db at 105 hz. Prob used it at least a thousand hours more than my next used headphone which is probably the hd800s.

I've had my HD600 since 2011. It's seen so much use over the past 12.5 years I've already replaced the cord twice and the cushions once.

C-zom posted...

Sucks about the Monarchs bro, they're second to none full stop. Even with your entire list they belong in the top #3 without a doubt to me. I've never heard a more accurate soundstage in my life, but I am in the same exact camp as you. Had them on warranty, the left side driver shit the bed, got my money back and didn't trust the brand again with thousands of my dollars.

Utopias rule but they're so finnicky. I'm glad you laid out your frequency and ohm preferences because that's the exact kind of tuning they need to get rolling.

I like both of the thieaudios for sure. The monarchs were maybe a step ahead of the clairvoyance for me. When I noticed the bass imbalance I was soo bummed out . Maybe I'll get another pair someday, idk. It's possible a similar sounding iem will launch someday at a cheaper price point..

C-zom posted...

The 990s have a gigantic soundstage with minimal intrusion. Officially they're for audio reproduction. I do a lot of game design and modding as a hobbyist, and knowing what a "level" soundstage is to the average bear can be tough but they're phenomenal reproduction headphones. They're closer to the hd800s out of the box, or the Aryas with a slight bass reduction.

Nice! ive read similar comparisons as this one. I know some people prefer the beyerdynamics over hd800s for that type of larger sound. Especially for gaming.

Paragon21XX posted...

I've had my HD600 since 2011. It's seen so much use over the past 12.5 years I've already replaced the cord twice and the cushions once.

That's good to know . I don't have to worry as much about the hd600s/hd6xx breaking compared to other products.

I've been using them almost daily atm. The hd600 for indoors and the hd6xx for outdoors while walking my dog (yes I dont mind openbacks outside tbh. I make sure not to play it too loud).

TV/console gaming - Sony, just your basic $30 wired ones.

PC casual - Bose wireless

PC streaming/gaming - Wyze over-ear noise canceling wireless

Beyerdynamic DT 990 Pro

I don't use them often in the first place, but my pair is Beats Studio 3 Wireless.

Would never drop that much on a pair, but I won them so not gonna say no.

Sennheiser HD 599s, also have a pair of Audio Technica ATH PRO5X but they hurt my ears. Not stretched enough.

some random sony ones from walmart for $18

Sennheiser Consumer Audio HD 560 S Over-The-Ear Audiophile Headphones
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08J9MVB6W

Ordered this two days ago when it was listed at $169.

Should be here on Monday.

Currently using an E1 USB Wired Gaming Headset.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01FXD3BTK/

No longer available and it's quickly falling apart.

Was very nice at first though.

HyperX Cloud II

oh yeah i forgot to mention that i have the

version 2 of the Arya
and the version 1 of Utopia (the current Utopia [called the Utopia 2022] has a different color scheme and its treble was reduced a tad bit around 8 khz looking at graphs).

Also I originally had the V1 Arya but it broke on me twice. Sent the 1st back to amazon to get another 1. Had to send the 2nd one back to hifiman and they sent me the V2 (has a darker mesh so i knew it was the V2). I can't remember what the 1st version sounded like tbh.

Sennheiser HD400S for my desktop, Beats Studio Buds Pro for my smartphone/tablet.

Hifiman or Sennheiser stuff for music, a pair of Sony xm4 for media and wireless buds for when I'm out and about

Just a set of Sony Xb400 Bluetooth in ear headphones. Don't need anything higher end.

AKG K702 65th Anniversary Editions through a Topping DX7 Pro.