CHANGSTAR: Audiophile Headphone Reviews and Early 90s Style BBS

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Author Topic: The most tonally balanced headphones?  (Read 12376 times)

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Darth Obvious

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The most tonally balanced headphones?
« on: March 02, 2014, 04:22:23 PM »
I am thinking about getting a second pair of headphones (already have Sennheiser HD800) and would like to get something that is going to provide a well-balanced frequency response... Well, I would also enjoy an accurate timbre of as many instruments as possible but there is no perfect headphone, of course. The second important parameter is comfort - so super-clampy headphones like HD650 or superheavy offerings like Audeze with poor headband design are a no-go for me.

Several headphones I found quite natural-sounding from brief auditionings:
 - Sennheiser HD600
 - Hifiman HE500

Any other recommendations? I am willing to consider anything that is not hard-to-drive (like HE-6), is at least reasonably comfortable and does not cost more than 1000USD (the less, the better).

I will also appreciate any comments on HD600 or HE500 from experienced users... I have heard both but not enough to have an accurate opinion on both.
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Maxvla

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Re: The most tonally balanced headphones?
« Reply #1 on: March 02, 2014, 05:16:38 PM »
You already own them.
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burnspbesq

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Re: The most tonally balanced headphones?
« Reply #2 on: March 02, 2014, 05:25:24 PM »
Quote from: Darth Obvious on March 02, 2014, 04:22:23 PM
I am thinking about getting a second pair of headphones (already have Sennheiser HD800) and would like to get something that is going to provide a well-balanced frequency response... Well, I would also enjoy an accurate timbre of as many instruments as possible but there is no perfect headphone, of course. The second important parameter is comfort - so super-clampy headphones like HD650 or superheavy offerings like Audeze with poor headband design are a no-go for me.

Several headphones I found quite natural-sounding from brief auditionings:
 - Sennheiser HD600
 - Hifiman HE500

Any other recommendations? I am willing to consider anything that is not hard-to-drive (like HE-6), is at least reasonably comfortable and does not cost more than 1000USD (the less, the better).

I will also appreciate any comments on HD600 or HE500 from experienced users... I have heard both but not enough to have an accurate opinion on both.

Have you noticed how many HD 800 owners also have UERM?
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Darth Obvious

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Re: The most tonally balanced headphones?
« Reply #3 on: March 02, 2014, 05:30:31 PM »
Quote from: Maxvla on March 02, 2014, 05:16:38 PM
You already own them.

Well, I sort of agree with that... I appreciate them in a very similar way you do (I have read many of your posts). Still, I would like something a bit darker and forgiving. I am trying to mod them but with no complete luck so far. Waiting for materials from Stapsy to try the Changstar's version of Anax mod.

I am thinking about trying out HE-500 with Jerg pads or maybe HE-400i/HE-560... Or HD600. Do you have any advise for me? Like what you find to be the biggest dealbreaker with HE-500 or HD600...? Thanks in advance!

Quote from: burnspbesq on March 02, 2014, 05:25:24 PM
Have you noticed how many HD 800 owners also have UERM?

Well, yeah... But IEMs are a no-go for me, sorry that I didnt mention. I need full-size headphones. :-)
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TMRaven

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Re: The most tonally balanced headphones?
« Reply #4 on: March 02, 2014, 05:33:25 PM »
Sennheiser HD600 and Focal Spirit Professional.  LCD2 are a bit too mellow and HD800 are too bright.
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Maxvla

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Re: The most tonally balanced headphones?
« Reply #5 on: March 02, 2014, 05:38:29 PM »
K550. Comfortable and close to HD800 in overall signature, but more forgiving. Also quite cheap.
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Darth Obvious

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Re: The most tonally balanced headphones?
« Reply #6 on: March 02, 2014, 05:44:46 PM »
Quote from: Maxvla on March 02, 2014, 05:38:29 PM
K550. Comfortable and close to HD800 in overall signature, but more forgiving. Also quite cheap.

Thank you :-) Will look into them...


Quote from: TMRaven on March 02, 2014, 05:33:25 PM
Sennheiser HD600 and Focal Spirit Professional.  LCD2 are a bit too mellow and HD800 are too bright.

LCD-2 and HD650 are too dark to my tastes... HD650 also too slow and veiled. HD600 were fine - a bit darker and not perfect but very nice. HE-500 were fine as well but I thought there was something a bit weird about them - they were somewhat fuzzy, bass too bloated... Very very very good tonality but it seemed that while I could easily recognize bass, mids and treble on LCD-2, it was a bit messy on HE-500. But I believe Jerg addressed some of these issues with his Jerg pads, right?

I was thinking about Nad Viso HP50 and Focal Spirit Pro as well... But I am not sure whether they arent too warm-sounding or whether they are comfortable enough for home use. Tyll mentions they clamp a bit too much (I dislike too much of clamp).
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Maxvla

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Re: The most tonally balanced headphones?
« Reply #7 on: March 02, 2014, 05:47:49 PM »
It looks like the Spirit Pro is physically identical to the Spirit One I tried. There was considerable clamp, so much so I couldn't wear it for more than an hour before my ears started hurting since I wear glasses.
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TMRaven

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Re: The most tonally balanced headphones?
« Reply #8 on: March 02, 2014, 05:48:38 PM »
My complaint with the FSP is its small earpad opening.  The clamp was fine to me because the memory foam pads do a good job of alleviating it.  Spirit Pro is larger than the Spirit One.

I think FSP is on the warm side, but at the same time it's not as mellow as an LCD2 or HD650.  I can't comment on the HE-500.
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Darth Obvious

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Re: The most tonally balanced headphones?
« Reply #9 on: March 02, 2014, 05:53:13 PM »
Quote from: TMRaven on March 02, 2014, 05:48:38 PM
My complaint with the FSP is its small earpad opening.  The clamp was fine to me because the memory foam pads do a good job of alleviating it.  Spirit Pro is larger than the Spirit One.

I think FSP is on the warm side, but at the same time it's not as mellow as an LCD2 or HD650.  I can't comment on the HE-500.

Thank you for your reply! I am honestly 1000% happy with HD800s comfort-wise... Absolutely flawless. But I am willing to sacrifice a bit of comfort to get what I am looking for.

Closed-back vs open-back does not matter that much for me right now... But I would definitely prefer velour pads - I mean DEFINITELY (forgot to mention).

Quote from: Maxvla on March 02, 2014, 05:47:49 PM
It looks like the Spirit Pro is physically identical to the Spirit One I tried. There was considerable clamp, so much so I couldn't wear it for more than an hour before my ears started hurting since I wear glasses.

I am very allergic to clamp... HD600 were tolerable, as well as something like K712 Pro or DT880 (Beyers were actually nice). HD650 or LCD-2 too much. HE-400 or HE-500 fine due to wider headband... But nothing beaten HD800 so far for me in terms of comfort.
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