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

TMRaven · « **Reply #50 on:** March 03, 2014, 03:13:33 PM »

How does Audeze's "reference grade" LCD-X fit into all of this? I'm getting the feeling based on thoughts here and measurements that it's looking more like a u-shaped Audeze than a totally tonally flat Audeze. Its uncompensated FR on Innerfidelity actually look a lot like the HE-400, mins the HE-400 having higher overall treble.

Darth Obvious · « **Reply #51 on:** March 03, 2014, 03:20:59 PM »

Trying to read and ask as much as possible... As of now, I am deciding between Paradox/Slant and HD600. If I sold HD800s, I would have no concerns about pricing... But I love HD800 so much that I am worried it would be a serious mistake not to keep them.

HD600
+ very easy to purchase here, easily servicable
+ cheaper (I could get them for like 375USD new... I wouldnt buy them second-hand due to pads that quite easily degrade with usage)
+ velour pads (that's a very considerable plus for me)
- obviously not neutral in the whole bass territory... That's the most possible dealbreaker for me.
- rather closed-in sounding (so I couldnt own these as my only pair of headphones)
+/- rather slow-sounding but it wasnt an issue for me when I heard them
+/- not a lot of detail... but even digital clipping and other artifacts sounded almost musical on them (LOL)

Paradox/Slant
+ probably pretty neutral from bass to treble
- more expensive (650USD roughly including all the fees and shipping), additional shipping expenses in case of malfunctioning
- pleather pads
- I haven't heard them myself so it would be a blind purchase...

Does anybody know which of these two (well, three) headphones provide:
1) More macrodetail?
2) More expansive soundstage?
3) Better transients/decay?
4) Better vocals (in terms of sibilance primarily)?

Darth Obvious · « **Reply #52 on:** March 03, 2014, 03:22:28 PM »

Quote from: TMRaven on March 03, 2014, 03:13:33 PM

How does Audeze's "reference grade" LCD-X fit into all of this? I'm getting the feeling based on thoughts here and measurements that it's looking more like a u-shaped Audeze than a totally tonally flat Audeze. Its uncompensated FR on Innerfidelity actually look a lot like the HE-400, mins the HE-400 having higher overall treble.

I've read that LCD-3 vs LCD-X is like HD650 vs HD600... The same headphone brand, the same "house sound"... just a bit different flavour.

Deep Funk · « **Reply #53 on:** March 03, 2014, 04:17:19 PM »

Darth Obvious, it might seem a silly suggestion but why not buy second hand or borrow a few headphones in the HD600/HD650/K500/K501/K701/DT880/DT990 camp?

When you have about a 1000 Dollars to spend you can try/buy one or two at the time, keep at least 500/600 Dollars in the Bank and keep the headphone you like the most in the end.

When you finally find that one headphone you can sell/give back the 'lesser' headphones and your opportunity cost can be relatively low.

Darth Obvious · « **Reply #54 on:** March 03, 2014, 04:24:10 PM »

Quote from: Deep Funk on March 03, 2014, 04:17:19 PM

Darth Obvious, it might seem a silly suggestion but why not buy second hand or borrow a few headphones in the HD600/HD650/K500/K501/K701/DT880/DT990 camp?

When you have about a 1000 Dollars to spend you can try/buy one or two at the time, keep at least 500/600 Dollars in the Bank and keep the headphone you like the most in the end.

When you finally find that one headphone you can sell/give back the 'lesser' headphones and your opportunity cost can be relatively low.

I've heard almost all the headphones you mention... It's not that I don't know what I want. But I simply cannot borrow LFF Paradox or Slant here, it's not possible in Europe.

Even though I remember the sound of HD600 quite well, it does not help when I have no idea about LFF headphones. I've heard a modded T50RP headphone (using guidelines of BMF) and while its sound wasnt bad, it also wasn't anything special... That's all I know about.

I don't have 1000USD to spend... I would have to sell HD800s to buy that expensive headphone. There aren't as many headphones in shops and in circulation as in the States. And, additional costs for shipping, customs and VAT are not helping either. Oh, and I am a student ,-)

In short, I must think twice... or thrice before purchasing.

Deep Funk · « **Reply #55 on:** March 03, 2014, 07:21:43 PM »

My apology. I misunderstood the budget you mentioned.

I can only wish you the best of luck then. If you happen to find a fully working Sennheiser HD250 II for about 100 Euros, it is worth the gamble and Sennheiser still supplies spare parts.

Darth Obvious · « **Reply #56 on:** March 03, 2014, 07:34:30 PM »

Quote from: Deep Funk on March 03, 2014, 07:21:43 PM

My apology. I misunderstood the budget you mentioned.

I can only wish you the best of luck then. If you happen to find a fully working Sennheiser HD250 II for about 100 Euros, it is worth the gamble and Sennheiser still supplies spare parts.

Thank you :-) I am getting closer and closer to final decision... But I would still find any advise useful, especially on HD600 vs Paradox/Slant.

TMRaven · « **Reply #57 on:** March 03, 2014, 07:52:24 PM »

I still say wait for 400i and 560, even after a possible early revision or two. I've had multiple experiences with the HD800, and while it was too bright for my tastes, it seemed refined, extended and smooth enough to respond to EQ well. I'd personally EQ the HD800 to the desired neutrality then wait and see what the consensus on the new Hifman headphones are. I also wouldn't take the HD600 as an end-all-be-all headphone for neutrality, because I just can't get over its bass rolloff.

Darth Obvious · « **Reply #58 on:** March 03, 2014, 08:01:14 PM »

Quote from: TMRaven on March 03, 2014, 07:52:24 PM

I still say wait for 400i and 560, even after a possible early revision or two. I've had multiple experiences with the HD800, and while it was too bright for my tastes, it seemed refined and smooth enough to respond to EQ well. I'd personally EQ the HD800 to the desired neutrality then wait and see what the consensus on the new Hifman headphones are. I also wouldn't take the HD600 as an end-all-be-all headphone for neutrality, because I just can't get over its bass rolloff.

Well, the only think that makes me not want to wait for them is that I don't want to be an early adopter, especially not in case of Audeze and Hifiman headphones... After a year or two? Sure, no problem :-) I always buy headphones after several months (or years, more often) of their production meaning that all the little flaws are gone and production becomes completely stable (and if not, I basically skip the headphone like with Beyers).

So maybe I will sell HD800s and replace them with one of these upcoming Hifiman headphones... But it's not gonna happen this year, definitely not.

Deep Funk · « **Reply #59 on:** March 03, 2014, 10:04:27 PM »

The HD800 is a great headphone. If I would have built an audio set-up around the HD800 I would not sell it.

When you can find an alternative headphone that matches your current audio set-up I would go with that option.

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

TMRaven

Re: The most tonally balanced headphones?

Darth Obvious

Re: The most tonally balanced headphones?

Darth Obvious

Re: The most tonally balanced headphones?

Deep Funk

Re: The most tonally balanced headphones?

Darth Obvious

Re: The most tonally balanced headphones?

Deep Funk

Re: The most tonally balanced headphones?

Darth Obvious

Re: The most tonally balanced headphones?

TMRaven

Re: The most tonally balanced headphones?

Darth Obvious

Re: The most tonally balanced headphones?

Deep Funk

Re: The most tonally balanced headphones?

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

Darth Obvious

Darth Obvious

Darth Obvious

Darth Obvious

Darth Obvious