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Author Topic: The best damn build quality there is?  (Read 5467 times)

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shipsupt

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Re: The best damn build quality there is?
« Reply #20 on: November 23, 2014, 11:00:54 AM »
For the money the Phillips Fidelio stuff is built really, really well, and I find very comfortable.  If they could take the good SQ they have and ramp it into a "flagship" (Whatever that is?) it would be awesome sauce.

V-modas stuff is also built rock solid.  It's lived through my 18yo son, which is a significant torture test for portable audio gear.  Comfort is more personal on this stuff.




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Yeah, well, you know, that's just, like, your opinion, man.

lmswjm

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Re: The best damn build quality there is?
« Reply #21 on: November 23, 2014, 12:43:43 PM »
I was most impressed with the build quality and esthetics of the W3000ANV. The wood, finish, real leather pads, tweed cord with matching wood plug all hit the sweet spot for me












The Denon/Fostex design was problematic in that at any given moment, the singular retaining screw could come out and the driver would separate and come completely off the headband assembly.
« Last Edit: November 23, 2014, 01:53:34 PM by lmswjm »
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Re: The best damn build quality there is?
« Reply #22 on: November 23, 2014, 02:03:48 PM »
Quote from: Ringingears on November 23, 2014, 08:06:52 AM
I'll never forget my first time with the Fostex TH-900. The smooth cups, the red color.
Oh wow I somehow forgot about the TH900.
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Headphones: TH900, HE-560, HD700, SRH1540, X2, HD590, AH-D600, X10, Bridge MS500
Amp/Sources: Schiit Modi, Schiit Bifrost Uber USB, Schiit Asgard 2, Emotiva XDA-2, Sansa Fuze 8GB, Samsung Note 3

dreamwhisper

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Re: The best damn build quality there is?
« Reply #23 on: November 23, 2014, 03:13:26 PM »
Quote from: lmswjm on November 23, 2014, 12:43:43 PM
I was most impressed with the build quality and esthetics of the W3000ANV. The wood, finish, real leather pads, tweed cord with matching wood plug all hit the sweet spot for me

Yeah, that one has all quality parts, that's for sure.
Pretty amazing headphone to behold.

The Omega 2 Mk1/2's are ok too.

Quote (selected)
BHSE is well put together.
Probably the one piece of gear you couldn't get away with declaring as a low value for customs.
It looks like NASA quality gear.
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MuppetFace

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Re: The best damn build quality there is?
« Reply #24 on: November 23, 2014, 07:41:35 PM »
These are, in my opinion, the nicest headphones in terms of build quality:

Audio Technica L3000 (along with their matching amp!)
Final Audio Design Muramasa VIII
Fostex TH900
Sennheiser HD800
Sennheiser Orpheus
Sony Qualia
Sony R10
Stax SR-007mk2
Ultrasone Edition 5 / 10



These are close runners up:

AKG K1000
AKG K550
Audio Technica W11JPN / W2002 / W3000ANV
Beyerdynamic T1
Denon D7000
Final Audio Design Pandora Hope VI / X
Grado HP1000
JVC DX1000 / DX2000
Paradox Slants w/ all the special trim options
Philips Fidelio L1 / X1
Sansui SS100
Sony CD3000 (too bad they almost all look like crap now)
Stax SR-009 (the headband assembly is what keeps this from the highest tier IMO)
Ultrasone Edition 7 / 8 / 9
Yamaha YH1000



Universal in-ear monitors:

AKG K3003
Audio Technica CK100 Pro
DITA Answer
Final Audio Design 1601 and 1602 (aka Piano Fortes)
Final Audio Design FI-BA-SS
FitEar Melomane / Parterre
FitEar TO GO! 334
JVC HA FX800 / 850
Noble Kaiser 10 / Wizard Signature Editions
Ocharaku Donguri
Ocharaku Flat4-SUI / KAEDE
Sennheiser IE800
Shure SE846
Sony EX1000
Sony EX800ST
Sony H3
Sony Z5


Custom in-ears:

Aurisonics
Canal Works
FitEar
Noble
Ultimate Ears
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TMRaven

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Re: The best damn build quality there is?
« Reply #25 on: November 23, 2014, 07:46:25 PM »
Sony Z7
Beyerdynamic T1
Sennheiser HD800
Oppo PM1
Audeze XC

Are among the nicest I've felt in person.

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Anaxilus

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Re: The best damn build quality there is?
« Reply #26 on: November 23, 2014, 08:11:15 PM »
Shure 846 and Stax 009 are great calls.
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Re: The best damn build quality there is?
« Reply #27 on: November 23, 2014, 08:12:58 PM »
The best headphones amps I've used / seen inside were from MOTH Audio. Period. Eddie Current doesn't come close, but then Craig's prices are lower and there's no prop designer to pay. Which isn't to say EC is bad at all (the Balancing Act is especially nice). But... yeah... MOTH.

Also nice:

Cavalli Audio
Donald North Audio
EAR Yoshino
HeadAmp
Manley Labs


And if we're talking about speaker amps, I should mention Japanese boutique at its best:

Kondo Audio Note
Shindo Labs
Wavac



As a turntable enthusiast, I'm a stickler for tonearms. Here are some great manufacturers IMO:

Basis
DaVinciAudio Labs
Durand
Graham Engineering
Kuzma
Moerch
Schroder
Triplanar
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Mr.Sneis

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Re: The best damn build quality there is?
« Reply #28 on: November 23, 2014, 09:02:19 PM »

Grado hp2 - like a fine watch
Audio technica ath-ad2000 - light but feels great in the hand, super durable though I know that wasn't criteria.
Stax o2mk1 - premium all around
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M3NTAL

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Re: The best damn build quality there is?
« Reply #29 on: November 23, 2014, 09:34:05 PM »
Really? Two votes for HP1/2 ? The paint doesn't even stay on them and the foam deteriorates.
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