Impressions done with Super 7 SE/XLR and BHA-1 balanced in high gain on every phone when possible
(My own standard of value applied)
K701
Softer edges, weaker imaging than HD800
More natural SS
Weaker bass impact than HD800
Nasally mids
Some treble upper mid harshness/distortion?
$220 phone
HD650
Even softer imaging than K701, warm and fuzzy
Wider SS than K701. Less than HD800
Not very resolving
Lacks precision
Slight veil, lack of clarity
Non fatiguing signature
Too warm?
$170 phone
SRH1440
Holy crap shouty vocals! Upper mid/mid 2khz spike?
Vocals are waaay off, crying/shouting
Weak bass compared to even k701, perhaps similar impact but far less defined or clear
Accentuated w/ screaming mids are unacceptable!
I don't what the treble is doing, the mids hurt too much to keep listening.
This the most murderous assault on my senses since the worst Pro900 I heard in San Diego.
Is it FR or distortion or BOTH?
Can't do any more, less than 2 minutes.
MUST BE USED FOR NEAR SILENT OPERATION!
$80 phone
SRH1840
Beautiful phone; weird clunky toy feel
Odd ergonomics, no cup swivel?!
Mids still a little shouty, not 1440 levels
Bass reminds me of SA5000 but w/o the detail, impact or precision
K701 bass is better quality and more balanced
This is not impressive at all for the price, definitively mid-fi or worse
What happened to the Shure mids?!?
Snares sound recessed.
Mid/low bass recessed combined w/ slight treble tilt fakes clarity, but what you hear leftover is just wrong
I think the distortion issue is real.
Sounds like a less messed up 1440, is that enough?
K701 is smoother, more refined, just as detailed w/ fuller body
$200 phone
T1
Better than K701
Enjoyable mid-bass, slightly forward sounding
Poorly resolved low end
Less bright than other T1s
Also less refined than a few other T1s
Decent clarity but not up to better standards
Other than mid bass, kind of uninteresting w/ well recorded music, poor microdynamics
Prefers lesser recorded pop and rock w/ more noise and ditortion on this sample
$250-$350 phone depending on model.
HE400
Balanced mids
Just enough treble
Good, relatively clean quality bass; better than HE500s I recall
Impact a little soft and fuzzy
No trouble listening through any tracks
$200-$300 phone based on model (this is the best HE400 I've heard out of 3 variants)
Hmm....I'm still listening 8 songs later....
HE6
Good dynamics
Great clarity
Refined signature
Bright, fatiguing especially when louder
A little light, soft in the low end but good resolution(both S7 and BHA-1)
$400-$450 depending on your ability to drive/synergize them.
LCD3
LOL!!
Bloated low end
Top half overly shelved
Jumbled mids, no control, no micro dynamics (this is w/ Julio Iglesias ffs)
Smooth
$250 for this particular one.
$550 at it's best; depreciates rapidly
TH900 (#250)
Think these are fresh out of the box, unused
Kind of visually stunning when fresh
Egg Protein pads smell like Lexus interior
Very sensitive
Very smooth, clear
Mids recessed
Bass boomy but in a more refined non-Beats way (hell it's just too much)
Treble sparkles nicely, more refined than Denons
Might need to let them stretch their legs a bit
$350-$500 depending on your aesthetic needs
HE400 wins overall! Biggest Loser - Shure 1440
Edit 8/14 - added 1440 to dungheap