Just another opinion: On a tight budget and looking for something small and semi-portable the Geek Out has been the best choice IMO. I have the GO450 which works fine with the HD800, but you might want to opt for the 720/1000.

If space and/or portability isn't a concern there are plenty of budget options out there. (i.e Val 2/GO450)

Posting in the all-purpose advice thread to get some input/advice on my next headphone purchase.  By way of background, my first decent can was the Grado SR80-i. Now, I basically listen to those only once or twice a year since I think Matthew Sweet's Girlfriend or 100% Fun sound really good on them. But otherwise they sit in the closet. I might use them a little more often except their discomfort is unbearable to me no matter how much I try to stretch the headband. Also, I have become less enchanted with the 60-225 line over the years.

A couple of years ago I bought the AKG Q701. I know this is a divisive can, but I really like it. First, for me it is very comfortable. I have no problem with the bumps. The cups are deep enough that they don't irritate my ears.   And they are one of the few cans that when I wear my glasses are not locked onto my head.  There is enough give that I can move them around a bit. The clamp also doesn't bother my TMJ.  I personally really love the AKG-wide soundstage, whether it is natural or not. I also find the bass very musical, but the lack of impact has become more of an issue for me over time, at least for some types of music. Great can IMO but it has limitations. I also have the V-Moda M-80 for portable and it suits my needs perfectly.

At various meets and audio shows I got to try out Audeze over the past few years and kind of fell for them. Unfortunately it was the LCD-3 and I was hearing them on uber-expensive setups well beyond my price range (or at least what I can justify to myself). But when I have listened to them they have pretty consistently given me a schiit- eating grin.  I figured the LCD-2 would be good enough and I do enjoy it and it is much more affordable, but when I have tried them I get a little less of the aforementioned grin than with the LCD-3.  But I imagine I could be pretty happy with the LCD-2.  Comfort and ergonomics have always concerned me a bit though, not so much due to weight but due to (potential) clamping pressure.

My like for the AKG Q701 but reticence over lack of bass might suggest the HD800 as a possible direction. However, while I respect that phone a lot and have heard many on good setups, I just don't have love for it.  I really cannot say why. Plus, putting together an affordable front-end for them to make them as good as what I have heard would be a challenge from all that I have read. So, the HD-800 is not really on the table for me.

Earlier this summer, I had decided to buy the Oppo PM-2 as soon as it was released. I liked the look, weight and ergonomics of it, as well as the fact that it was really efficient and was claimed to be drivable from a portable. But then with all the talk of different pads here and elsewhere I decided to hold off until there were more impressions. Perhaps like many I was hoping for an Audeze in a more comfortable can that could be driven more easily.  Not really fair to Oppo as they are entitled to have their own sound and not just be an Audeze clone, but I suspect that is what many hoped for (or at least I did).  Also, at the time I was not aware of then forthcoming (now released) HE-560 and HE-400i.  So, I decided to wait and try to hear those.

I have now had the opportunity to hear the latest LCD-2 (Fazor version) and the HE-560 on good setups. I very briefly heard the HE-400i but only out of a portable,not an amp, so not really fair to it. The HE-560 is very compelling. Very comfortable, although I wish the cups were a bit rounder and/or deeper. The inside of the cups sort of touch the outside of my ear. Not really uncomfortable so much as potentially annoying. They generally sounded a little more neutral to me than the LCD-2, but perhaps less "fun". Also, while A/Bing them against the LCD-2 off of the Mcintosh MHA 100 (not perfectly level matched comparison, but close enough to judge the different flavors of t he cans) and going back and forth comparing tracks, I did have a disconcerting moment with the HE-560. After listening to the Beach Boys' "Sloop John B" from Pet Sounds on the Audeze, I went to the HE-560 and adjusted the volume to where they had been sort of level. When I hit play I literally said "Aghh!" out loud and quickly reached for the knob to lower the volume. I had never though of that track as particularly bright, but the glockenspiel at the beginning was just piercing off of that amp at least. Concerns me a bit as to what other music I might find too bright off of the HE-560.  As far as the Audeze, I have never found it too bright with anything. As you all know, the converse is the problem and it can seem a bit dull at times.  Given that I already have a somewhat bright can though, I think that might be OK, particularly because I do really dig the Audeze bass, even on the LCD-2.

As among the planars, I am looking at the HE-560, the LCD-2 and the Oppo PM-2.  I would love to try the Oppos wthout having to go through the hassle of buying and then returning if unsatisfied.  But there does not seem to be an opportunity for that so I would just have to take a risk on them I guess. (One other thing that I like about the Oppo is that they lay flat and store in a small denim case. I am very lazy and, all things being equal, I will get more use out of something that I can grab and setup easily, and I think the Oppo fits that bill better than the others.)

On other days, I wonder if these higher priced cans are worth it to me, or if I would be happy just picking up an HD-600 or HD-650 or the HE-400iand saving some money.  I do really like the HD-600 and it would be somewhat complementary to what I have. But I just worry I would still have that itch for a higher-end can and if so will end up scratching it later; if so, I may as well do it now.

TL; DR:

Looking at higher-end cans: Thoughts on HE-560 v LCD-2 v Oppo PM-2 are appreciated.

May save money and just buy another mid-tier can to add to my collection: HD600 v HD650 v HE-400i.

Also, I am just using a Marantz integrated amp for my AKG Q701 and it is fine for that purpose. I will get a dedicated head-amp if I upgrade though, but I want to decide on the can first and then the amp.

Thanks in advance for any advice.

@Colgin:


You are suffering from he problem that all of us have. No easy answer.


The HE-560 is the most finicky, but can also be the most rewarding. Results seem to vary depending upon pads, equipment, and recordings.


HD600 scales like mad once you get better equipment. Complaint is bass quality isn't the greatest. Of course once you get better equipment...


The PM-2 might be a good bet (read Hans and my impressions of it) and pads / mods are easy to implement so you can shape the sound somewhat to your liking. It's probably the least fussy and most consistent from a variety of rigs. I do like the PM-2 quite a bit and its a good choice if you want to stick with simple setups as opposed to the insane setups some of us have.


Maybe even sticking with Q701 and using Parametric digital EQ (if you use computer)?

@Colgin:


You are suffering from he problem that all of us have. No easy answer.


The HE-560 is the most finicky, but can also be the most rewarding. Results seem to vary depending upon pads, equipment, and recordings.


HD600 scales like mad once you get better equipment. Complaint is bass quality isn't the greatest. Of course once you get better equipment...


The PM-2 might be a good bet (read Hans and my impressions of it) and pads / mods are easy to implement so you can shape the sound somewhat to your liking. It's probably the least fussy and most consistent from a variety of rigs. I do like the PM-2 quite a bit and its a good choice if you want to stick with simple setups as opposed to the insane setups some of us have.


Maybe even sticking with Q701 and using Parametric digital EQ (if you use computer)?

Thanks for the response.

Like with the HD-800, the "finickiness" of the HE-560 concerns me. Also, I have only heard it sound really good out of high-end amps.  Not to say it wouldn't out of less expensive ones, but I just don't know from personal experience. For example, I think the O2 drives the LCD-2 acceptably, but not gloriously.  I heard the O2 with the HE-560 and was like "bleh", not awful on certain tracks, but just couldn't really drive them properly IMO, particularly on older non-brickwalled tracks. I wonder what the minimum I would need to spend off-the-bat on an amp to even make this a worthwhile purchase.

Cannot do parametric EQ with the AKG unfortunately.  My source is a Sonos system, so while I am streaming files off of my computer (soon to be transferred to a dedicated NAS), I am using the Sonos player which only has useless treble, mid and bass adjustments; you cannot incorporate (to my knowledge) an outside EQ program into the system.  Another alternative though since I like the AKG Q701 but wish it had more bass, is the AKG K712, which is supposed to have a little more bass emphasis. Would love to hear a pair, but I cannot find a local dealer that has them. Heck, even the Harman Kardon alleged "flagship" store here doesn't carry them.

Any love for the LCD-2.  If one is looking at a new LCD-2 (rosewood) versus a PM-2, then there is a substantial price difference that the Audeze would need to justify over the PM-2.  But if you look used (or open box) in the bamboo versus a new PM-2, then there is not too much price differential. While not having great width in the soundstage, the newer Fazor versions of the LCD-2 are good enough for me given the other strong attributes of that phone. If the PM-2 has an even narrower sound stage then I am not sure I would be happy with it at its current price regardless of its other merits. If it is the same or wider then we may have a winner (or it might then be worth it for me to take a chance and just buy a pair with the fallback of the 30-day return policy; although I would not feel good about returning unless I was terribly disappointed).

Can't go wrong with the HD-600 but not sure it will scratch the ortho itch. Although maybe I just pick them up at the current decent price to have a new toy while I wait and listen some more on the more expensive cans.