Headphone survey

[Floyddroid]

Which cans are you using and why?

[CageyH]

Sennheiser HD650 because they were the first I bought.
Sennheiser HD540 Reference II, because they don't have the bass lift of the HD650.
Hifiman Sundara as I fancied some planar magnetics.

[Floyddroid]

Sennheiser HD650 because they were the first I bought.
Sennheiser HD540 Reference II, because they don't have the bass lift of the HD650.
Hifiman Sundara as I fancied some planar magnetics.

I have heard great things about the Sundara'\

[CageyH]

I have heard great things about the Sundara'\

They are pretty good.
User Feedback is why I bought them.

[struth]

nuraphone's.. bluetooth or cabled, and learn and adapt to your hearing ... best ive heard, and i usually use on bluetooth tbh. ive a longrange dongle on my pc and i can walk all over most of house. not cheap but good.. about 350 i think or were.

[Feet]

nuraphone's.. best ive heard

Your words have been reverberating around my head for the last few days... I finally gave in and subscribed. v.excited to listen to them.

[guy]

Bowers and Wilkins P3 - comfortable (for my head!), sound good and portable (take on holidays for poolside/beach listening)

Alessandro Music series one (2009 version), leather headband and Sennheiser yellow ear pads - I found the Sennheiser pads more comfortable than standard "Grado" or the doughnut shaped foam pads (I used to love my old Sennheiser HD400 'phones and got the idea of using the yellow pads from using them, not sure why they are better, just feel less scratchy and take longer to overheat my ears).
Effectively a Grado headphone (SR80?) but cheaper to buy in UK (the Alessandro's come from Canada and they don't mind selling to UK, if you want Grado you have to buy in UK at inflated price compared to US retail).
Dynamic, good base - can be a little strident at times/with some source material.

For me comfort is the deciding factor, I tried several headphones before buying the B&W's but couldn't put up with them on my head for long enough to decide whether I liked the sound

[Marco]

Vintage Koss PRO-4AAAs [Well I bought them yesterday and they're on their way]:





Why? Because I like the 'voicing'/tone of high-quality vintage speakers, and so headphones come into that category! Therefore, I generally prefer how they present music, compared with modern speakers or headphones.

Plus, I've always wanted an original pair of Koss PRO-4AAA, as back in the day they were used in top recording and broadcast studios around the world. For me Koss were the definitive headphone company (the original American one) and their designs had a unique sound, which was always unfailingly musical, and also transparent to the recording, giving voices and instruments a vibrancy and realism that was always very addictive

Grado headphones are a bit like that too, and also possess that 'buttery' mellifluous midrange, but without the visceral low-end punch and attack of the Koss. I guess that I just love how American 'cans' sound.

And, as a diehard 'SPPV' guy, I like owning gear that delivers maximum 'bang for your buck'.

I paid £210 for the above (near-mint condition) examples, which isn't an insignificant amount for a pair of 40 year-old headphones, but I know that with the build quality, design prowess and materials used, it will allow them to compete with many of today's designs, at least up to the £500 mark, and likely well beyond.

Plus, if you like retro [count me in], they look cool!

If I was buying brand new, high-end headphones, but still at a 'sensible price', then I'd go for these Audio Technicas:



Details here: https://www.audio-technica.com/en-gb...ed/ath-ad2000x

A) Because I love the 'airy' and very natural sound of high-quality open-backed headphones, and B) because AT have the experience, technical prowess and wherewithal to design some of the very best headphones on the market, whilst still charging 'sane' prices, and I think that the ATH-AD2000X, on the end of a top-notch headphone amp, would be capable of true greatness!

Marco.

[southall-1998_mk2]

Vintage Koss PRO-4AAAs [Well I bought them yesterday and they're on their way]:





Why? Because I like the 'voicing'/tone of high-quality vintage speakers, and so headphones come into that category! Therefore, I generally prefer how they present music, compared with modern speakers or headphones.

Plus, I've always wanted an original pair of Koss PRO-4AAA, as back in the day they were used in top recording and broadcast studios around the world. For me Koss were the definitive headphone company (the original American one) and their designs had a unique sound, which was always unfailingly musical, and also transparent to the recording, giving voices and instruments a vibrancy and realism that was always very addictive

Grado headphones are a bit like that too, and also possess that 'buttery' mellifluous midrange, but without the visceral low-end punch and attack of the Koss. I guess that I just love how American 'cans' sound.

And, as a diehard 'SPPV' guy, I like owning gear that delivers maximum 'bang for your buck'.

I paid £210 for the above (near-mint condition) examples, which isn't an insignificant amount for a pair of 40 year-old headphones, but I know that with the build quality, design prowess and materials used, it will allow them to compete with many of today's designs, at least up to the £500 mark, and likely well beyond.

Plus, if you like retro [count me in], they look cool!

If I was buying brand new, high-end headphones, but still at a 'sensible price', then I'd go for these Audio Technicas:



Details here: https://www.audio-technica.com/en-gb...ed/ath-ad2000x

A) Because I love the 'airy' and very natural sound of high-quality open-backed headphones, and B) because AT have the experience, technical prowess and wherewithal to design some of the very best headphones on the market, whilst still charging 'sane' prices, and I think that the ATH-AD2000X, on the end of a top-notch headphone amp, would be capable of true greatness!

Marco.

Hello Marco,

Have you tried the more affordable Audio Technica Headphones? If yes, which one?

S.

[Clive197]

It’s OPPO PM1’s for me. Purchased after dealer insisted I have a listen, rest is history. Also a pr of B&W C5’s for mobile, travelling & Gym (not that I’ve being doing any of that for the last 6 months)