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Best Process to Level Up Headphones?

tlite

tlite

Active Member
HELP REFINE THIS AND MAKE IT BETTER (if you feel like it).

I was looking for something like this, and I had an earlier thread kind of looking for advice but I think this is more directly what I'm looking for feedback on. Otherwise, you get into the "try it, everything is subjective" vortex- which is, of course, a very real and astute vortex to consider.

So once you've decided that words can't describe sound if you don't know what you want yet... and without the ability to try appropriate headphones locally, here's a potential start/process (does this make sense?):

PRODUCT IMPACT
In order of product importance in terms of detectable audio differences/impact:
  1. Headphones
  2. Amp
  3. DAC
  4. Misc. (Power Supplies, Cables, etc.)
Assuming headphones are most impactful, this thread will start there, but guessing the process would be the same.

Be up front with vendors about the plan, but within a target budget (in my case let's say < $500) order 1-2 "standards" of each of these types that may be of interest:

I only have experience with Sony MDR-7506's (closed back studio monitor headphones). I'm wondering if I might like something better, but don't really know, so here's the plan:

PRODUCT TYPE
  1. Closed Back
  2. Open Back
    1. Planar
    2. Non-planar
  3. On-ear
  4. In-ear
  5. Earbuds
In my case I'm interested in 1 & 2, maybe 3. I don't like in-ear stuff so I'm not going with 4 & 5 personally, but makes sense to include if other folks dig that.

Buy the headphones (making sure the return policy is good and vendor is cool with it).

PRODUCT SAMPLING
In my case I have targeted:
  1. Closed Back
    1. My existing Sony MDR-7506's
    2. Beyerdynamic DT 770 Pro
  2. Open Back
    1. Audeze LCD-1
    2. Sennheiser HD-660S
    3. HiFi Man Sundara
EVALUATION
I like Americana, Rock, Metal, Hip-Hop, Classic Jazz
  1. Pick Reference Tracks (at least two) from each category
  2. Set preamp/amp flat
  3. Listen.
    1. Stuff to think about while listening
      1. Listen to cymbals/cymbal decay
      2. Vocals
        1. Sound natural, harsh, realistic, smooth? Listen to male and female vocals
      3. Bass
        1. Does it just boom, or can I tell what note is being played very clearly? Which is better?
      4. Soundstage
      5. Clarity
      6. Fizziness/Muddiness
  4. Comfort - how do these things feel on my head after an hour or two?
COMMIT
By this point would hope to have decided which type of headphone you like best soundwise. If one of the "sample" products is awesome- buy it. If not, return the rest, and consult with the sales folks about what you liked and didn't like, then try what they suggest. Buy from the store that's giving you good advice. Negotiate if you want to, but buy from the folks advising you. Return what you don't want in pristine condition.

THE AFTERBUY
Change nothing else for awhile. Enjoy and get to know the headphones. No idea if there are headphone mods, but guessing yes. Maybe try those if you want. Then move on to the next most important stuff in the chain if you want to (i.e. amp, etc.).

AUDIOPHILE STUPIDITY
Repeat.
 
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I don't know of many sealed planars. The model I've been using (at least pre-covid, when I was still going to the office) and have been reasonably happy with is the Monoprice Monolith M1060C. Quality control has been somewhat lacking, but they have a 5 year warranty, and once I got a good pair, I haven't had any more issues.
 
tlite said:
"try it, everything is subjective" vortex
Click to expand...
That is the answer!! :dunno:
People often ask others to tell them what they will like, unfortunately it really doesn’t work like that.

That said, I was happy with the same Sony’s until I bought my DT770’s which I was happy with until I bought my DT990’s… which I was happy with until I bought my Sundaras (which keep improving with use)
:beerchug:
 
swechsler said:
I don't know of many sealed planars. The model I've been using (at least pre-covid, when I was still going to the office) and have been reasonably happy with is the Monoprice Monolith M1060C. Quality control has been somewhat lacking, but they have a 5 year warranty, and once I got a good pair, I haven't had any more issues.
Click to expand...
Those are gorgeous!

Over the weekend I ordered a pair of Audeze LCD-1's, and a pair of Drop Sennheiser 6XX's to try. The M1060C, like you said, looks like a unique design with closed back planars. Might try those as well.

I think what I'm going for here is slightly smooth, slightly warm, otherwise neutral.

I don't have a headphone amp, hoping these can be powered by my Marantz 2235 headphone out, or through my M-Audio Profire 610. I also remember seeing some kind of little attenuator gizmo that you can plug into your speaker out terminals and it provides an XLR Think I'll have enough power?

I was thinking about getting the Monolith DAC, or a Dragonfly Red, or a Schiit Vali. But again, hopefully my current setup is enough to power the headphones.
 
GChief said:
That is the answer!! :dunno:
People often ask others to tell them what they will like, unfortunately it really doesn’t work like that.

That said, I was happy with the same Sony’s until I bought my DT770’s which I was happy with until I bought my DT990’s… which I was happy with until I bought my Sundaras (which keep improving with use)
:beerchug:
Click to expand...
Nice! In my research I've kind of read up on the DT770's and the Sundara. Haven't looked at the DT990's yet.
 
tlite said:
The M1060C, like you said, looks like a unique design with closed back planars. Might try those as well.
Click to expand...
The one weakness, other than the QC issues, is the headband is too thin and has a tendency to twist (temporarily) out of shape when you remove them. There's a hack to replace with an Audeze headband, but it's not plug and play.
 
IMO go to headfi and watch the classifieds section... I'd skip closed backs and look purely at open backs or IEMs to start. I'm not an IEM guy but below say $400 their performance vs. open backs headphones is undeniably better. As you move up the price range full sized HPs will surpass IEMs significantly. Something like Dunu Est or SA6 used are a good place to start or perhaps a Moondrop bless 2 dusk. Spend the $20 and buy the Final type E tips as fitment seal and tips are critical to IEMs.

I personally don't like Audeze LCD1 but if you could save for a LCD2.1 or 2.2 (both pre-fazor) you can find them for ~ $550. OG Focal clears can be had used for pretty sweet deals if you watch and they are very versatile. If you want a very punch V shaped sound then go Fostex TH900 mk1/2 used but beware that treble can be pretty hot.

with IEMs amps/dacs aren't too critical if you get something portable or a decent noise floor. Even something like an ifi hip dac or zen dac would be sufficient. As you get more into headphones they become more amp dependent and you start down the path of more $.

IMO Audiokarma isn't a great resource on this topic. Headfi, headphones.com forum, and hifiguides are better spots!
 
rmsanger said:
IMO go to headfi and watch the classifieds section... I'd skip closed backs and look purely at open backs or IEMs to start. IMO Audiokarma isn't a great resource on this topic. Headfi, headphones.com forum, and hifiguides are better spots!
Click to expand...

OK- so great suggestions. And I had not yet come across any of those other forums yet. I have now logged a good hour or so on HeadFi. Thanks for the new rabbithole!
 
Stay away from Reddit and ASR forums you’ll be fine. All three of those forums I provided are typically full of good people willing to help. It is a rabbit hole indeed and a specialized market. Audio karma tends to be an older crowd into turntables and 2 channel setups so headphones aren’t there key interest.

i enjoy both worlds so like to visit each.
 
I tend to stay away from ASR. I'm not interested in buying gear on specs alone. If a device sounds good to me I don't worry about the specs. This is not because I don't understand technical gobbledy-gook. It's just that specs rarely if ever tell you much about how something sounds. IMO/E listening to "whatever" is the only way to make a good decision about what to buy. This is especially so with any type of transducer (speakers, headphones, phono cartridges)

Besides, any piece of electronics I've had the slightest interest in for the last 45+ years has noise and distortion figures that are inaudible. That includes tube, SS and hybrid gear as long as it is being used within its limits.
 
Do not forget Grado. One of the best sounding open back headphones you will hear. Even the low end entry level ones sound very good. You will not need to spend your $500 budget on them and will be able to put $2-300 toward other stuff.
 
I have a pair of Grado SR100's. I found the original cushions to be very uncomfortable. Once they were replaced I was able to listen for a while with no discomfort. They don't get a lot of use as I prefer the sound of my HiFi Man HE-4x's.
 
HTHMAN said:
Do not forget Grado. One of the best sounding open back headphones you will hear. Even the low end entry level ones sound very good. You will not need to spend your $500 budget on them and will be able to put $2-300 toward other stuff.
Click to expand...
Picked up some SR80x's. Among other things to try!
 
FWIW: I now have at the house:

  1. Grado SR80x
  2. Sennheiser 6XX
  3. HiFiman 560 v4
  4. Audeze LCD-1
  5. Sony MDR-7506
I'm going iPhone 6+ through a DragonFly Red with Deezer.

This is really a blast trying out all this stuff.

Problem is... so far, everything sounds good. Just different.
 
the skipper said:
this is why recommending anything is futile
Click to expand...
Agree, but not recommending something you know with absolute certainty is utter crap because you own the shi... in question and every single person from various backgrounds who's listened/endured it hate it as much as you do, is audiophile ethics to issue specific warnings, depending on context. I have or rather had something that fits the description of UC but I won't name the manufacturer since it was a more or less experimental product from a company that is now held in high regard by audio enthusiasts, and for good reason.

The ordeal taught me to disregard reviews that are done after listening to the item using esoteric equipment that only a chosen few can afford, to never, ever, ever buy something costly without listening to it yourself first on real-world rigs. For example I just read a very well-written review of a $200 DAC and it was clear (at least to the reviewer) that this was an exceptionally high-quality DAC considering the price point. But when I read the part where he described the stack there was close to $30,000 worth of equipment there so I asked myself if all the goodies he credited to the DAC were not in part at least the lot of other equipment in his system. How can one make a recommendation in such a context? And what about myriad of other factors? Yup, futile indeed.
 
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