Which headphones sound most like loudspeakers?

[twiiii]

Electrostatics.

The choice you have to make is sealed or opened. Its hard to find sealed anymore. I loved my ESP 9's. But prefer the more relaxed presentation from my Stax and Signet electro statics. For general back ground listening I use my Sennheiser dynamic headphones. But for critical listening I prefer sealed. Even if you start sweating after 15 minutes or so.

If you prefer point source speakers with a lot of ambience you will prefer open headphones. If like me you prefer line arrays for a very detailed sound you will prefer sealed headphones. If you are a horn speaker fan, you are just going to have to spend some time auditioning head phones at reputable dealers. Headphones have as many different types of sounds as do speakers and the rooms they are placed in.

 

[JP]

One thing the realizer does is to keep the soundstage stable even when you move your head. I don't think you can do that in software.

One of my problems with headphones, even with a binaural source is that the soundstage isn't stably focused in front of you. When you move your head so does the soundstage. Besides making headphones sound a lot like speakers the Realizer solidifies the soundstage to be in front of you regardless of head movements.

Apple’s spatial audio does that now. Tripped me up as at night I usually do a low-volume look-away to ensure I’m on the EarPods. Very Realiser-ish.

 

[JoeESP9]

I'm for anything that makes headphones sound other than having all the music inside one's head.

 

[Caveman Carl]

Electronic manipulation of the signal typically equates to some sort of "distortion".

Right. But "distortion" in itself is not necessarily a bad thing since it can be used to distort away (override or repulse) offensive auditory artifacts by making them inaudible to our ears. Parametric DSP when properly applied carries much less drawbacks than old-school EQ what with phase shifting and EMI issues on passive crossover designs that could only be partially dealt with by designing secondary and often very complex LRC's at prohibitive cost and that correction was applied whether a problem was actually occurring or not and when you correct a nonexistent phase shift, for example, you get what, a shifty performance. On the other hand DSP is adaptive, reading upstream material in order to get the calculations that will be applied to the signal at the proper moment a few hundredths of a second later before it reaches the amplifying stage, relieving the amp of much of its workload sorting out noise from melody. Simpler amplifiers are more efficient.

I have found open back 'phones tend to provide a little more spaciousness but thats just my experience, others may differ.

I don't think many will disagree on that. Using closed-backs is often the result of compromise rather than pure preference. That being said there are closed-backs that sound fantastic but they tend to hover way yonder price-wise and in the realm of audiophilia, they are but a few. Focal I believe is the only non-boutique brand to offer truly high-end closed-backs but gosh, do they ever rock...

 

[Caveman Carl]

I'm for anything that makes headphones sound other than having all the music inside one's head.

The whole universe lives inside our heads Joe, what we call "reality" is consensus over an illusion . Yup

 

[JoeESP9]

There's more than enough going on inside my head.

My preference when listening to music is for "them" to be over there performing on a stage.

 

[reydelaplaya]

I can recommend from experience checking out Grado's RS-1 headphones - looks like they're up to (RS-1x) designation - I have the RS-1e from about 8 years ago. Grado states(ed) in their marketing material that the whole concept was to make a headphone that sounded like speakers. I'd still say they're headphones, but being open back, they are surprisingly open and airy (compared to my Sony V6 closed back, for example), and sound fantastic.


One thing I would absolutely suggest is replacing the stock pads with the G-Cushions (they're now offered by Grado as an optional accessory for them directly on their order page). Those stock pads are stiff, and sit directly on the ear with a distinct ridge that after a few minutes/hours of listening becomes quite painful IMHO. The G-Cushions have a much wider bowl shape that move the pressure point to the head instead which lifts the drivers up off of the ears. Mine are aftermarket G-cushions, but the end result is the same.




Looks like they've made some worthwhile improvements to that latest version - I can't speak for the new tri-wood driver cabinet, but braided cloth cables I'd bet would be more cooperative than the PVC ones included on older models like what I have. Might have to look into sourcing some replacing my own cables at some point. :thought emoji:

Good luck in your search!

 

[seely]

I can recommend from experience checking out Grado's RS-1 headphones - looks like they're up to (RS-1x) designation - I have the RS-1e from about 8 years ago. Grado states(ed) in their marketing material that the whole concept was to make a headphone that sounded like speakers.

I have the step down, the 325x with the "x" drivers (obviously). I can say they are easily the most "speaker like" headphones I've ever used. The illusion of space, distance and staging is pretty incredible IMO. As someone who traditionally hasn't been a "headphones guy", my whole quest was to find headphones I could satisfactorily interchange with my speakers, and these really nailed it.

IOne thing I would absolutely suggest is replacing the stock pads with the G-Cushions (they're now offered by Grado as an optional accessory for them directly on their order page). Those stock pads are stiff, and sit directly on the ear with a distinct ridge that after a few minutes/hours of listening becomes quite painful IMHO. The G-Cushions have a much wider bowl shape that move the pressure point to the head instead which lifts the drivers up off of the ears. Mine are aftermarket G-cushions, but the end result is the same.

Absolute necessity IMO

I but braided cloth cables I'd bet would be more cooperative than the PVC ones included on older models like what I have. Might have to look into sourcing some replacing my own cables at some point.

It's surprisingly stiff as hell. Haven't used the PVC version, but I was a little disappointed in how inflexible the cord is. Mine still has every kink in it from sitting wound in the box.

 

[reydelaplaya]

It's surprisingly stiff as hell. Haven't used the PVC version, but I was a little disappointed in how inflexible the cord is. Mine still has every kink in it from sitting wound in the box.

The problem with these older pliable PVC cables is that because the cans can independently rotate 360°, the left and right cables after the Y can get twisted around individually and wind up like a DNA model. Untwisting so they lay flat is a challenge and can sometimes require removing both cans from the headband, suspending them from the Y junction, and encouraging them to fall back to natural state before reattaching to headband.This is a design flaw that puts excess strain on that area of the cables as they twist which could be easily remedied by Grado. I have no qualms with the cable from plug to Y, that part is fine.



I did this on purpose for demonstrating what I’m getting at. It’s like a flexible straw with the wires running inside the hollow, not a solid cable. Almost like a long stretch of heat-shrink tubing before it’s shrunk.

I think the cloth covered cables would provide enough stiffness and memory to prevent the cans from twisting all the way around so much, not to mention easily returning them to original orientation if they do. It appears that Grado remedied that prior design problem with the new cloth covered cables.

 

[seely]

I think the cloth covered cables would provide enough stiffness and memory to prevent the cans from twisting all the way around so much, not to mention easily returning them to original orientation if they do. It appears that Grado remedied that prior design problem with the new cloth covered cables.

I see it now... I have seen complaints about the cable and thought the complaint was they didn't have enough flex. I can say I've never had that DNA helix problem with the cloth

 

[reydelaplaya]

DNA model

DNA helix

"Helix" That's the word I was looking for but couldn't remember LOL

 

[Caveman Carl]

The problem with these older pliable PVC cables is that because the cans can independently rotate 360°, the left and right cables after the Y can get twisted around individually and wind up like a DNA model. Untwisting so they lay flat is a challenge and can sometimes require removing both cans from the headband, suspending them from the Y junction, and encouraging them to fall back to natural state before reattaching to headband.This is a design flaw that puts excess strain on that area of the cables as they twist which could be easily remedied by Grado. I have no qualms with the cable from plug to Y, that part is fine.

Just as using cocobolo cups in one of their models is also undoubtedly fine, to use that example. How a company that is obviously perfectly able to innovate can display such struggle with the practical aspect of basic industrial design (cables, pads, headband, etc.) never ceases to amaze me considering that sort of issue on similar priced offerings from competitors is very unusual and when it occurs, remediation occurs in relatively short order. At Grado it's almost as if they invent irritants.

 

[justjed2]

To update their traditional methods and materials across the board like that would likely cost some pretty serious money, which would likely be passed on to the customers, I suppose. They have everything in place already to keep to traditions, figuring they already have a customer base who feels the sound is worth the inconvenience/discomfort. Apparently they're right. And there's the nostalgia factor. Even the most advanced Grados are still pretty retro. And hipsters love retro!

 

[Caveman Carl]

They have everything in place already to keep to traditions, figuring they already have a customer base who feels the sound is worth the inconvenience/discomfort. Apparently they're right. And there's the nostalgia factor. Even the most advanced Grados are still pretty retro. And hipsters love retro!

That is also my opinion.

 

[bagwell368]

My vote: HiFiMan HE-500 (no longer made). A little EQ and a few mods and its like listening to a pair of very nice ProAc's.

 

[Caveman Carl]

My vote: HiFiMan HE-500 (no longer made). A little EQ and a few mods and its like listening to a pair of very nice ProAc's.

Power-hungry beasts those were but yeah, they do sound speaker-ish. Some say the HE-5xx sounds similar. I wouldn't know but their design and specs are alike.

 

[Chris Brown]

My biggest battle over the years in terms of finding headphones that sounded as good as my main stereo pretty much came down to bass. For the most part you have two categories, you have "good" headphones, such as the beyerdynamic headphones, etc. My DT770 and DT990 headphones sound great but when it comes to true deep loud subwoofer bass they rattle and can't really get the job done. Then you have headphones such as the "beats" series that have good bass but terrible midrange and treble, especially vocals, etc. The one headphone I've found that can actually do both are my Sony MDR-XB700 headphones. They are 24-ohms and really require an amp with good current, but they have great bass while also sounding good at the same time.

 

[slovell]

None of them.

 

[JoeESP9]

None of them.

Just liking this post (I did) wasn't enough. I felt that quoting was also needed.

Headphones can sound very good. However, none of them in my 50+ years with this "hobby" have sounded close to or like any speaker.

 

[ProBlogger]

I’m a speaker guy, and my new Sennheiser HD 660S2 come pretty close. The first set of cans that I’ve owned that have a full sound, and remind me of my Paradigm 9SE’s midrange and bass response. The treble is better on the Senn’s too and you’re always in the sweet spot.