I was asked for reccomendations for a headphone seems mostly reasonable but I can tthinknof any other options here is what he sent and gave me a tonne of information.
Looking to change my closed back headphones…
Use case: at my desk sitting infront of computer.
I have the Shure srh1540, I’ll be looking to sell off at bargain for the end of the year to some lucky person.
I like:
The soundstage, the imaging, the depth technicalities
The resolution in the mids when simple stuff is playing
I dislike
Dat annoying boomy unuanced bass that veils the whole stage.
The treble rolloff
The slow speed of the mids that congests when complex stuff is playing
The volume cap before things get shouty.
I just know they might perform better with better source or power, but I don’t feel like investing four digits worth of money into those things.
I think it’s about time it leaves my place but not until I find a replacement for it.
I have tried and disliked these:
ATH M40x-M50x-Msr7-DSR9,
Aeon Flow Closed,
Beyer DT770pro and DT1770 and Amiron Home,
AKG K553pros
Focal Elegia, Stellia
Takstar Pro82
Sennheiser HD280Pro, HD598cs, Momentum/HD1, hd4.50
Sony MDR-7506, CH700n, all the Wh1000exes, Sony MDR Z1r
Audeze Mobius, Penrose
Corsair HS50, HS60
Fostex TH900mkII
HyperX Cloud Core, Alpha, Cloud II
Meze Classic 99
Shure SRH440
I have liked these, I want something in line with these:
HyperX Cloud Stinger : It’s nearly there but treble is too unrefined
AKG K371 : It’s nearly there but the treble again… feels too loose and the pads touch my ears.
Sony MDR-1A: It’s nearly there too but the treble again… not great.
Audioquest Nightowl Carbon
Sony MDR-Z7: I remember how good these were but… my last audition was in 2015… so I’ll need to listen to these again lol
Fostex TH610
Focal Celestee: It wasn’t bad… but too heavy to wear.
EPOS Sennheiser GSP 600: it’s the one with the biggest potential but I’d rather do without the mic if possible lol
Logitech G433: Nearly perfect neaarly if it didn’t have such huge sound leak like semi-open headphones. Also the airflow isn’t great either… Ultimate Ears heritage headphones there. I own this pair.
Sennheiser HD820: I really really really love those. I’m part of those that really get the tuning and appreciate them, but… too expensive lol and too big and heavy lol I had them for 6 months during last year’s first lockdown and realized I simply can’t wear them for long.
I love these IEMs so anything close to these in lightweight Closed Back Over Ear form would be appreciated:
KZ ZAS, Moondrop Aria MAX, EDX MAX, HM, Ibasso it01X, Final E3000, Vento VC T500pro
Will be driving it with the JDS Atom amp+ and my REGA DAC.
Thx!
Sounds like he’s done tried everything lol also his taste is a bit uncommon to say the least.
Maybe suggest eikon or atticus if he can find a good used deal. Probably eikon based on his tastes.
I mean the amp is a massive limitation, that’s going to skew any of his thoughts on anything more than midrange cans, perhaps he could experiment with that.
" I just know they might perform better with better source or power, but I don’t feel like investing four digits worth of money into those things."
He doesn’t have to invest an extra 4 digits, but he should at least try something higher end than an atom+ imo
I feel like the innovation and output of closed backs has been slow because of the tapered off interest in closed backs in favor of iems lately, they’ve gotten really good and the convenience + price benefit for iems has kinda taken up a lot of the use cases for a closed headphone
I would mention a kennerton gh50 but that’s potentially too much leak, and also I would worry about signature BUT I think it would be an interesting pickup as long as they gave them time + a better source
THIS.
Oops I skimmed over the part where he talked about his source… Yeah he might want to invest a little more in that and then revisit
But yeah it doesn’t have to be 4 digits, going up a bit pass the entry $100 stuff will definitely be worth it
Hello,
So my assessment is this.
It seems that only half of them have found a way to fulfil their preferences in sound, without wanting to offend.
The Dac from Rega is interesting, and seems to be an excellent implementation with the Wolfson chip.
I would keep it for a while.
I see the sticking point in the Jds Labs Atom amplifier.
Nothing personal, it’s good for driving mostly headphones that are demanding up to a certain point, mainly the lower end like Hifiman Sundara, Hd560 etc…
And as an amplifier quickly reaches its limits, it does not necessarily meet the requirements of the headphones listed that you have tried.
Instead of looking for a headphone again I would
a good pairing of a headphone amplifier that complements your great Rega Dac.
And then try one or the other headphone from your list with it.
Probably certain points will open up.
And to be honest, you haven’t necessarily picked the worst headphones, it has to be said.
There are some nice ones that I would at least like to listen to.
You have a good source, good headphones but you throttle it with a headphone amplifier.
Edit:
here possible candidates for amplifiers:
Singxer Sa 1, Topping A90,rupert neve,used Violectric V200 or 220.
Maybe a good Lake People G109.
Maybe others have suggestions that are under 4 figures.
just for the record this isn’t for me
yeah its really unnfortunate cause he insists the atom + is different and way better than the atom . I haven’t heard the + but if what he is hearing to him is legit to him its really hard to convince him to try something else currently
I don’t doubt it’s better, but I do doubt it would now compete with what’s above
I mean with rnhps and mlp floating around in the low to mid $300 range, its hard to not suggest those for less than most of the cans listed.
And the weight thing is a little odd as even focals are too heavy? But maybe i am just more used to prolonged heavy headphone use?
i agree especially something even like an asgard. I did offer to send him my asgard to see if he watns to compare.
i think its cause he is mainly an IEM guy he finds headphones too heavy
I would go more in the direction of where you want to go.
The Dac already has a musical touch, finely balanced in detail.
Now it’s more in the direction of personal preference.
Should it be more in the direction of warm and full.
Warm and detailed, or warm and yet neutral.
Neutral in general, or tending more towards analysing sound.
I would consider Singxer Sa 1 warm and detailed.
Warm and full could be given by a Otl amplifier.
Warm and neutral I would consider the Asgard 3, maybe the Schiit Lyr 3.
Neutral in general, the German products like Violectric and Lake people.
More towards analytics, the Topping A90.
There are certainly other devices that are priced a little lower but would go in this direction.
It might also make it a little easier to know roughly what your budget is so that you can recommend something that might be right for you.
That would be the way for me now if I were looking for something.
All those nice headphones on one budget amp. You’d think he would come to the conclusion he doesn’t like the amp (or dac or both) on his own but I guess that’s a stretch.
so an update on what I pulled on him he tried all this gear over a good span of time so he has had different gear overtime. I am trying to get him to retry gear as even preferences may have changed over the years
Another update completely forgot this guy’s workplace has a jotenheim he can try (don’t ask me why. Dude has experience with plenty of amps he’s just a mainly iem guy so he’s just really liked the atom a lot due to how clean it is and is just a good neutral. He also has a liquid spark lying around for more power. Anyway got him to revisit the 770 and he really likes it he thinks his aging ears are just able to accept treble easier and getting him to revisit the mdr 1a m2
There is a huge range of prices represented in this “tried” list. Whats the actual budget? Also, what is the source gear being used? If he is willing to buy used there are a couple things that may fit below 820 RRP
I think this guy may really like the audio technica wp900, I think it fits the description quite well but his taste is too uncertain to be sure.
To me its in many ways like a sony mdr1am2 but with very good treble.
Rice, I would agree totally as I am currently trying to sell an almost new set of WP900’s. 
Closed back, beautiful, light, comfortable and easy to drive. Lots of bass with a V-shaped sound.
Lol I sent it to him but he’s prettyuch settled on a pair of 770 250 ohm and a md1am2
Tell him to rebuy the TH900, Lawton mod them (type 4) and buy a Pass Labs HPA-1.