If we include non-current phones, I think the Sony MDR-MA900 is also worthy of mention. Around $200AUS (good used) for terrific phones that will work with anything.

While I'm a fan a crossfeed, I'm not sure this is the place to write more about it. I've described my thoughts at greater length on the relevant Computer Audio thread on this site for anyone interested - including the question whether headphone mastering is affecting the issue in more modern...

I agree - I don't listen these days without crossfeed (except binaural recordings). The basic point is that phones don't present information the way loudspeakers do - and most music is engineered for loudspeaker presentation. Crossfeed addresses this to some extent. I accept crossfeed might...

That's been my experience too.

Yes, the HD800S of course! Cobra records (Tom Peeters - available NativeDSD) seems to be adopting just this approach - separate binaural and standard stereo recordings of each release (multichannel also). So, you might like to check them out if you're interested in the catalogue. They're...

I think that's spot on! I've never understood why it's so frequently dismissed out of hand (and, as you say, seemingly on the basis that it's only relevant to old recordings). I've tried to describe in more detail how I feel crossfeed improves listening on the relevant thread on Computer...

Well, for what it's worth, I don't see anything odd in what you write! I too prefer phones to loudspeakers - and that's after spending quite a bit of time with good loudspeaker systems (for monitoring and pleasure). I think you're right to point out that it's quite feasible with phones to...

Thanks for that - helpful. I take your general point re mids (and lows!) - and interesting observation re the 800 and pro market. I'm particularly interested in your thoughts re HD800(S)/Composer as I could almost be persuaded with some recordings that it might be the ADX5000 that's the real...

Yes, I wouldn't be surprised to find we're using some of these terms bit differently - I find it's hard to convey the sense of what I mean at the best of times - let alone when I'm trying to describe how things sound! Re the SR-007, I think I see what you mean, and would agree there's a density...

It's interesting to see the reference to the SR-007 here - which tends to polarize opinion I think. I find both the SR-009S and the SR-700MkII more to my taste - with the SR-007 seeming too 'diffuse' in its presentation. My experience with amps (with many phones) is that they don't drastically...

The HD800S certainly seems more realistic to me - although the HE1000SE presents a very spacious image, I think. I no longer own it or the Susvara but did have them both for some time. This tended to confirm for me that the Susvara is relatively rolled-off at higher frequencies - and really is...

I must confess I'm no fan of Focal phones - but they're popular, including with some who listen to classical music. Re the HD800/S issue, I've flip-flopped over the years myself - my preference for the S depends on removal of dust covers - and then seems to a touch more natural to me. I'm...

Yes, I'm looking forward to hearing the Composer - as a paid-up member of the AKG appreciation society ...

For what it's worth, I think there's probably something in this. I don't listen to genres other than classical but accept that the phones I've enjoyed over the years are often not preferred by those who listen to other kinds of music - and phones recommended by those same people are often (in...

It's worth bearing in mind I think that mechanical transformer hum is very common. And it's very unlikely to be affected by the introduction of any upstream gadget in the AC line. In fact, if the upstream gadget has a transformer (like many in-line power sources) it may well also hum. I find...