How my journey for closed portable bliss came to an end - Page 2

Oh please, we don't need another trose49.

I was curious about these 'phones for awhile, but then I got derailed somehow. Perhaps I'll get them someday, but the lack of impressions/reviews from Head-Fiers gets me wondering.

I am still searching for a decent pair of closed phones for work, or for use at home when the wife is doing homework, or watching the TV. As a general rule, I really don't like closed phones (at least I haven't really liked the ones I have owned or heard so far). I much prefer the sound of a pair of open headphones. As such, it is going to take a very special closed phone to satisfy me.

So far I have tried:

Sony CD3000
BeyerDynamic DT770
AudioTechnica A900
AKG K81 DJ
BeyerDynamic DT250-80
KOSS A130

I pretty much agree with everything that Asr said in his original post regarding the CD3000s, DT770s, A900s, and K81 DJs.

The only place we differ in opinion is with regard to the DT250-80. They were decent with the music I primarily listen to (Metal of all genres, hard rock, classic rock, prog rock).

The DT250-80s were the only closed phones that even came close. They held me over for quite a while. But in the end, off they went to a new home. If memory serves, I think Asr bought them from me, LOL!

At any rate...

My search continues.
I am considering giving the Equation Audio RP-21s a shot, and (after reading this thread) the ATH-ES7s.


Edit: Forgot to mention, comfort is very high on my requirement list for a pair of closed phones.

How comfortable are the ES7s? And do they have full circum-aural earcups?

Everytime I think back to how uncomfortable the K81 DJs were, I die a little inside. After that fiasco, I promised myself that I would never deal with a closed supra-aural headphone ever again.

Unfortunately, I believe the ATH-ES7 is also a closed supra-aural headphone.

I'm currently on vacation in Japan right now and yesterday my mission was to find a pair of ES-7s. After asking around in broken Japanese, I found the last pair at a Yodobashi Camera to what equates out to be roughly 120 USD. I think my search for a closed portable has ended with them too. Their sound signature is exactly what I'm looking for in a headphone: pretty much very strong and detailed across the range and non boomy bass. I think I'll be spending most of my listening time with them.

Nice write-up, as usual. The ES7 is a rockin' portable headphone and it looks good enough to wear in public.

Welcome to Team ES7, indeed! Davederek should be chiming in shortly . I know he's pretty happy with it. I sold mine to him because the ES7 was just a little to small for my noggin'.

I've kinda given up on a portable cans search and am resorting to IEMs for now. I do hope to buy the HD25-1 if one comes up for sale here. I tried it briefly at a local shop and liked it a lot.

How does the ES7 compare to the ATH-AD2000. I just got a pair of AD2000s and love them. I am looking for a smaller, closed portable can, and it looks like these might be them.

I might pick up a pair and give them a shot. 100$ isn't a bad price.

Have you run them amped? If so how was the sound compared to unamped?

I have a pair of KSC-75's and Grado SR60's that I use as my portable. I'm looking for something even "higher" in the portable line and also closed. I just think it would be nice to have a set of closed's that I also would enjoy unamped.

Dang! I was hoping the ES-7s were circum-aural.

Ever since the K81 DJs, I am very afraid of supra-aural closed phones.




They made me feel like this guy:



Except for that guy looks a bit more comfortable than how I felt with the K81 DJs!

You say that they more rest on your ears instead of clamping them. How do they do with staying on your head while moving around, as well as looking up and down? Also, how's the isolation?

congratulations. i beg to disagree on your point that this is the end of your journey. on the contrary, it's just starting wahaha!!! now hold on to your dear wallet.