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Do any closed phones sound good?

post #1 of 34
2/1/08 at 1:47am
Thread Starter 
I have compared a lot of closed phones vs open ones, and the open ones always sound better. Is there a closed phone out there that doesn't sound like you are in a closed tunnel. I would like some isolation at times but the sound quality is really weak in the closed/iem world. I hate the overbloated bass especially, none of them sound natural.
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post #2 of 34
2/1/08 at 1:55am
I think the ATs and R10s of this world would disagree. Open phones can suck too. It's not a case of open Vs. closed, more good Vs. crappy design. It also seems easier to do good cheap open than closed.
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post #3 of 34
2/1/08 at 2:11am
Quote:
Originally Posted by chillk View Post
I have compared a lot of closed phones vs open ones, and the open ones always sound better. I
Can you give us some examples of which closed phones you compared? Please.
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post #4 of 34
2/1/08 at 2:19am
Closed headphones are really misunderstood. They are difficult to do right, but it can be done. Some of the best closed-dynamic headphones I've ever heard are the Audio-Technica W5000's, Denon D5000's and my modded Sony CD3000's. Of those, the W5000's sounded most like a set of open cans, imo, with my CD3k's close behind.

If you don't wanna spend an arm and a leg, though, I'd say Ultrasone is your best bet.
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post #5 of 34
2/1/08 at 2:24am
Thread Starter 
The closed phones I was trying were hd280 senns, ultrasone 750s, sony 7506, and shure e4cs. I listen to ms-1s, rs-1s, and senn hd555s, on a regular basis, and I found all these phones lacking.
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post #6 of 34
2/1/08 at 2:28am
yup. at that price level, it is really hard to get a good closed phone
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post #7 of 34
2/1/08 at 2:35am
The JVC-dx1000 has a nice soundstage, very un-tunnel like.
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post #8 of 34
2/1/08 at 2:41am
Thread Starter 
That was actually the can I was considering for a closed solution. Are they worth the price? I am not looking for a budget phone, but I am really shooting in the dark ordering those cans. I can't really try them out. How do they sound compared the the grado rs-1?
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post #9 of 34
2/1/08 at 2:50am
havent heard the rs-1, but I love the gs-1000, and was looking for a closed can for when I needed the isolation, so far they are the closest I have found to the gs-1000 sound. I don't plan on selling them, and just ordered a meier prehead mkII se, on the advice of "Kees". So ya, I like them enough to buy them their own amp. There are a few threads about them. I was also considering the w5000's, but read that the dx-1000's had more detail which is what I was really looking for, detail and soundstage.

detail (though not like the gs-1000)
soundstage
great bass
nice highs
super comfortable.

If you don't like them you can always sell them.
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post #10 of 34
2/1/08 at 2:52am
It's all about the design...
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post #11 of 34
2/1/08 at 3:17am
There is something known as Stax SR-4070 ...
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post #12 of 34
2/1/08 at 6:36am
I think lower end closed headphones tend to have that congested feeling. The W5000's certainly sound great and kinda airy.
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post #13 of 34
2/1/08 at 8:36am
how has no one mentioned the Senn HD25?
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post #14 of 34
2/1/08 at 8:41am
Sure!
Closed back 'phones are harder to do right than open back ones. But it can certainly be done.

The Stax 4070 as an example. Picture of mine below...
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post #15 of 34
2/1/08 at 12:22pm
I have had my L3000 for 2½ years now and they are certainly very, very good closed phones. I have just aquired a balanced GS-1000 and I have to admit that for soundstage/headstage and treble presentation it beats the L3000. The L3000 however wins hands down for physical presence and guts. So I will settle with this combo as I find that they complement each other nicely. I will be using the L3000 most as it is a bedside rig and a certain other person next to me does not appreciate the sound of music when trying to go to sleep. At other times which phones will be used will depend a lot on the music as each of them do certain things best.
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