Headphones with strong midrange and solid bass?
Aug 5, 2011 at 7:48 PM Thread Starter Post #1 of 16

corsabrin

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Hello,
 
I'm looking for a headphone that has a nice lush mid range, but also has solid bass.  I'm not looking for skull pounding bass, but I do want it to be solid and not too thin.  Something that can reach down to the sub bass as well.  I'm not into bright treble as I get hearing fatigue very quickly from overly bright sound, so treble isn't all that important to me.
 
I listen to a lot of female vocals, rock, metal and some techno.  I like to listen to all types of music.  I don't care for headphones that bury the vocals in the music.  I want the vocals up front with solid bass.
 
What headphones would you recommend for this?  I would like to keep the price around $200 if possible and will mostly be using these out of an iPod touch, unamped (for now) with lossless files.  Portability isn't important as I will be using these at home and will use the headphones for movies and TV on occasion out of a higher end AVR as well.
 
Thanks in advance,
 
corsabrin
 
Aug 5, 2011 at 8:27 PM Post #3 of 16
D2000? Feh.
 
Go for the Ultrasone Pro750. $235 on Amazon.  All there, midrange, bass and space.
 
Aug 5, 2011 at 8:47 PM Post #5 of 16
Even the D7000s don't have a fantastic midrange - the D2000s I imagine would be significantly worse.
 
I'd say the HD580/600/650 is what you are looking for, but unamped is a bit an issue.
 
Aug 5, 2011 at 8:51 PM Post #6 of 16
You guys are out of your mind when you say the Denons have a recessed midrange.  They definitely have one, but it's barely recessed.  There are plenty of other headphone culprits out there that have a severe u-curve.  That's been my experience with lesser Ultrasones at the local stores.  The sennheisers are well known for their emphasized mids, but I found all of them to not extend to the deepest depths of bass.
 
My first thought that came into my mind was HD650, but that is out of the price range and wants an amp as well.
 
Aug 5, 2011 at 9:14 PM Post #8 of 16


Quote:
D2000? Feh.
 
Go for the Ultrasone Pro750. $235 on Amazon.  All there, midrange, bass and space.


I'm gonna dissent here - I owned the predecessor, the Proline.  Assuming all one reads is true, and the differences are cosmetic, I found the bass STRONG!!! and the midrange there, and the treble BRIGHT.  The latter is why I sold them.  Same experience with the HFI 780, and the end of my Ultrasone journey.  Two caveats - mine is but one voice in the crowd, Beagle's is another.  Second, the Ultrasones have their strong points, a bit of a unique sound, and along with Grados and Sennheiser, one ought to try them, in case they are your sound, as they are for many.  Oh, and they did perform quite well without an amp.  EDIT - that is a great price new.  Hmmm, Ultrasone again???? Nahhhh.  Or maybe.... Nah....  Oh, the Pro 750's come with a really bitchin case if I recall.  And last, the ultrasone Pro 750, 900 and the HFI 780's are really modable, and respond well to damping mods, and in the case of the 780, a recable.  I'm not a recable guy, but that 780 cable is BAD!  LOTS of info here at Head-fi, if that route is of interest.
 
Now to completely lame out and make a recommendation based on extrapolation, rather than direct experience.  I owned and loved the Audio Technica ESW10jpn, way out of the price range and no longer available.  Based on them, and other's opinions of the ESW9, I might consider them.  Used they are in the price range, perform really well unamped, a bit warmer than the brilliant esw10jpn (all based on other's ears, remember).  I've come close to owning them a half dozen times, and likely will spring for them one of these days.  And to finish off - grain of salt here, haven't heard them, have heard the richer sibling.
 
Aug 5, 2011 at 9:27 PM Post #9 of 16
If it was between Denon and Ultrasone and I was a strong mid-range kinda guy, I'd pick Ultrasone. HFI-580 are one of the warmest Ultrasones if you're sensitive to brightness and they're in your price range. I'd say they're more forward in the mid-range than Denons. Detailed and great for rock/metal. They have very nice bass as well. Tight/controlled and extends very low. I think the D2000s can be too boomy for rock sometimes. But If you have a big head they might be uncomfortable. Plus you wont need an amp!
 
Quote:
You guys are out of your mind when you say the Denons have a recessed midrange.  They definitely have one...


 
tongue_smile.gif

 
 
Aug 5, 2011 at 9:36 PM Post #10 of 16
Fair enough.  I personally didn't like the treble spikes of the ultrasones, plus an emphasized mid-bass hump made it feel like they were more u-shaped than the denon.  That and I'm running my Denon on mallard tubes that subdue treble and thicken the mids.
 
Aug 5, 2011 at 9:53 PM Post #11 of 16
To be fair I'm not experienced with a lot of the Ultrasones other than the 580s. However the 580s are very similar to the D2000s, treble/mids slightly more forward, bass is tighter, but extends just as low. But overall they are very similar sounding.  And the deal breaker, they can be powered well unamped. I havent heard the other Ultrasones but I have read about their super bright treble spikes.
 
Aug 5, 2011 at 10:05 PM Post #12 of 16
I didn't weigh in on the Denons.  I've heard the D2000 at a meet - not the best setting.  I owned both the D5000 and D7000, at the same time for 2 weeks.  I kept the D7000.  It has since left, I have gone back to primarily portable.  My take - the D7000's are my favorite headphone to date.  The D5000 has too much bass, and it is a bit flabby.  Not a bad headphone, but not a great value. The D2000 was very close to the D5000, and at the D2000 price, a bit too much bass and a bit flabby is acceptable, and it is a good value.  It is also more of a U shaped EQ curve, mids are a bit laid back, and the price exceeds the OP's budget new, and for the most part, used as well.  And, as always, just one man's opinion...
 
Aug 5, 2011 at 10:06 PM Post #13 of 16
The Samson SR850 are highely recommended because it's offers detailed midrange with deep, punchy bass and it's easy to drive, others cans like Beyerdynamic DT880, HFI580, XB1000, AD900, SR225i and bose on ear.
 
Aug 5, 2011 at 10:18 PM Post #14 of 16
You may want to consider the PRO 650's. They're the most neutral of the PRO series and sound pretty wonderful with a good source. Very airy and balanced, with solid bass - nothing overpowering though. 
 
Aug 5, 2011 at 10:36 PM Post #15 of 16


Quote:
You guys are out of your mind when you say the Denons have a recessed midrange.  They definitely have one, but it's barely recessed.  There are plenty of other headphone culprits out there that have a severe u-curve.  That's been my experience with lesser Ultrasones at the local stores.  The sennheisers are well known for their emphasized mids, but I found all of them to not extend to the deepest depths of bass.
 
My first thought that came into my mind was HD650, but that is out of the price range and wants an amp as well.


I think it seems like they're more recessed when driven with a portable player. The bass is also bloated and not very well controlled. This all changes with a desktop amp. When I used my D2000 with my Asgard I couldn't believe anyone could think they had recessed mids!
 
I still don't think they're what he's looking for though.
 
 

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