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Comfortable, open, flat/neutral, highly detailed and resolving headphones? (< ~$500) - Page 3

post #31 of 105
9/12/11 at 5:55pm

Acix, have you tried the Shure SRH-940 or any of the KRK headphones? I bet you'd like the KRKs for studio use.

 

These days, nobody seems to know what a flat headphone sounds like. First it's the HD-600, then the DT-48, then the DT-880, then the K702.

Now I often hear it's the M50 and D2000. People say the D2000 has a "V-shaped" sound, but the graphs seem to say otherwise. Sometimes I don't even know which is truly flat.

Can't even tell from a graph half the time.

 

Best thing to do is buy a bunch to try out and sell the losers normal_smile%20.gif

 

Picking between the K702 and DT-880 would be tough for me. Both had issues for me.

 

My pick would be the K501 probably and my ears seem to think so too. I'd like to try the SA5000 sometime.

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post #32 of 105
9/12/11 at 6:24pm
Quote:Originally Posted by ponkine 

 

 

Quote:

K701 is not flat, IMHO

yes it is

 

Quote:

like most AKG's, bass is quite poor
 

no its not

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post #33 of 105
9/12/11 at 6:31pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by ac500 View Post

Edit: It seems the Denons have a bit of a laid back sound though, while I'm looking for good neural headphones which are very highly detailed like my SRH940.


Open D2000 =/= Stock D2000. The stock D2000 has slightly exaggerated and boomy bass, slightly recessed mids, and pretty good treble (I'd call it sparkly). I wouldn't called them laid-back, mainly because of the sparkly treble and thumping bass. Sometimes they sound boring compared to other headphones because of their recessed midrange. Simply put, they have a U shaped sound curve. The open D2000 has extremely tight, punchy bass that extends really low (dubstep still sounds great out of them), a beautiful midrange, and even more detail than stock (so much that you might call them too detailed and too bright). You can easily pick out flaws in compressed MP3 files and sometimes even in well recorded/mastered, uncompressed music.

 


Edited by hans030390 - 9/12/11 at 6:33pm
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post #34 of 105
9/12/11 at 6:50pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Graphicism View Post


Huh? DT880 are close to neutral, it's the DT990s that have the curve.



 

 

The DT-880 are close to neutral as the Ultrasones are. tongue.gif

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post #35 of 105
9/12/11 at 7:01pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by tdockweiler View Post

Acix, have you tried the Shure SRH-940 or any of the KRK headphones? I bet you'd like the KRKs for studio use.

 

 

Well...I'll ready have the GMP 8.35 with the oval pads mod that sounds very balanced for my studio work. I'm sure interested to check out new hps, but I don't really feel the need to actually go and buy new close hps.

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post #36 of 105
9/12/11 at 7:07pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Beagle View Post

yes it is


no it's not tongue_smile.gif

 

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post #37 of 105
9/12/11 at 7:33pm
Thread Starter 

I know you were joking, but if the DT880 is non neutral like an Ultrasone I sure hope it's in the opposite direction, because I hated the ultrasones I've heard (780, 900).

 

I could buy an akg 701 and DT880 from amazon.com and return the one I don't like, but I don't want to intentionally make a situation where I know I'll be returning something for no defect related reason.

 

The 701 is tempting because I think it looks nice, while the DT880 is ugly to me, but that's never a good reason to discriminate I guess :). The earpads of the DT880 look rather small though... I hope they don't touch my ears at all. I don't care if a headphone clamps my head like a vice, but if it crushes my ears I'm not happy.

 

In any case reading about comparisons seams to lean towards the DT880 as having better sound, so far.

 

hans: I thought about it and I've decided I don't want to do anything that requires modding, even if it is reversible.


Edited by ac500 - 9/12/11 at 8:04pm
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post #38 of 105
9/12/11 at 8:17pm

If you get the K701, let me know what you think! I'm considering purchasing them down the road.

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post #39 of 105
9/12/11 at 9:33pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by ac500 View Post

I know you were joking, but if the DT880 is non neutral like an Ultrasone I sure hope it's in the opposite direction, because I hated the ultrasones I've heard (780, 900).

 

I could buy an akg 701 and DT880 from amazon.com and return the one I don't like, but I don't want to intentionally make a situation where I know I'll be returning something for no defect related reason.

 

The 701 is tempting because I think it looks nice, while the DT880 is ugly to me, but that's never a good reason to discriminate I guess :). The earpads of the DT880 look rather small though... I hope they don't touch my ears at all. I don't care if a headphone clamps my head like a vice, but if it crushes my ears I'm not happy.

 

In any case reading about comparisons seams to lean towards the DT880 as having better sound, so far.


If he isn't joking regarding the DT880 he is just outright wrong, the Beyer is nothing at all like any Ultrasone I've ever heard.

 

You could buy both phones, while you're at it why not add the SA5000... if I was to recommend something based on your title alone "highly detailed and resolving" then nothing comes close to the SA5000.

 

The earpads of the 880 are far from my ears, I would think you'd have to have exceptionally large ears to touch the sides of the earpads. It doesn't clamp whatsoever.

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post #40 of 105
9/12/11 at 9:54pm
Thread Starter 

Okay. My ears are pretty average I think so I'll probably be fine. But my head is big so maybe it's all relative... I know that Ultrasone 900 squashed my ears rather badly.

 

Anyhow I'll think about these options. I'm starting to think my HD 650 equalized will probably suffice for me for a while, so I may hold off on getting another open pair for a while (unless someone offers an AD2000 for a good price). In any case, it's good to be better educated regarding the options now.

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post #41 of 105
9/12/11 at 10:01pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by ac500 View Post

Okay. My ears are pretty average I think so I'll probably be fine. But my head is big so maybe it's all relative... I know that Ultrasone 900 squashed my ears rather badly.

 

Anyhow I'll think about these options. I'm starting to think my HD 650 equalized will probably suffice for me for a while, so I may hold off on getting another open pair for a while (unless someone offers an AD2000 for a good price). In any case, it's good to be better educated regarding the options now.


Well I found the HFI-780 uncomfortable after a short period and eventually replaced them with the Sony XB500 as my comfy fun colored phone.

 

The HD650 is no slouch, not as veiled as people make it out to be, then again it's no Sony SA. The AD2000 you mentioned are very similar to the Sony's, I would consider the SA5000 as analytically cold and the AD2000 as analytically warm. It's looking like my next phone will be one of the two, the important thing to consider when buying a phone is your amp and source, if it's warm go for the colder phone or vice versa.

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post #42 of 105
9/12/11 at 10:41pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Graphicism View Post


Well I found the HFI-780 uncomfortable after a short period and eventually replaced them with the Sony XB500 as my comfy fun colored phone.

 

The HD650 is no slouch, not as veiled as people make it out to be, then again it's no Sony SA. The AD2000 you mentioned are very similar to the Sony's, I would consider the SA5000 as analytically cold and the AD2000 as analytically warm. It's looking like my next phone will be one of the two, the important thing to consider when buying a phone is your amp and source, if it's warm go for the colder phone or vice versa.


Graphicism likes the XB500?! I never would have thought that. Please don't take that the wrong way! Not trying to be a jerk normal_smile%20.gif I have a pair of those too and love them when I EQ the heck out of them. Hard to complain for being just $46!! Responds well to an EQ.

I always liked the bass of the HFI-680 and wanted to find something that has similar sounding bass, but I haven't heard anything like it yet.

 

I know you're not a believer of cables, but I found the HD-650 less veiled with a dirt cheap Mogami cable I made. Don't ask me how! Cost me about $25 to make. I love the cold and analytical sound I guess, so I need to try the SA5000. Been on my list for about forever.

 

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post #43 of 105
9/13/11 at 2:24am

The AD2000 are not comfortable to everyone though. I have one, and they're a great great complement to the HD650 and to anyone who loves their mids. But they can get irritating if you have big ears since the drivers are up close.

 

The SA5K is a good choice as well. Larger soundstage and more detailed treble than the AD2k, but not as smooth, lush and not as tight a bass.


Edited by idletime1213 - 9/13/11 at 2:26am
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post #44 of 105
9/13/11 at 2:31am
Quote:
Originally Posted by ZARIM View Post

Sony SA5000(highely recommended)



^^^Dis

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post #45 of 105
9/13/11 at 2:40am
Quote:
Originally Posted by rhythmdevils View Post




no it's not tongue_smile.gif

 



Yes it is.

 

 

701 is exactly "open, flat/neutral, highly detailed and resolving headphones" for the price OP asks. The only problem is "comfortable" part because of a headband.

 

My suggestion is grab Q701 since it seems they solved that headband problem.

 

 

 

And please no, SA5000 and DT880 are not even close to be 'flat' with such aggressive high. DT880 may be suitable, but SA5000 is as same as Grados in terms of neutral response.

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