DryHopped
100+ Head-Fier
- Joined
- Oct 7, 2014
- Posts
- 126
- Likes
- 12
I started off with a rough $175 budget and explored the usual suspects- the Audio Technica M50x, Shure 840, Sennheiser Momentum, Sennheiser HD380, Sony MDR-1r, AKG 545, NAD HP50, even the V-MODA M100. At this point, I've auditioned all except the Sony and AKG. The M50x was too artificial in the treble and muddy in the bass, the 840 and HD380 lacked immersion and sub-bass extension, the HP50 sounded nice but had comfort issues, the M100 had great sub-bass but meh midrange and highs for the money, and the Momentum (which I just returned) was too laid-back, although they were my favorite out of the bunch and I enjoyed their constant smoothness and lack of fatigue.
/preface
So. Sensing that my sonic appetite exceeds that of my previous budget, I've decided to increase it to ~$400. This will be my first real quality headphones, and I'm looking for something special, something that I'll want to keep in my future collection no matter how big it grows from here.
Sonically, I like a smooth presentation with deep sub-bass that's engaging and musical. Neutral to warm tonality. Not overly bright. Resolving detail and expansive high-end extension but no sibilance or harshness. Not aggressive or too-forward. Real, immersive, controlled, and refined. Closed or open, doesn't matter. Doesn't "need" an amp.
I stay close to the JBL target curve in my car, something like
-20-60hz: +6db
-60-160hz: Transition to 0
160-3khz: Flat (0)
3khz+: Gradual Roll-off to -6db @ 20khz
Obviously headphones are different and I'm willing to compromise. I anticipate that the headphones I'm looking at will not have the sub-bass attenuation that I consider ideal. The M100 almost had it, but the sub-bass alone couldn't make up for its other inadequacies as a whole. I want something that I'll put on and want to keep on for hours.
Priorities [Music -> Movies -> Games] Sources [mostly laptop, sometimes Onkyo TX-SR707, rarely iPod Classic] Genres [electronica, electronic soul, indietronica, downtempo, deep house, synthwave, nu-disco, synthpop]
I'm leaning towards the PM-3. Which of these should I stop considering? Did I leave any obvious ones out?
/preface
So. Sensing that my sonic appetite exceeds that of my previous budget, I've decided to increase it to ~$400. This will be my first real quality headphones, and I'm looking for something special, something that I'll want to keep in my future collection no matter how big it grows from here.
Sonically, I like a smooth presentation with deep sub-bass that's engaging and musical. Neutral to warm tonality. Not overly bright. Resolving detail and expansive high-end extension but no sibilance or harshness. Not aggressive or too-forward. Real, immersive, controlled, and refined. Closed or open, doesn't matter. Doesn't "need" an amp.
I stay close to the JBL target curve in my car, something like
-20-60hz: +6db
-60-160hz: Transition to 0
160-3khz: Flat (0)
3khz+: Gradual Roll-off to -6db @ 20khz
Obviously headphones are different and I'm willing to compromise. I anticipate that the headphones I'm looking at will not have the sub-bass attenuation that I consider ideal. The M100 almost had it, but the sub-bass alone couldn't make up for its other inadequacies as a whole. I want something that I'll put on and want to keep on for hours.
Priorities [Music -> Movies -> Games] Sources [mostly laptop, sometimes Onkyo TX-SR707, rarely iPod Classic] Genres [electronica, electronic soul, indietronica, downtempo, deep house, synthwave, nu-disco, synthpop]
- HiFiMaN HE-400 – Excellent sub-bass, but maybe a touch too bright/sibilant on the lower treble?
- Master & Dynamic MH40 – Looks beautiful, but is it worth the money, sonically?
- Bowers & Wilkins P7 – Not my favorite look-wise.
- Sennheiser Momentum 2.0 – Despite reports of revolutionary improvements over the first version, I'm still hesitant.
- HiFiMan HE-400i – I like what people say about them, but they're expensive and could use a tad more sub-bass extension maybe?
- Philips X2 – Excellent reviews everywhere, just a few reports of dye-leaking issues and that the suspension mechanism loosens over time requiring occasional repositioning.
- Oppo PM-3 – Perfect?
I'm leaning towards the PM-3. Which of these should I stop considering? Did I leave any obvious ones out?