Based on enjoyment and headtime :
Current:
1)Audeze LCD3F (2015)
2)Audeze LCD4 (200ohms)
3)Sennheiser HD600
4)Audeze Sine
5)Sennnheiser Momentums Over Ear
Used to own:
1)Audeze LCDX (2014)
2)Fostex TH900
3)Audeze LCD2.2
4)Sennheiser HD800 unmodded
5)Beyerdynamic T1 V1
Headphones:
Audio Technica ATH-AD2000X (A close tie for first with the AD2000)
Audio Technica ATH-AD2000 (in a AD500X shell)
Sennheiser HD600
Sennheiser HD650
Hifiman HE-400i (Partially Jerg-modded)
Sennheiser Amperior
Philips Fidelio X2
Denon AH-MM400
Sennheiser Momentum M2
Alessandro MS2e
Yamaha HPH-MT220
Onkyo ES-FC300
Audio Technica ATH-M50S
Koss Sporta Pro
AKG K553 PRO
Philips SHP9500
AKG K702
Grado SR225e
Soundmagic HP200
Koss KCS75
Superlux HD668b
V-Moda M-100
V-Moda XS
Panasonic RP-HD10
Beats by Dre Studio 1.0
Flare Audio Reference R1
IEMs:
JH Audio Rosie
Audio Technica ATH-CKR10
Audio Technica ATH-CKR9
Audio Technica ATH-CKR9LTD (Probably a fake, but sounds pretty good after some EQing)
Dunu Titan 1
Spider Realvoice
Aurisonics Forte
Etymotic HF5
Orotofon E-Q5
Brainwavz S5
Brainwavz M5
Sony XBA-20
Klipsch X10
Sennheiser CX 685 Sports
Audio Technica ATH-CKS1100
Shure SE215
Sony XBA-H1
Panasonic HJE900
Hifiman RE-0
SMS Audio In-ear (Been a long time since I've heard them)
Westone UM Pro 10
Sennheiser CX 300-ii
Mee Audio M-Duo
MEE Audio M6 Pro
Yamaha EPH-100 (I probably got a fake, but who knows)
Brainwavz BLU-200
Klipsch R6
Klipsch S4 II
Klipsch S4
JLab Acoustic
Earbuds:
VE Zen 1.0
VE Monk Plus
VE Monk
VE Zen 2.0 (didn't really get the performance to price ratio)
VE Asura 1.0
Fiio EM3
Various JVC earbuds that I've listened to before my quest for audio gear (before being broke)
I don't own that many so this will be a short list:
Hifiman HE-400S: superb detail and imaging, wide soundstage, deep bass that can be a bit boomy with stock pads ( but is much better with Focus pads A ), mids are a bit recessed and highs slightly rolled off, laid back sound signature, unimpressive build quality. Headband really comfortable but pads have a large contact area. Extremely good with Jazz music.
Sennheiser HD 595: sweet mid-range, nice soundstage, solid build quality and great comfort for the price, pads really comfortable but headband slightly less. Highs not super detailed, more forward sounding than the Hifiman HE-400S. Very strong with vocals. Good over-all headphone, does well with most modern music.
Grado SR-80: terrible build quality, stock pads and headband very uncomfortable ( I've changed mine ), but sound quality makes up for it. Forward sound with little bass, mid range is very detailed and energetic. Works extremely well with classic rock music.
V-Moda M80: built like a tank, nice case, good portability and durability, can sound is a bit uninspired. Small soundstage, sound a bit dark and uninvolving. Sounds good with most music but doesn't excel at any particular genre. I enjoy discovering new music more with my other headphones.
My ideal headphone: mid range and comfort of HD595 + soundstage, detail and clarity of HE-400S + energy of SR-80 + build quality of M80 = ...
I'm mostly keeping the Alessandro and the Jecklin Float for their display value. I'll probably be selling the M100 soon, and I keep tossing whether or not to sell the Performance 880 (they have some distinct advantages and distinct disadvantages... certainly a very interesting portable over-ear though).
The HE-500 (focus pads, headband padding, nicer-to-use cable) has been my main home can for years and I still can't imagine getting a serious improvement on it, even if I spend thousands of dollars. I auditioned headphones that cost several times its price and didn't perceive a real advantage. It truly is a magnificent headphone with the right equipment and the right mods. My main home rig at the moment is is Bimby -> Corda Classic -> HE-500. I have a separate bed-side setup for occasional use (Corda Concerto -> HD650).
The PSB is still my favourite portable in terms of sound, it's truly spectacular, but it has some serious shortcomings (especially in terms of parts reliability - the flimsy internal wire seems to get detached from the driver after 1-2 years of use - I had several M4U2's die that way). The X00 and the Performance 880 are my alternative portable / office phones, and I'm looking at adding a bluetooth noise-cancelling to the mix, especially for long flights (either QC35 or the new Sennheiser bluetooth NC).
The F1 is still my favourite for movies at home - it's an oldie but goodie!! excellent design that no one quite replicated since.
1. Bang & Olufsen BeoPlay H6. I'd never have imagined that I would rate the most bass light, the smallest pair and a fashion conscience pair to be the very best I own. For listening pleasure and overall superior technicalities compared to my other pairs.
2. Sony MDR-Z7 / Sennheiser Momentum MK2. Both have their merrits, the Momentums because of their even tonality (let aside the bigger than neutral bass) and the MDR-Z7s for their 3D soundstage and seductive thick caramelic sound.
4. Denon ATH-D5000. Once I get in the 'zone' they are wonderful, but they sound less natural than the others. The Lawton pads I had to use (because the original pads were flaking) make the overall sound thinner, less bloomy, although the pads do add a speaker-like sensation to the sound.
5. Audio Technica ATH-A900X. Remains an excellent, 'easy listening' pair. But compared to the others they are more grainy textured and because of that more fatiguing after a while. Tonally they beat the D5000s though.
1. Bang & Olufsen BeoPlay H6. I'd never have imagined that I would rate the most bass light, the smallest pair and a fashion conscience pair to be the very best I own. For listening pleasure and overall superior technicalities compared to my other pairs.
2. Sony MDR-Z7 / Sennheiser Momentum MK2. Both have their merrits, the Momentums because of their even tonality (let aside the bigger than neutral bass) and the MDR-Z7s for their 3D soundstage and seductive thick caramelic sound.
4. Denon ATH-D5000. Once I get in the 'zone' they are wonderful, but they sound less natural than the others. The Lawton pads I had to use (because the original pads were flaking) make the overall sound thinner, less bloomy, although the pads do add a speaker-like sensation to the sound.
5. Audio Technica ATH-A900X. Remains an excellent, 'easy listening' pair. But compared to the others they are more grainy textured and because of that more fatiguing after a while. Tonally they beat the D5000s though.
Was I on crack or something?
The Denons sound less natural?
These lists, well at least mine are rubbish, they mean absolutely nothing.
Today I'd rate the D5000s as the best pair I have, again. And the Momentums as the worst.
The HE-6 can slam, but its just missing something that the other three have, can't put my finger on what, but my other cans, they can all engage me in the music well. The HE-6 can't. I used to think it could, but I was actually just marveling over the bass response. It's not special sounding like the others are. At least, the 6 screw isn't. I think I'm gonna try the 4 screw instead.
Was I on crack or something? The Denons sound less natural?
These lists, well at least mine are rubbish, they mean absolutely nothing.
Today I'd rate the D5000s as the best pair I have, again. And the Momentums as the worst.
LOL! When I read your initial D5000 comments I honestly thought to myself "what is this guy talking about?" But I said "to each their own" as I say often to keep myself from flipping out on this website.
The HE-6 can slam, but its just missing something that the other three have, can't put my finger on what, but they can engage me. The HE-6 can't. I thought it could, but I was actually just marveling over the bass response. It's really not anything special. At least, the 6 screw isn't.
1) Sennheiser HD800 using sonarworks and goodhertz canopener software (The HD800 has the raw resolution, speed, space and transparency. Sonarworks fixes my frequency response issues with it, and canopener makes the soundstage feel natural, yet still large)
2) Fostex THX00 with ebony cups, lawton pads, half lawton stage one damping tune up
3) HiFiMan HE400i
4) "uncorrected" HD800
5) EMU Walnut
6) Shure SRH840
7) Denon D1001
8) Grado SR80e
9) Koss KSC75
10) Innateck Woody IEMs (they cost me like $10, lol)
11) Audio Technica ESW9A
12) Macaw GT100S
unranked because I haven't listened to in a while, but I still own: Sennehsier HD439, Audio Technica AD700
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