[wazzupi]

Man, do I envy those pricey high end headphones that are above my budget! I absolutely love that you posted your ranking of past headphones so that I can see where you have journeyed from. Great selection of headphones that really provides a solid foundation to support your current rankings. Thank you for the great post!

 

[HappyPessimist]

Headphones/IEMs
1. Hifiman Edition XS
2. DCA x Massdrop Aeon Closed X
3. JVC HA-FDX1 - No Longer Own
4. Hifiman HE-400i (2020 revision) - Looking to Sell
5. Focal Elegia - No Longer Own
6. TFZ No. 3 - No Longer Own
7. Sennheiser HD558
8. Moondrop Starfield
9. Emotiva LP2

Bluetooth
1. Sony WF-XM4
2. AKG N700nc mkii
3. Samsung Buds+
4. Samsung Buds Pro - No Longer Own

 

[wailord]

1. ZMF Verite Closed
2. Focal Clear
3. Thieaudio Clairvoyance
4. Sennheiser hd 600

 

[bcaulf17]

Out of the full size headphones that I currently own I would rank them like this. The ranking is based on pure enjoyment and my use case.

This has nothing to do with technical performance or any other criteria:

1. Rosson RAD-0
2. ZMF LTD Vérité Closed
3. HiFiMan HE1000 V2
4. Audeze LCD-X 2021
5. Focal Radiance
6. ZMF LTD Aeolus

Out of the headphones that I've owned in the past here is how I'd rank:

1. Rosson RAD-0
2. ZMF LTD Vérité Closed
3. HiFiMan HE1000 V2
4. Audeze LCD-X 2021
5. Focal Radiance
6. ZMF LTD Aeolus
7. HiFiMan Arya Stealth
8. Audeze LCD-XC 2021 Carbon
9. Meze Empyrean
10. HiFiMan Sundara 2020
11. HiFiMan Ananda
12. Focal Clear
13. Meze Liric
14. HiFiMan HE6se V2
15. Audeze LCD2C
16. Audeze SINE
17. Sennheiser HD 6XX
18. Sennheiser HD 660S V2
19. ZMF LTD Atticus
20. Focal Elegia
21. Grado SR60
22. Bowers & Wilkins PX

Dang, the Clear seems a bit low. I keep wondering how the Arya Stealth compares. I love my Clear though.

 

[Eagle_Driver]

Now that I re-listened to my headphones, including the addition of one more pair, I am re-ranking them as follows:

Updated my ranking and tier list after listening to my two "higher-end" wired IEMs:

Over-ear headphones (wired and wireless)

S
None

A
None

B
Beyerdynamic DT 990 Pro (250-Ohm)
Sennheiser HD 560S

B-
AKG K371

C+
Koss KPH-30i

C
Sony MDR-7506

C-
Bose Noise Cancelling Headphones 700

D+
Sony WH-1000XM4
Audio Technical ATH-M50x

D
Sony MDR-7509

E
None

F
None

In-ear (wired and wireless)

S
None

A
None

B+
Etymotic ER2SE (just received today)

B
Sony WF-1000XM4

B-
Apple AirPods Pro

C
None

C-
Apple AirPods (2019, 2nd Gen)
Jabra Elite Active 75t

D+
Shure SE310

D
None

E
None

F
None

 

[Kevintj604]

Dang, the Clear seems a bit low. I keep wondering how the Arya Stealth compares. I love my Clear though.

In my opinion the Arya Stealth is handedly a much more complete headphone. They’d be quite complimentary to one another as their signature is different enough to own both. Maybe the Stealth should be on your shortlist for your next headphone?

 

[maegnificant]

I only really have IEM's worth ranking so here we go:

1. Unique Melody Mest Indigo
2. Monarch MK II
3. Sennheiser IE600
4. Moondrop Blessing 2 Dusk


I also have the Chu and the IE100 Pro but I don't find them that great. The Chu is of good value for price though.

 

[cottaudio]

Pretty easy for me to do I reckon:

1. Denon AH D9200
2. Sennheiser 660s
3. Hifiman Ananda

I'd say 80% of time is spent with the Denons on.

 

[HiFiHawaii808]

I only really have IEM's worth ranking so here we go:

1. Unique Melody Mest Indigo
2. Monarch MK II
3. Sennheiser IE600
4. Moondrop Blessing 2 Dusk


I also have the Chu and the IE100 Pro but I don't find them that great. The Chu is of good value for price though.

Those are 4 good ones.

 

[maegnificant]

Yes I really enjoy them! Nowhere near as impressive as your collection though

 

[pk4425]

August 2022 Update

1. Audeze LCD-2C: I prefer a laid-back, warm sound. It's a common thread of two of the three over-ear headphones I own. The LCD-2C really nails it for me. Comfort, detail, separation, laid-back treble, speed. It's the best headphone I've heard for the rock, classic rock and alt-rock that forms the bulk of my listening. Not too tough to drive for a planar, either.

2. HiFiMan Edition XS: Great all-arounder. Can be a bit spicy in the treble. Needs decent juice to drive, too. But the best I've heard in the $500-750 range. The only negative is the loose fit, and I have a big head.

3. Sennheiser HD6XX: There's a reason why so many people love these. They work well with many kinds of music for those who seek laid-back treble. They fit decently, are built well, have excellent mids and respond so well to source gear upgrades. I can't see selling these any time soon. They're all-time classics that just work. Dependable as hell.

 

[shampoosuicide]

I'll take a slightly different route instead of making an exact ranking...

My Favourite Headphones

With that little "special sauce"

• Alessandro MS2e [ G-cushions ]
• Beyerdynamic DT 150
• Beyerdynamic DT 880 600 ohm [ via Schiit Valhalla 2 ]
• Sennheiser HD 650

Really great buys

An excellent value proposition

• Beyerdynamic DT 150
• Beyerdynamic DT 700 Pro X
• Beyerdynamic DT 900 Pro X
• Hifiman Sundara
• Hifiman Edition XS
• E-MU Teak
• Sennheiser HD 560S
• Sennheiser HD 6XX

All headphones owned (past and present)

AKG K702
AKG K7XX
Alessandro MS2e
Alessandro MS2i
Audio-Technica A900XLTD
Audio-Technica AD2000
Audio-Technica M50x
Audio-Technica R70x
Beyerdynamic DT 150
Beyerdynamic DT 1770 Pro
Beyerdynamic DT 1990 Pro [ TYGR foam discs ]
Beyerdynamic DT 700 Pro X
Beyerdynamic DT 770 80 ohm
Beyerdynamic DT 770 250 ohm
Beyerdynamic DT 880 600 ohm
Beyerdynamic DT 900 Pro X
Beyerdynamic DT 990 600 ohm
Beyerdynamic T5p 2nd Generation
Creative Aurvana Live! SE
E-MU Teak
E-MU Teak Bamboo
Focal Elex
Fostex T-X0
Fostex T50RP MK3 [ modded ]
Fostex TH-X00 Mahogany
Fostex TH900 Lawton Level 1
Fostex TH900MK2 Lawton Level 1
Grado Hemp
Grado PS500
Grado SR325x
Grado SR60i
Grado SR80x
Hifiman Edition XS
Hifiman HE-4XX
Hifiman Sundara 2020
Klipsch HP-3
Koss KSC75
Onkyo A800
Philips Fidelio X2HR
Sennheiser HD 560S
Sennheiser HD 650 KISS
Sennheiser HD 6XX KISS
Shure SRH1540
Sony MDR-1AM2
V-MODA M100
V*rum 1
ZMF Ori Cherry

 

[prindone3]

B - HD6XX, always a good listen. CA Andromeda
A-DCA Aeon Noires, Emu Teak (for electronic/house)
S - Arya V2

Getting argons soon, hopefully can add those to the A tier!

 

[PointyFox]

(Added DCA Stealth, Hifiman Susvara, raised rankings of IER-M9, IER-Z1R, HE1000SE, HD800S, LCD-XC 2021)

*=Highly recommended

Yeah, I've owned all these. Recommendations based on overall satisfaction.

Tier 1
*DCA Stealth (Jack of all trades, master of most. Good isolation, excellent imaging, good soundstage, excellent clarity, best bass extension (audible down to 13 Hz or so!), best tuning of any headphone ever, very good dynamics (on a Topping A90 Discreet), good comfort, excellent customer service, excellent cable, excellent cable attachment mechanism, excellent design. The only headphone that disappoints me when I look at other headphones because I can't see any reason to buy another headphone.)
*Hifiman Susvara (Wider soundstage than Stealth but no isolation. Imaging/separation great but not quite as good as Stealth. Has excellent tuning, dynamics, and soundstage. Comfortable, good build quality.)

Tier 2
*Fostex TH900MK1 (Best dynamics I've ever heard. V-shaped signature, very clear, awesome bass. Closed back, but leaks a lot of sound. The most fun headphone I've heard.)
*Fostex TH900MK2 Anniversary Tuning (Like the original, but with more balanced sound. Bass and treble lose some impact though. Good if you find the original too bright.)
*DCA Voce (Better ergonomics, cable, ear pads, headband, and customer service (God-tier vs. non-existent) than Stax. Also much reduced "Stax fart" compared to the 007/009. A little less treble than the 009 but with much more balanced bass performance. Similar transparency and bass impact.)
Stax SR-009 (Has increased imaging and separation over the SR-007. Dynamics seem slightly better. Unmodded has "Stax fart" similar to modded SR-007A and I assume the original MK1.)

Tier 3
*Stax SR-L700MK2 (VERY similar to Focal Clear. Has slightly more mid-bass impact, midrange is not quite as thick. Instruments seem slightly more separated. Soundstage slightly wider. Very similar to SR-007. Soundstage is a little wider on the SR-007 and it has more lower bass until you do the Blu-Tack mod which evens it out.)
*Sony IER-M9 (A little uncomfortable. Sounds nearly perfect if you can get the fit right. Has more lower-midbass than Z1R which increases impact.)
Sony IER-Z1R (A little uncomfortable. Sounds nearly perfect if you can get the fit right. Could use a little more bass impact.)
Stax SR-007MK2 with Blu-Tack mod (like the SR-007A but with less "Stax fart" for some reason.)
Stax SR-007A with Blu-Tack mod ("Stax fart" a little annoying.)
ZMF Verite Open (Kind of like a smoother, more musical estat with excellent bass. Pads are easy to swap and good quality. Nicely layered sound. Make sure rods are tightened or you can lose an eye.)
Hifiman HE1000SE (Detailed sound with good bass and transparency. Almost electrostatic-like speed.)
Sennheiser HD800S (Super transparent with more bass than Stax SR Lambda Pro. Lightweight but ear pads are large and don't conform well. Great soundstage.)

Tier 4
*Focal Clear original, not MG (Not the widest soundstage but excellent tonality, dynamics, and extension.)
*Focal Clear Professional (Same as the OG. Not the widest soundstage but excellent tonality, dynamics, and extension.)
*ZMF Eikon (Similar to the MDR-Z1R but with more even frequency response but less bass extension. Make sure rods are tightened or you can lose an eye.)
ZMF Verite Closed (Sounds similar to the Verite Open, but with a very slight muffled closed-back sound to it. Make sure rods are tightened or you can lose an eye.)
Sony MDR-Z1R (Closed headphones with great transparency and better bass than HD800S. Amazing for a closed back. Similar to ZMF Eikon but with slight peaks in freq. response that sound a little unnatural at times and better bass extension.)
Nectar Audio Hive (Similar to Stax SR-009 except is more forward sounding and not quite as "ethereal". Slightly more bass impact. Requires at least 400 V RMS energizer. Prone to problems with dust in drivers.)
Audeze LCD-XC 2021 (Good sound quality. Closed back. Has treble slam but a little lacking in bass slam. Heavy. Doesn't fit my head without modifications.)

Tier 5 - Beginning of summit-fi
*Koss ESP/95X (Very natural sounding with wide soundstage and great transparency. Mid-centric. Fantastic for easy-listening and voice. Bass and treble could use a boost. Lightweight and comfortable.)
Meze Empyrean (Very comfortable, outside mesh not durable. A bit dark sounding and lacking detail.)
Focal Utopia (Slightly wider soundstage than the Clear. Sounds very similar. A little too thick sounding for me resulting in a "wall of sound" and less instrument separation.)
Sennheiser HD820 (Comes close to the HD800S but isn't as tonally even and soundstage is slightly smaller. Has better comfort, isolation, and bass volume though.)

Tier 6
Focal Clear MG Professional (Not quite as clear sounding as the original. Slightly warmer. Soundstage seems smaller than original.)
Hifiman Arya (A little lacking in dynamics, sounds a little flat. Soundstage could be wider.)
Campfire Andromeda (Rivals HD800S / MDR-Z1R in transparency and very even sounding. Good everything, except bass is a bit light. Sound stage is a little smaller than with over ear headphones.)
Audeze LCD-4 (Best bass, good but not great transparency, very heavy, prone to driver failures with pressure changes. Mine had a driver failure.)

Tier 7
*Audeze Mobius (Some of the best bass I've heard but soundstage is small.)
*Sennheiser HD600 (Excellent value. Bass extension is a little lacking. Excellent build quality.)
Sennheiser HD650 (Like the HD600 but very slightly darker sounding and a little less natural treble.)
Kaldas RR-1 Conquest (Has great bass extension for a closed back. Prone to mechanical issues.)
SendyAudio Aiva (Great build quality, looks good, good frequency response except bass extension is lacking.)
Stax SR Lambda Pro (Super transparent.)
Audeze LCD-2 closed back (Heavy, bass extension and impact are lacking, isolation is poor for a closed back.)
AKG K7XX (Great value. Elastic may go bad over time.)
Razer Opus (Very good timbre and frequency response. Treble and bass are could use more clarity.)

Tier 8 - Beginning of hi-fi
Samsung AKG EO-IG955 (Surprisingly competent. There are a ton of knockoffs of these which sound awful.)
Grado SR-80e with L cushions (L cushions improve sound quite a bit, kind of uncomfortable, tons of midbass, good transparency.)
qdc Neptune (Good value, sounds like the Andromeda, but a little more muffled and more bass and bass extension).
Beyerdynamic DT880 (Annoying treble peak, ~8.5 kHz.)
AKG K702 (Painful headband.)
Beyerdynamic DT990
Superlux HD681 EVO (Excellent value, well balanced sound. Plasticky build. Bass is a little bloated sounding).

Tier 9 - Pretty good
Denon D2000
Shure SE846 (Terrible value. Sounds similar to the IE80.)
Sennheiser IE80 (Good value, but sound a little muffled compared to higher end stuff.)
Etymotic ER4XR (Good as earplugs. Sound not very impressive.)
Sennheiser HD598 (A little muffled sounding.)
Bose Triport (Good 3D sound positioning. Lightweight. A bit muffled overall.)
Koss Porta Pro (Very light weight. Sound is good for price. Open back design.)

Tier 10
Westone W30 (All mid-range. Not very good for listening to music.)
Grado SR-60i (Poor fit, comfort and bass. Decent transparency. Would probably sound better with L cushions.)
KZ ZS6 (Treble is peaky.)
VJJB-V1S (Sound is very good for price.)
ViSang R02 (Sound is very good for price.)

Tier 11 - Decent
Panasonic RPHJE120S
Panasonic RP HT355

Tier 12 - Bad
Samsung AKG EO-IG955 Knockoff (Bought for about $4 and returned it. The legit ones are about $100. Sounded like music through a tin can.)

 

[dweet]

legit ones are about $100. Sounded like music through a tin can.)

You mean 10$? Or should I start selling my pocket collection?