[MaxwellDemon]

Well, let's keep this short. I am thinking of adding another desktop headphone into my inventory. Hopefully open-back this time. However, I am not really sure which headphone is suitable. A lot of the upper-tier headphones are said to require desktop amps, which I cannot afford to have for more than one reason. Mainly because I travel A LOT and I'd rather not lug another sort of desktop amps around. So, I am looking for a nice, open-back headphone that could be used through portable amps (which will be connected via my uDac-2 from my laptop). Currently, I have a Fischer Audio Mystify coming my way. I am also thinking of getting either Stepdance, Headstage Arrow, or RSA Mustang into my amp selection.
 
Sound signature-wise, I prefer sounds that are cooler than warmer. Sparkles are very important to me.

 
Fire away your suggestions or recommendations (amp combination is also really welcome). Budget is around 500USD.

 

[tdockweiler]

Sound signature-wise, I prefer sounds that are cooler than warmer. Sparkles are very important to me.

 
Fire away your suggestions or recommendations (amp combination is also really welcome). Budget is around 500USD.

I feel like a broken recording suggesting this headphone, but I just bought my SRH-840 again a few days ago. It was once my very favorite headphone. I know you said you wanted an open headphone, but I'd suggest the Koss Pro DJ 100. The description above from you is exactly why I wanted to suggest it. It's much brighter than the SRH-840 and does almost everything better. I was shocked at this when I compared them. I wanted and expected my SRH-840 to win in nearly all categories but it failed horribly. Still a great headphone though!
 
Unfortunately very few open headphones exist that I could suggest with a portable amp. Not even the 32 ohm Beyer Dynamic headphones. The only one is the AKG k240 Studio for $99. The SRH-840 sounds very similar, but the k240 is not really an upgrade. The k601 or k701 would be nice, but I don't think those would work well with any portable amps well.
 
I guess you could try the 32 ohm Beyer Dynamic DT-880, but I'm not a fan of that headphone at all. I did like the 600 ohm version though and wanted to keep it, but I had just got the k601 in on the same day.
 
DJ100 is very good out of my $100 Total Airhead. That's one of my favorite portable amps. It could even drive my old HD-600 quite well, but not quite good enough.
 
BTW here is a good graph. Both are some of my favorite headphones under $150:
 

 

[MaxwellDemon]

Truth to be told, I was thinking of the AKG 701. However, I wasn't sure if it could be ran through my portable amp either. I'll take a look at the Koss Pro DJ 100 and K240 Studio. I am kinda hoping that I am not hitting a dead end just because of my inability to carry a desktop amp around.
 
On a side note, I really, really love my SRH840 too. Screw what they say about it being mid-fi!

 

[tdockweiler]

You said you travel a lot..if that means it's not going to be for portable use, you could get the F9. I think that's a really small desktop amp that is said to be able to drive even the k701! It seems really tiny and is only $130 or so. BTW I'd suggest the k601 over the k701 

 
I've found that my old k701 was terrible out of my $100 Total Airhead amp. I haven't heard of any portable amps that could drive those very well...yet.

 

[MaxwellDemon]

I have seen the E9 and it is really small for a desktop amp! I hesitated because I am not sure if that's something I can shove into my hand luggage. I don't really dare risking the idea of putting an amp into the suitcase.

 
And yeah, I am not planning to use these headphones on the go. They will be only used when I am in front of my computer.

 

[MaxwellDemon]

I guess there is no next step unless I buy a desktop amp?

 

[tdockweiler]

I don't think there is any next step that's open without a desktop amp. Not any that fits your description at all. Maybe some of the 32 ohm Beyer Dynamic headphones. Maybe the DT-880.
 
For ME, my SRH-840 upgrade is the KRK KNS-8400, but it's closed. I compared them side by side all night today with my DJ100 and SRH-840 and the SRH-840 is probably going back. 75% sure of this.
8400 is definitely more "sparkly" than the SRH-840. The Shure just seems kind of laid back in comparison and it feels weird saying that. Six months ago the SRH-840 was my #1 favorite.
 
The 8400 is also more portable, quite small, but doesn't have as much bass. It also needed a LOT of burn-in to tame it's fatiguing highs. Now it's not bad at all.
 
It's probably now my favorite unamped headphone I've heard yet. You can probably demo them if you have a Guitar Center around.

 

[MaxwellDemon]

I live in Hong Kong, so there is no Guitar Center.

 
Thanks a lot for all the suggestions you have given me. I'll go and take a look at all the options you have given me and decide whether it'll be a desktop amp or one of the headphones you suggested. Will update this thread once I decided on my purchase.

 

[blackzarg]

For a bright sound signature, the DT880 seems like a no-brainer.

 

[MaxwellDemon]

Unfortunately I just checked that no Hong Kong audio shops have either the Koss Pro DJ 100 or KRK KNS-8400. I guess I'll have to check either the DT880, K601, or the AKG k240 Studio... or maybe a proper desktop amp (E9 perhaps?).

 

[lejaz]

The k240S sounds a lot like the frequency graph that was posted. Big bloat in the upper bass/low mid region. FWIR the Fischer 003 would be a big improvement....also the Beyerdynamic dt250/80ohms which will sound good without a dedicated amp.
 
Quote:

Unfortunately I just checked that no Hong Kong audio shops have either the Koss Pro DJ 100 or KRK KNS-8400. I guess I'll have to check either the DT880, K601, or the AKG k240 Studio... or maybe a proper desktop amp (E9 perhaps?).