[VALIENTE]

I have 2 headphones: Grado SR60 and AKG K701. I experienced that both these headphones are bright. If I'm going to describe K701, it's like your in open field where the sun shines so bright. It's even brighter than the SR60 I think. The sounds are okay but sometimes I also want to relax with the sound. When I use K701 or SR60, it seems that I am always going to be energetic, alive and want to move. I also want to have a relaxing sound. Something that I could just sit down and relax. I have not heard any Sennheiser, Audio Technica or other brands except AKG and Grado- which are bright bright bright cans. Guys, in your own experience, what headphone are opposite the bright AKG or Grado? Is HD650 a good example-which is dark? I assume the K701 and SR60 emphasized on mids and trebles. I think I might go for cans that emphasize mids and lows. Sometimes my ears already get irritated with the bright mids and bright highs/trebles of AKG and Grado.

   

 

[jasonb]

HD650 is not bright, or "overly" bright. they can be a relaxing headphone.

 

[tdockweiler]

HD-555, HD-600, 650...
Koss Pro DJ 100 and the Porta Pro...
 
I also find the Audio Technica ATH-AD2000 not too bright and VERY non fatiguing.
 
Another one is the D2000...some people say it's too bright, but I just can't understand that.
 
I could definitely say the AKG K240 Studio is not bright at all. Very good for listening to long hours.
 
Despite what people say, the DT-880 250 ohm's treble didn't bother me even remotely. The 600 ohm version did for some reason?!

 

[pp312]

Forget all the rest. You are begging for a Sennheiser HD650, even if you don't know it yet. Delay no further: seek out the cheapest price on Ebay.

 

[misformatt]

I found the HD600's to be incredibly mellow cans, especially compared to my K702's.  The HD650 is supposed to be even darker, and looking at the frequency response graphs, it certainly appears to be less treble happy.  I'd put the HD600/650 at the top of my list if you wanted a can on the same level as your K701's, but with a mellower sound signature. 

 

[DaveBSC]

Headroom's frequency response graphs can be a lot of help here. I would not suggest that you buy a headphone based purely on measurements and stats, but headphones that sound bright tend to have noticeable spikes in their response in the upper registers. I also agree that certain Sennheiser models (NOT all of them) are good choices.
 

 

 

[wind016]

Quote:

Forget all the rest. You are begging for a Sennheiser HD650, even if you don't know it yet. Delay no further: seek out the cheapest price on Ebay.

X2 The two headphones you have are some of the brightest available. You may as well get one of the darkest and most relaxing available just for the experience. It could be highly educational even if it happens not to be your cup of tea.

 

[rhythmdevils]

But you might feel bored when you first plug in the Sennheisers and don't notice blood dripping from your ears

 

[Kevin Brown]

Quote:

I could definitely say the AKG K240 Studio is not bright at all. Very good for listening to long hours.  
Despite what people say, the DT-880 250 ohm's treble didn't bother me even remotely. The 600 ohm version did for some reason?!

I really like the K240S (Mk II) also.  A very underrated 'phone here.
 
And I have gone on record before as hearing the same thing you did with the DT880/250 vs the 600 ohm model:  The 600 ohm model is brighter, while the 250 ohm has softer/warmer treble, IMO.  The 600 ohm does have tighter and more impactful bass, but the 250 ohm model won for me with its more laid back highs.
 
 

 

[Proglover]

Quote:

Quote:

I could definitely say the AKG K240 Studio is not bright at all. Very good for listening to long hours.  
Despite what people say, the DT-880 250 ohm's treble didn't bother me even remotely. The 600 ohm version did for some reason?!

I really like the K240S (Mk II) also.  A very underrated 'phone here.
  
 

Yes, great bang for the buck, K240S, not overly bright, nice sound.
 
OP is screaming for HD650's though, but if they are too expensive, K240 is a very good one to go with

 

[disastermouse]

HD650 is not bright, or "overly" bright. they can be a relaxing headphone.

 
+2!

 

[epocs]

agreed on the 650

 

[VALIENTE]

Guys, how about Denons, are they also bright headphones?

 

[wind016]

Denons are nowhere near as bright as what you have for sure. The highest highs can get harsh and congested on the Denons though, but IMO still much less congested than Grados (not as good as AKGs though).
 
The Denon mids are a bit more recessed than the AKG K701s.

 

[Kevin Brown]

 This is a good thread.  I love Grado's, but they can be bright, so I do EQ them and I do use comfies.  I didn't like any of the K501/601/701 because I think they are too bright.  (Or, they lack bass.)  Similarly, V6/7506/440/840: all too bright or not enough bass, depending on how you look at it.  (Yes, there's a difference, but I really didn't like any of these.  Listening fatigue over long lengths of time.)
 
I have DT880's which I like a lot, and AD900's; but even as I love the Sextetts and those K240S's, they can sometimes highlight the pre-existing brightness in a recording.
 
The point being, I guess sometime I need to research Senns some more and try a pair or two out.