Group 1 "Cannons"
Cannons are headphones that produce an excessive to enormous amount of impact that can be felt from the cups to the ears and beyond. They vibrate the skull, they vibrate/tickle the cheeks, upper neck and cause physical sensations. This physical sensation can and does interfere with the accurate delivery of what are widely referred to as good response curves. The "mids" as they are the adjoining range are most affected by the over boosted low frequency. The "V" shaved EQ slope is applied to create an illusion of balance. The mids are almost unrecoverable if the bass is cannon like. Thus it fits in this group.
- JVC - HA-SZ2000
- SONY - MDR-XB1000
- Fostex -TH-900 *
- Massdrop TH-X00
- JVC - HA-SZ1000
- Taction - KANNON (in production)
AudioQuest Nighthawk** Pending test** UPDATE 9/19/2015.....FAIL, moved to Group 2
Group 2 "(Hi-Fi) low end boys"
High fidelity—or hi-fi or hifi—reproduction is a term used by home stereo listeners and home audio enthusiasts (audiophiles) to refer to high-quality reproduction of sound[1] to distinguish it from the poorer quality sound produced by inexpensive audio equipment, or the inferior quality of sound reproduction characteristic of recordings made until the late 1940s. Ideally,high fidelity equipment has minimal amounts of noise and distortion and an accurate frequency response. WikipediaHeadphones in this category are typically of high price and high manufacturing quality and tuning. Some manufacturers "target" consumers looking for superior low frequency response. That is a tight less resonating sub frequency response that does not interfere with the transition from low to mid frequencies. They can have great impact but by design and tuning should not impede on the mid frequency spectrum. Prices start at around $500 U.S. and well beyond.
- Fostex -TH-900
- Fostex -TH-600
- DENON - D7000,
- DENON - D5000
- DENON - D2000
- JVC - HP DX1000
- JVC - HP DX700
- Final Audio Design - Pandora Hope VI
- Ultrasone - Signature DJ
- Ultrasone - Edition 8 "Ruthenium"
- Sony - MDR-Z7
- LCD rev.2.1
- AudioQuest Nighthawk
Group 3 "Bassy Headphones"
Easily the largest group of the 3. Often auto tuned to respond well to low frequency. out of the box Oft mentioned headphones such as the M-Audio Q40 Ultrasone Hfi 580 and ATH-PRO700MK2 fit in this group. ATH M50 are a well loved often recommended set of cans that are described as "cannons" ..they are not. This will be without a doubt the longest most debated list. - Audio Technica ATH WS770iS
- ATH - WS1100
- JVC - HA-MR77x
- YAMAHA - Pro 500
- Pioneer - SE-MX9-K
- Beats - Mixr
- Ultrasone Pro 900
- MTX - iX1
- V-Moda (M100, Crossfade LP's)
- Philips Fidelio - X1
- Monster N-Pulse
- Denon - AHD 600
- Beyerdynamic DT770 Pro
- Velodyne - vtrue
- Allen & Heath - Xone XD53
- Yamaha - hph mt220
- Beats by Dre (Studio's, Pro's)
- SMS - ("Street" series)
- Beyerdynamic - Custom One Pro
- House of Marley ("TRT" Series)
- SOUL by Ludacris - SL 300
- SONY - MDR 1RBT MK2
- SOL Republic - Master Tracks XC
- Perfect Sound - Dido - D901
- Monster - Inspiration
- SONY - MDR-XB700
- Denon - AHD 340
- Beyerdynamic - DT990 Pro
- ALPINE Headphones (2014 over ear)
- Sennheiser - Urbanite
- ATH M50x
Below $200.00 (U.S.) Source: Amazon
- KICKER - Cush
- Denon - AHD 400
- ATH - PRO 700MK2
- Ultrasone - HFi 580
- SONY - MDR-X10
- Logitech - UE6000
- M-Audio Q40
- AKG - 545
- JVC - HA-MR55x
- SONY - MDR-XB 800
- Pioneer - STEEZ
- Skullcandy - Hesh 2
- Sennheiser HD380 Pro
- Superlux - HD681 EVO
- Maxell - AMP-B
- Bludio - R+ Legend
- JBL - BassLine
- SONY - MDR-XB 500
- Skullcandy - Mix Master Mike
- Bass Effect Audio Revolution X
- Vibe - BlackDeath
- DonScorpio - Drama
- Sennheiser - HD25
- Technics - RP DH1200
- Numark - Electrowave
- American Audio - HP 550 Pro DJ
- Motörheadphones - Iron Fist
- Razer - Kraken
- ATH - WS77,WS99
- Aerial7 - Tank
- Ttesports - Signature Dracco
- SONY - MDR-XB950
- Rhythmz - Air
- Photive - X-Bass
- JBL S700
- CAD Audio Sessions MH510OR
- Monoprice Premium Hi-Fi DJ Style
* List subject to change.