audiocroissant
100+ Head-Fier
Trying to decide what to purchase next.
Some info/criteria:
Current Candidate headphones:
Some info/criteria:
- Dynamic headphone in the mid- to hi-fi category to complement D8000.
- Sought Qualities: dynamic punchiness, good to great resolution, musicality, addictiveness, great imaging / separation, holographic. Wide soundstage is a plus but not a must.
- Not opposed to using EQ
- Open/Close back: can be either, leaning towards open back
- May be able to audition some of the candidate headphones in London Canjam in July or if I visit a headphone store (they are not close to where I live though so not ideal)
- Amp/DAC - Burson Soloist 3XP / Composer 3XP.
- I have no plans to upgrade my amp and dac anytime soon. I could add a tube preamp (up to 1K) potentially if that is worth doing
- Genres:
- I listen to a very eclectic mix of genres but my most popular listens are within the following:
- 1) Rock/Metal 2) Electronic 3) Acoustic/Vocal 4) Pop/Hip-Hop 5) Ambient 6) Jazz
- It is okay if the headphone is not a master of all and is more specialised in a few of those as D8000 is a pretty good all rounder.
Current Candidate headphones:
- Second-hand Focal Utopia - have a feeling that this will be a great choice given that Focal are known for their "punch and slam". They are supposed to be very detailed and resolving, and are all-rounders. Con: purported small stage and images; "metallic" timbre whatever that means
- ZMF Verite Open/Closed - have read very mixed opinions on those - from the "biggest disappointment/overpriced" to "can't live without them". This makes me think that they are not a very safe purchase and I will need to give them a go before buying which may or may not be possible. On the other hand, they hold their value pretty well it seems.
- ZMF Atrium - the new kid in school. The great soundstage with dynamics makes it really appealing. The concern is that most impressions are from still within the "honeymoon" period. I have been around long enough to see how initial hype settles after a few months to a very different perception so probably it is wise to wait or try them if that is possible.
- Any other suggestions?
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