Thank you! Messages like these really help me in choosing headphones!
I've never been much of a headphone guy (my speakers have always been better and I've prefered listening to them
), but ever since I started moving a lot, I've started using headphones more. I soon realized that anything going in my ears is impossible: a couple of hours of wear will result in weird, uncomfortable pressure in my ears for about a week. On ear are also not an option: the only headphones I had were the 1st gen B&W P5, which I bought as an accessory to my speakers, basically. Listening to any longer than 40 min. would have them start hurting my ears.
My only option would be over ear, then. And closed cans, since I live with other people (don't want to hear them or bother them with my music).
So a couple of weeks ago I bought the B&W PX7, since my B&W speakers have served me well and they look good, but something in the sound was off. The bass was hurting my ears and nothing sounded natural, so I returned them for a pair of Dali io-4s. These sounded amazing in comparison: clear, natural, tight, consistent. And the bass was controlled. Many here describe them as "neutral" sounding (whatever that's supposed to mean - not too much bass, maybe?). I would love to keep these, but the headband is too narrow, and cuts like a knife into my scalp; I have to keep adjusting them after 10-20 minutes, which really distracts from the music. If I adjust them enough for the headband to be more or less bearable, the earpads touch my ears, and they start really hurting.
At this point I realize that comfort has to be my main priority. Good sound is absolutely moot, if I can't stand the device that plays it. In the end I'll just never wear my headphones and enjoy my music. (I guess I'll never make my wallet cry with buying an expensive set of planars, then
)
After reading a lot (!) it seemed like the DT770 were the most comfortable of all the options. So I ordered them (should arrive today). Reading some more I got worried about their amount of bass, which might be too much for me, so I started looking some more and found these, thanks to videos by metal, wheezy reviews and Alex Rowe (who also has an article comparing them to the DT770). But the build quality issues and comments such as yours made me decide against it - I hate returning stuff and don't want to be involved in it any more than I already, unfortunately, am (my friends think I'm utterly insane ("just buy something and be happy with it")). I also love a great soundstage (the B&W PX7 were really good at this, if nothing else).
Some suggestions pointed me to the ATH MSR7b (truly horrible name), which I also ordered. They seem to be very similar to the AKG 371, but with a wider soundstage and with more comfort (which is paramount), as far as I understand. If the DT770's are too bassy and the MSR7b's are comfortable enough, I'll likely keep them as my final pair. They'll be shipped in a week, though. During which I'll be testing the DT770's.
All of this because of overly sensitive ears... To be honest, I would just be happy with either the earbuds that came with my phone or my P5's until I got my speakers back if it weren't for the hurt...
It'll all be worth it in the end, though, provided I do manage to find something well-isolating, comfortable and good sounding