Are Planar Magnetic headphones really better than dynamic one's, or is there a fundamental misconception going on?

[VeightTripleDivision]

I vote planar.
Don't want to explain anything, so it's just a vote.
Edit: I cannot explain. Therefore I don't want to be asked to explain.

 

[Infoseeker]

Today I tested two amplifiers, the Cocktail Audio HA-500 and the Sennheiser HDV820.

headphones in test:
FA D8000 Pro
Hifiman Audivina
Denon AH-D9200
Meze Elite
HD800s
HD820
Focal Utopia
Focal Stellia

What can I say? The HA-500 has a tube stage and allows you to use it in hybrid mode (with the tube stage on or off by pressing a button). It sounded full, pleasant and a little bassy in a good sense. What it lacked was dynamics. Busy musical passages clearly illustrated this shortcoming to my displeasure, as on the whole I liked this amplifier.

However, it was the Sennheiser HDV820s that surprised me the most with its clean, punchy and articulate sound. It was like a breath of fresh air after spending a long time in a smoky room with the HA-500. However, two problems left me scratching my head. Mid tones lacked a bit, voices sounded slightly recessed, and the overall sound had a slight metallic tinge, typical of Senn, I must say.

So, I ended up being dissatisfied with both.

As far as headphones go, the Utopia were again the most versatile and capable, the FinalAudio and Denon also performed very well. However, the Meze Elite and Focal Stellia were the big disappointments for me. I wonder why some people like the Meze, very overpriced for what you get.

The Audivina was the most unusual of all as it shone with the HA-500 like no one else, leading me to conclude that Hifimans love tubes more than anything else.

Denon performed fairly well too but had sometimes too much bass, especially with a tube stage on.

Both Sennheisers, while being technically perfect, never managed to impress me. For me they lack life, bite, emotions. I liked HD820 better compared to its open back sibling.

For alot of your headphones the Sennheiser HDV820 will cause artifacting.

Since it's one of those amps with a high impedance output that will change the FR of the headphine involved.

And each individual headphone will react in a different way. Not in the same way the previous tested headphone would react.

The effect of its impedance was decided to be optimized for the HD800.

 

[Gintaras]

For alot of your headphones the Sennheiser HDV820 will cause artifacting.

Since it's one of those amps with a high impedance output that will change the FR of the headphine involved.

And each individual headphone will react in a different way. Not in the same way the previous tested headphone would react.

The effect of its impedance was decided to be optimized for the HD800.

interesting, i thought so too as the difference between HDV820 and HA-500 was day and night with some headphones, Meze was the worst with Senn but then it did not shine with CA too, Utopia paired fairly well but Audivina liked HA-500 just so much better.

 

[bagwell359]

Except they're not neutral. Most of the models used in studios tend to be of the DT770 variety, but they're used for tracking and monitoring, which is allowing musicians and desk jockeys to hear what's going on, and not for actual mixing or mastering. Also the treble on the DT770 is far from neutral, bordering on weaponisation IMO.

Agreed.

One of the key selling points to studios is that the DT770 has good isolation, and have a durability which can easily survive most artists' tantrumy moments

I'm not saying Beyerdynamic headphones are bad, in fact the opposite. I have a few myself and really enjoy them, but in general they're not neutral as they exhibit a tendency towards treble.

Cheap and rugged. Check out the FR graph to see why the treble is so difficult for many to take.