Giru
100+ Head-Fier
The FR graphs for the NDH20 are really interesting. One would expect these to have some sort of scooping in the mids but actually these sound near neutral to me. I tried mixing with them and frankly I came away even more impressed.The NDH20 is a lovely sounding closedback, very much agreed. I’ve got a friend who owns one, and I always sneak in a listen whenever I visit him. It sort of sounds like a closedback planar. It has the same classic uppermids drop-off that most planars exhibit, somewhat similar to the Verité closed.
Btw I just remembered three other options. If you can find a Beyerdynamic Custom One Pro and set the bass sliders to the smallest hole available, you actually get fairly close to a (slightly bass boosted) HD600/R70X. It’s additionally a Beyer that behaves itself very well in the treble
Beyer does actually sell perhaps the finest candidate for a true neutral closedback…but it sadly comes with an imbalance straight from the factory. Still…if you don’t mind a quick mod in order to seal the cable connection properly, the DT250 is your can.
Lastly and sadly also out of production we have the Nad Viso HP50…which is sort of like a combination of the SRH1540 and the KNS8400. Neutral mids and treble…with a big and voluptious bass.
Edith: Yep also the DT150. Put on a pair of DT100 velour pads and you get even closer to a neutral response
However in all fairness, my studio tech didn't like these and found them to be a tad warm (btw he says the same about the R70X so in a way I find my observations to be valid in comparison). I surmise its the fit of the pads that is spoiling the game here. I can definitely hear more bass and mids if I position them right and press them in slightly.
Another observation, as far as my ears go; I think the NDH20 has the same driver as the HD660S (for good or worse) but the Neumann shines where the 660S lacks and thats the mids and bass. Especially bass. Taught, large and clean. It might not extend as low as the R70X but it offers better resolution and detail (being the closed back that it is).
Anyway, as a package I found the neumann to be well worth the price. Solid build and good quality components. This pair looks like it would service my adult life and then some.
I don't think I can recommend another closed back below 1k USD.
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