[widdyjudas]

Any plan of reviewing the new audio technica ad900x? Or perhaps 1000x.
Philips fidelio x1 too? It got a lot of praise here.

 

[GoldfishX]

Maybe it's the Alpha pads on the Mad Dogs? I have the original, smaller pads and I can wear them for hours. They are on par with the HD800 in terms of comfort, once they are adjusted right.
 
My issue at the moment is the "wing headband" on my AD2000x. I like the sound, but the headphone is really starting to fall out of favor with me just because it is annoying to adjust every couple minutes!

 

[kothganesh]

Quote:

I've completely ruled out heavy headphones from my list of desirables. I've owned LCD-2 and HE-500 and they're just too heavy for me--it's like balancing a brick on your head. For the little I lose in sound quality using the DT880 Pro, and frankly it doesn't seem that much, I more than make it up in comfort.

FWIW, if you want to go in a different route, try the Kingsound Electrostats (I don't know what you own currently). Awesome entry level electrostats, light as anything and very reasonably priced. Of course, you will need an electrostatic amp as well.

 

[Silent One]

Regarding the SR-009, compared to some other open cans, how much leakage are we talking about? Moderately expected or alarmingly-go-sleep-on-the-couch?

 

[davidsh]

It is kinda problematic that you can't use the kingsound with newer Stax amps, though. It is designed for 450 volts bias voltage, so only low-bias stax amps would be suitable.

 

[DavidMahler]

Quote:

Hey David,
I can’t thank you enough for putting this list together! My headphone rig simply wouldn’t be what it is today without your help. Thank you!
 
The only thing, and really the only thing, I wish you had included is the physical weight of a headphone. Speaking for myself, this is often a big factor when it comes to the comfort of a headphone (In your defense, you do often touch on the subject in the “comfort” section); just a simple number in addition to that would’ve been great. However, I don’t really know how important this issue is to the general Head-Fi public.
 
Well, for those interested, I looked up the weight of every headphone on the list (IEMs excluded). Whenever possible I used the manufacturer’s specifications. I tried to do my best but data was a little hard to come by on a few of the out-of-production headphones or earlier revision models. Anyway, here’s the list (Headphones are listed according to their Battle of the Flagships ranking, and unless otherwise noted, the weights do not include the cable):
 
 
1. SENNHEISER HE90 (Orpheus)
365 g
--
2. STAX SR-009
454 g
--
3. SONY MDR-R10 (bass-light)
400 g
--
4. SONY MDR-R10 (bass-heavy)
400 g
--
5. STAX SR-Omega
380 g
--
6. SENNHEISER HD800
330 g
--
7. HE AUDIO JADE
???
--
8. AUDEZ'E LCD-3
548 g
--
9. HIFIMAN HE-6
502 g
--
10. STAX SR-007 MkI
??? (MkII weighs 365 g)
--
11. AUDE'ZE LCD-2 (Revision 2)
490 g (bamboo composite)
522 g (rosewood)
--
12. GRADO HP2
450 g (with cable?)
--
13. AUDEZ'E LCD-2 (Revision 1)
??? (Rev 2 in rosewood weighs 522 g)
--
14. BEYERDYNAMIC T1
350 g
--
15. STAX SR-007 MkII
365 g
--
16. STAX SR-Sigma
400 g
--
17. HIFIMAN HE-500
502 g
--
18. STAX SR-507
388 g
--
19. ULTRASONE Edition 10
282 g
--
20. AKG K1000
270 g
--
21. SENNHEISER HD650
260 g
--
22. SENNHEISER HD600
260 g
--
24. FOSTEX TH900
400 g
--
26. HIFIMAN HE-400
440 g
--
27. AUDIO-TECHNICA ATH-W3000ANV
340 g
--
28. BEYERDYNAMIC DT 880 (600 Ohm)
295 g
--
29. SHURE SRH1840
268 g
--
30. GRADO PS1000
500 g
--
31. SENNHEISER HD700
270 g
--
32. AUDIO-TECHNICA ATH-AD900
250 g
--
33. DENON AH-D7000
370 g
--
34. ULTRASONE Edition 8 Limited
260 g
--
35. ALESSANDRO MS Pro
My pair weighs 275 g with the cable
--
38. SONY Q010-MDR1
200 g
--
39. AKG K501
235 g
--
40. AKG K702
235 g
--
41. GRADO RS1
255 g with cable
--
42. BEYERDYNAMIC DT 660
350 g
--
43. GRADO RS2
255 g with cable
--
44. SONY MDR-SA5000
260 g
--
46. BEYERDYNAMIC DT 770 (250 Ohm)
270 g
--
47. DENON AH-D950
250 g
--
48. KAM HP1
220 g
--
54. ULTRASONE HFI-700
350 g
--
58. AUDIO-TECHNICA ATH-W5000
340 g
 
 
Best,
Joel

Wonderful post Joel!!!  Fantastic work, and I really appreciate the effort!

Interesting to note that the LCD-3 wins grand prize as heaviest headphone in my collection.  Makes a lot of sense

 

[MattTCG]

Thanks for this wonderful list. I ALWAYS look at weight when I'm seriously considering a pair of new hp's. Many of the flagships are off my list because of the weight. This is one reason that I'll never sell the hd650.  And man, that Stax sr007 is looking light, comfy and dead sexy!! 

 

[wink]

They both are great headphones...

 

[davidsh]

The abyss is even heavier than the lcd-3 at 660 gram.

 

[avrosse]

I'm glad to hear that you all enjoyed the list! I certainly thought it was pretty cool to look at where all these great headphones weighed in.
 

 

[davidsh]

Pls add 30 gram to the hifimans.

 

[jonathanvaljean]

Quote:

The abyss is even heavier than the lcd-3 at 660 gram.

Whoa!  If one isn't careful, those heavy cans might just pull someone's head into the abyss... 
 
(Corny joke alert!)

 

[donunus]

Hi DavidMahler, 
Have you also heard the 250 ohm version of the dt880? And if you did, would it still rank as high as the 600 ohm version and be at the same place in the rankings still above the next can in line? Reason I ask is that I was looking for some classical headphones and was deciding between the higher clamping force DT880PRO against the DT660. The price is only about $50 difference between the two so unless the dt660 sounds better than the dt880pro, there is absolutely no reason for me to get the dt660 since I don't really need the extra isolation and sensitivity.

 

[musiclife]

Quote:

Pls add 30 gram to the hifimans.

Maybe have a mechanism like these gaming mice where you can fine tune the weight

 

[pp312]

Quote:

check out the sennheiser hd 650 too, good lightweight alternative to LCD-2 and HE-500

 
 
Thanks, but I had the 650 for 3 years. Nice phone, but ultimately just too thick and rolled off for me. I'm enjoying my DT880 Pro and consider it superior (for classical).
.
Quote:

FWIW, if you want to go in a different route, try the Kingsound Electrostats (I don't know what you own currently). Awesome entry level electrostats, light as anything and very reasonably priced. Of course, you will need an electrostatic amp as well.

 
Ah, electrostatics! I had various Stax models through the 70s and 80s. Rather bright, sometimes creak, and seem to take forever to energise (maybe I'm impatient). Would be interesting to hear an alternative brand, though I'm pretty sure I'd never buy them. I'll do a bit of Googling.