Best soundstage with nice mids, open back

[robertcox999]

I own a pair of Shure SRH 840 which are closed back. I love the signature of these, fairly neutral but with lovely mids, great for vocals and a good all rounder. Just not open back which I want for listening and producing.
 
Now looking for some open headphones as I'm looking for good separation and sound stage. Need to be neutral but some mid lushness is not a bad thing.
 
I bought a pair of Beyerdynamic DT 990 pro but I'm not the biggest fan - the bass can overshadow the rest of the mix but mostly it's the sibilant treble which I find ruins vocals and makes most instruments shrill; I end up only hearing the treble and this gets fatiguing. The scoop out of the mids is also a big no for me. I do however enjoy the soundstage of these.
 
What I'm looking for then, is something fairly neutral and balanced, definitely no mid scoop, not completely analytical (although I might lean that way for the sake of separation and detail), and decent soundstage. These would be an at home pair with a desktop amp/dac. I produce electronic music and some classical guitar also, love listening to all genres, in particular jazz and electronic.
 
Open back, budget £100 - £250 (pounds)
 
So far, I've shortlisted: 
 
Sennheiser HD 600 (the whole character sounds perfect apart from some people mentioning the soundstage not being huge)
 
AKG K702 (although these sound too cold and analytical)
 
Audio Technica AD900x
 
Philips Fidelio X2
 
 
What would you recommend? Is the HD 600 soundstage that small?
 
Thanks a lot guys! Love this website, been very helpful!

 

[serman005]

I think you are going to find the X2/X2HR to have excessive bass for your tastes, given what you have said about the 990. The HD600, which I own, has an intimate stage but it is not really what I would characterize as small. It is a beautiful sounding headphone, especially for jazz, classical, and vocal music. It will not have the reach in bass of the 990. The AD900X does not have much bass in its profile. I think the K702 is really good. Yes, it is a wee bit analytical and cold, but some people are seeking that. Of those on your lisst, the HD600 would be my particular choice. One last one you might consider is the HE400i, which is very good. You might read about it and see what you think.

 

[Monsterzero]

  I own a pair of Shure SRH 840 which are closed back. I love the signature of these, fairly neutral but with lovely mids, great for vocals and a good all rounder. Just not open back which I want for listening and producing.
 
Now looking for some open headphones as I'm looking for good separation and sound stage. Need to be neutral but some mid lushness is not a bad thing.
 
I bought a pair of Beyerdynamic DT 990 pro but I'm not the biggest fan - the bass can overshadow the rest of the mix but mostly it's the sibilant treble which I find ruins vocals and makes most instruments shrill; I end up only hearing the treble and this gets fatiguing. The scoop out of the mids is also a big no for me. I do however enjoy the soundstage of these.
 
What I'm looking for then, is something fairly neutral and balanced, definitely no mid scoop, not completely analytical (although I might lean that way for the sake of separation and detail), and decent soundstage. These would be an at home pair with a desktop amp/dac. I produce electronic music and some classical guitar also, love listening to all genres, in particular jazz and electronic.
 
Open back, budget £100 - £250 (pounds)
 
So far, I've shortlisted: 
 
Sennheiser HD 600 (the whole character sounds perfect apart from some people mentioning the soundstage not being huge)

Nice headphone,not very exciting to listen to,do not underestimate its small soundstage...its small.
 
AKG K702 (although these sound too cold and analytical)

checks most of your boxes well.
 
Audio Technica AD900x

Never heard,cannot comment
 
 
Philips Fidelio X2

nice headphone,but not what you have described in the least.
 
 
 
What would you recommend? Is the HD 600 soundstage that small?
 
Thanks a lot guys! Love this website, been very helpful!

 

[serman005]

Having owned the HD600 for quite some time, I can say that I do not feel the stage is excessively small. It is more intimate than the 598 or the X2, to be sure, but those two headphones have vast soundstages. Few headphones can compete with these two in terms of size of stage. The size of the 600 stage does not in any way impede the realism of the presentation. If you are looking for a wide stage, I would steer you to one of the two I mentioned or the AD900X, which also has a very wide stage.

 

[jimbop54]

You might consider one of the HiFiMan HE-400 series. Great cans for jazz.