I have compared a lot of closed phones vs open ones, and the open ones always sound better. Is there a closed phone out there that doesn't sound like you are in a closed tunnel. I would like some isolation at times but the sound quality is really weak in the closed/iem world. I hate the overbloated bass especially, none of them sound natural.
I think the ATs and R10s of this world would disagree. Open phones can suck too. It's not a case of open Vs. closed, more good Vs. crappy design. It also seems easier to do good cheap open than closed.
Closed headphones are really misunderstood. They are difficult to do right, but it can be done. Some of the best closed-dynamic headphones I've ever heard are the Audio-Technica W5000's, Denon D5000's and my modded Sony CD3000's. Of those, the W5000's sounded most like a set of open cans, imo, with my CD3k's close behind.
If you don't wanna spend an arm and a leg, though, I'd say Ultrasone is your best bet.
The closed phones I was trying were hd280 senns, ultrasone 750s, sony 7506, and shure e4cs. I listen to ms-1s, rs-1s, and senn hd555s, on a regular basis, and I found all these phones lacking.
That was actually the can I was considering for a closed solution. Are they worth the price? I am not looking for a budget phone, but I am really shooting in the dark ordering those cans. I can't really try them out. How do they sound compared the the grado rs-1?
havent heard the rs-1, but I love the gs-1000, and was looking for a closed can for when I needed the isolation, so far they are the closest I have found to the gs-1000 sound. I don't plan on selling them, and just ordered a meier prehead mkII se, on the advice of "Kees". So ya, I like them enough to buy them their own amp. There are a few threads about them. I was also considering the w5000's, but read that the dx-1000's had more detail which is what I was really looking for, detail and soundstage.
detail (though not like the gs-1000)
soundstage
great bass
nice highs
super comfortable.
I have had my L3000 for 2½ years now and they are certainly very, very good closed phones. I have just aquired a balanced GS-1000 and I have to admit that for soundstage/headstage and treble presentation it beats the L3000. The L3000 however wins hands down for physical presence and guts. So I will settle with this combo as I find that they complement each other nicely. I will be using the L3000 most as it is a bedside rig and a certain other person next to me does not appreciate the sound of music when trying to go to sleep. At other times which phones will be used will depend a lot on the music as each of them do certain things best.
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