Going from closed to open headphones

[TheMaze]

Hi Head-Fi,
 
I have a pair of Sennheiser HD 25-1 headphones and an Asus Xonar sound card in my desktop. Had a good run of three years with them. My dad let me borrow his 1980's BeyerDynamic DT 880 S (600 Ω) with newer velour pads. The bass is fairly light and I was reading I should replace them with vinyl pads, but I'd really just like to get my own modern pair of open head phones. I want something with great sound stage and more bass for PC gaming, but I want to be able to enjoy music on these too. The DT 880 S doesn't sound good with certain types of music, like some rock/metal and EDM which hasn't been recorded well. I listen to those genres a lot. I'm thinking of a $200 price range, but if the DT 880 S would be considered in a more expensive range today, let me know what I should be comparing these to. What can you recommend for my first pair of modern open headphones? Will different ear pads make the DT 880 S sound better with my non-audiophile genres? Thanks.
 
Maze

 

[HipHopScribe]

I think Philips Fidelio X2's would be a good buy, they're about $230 new on Amazon right now and they should offer better bass response and be more forgiving of varying production values than the DT880s. 
 
Keep in mind that open headphones just by virtue of their design are gonna have a different character of bass compared to what a closed design is capable of, so while it can still be satisfying you're gonna have to give yourself some time to adjust to the difference, because they're gonna sound different than what your brain is used to hearing

 

[TheMaze]

I've looked into the X1s and X2's and they seem to be a solid choice for overall sounding headphones. How would they compare to the Audio Technica AD900x? Does the weight aspect affect comfort on the X2's, because I've heard the AD's are light and I'm used to light plastic headphones like the HD 25s.

 

[HipHopScribe]

  I've looked into the X1s and X2's and they seem to be a solid choice for overall sounding headphones. How would they compare to the Audio Technica AD900x? Does the weight aspect affect comfort on the X2's, because I've heard the AD's are light and I'm used to light plastic headphones like the HD 25s.

 
Haven't heard those Audio Technicas personally, but my understanding is that they're more mid-centric, so probably less bass than either Fidelio set. I've found both the X1 and X2 comfortable, but I am more used to heavy headphones, so I imagine it could be an adjustment

 

[TheMaze]

   
Haven't heard those Audio Technicas personally, but my understanding is that they're more mid-centric, so probably less bass than either Fidelio set. I've found both the X1 and X2 comfortable, but I am more used to heavy headphones, so I imagine it could be an adjustment

The weights are like this:
 
HD25-1: 140 g
AD900X: 265 g
Fidelio X2: 382g
vintage DT 880 S: 205g
 
Ironically, the HD 25s which are lightest are the least comfortable due to clamping force. I think the shape of my head has changed so now everyone will see I'm a Sennheiser owner.

 

[TheMaze]

So the criteria for what I want is: light, comfortable, around $200, open, sound stage, bass, and forgiving. Somehow, I found it all in the Sony MDR-MA900s. Added them to the list.

 

[cel4145]

The weights are like this:

HD25-1: 140 g
AD900X: 265 g
Fidelio X2: 382g
vintage DT 880 S: 205g

Ironically, the HD 25s which are lightest are the least comfortable due to clamping force. I think the shape of my head has changed so now everyone will see I'm a Sennheiser owner.

And so understand that weight does not necessarily equal comfort. The headband, the shape of the cups, clamping force, pads, and then how they rest on your shaped ears and head are all factors which could affect comfort. Using weight measurements as a discriminating factor doesn't make sense to me.

So the criteria for what I want is: light, comfortable, around $200, open, sound stage, bass, and forgiving. Somehow, I found it all in the Sony MDR-MA900s. Added them to the list.

MA900s are going to be bass light in comparison to the DT880s. Strike them off your list.

 

[TheMaze]

Yes, I finally felt the bass in the DT880 S's. Also, ever since I read that the MA-900s are disappointing with metal, I've been leaning towards the X2s or AD900Xs. I was comparing Z Review's sound demos of the MA-900 vs the Fidelio X2, and I don't know why from a youtube recording of all things, but I fell in love with the tone and instrument separation of the X2s. I could even tell that through the  ole' DT880s, so I know these can be really nice too. I wonder if there are any stores in my area where I could walk in and try the X2s on to end this internal debate. I should note, I have a smallish head so I'm doubting if I have the right size head for these.

 

[cel4145]

I was comparing Z Review's sound demos of the MA-900 vs the Fidelio X2 ...

Don't do that. That's like trying to buy a TV by watching videos of other TVs. More likely to provide misinformation as useful information as the recording method and the equipment you are listening with will be coloring the actual sound of the headphones in the demo.

but I fell in love with the tone and instrument separation of the X2s.

A recording can't accurately capture soundstage and imaging from headphones. Wouldn't count on the tone sounding the same either.