Has Anyone Else Gone Up Then Back Down the Audio Gear Ladder?

Jun 5, 2024 at 6:50 PM Thread Starter Post #1 of 117

TWerk

Headphoneus Supremus
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I have been into headphones for about 10 years. I have tried many higher end headphones but ended up selling off basically everything because it didn't feel worth it. I now own two "lower" tier Ultrasone headphones now and a no name bluetooth set.

The cheap bluetooth set I got online has a crazy battery life and after I switched pads on them, I find I use them all the time due to the convince of bluetooth and not being tied down to a cord... and also for the dual point connectivity feature during work - turns out the BT functionality meant way more to me than I realized many years ago. The sound isn't half bad.

So I guess my question is if anyone else really did the same thing? I seem to not really have found what I was looking for in headphone land further up top (you tend to get more detail and fatigue) and so changed to a very cheap and simple setup - a few lower tier headphones and I am just as satisfied as I was when I was playing around spending way more on the hobby.
 
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Jun 5, 2024 at 7:07 PM Post #2 of 117
I've got a business and have been to the mountaintop for headphones and amp/DACs. My daily driver is a Hifiman HE5XX I got open box for $100 and a Topping EX5 I got for $105. The tech has gotten so good and prices come down compared to 10 years ago, even a simple setup sounds terrific.
Sometimes simple is best. I've setup a Hifiman Arya Stealth with a Topping A70Pro and D70 Octo and it's stunning with an optical USB cable. It's not 8 times better though for value.
 
Jun 5, 2024 at 7:15 PM Post #3 of 117
I kind of know what you mean, i often choose my DT770 pro or momentum over my Elegias, just for simplicity i guess.
 
Jun 5, 2024 at 7:24 PM Post #4 of 117
I sorta have. I have my high end stuff like the Arya and HD800S, but I get as much (or sometimes more) enjoyment from my more mid range headphones. Mid range headphones in a lot of ways are more interesting to me because they're more compromised, and those compromises create character. They're poorer for all types of music, maybe, but when you find music that plays to their strengths there's really nothing else like it.
 
Jun 5, 2024 at 7:34 PM Post #5 of 117
I do suggest people try the JBL Encore speaker if you want some bass that isn't possible with headphones. Or maybe it is with something like Abyss but no way I am spending so much for one of those....

I spent the longest time looking for a headphone that could hit bass like this can but it turns out you just need a low-end focused speaker to do it.
 
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Jun 6, 2024 at 8:01 AM Post #7 of 117
I do suggest people try the JBL Encore speaker if you want some bass that isn't possible with headphones. Or maybe it is with something like Abyss but no way I am spending so much for one of those....

I spent the longest time looking for a headphone that could hit bass like this can but it turns out you just need a low-end focused speaker to do it.

I recall someone on these forums talking about how they added a bass-shaker to their headphone listening chair, and were pleased with the result.
 
Jun 6, 2024 at 8:05 PM Post #8 of 117
I recall someone on these forums talking about how they added a bass-shaker to their headphone listening chair, and were pleased with the result.
i tried that, using the pre out on my e10k out to a cheap amp that ran the shaker, used mainly for movies
 
Jun 6, 2024 at 8:23 PM Post #9 of 117
I listen to my Porto Pros ever single day, but only listen to my LCD-2F maybe four or five times a year. Portability and comfort are all.
 
Jun 6, 2024 at 8:31 PM Post #10 of 117
Being bored of hifi means another hobby will take its stead. Enjoy!

If youve sampled a ton of flavors and found your sweet spot, then youve won. Congrats!

Youve found your sweet spot for price to performance. Others feel its $2000. The sweet spot is situational and youve come to appreciate yours instead of using energy chasing “upgrades”.

I listen to my Porto Pros ever single day, but only listen to my LCD-2F maybe four or five times a year. Portability and comfort are all.
Portability and comfort are mostly all… If your Porta Pros could sound like your LCD-2F, then I wonder how much you would pay for that luxury.
 
Jun 6, 2024 at 9:01 PM Post #12 of 117
Jun 6, 2024 at 9:05 PM Post #13 of 117
Elevator only goes up
 
Jun 6, 2024 at 10:58 PM Post #15 of 117
Depends on who I have to kill to get my hands on a Final X8000

https://snext-final.com/en/products/detail/X8000
You could get an ancestor w planar / ortho driver: Yamaha YHD-1/2. Here is mine next to a Grado.
IMG_3583.jpeg
 
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