hxs80
New Head-Fier
Hello all,
I daily drove (and still do) a pair of HD6XXs with a Schitt stack (Mimby/Magni3/Loki) for about a year or more now and that has been a trusty home office setup. I don't source from anywhere fancy, just Tidal (HiFi w/ "Master" support) from a laptop so I know my sources vary and it isn't anything to write home about.
Last year, I picked up an HD800 with the SDR mod and thought that they would be my "end game". Well, ends up that I do like the HD800s in general, I just can't stand them for more than an hour (estimated). With some music, it's just so bad I revert to the HD6xxs.
I then thought, hey, maybe they'll get better with a better amp; more "umph". So I picked up the THX AAA 789 from Massdrop. At this point, I was there, sitting ready with my HD800s, a balanced cable, expecting to be blown away... bah! While things did get "better", the bad just got worse.
It might be in my head but I think what's happening is that the HD800s "resolve?" so much, they make bad recordings sound unlistenable by exposing the flaws. Since the HD6xxs are more "laid back" they are more "forgiving" therefore making them easier to listen to on a mix of genres. I know the HD800s are known for being "forward" but even with tuning down the highs on the Loki, it just doesn't cut it for me. I can live with the highs, it's the overall inability to be "fun" while at the same time being detailed that I don't like. Does that even sound right?
So yeah, when the tracks are right, I love and am blown away by the HD800s. But I don't really want headphones for "certain" recordings or music type. That's what I like about the HD6xxs; they may not be the greatest, but at least all music is tolerable.
So I've been searching and searching for what I'm targeting as an HD6xx with more detail. From what I've read and heard, I won't be able to get the same soundstage as the HD800s but at this point, I think I can sacrifice that. Enter the Focal Clears. They seem to fit the bill for what I'm looking for. I haven't been able to find a place to check them out locally so I'm only going by what I'm reading and watching on YouTube.
Can anyone relate or have any input? At this point, I'm willing to part with the HD800s and find the right set of cans when they cross my path.
Thanks.
I daily drove (and still do) a pair of HD6XXs with a Schitt stack (Mimby/Magni3/Loki) for about a year or more now and that has been a trusty home office setup. I don't source from anywhere fancy, just Tidal (HiFi w/ "Master" support) from a laptop so I know my sources vary and it isn't anything to write home about.
Last year, I picked up an HD800 with the SDR mod and thought that they would be my "end game". Well, ends up that I do like the HD800s in general, I just can't stand them for more than an hour (estimated). With some music, it's just so bad I revert to the HD6xxs.
I then thought, hey, maybe they'll get better with a better amp; more "umph". So I picked up the THX AAA 789 from Massdrop. At this point, I was there, sitting ready with my HD800s, a balanced cable, expecting to be blown away... bah! While things did get "better", the bad just got worse.
It might be in my head but I think what's happening is that the HD800s "resolve?" so much, they make bad recordings sound unlistenable by exposing the flaws. Since the HD6xxs are more "laid back" they are more "forgiving" therefore making them easier to listen to on a mix of genres. I know the HD800s are known for being "forward" but even with tuning down the highs on the Loki, it just doesn't cut it for me. I can live with the highs, it's the overall inability to be "fun" while at the same time being detailed that I don't like. Does that even sound right?
So yeah, when the tracks are right, I love and am blown away by the HD800s. But I don't really want headphones for "certain" recordings or music type. That's what I like about the HD6xxs; they may not be the greatest, but at least all music is tolerable.
So I've been searching and searching for what I'm targeting as an HD6xx with more detail. From what I've read and heard, I won't be able to get the same soundstage as the HD800s but at this point, I think I can sacrifice that. Enter the Focal Clears. They seem to fit the bill for what I'm looking for. I haven't been able to find a place to check them out locally so I'm only going by what I'm reading and watching on YouTube.
Can anyone relate or have any input? At this point, I'm willing to part with the HD800s and find the right set of cans when they cross my path.
Thanks.