Headphones for metal music - ultimate solution

[SomeGuyDude]

Guitars, percussion, and vocals are where it's at. I feel the same way. If the guitar work doesn't have enough bite, weight, and crunch, it won't cut it for me. Never heard any of the cans you listed, as they are all above my pay grade. I'm sure others will chime in.

It's a tough balance haha. Guitars without the low end can be pretty rough at times. Especially if you listen to black metal that's often recorded treble-heavy to begin with.

 

[YtseJamer]

I’m with you there 100%. For me it goes guitars, vocals, then percussion but it’s close. Also I prefer the midrange at least slightly forward.

Same with me. I cannot listen to Metal with headphones where the mids are recessed.

 

[SomeGuyDude]

Same with me. I cannot listen to Metal with headphones where the mids are recessed.

Especially because recessed mids also usually mean attenuated treble, and oh boy nothing ruins metal quite like cymbals shattering your ears...

 

[User650]

I think the Audioquest Knighthawk is pretty good for Rock music and is underrated

 

[kRed]

Especially because recessed mids also usually mean attenuated treble, and oh boy nothing ruins metal quite like cymbals shattering your ears...

I agree.
Lately I found that it's more about the balance between the warm side vs the (not) dark side.

I love to listen to good produced metal (Opeth, naming one) with the Arya SE, still I can't get the volume to the level I want cause the cymbals just kills everything, and it gets shouty.
With the R70X it's way more manageable, and also its slow response helps with the double kick (I don't like it very much when it's too dry). With the Celestee it's also more enjoyable, maybe a bit too focused on the vocal range.

Next week I'm getting the Aeolus shipped: it should be a beast for metal. Not too fast, a nice full-bodied warm and impactful sound, not shouty and with controlled treble.

 

[SomeGuyDude]

I think the Audioquest Knighthawk is pretty good for Rock music and is underrated

The Nighthawk was an incredible headphone. People shat on it for the bass being overpowering but once you acclimated to it the sound was just so damn nice.

 

[YtseJamer]

Next week I'm getting the Aeolus shipped: it should be a beast for metal. Not too fast, a nice full-bodied warm and impactful sound, not shouty and with controlled treble.

The Aeolus is my 2nd favorite headphone after the Atrium. You should try to find the original Aeolus pads if they are not coming with the pair you purchased.

 

[PapaIV]

To those of you with the LCD-2C, try adding a +7db low shelf under 85hz and listening to Soen - Antagonist. Actually just listen to the entire Imperial album. My brain fails to comprehend how good (and distortion free) it sounds - tho to be fair this album sounds good on almost everything.

On another note, since my new LCD-2C basically sound like speakers to my wife, I need to find a complimentary semi-budget (max 400-500€) closed back set for late night listening. I’m considering either a used Campfire Cascade or the Meze 99 Classics with pad and cable upgrades. How do these compare for metal? Will they be a massive downgrade from my (already beloved) 2C? I’m open to IEMs as well (I also have the Fiio FH3 but don’t particularly enjoy them due to to some treble harshness unless I EQ).

 

[xeizo]

To those of you with the LCD-2C, try adding a +7db low shelf under 85hz and listening to Soen - Antagonist. Actually just listen to the entire Imperial album. My brain fails to comprehend how good (and distortion free) it sounds - tho to be fair this album sounds good on almost everything.

On another note, since my new LCD-2C basically sound like speakers to my wife, I need to find a complimentary semi-budget (max 400-500€) closed back set for late night listening. I’m considering either a used Campfire Cascade or the Meze 99 Classics with pad and cable upgrades. How do these compare for metal? Will they be a massive downgrade from my (already beloved) 2C? I’m open to IEMs as well (I also have the Fiio FH3 but don’t particularly enjoy them due to to some treble harshness unless I EQ).

Happy you are happy!

For myself, going from a ESS audio interface(ES9016S) to a AKM DAC(2x4493S) made wonders for my HE400SE, I almost don't need EQ anymore, and yes SOEN sounds very very good on:
Tidal HIFI > Exclusive mode > SMSL D-6 > TRS > SMSL SH-6 > Hifiman HE400SE and as I said even without EQ it sounds great. AKM "Velvet Sound" looks to be slightly more than a buzzword.

For closed back listening I have my trusty Sony MDR-Z7M2!

 

[Raidersfan8118]

The Aeolus is my 2nd favorite headphone after the Atrium. You should try to find the original Aeolus pads if they are not coming with the pair you purchased.

I’ll second that the atrium is the best headphone I’ve heard for metal so far. I removed the mesh filter and thought it was even better. It’s a headphone that won’t fatigue you but has a nice crispness to drum hits and extra good on electric guitars.

 

[PapaIV]

Happy you are happy!

For myself, going from a ESS audio interface(ES9016S) to a AKM DAC(2x4493S) made wonders for my HE400SE, I almost don't need EQ anymore, and yes SOEN sounds very very good on:
Tidal HIFI > Exclusive mode > SMSL D-6 > TRS > SMSL SH-6 > Hifiman HE400SE and as I said even without EQ it sounds great. AKM "Velvet Sound" looks to be slightly more than a buzzword.

For closed back listening I have my trusty Sony MDR-Z7M2!

Thank you so much! I’m super happy but as always with us, hungry for more haha.

Damn you’re tempting me now with the 400SE, especially since I can have them new for 100 euros with shipping..! I really need a closed back right now but for 100 euros these are almost impulse buy. Damn registering here is starting to cost

That’s a nice chain, no wonder Soen sound good! For me it CD player > RME Adi 2 DAC FS <balanced> Drop THX AAA 789 <balanced> LCD-2C.

My RME is the ESS version but according to RME there should be no significant measurable/audible difference between the ESS and AKM version and there is no audio company that I trust more than RME.

Oh and Soen, I only discovered them a few weeks ago and I can’t stop listening to them, not a single bad song!

 

[xeizo]

Thank you so much! I’m super happy but as always with us, hungry for more haha.

Damn you’re tempting me now with the 400SE, especially since I can have them new for 100 euros with shipping..! I really need a closed back right now but for 100 euros these are almost impulse buy. Damn registering here is starting to cost

That’s a nice chain, no wonder Soen sound good! For me it CD player > RME Adi 2 DAC FS <balanced> Drop THX AAA 789 <balanced> LCD-2C.

My RME is the ESS version but according to RME there should be no significant measurable/audible difference between the ESS and AKM version and there is no audio company that I trust more than RME.

Oh and Soen, I only discovered them a few weeks ago and I can’t stop listening to them, not a single bad song!

LoL I have too many headphones now, I think I'm settled for a while, but this is a nice hobby and rewarding in many ways. Thing is, I like to listen loud and that is simply not possible using speakers at most times. Unless I wants a lot of enemies

I'm sure the RME is great, as everyone gives it rave reviews, in my case ESS vs AKM it's probably more that the Motu ESS implementation is subpar and on the cheap while SMSL punches way above it's price.

Of course Soen is good, they're Swedish
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soen

 

[PapaIV]

LoL I have too many headphones now, I think I'm settled for a while, but this is a nice hobby and rewarding in many ways. Thing is, I like to listen loud and that is simply not possible using speakers at most times. Unless I wants a lot of enemies

I'm sure the RME is great, as everyone gives it rave reviews, in my case ESS vs AKM it's probably more that the Motu ESS implementation is subpar and on the cheap while SMSL punches way above it's price.

Of course Soen is good, they're Swedish
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soen

Yeah I still love my studio monitors + sub setup, especially directly off the RME - it’s nice being hit by a wall of sound, but it’s for a very specific time of the day!

But seriously, most of the music I love comes from Sweden (along with my favourite band, Ghost), is it something with the water there??

 

[SomeGuyDude]

Yeah I still love my studio monitors + sub setup, especially directly off the RME - it’s nice being hit by a wall of sound, but it’s for a very specific time of the day!

But seriously, most of the music I love comes from Sweden (along with my favourite band, Ghost), is it something with the water there??

One of the COOLEST things about metal is every country has their own flavor. I found I'm partial to the French scene, especially when it comes to black or post metal.

 

[xeizo]

One of the COOLEST things about metal is every country has their own flavor. I found I'm partial to the French scene, especially when it comes to black or post metal.

Gojira is pretty awesome, I have seen them live, it was heavy!