Headphones for metal music - ultimate solution

[ng5921]

I've been loving the Tungsten DS for metal

 

[Evldice]

+1 for the Grado SR325i/e/x.

The Grado 325x is great for metal, but, they are so uncomfortable after about 30 minutes...and that cable drives me nuts.

 

[marts30]

The Grado 325x is great for metal, but, they are so uncomfortable after about 30 minutes...and that cable drives me nuts.

GW100x then! I prefer them over the 325x. Much lighter, no cable (or custom). SR325x are heavy and yeah - that cable sucks. I use L-cush pads on the GW100x.

I also have a custom turbulent X/Shipibo driver build and the GW100x is very close to that.

 

[atomLI631]

The Grado 325x is great for metal, but, they are so uncomfortable after about 30 minutes...and that cable drives me nuts.

when I first got my 325x I felt the same way. they were unbearable after about 45 minutes. I wore a hat with them to take the pressure off the tops of my ears. I then started playing with bending/massaging the headband and finally got them to a place where they are perfect. Can wear them for hours now with no issue. cable still sucks though. really considering doing a detachable cable mod on them.

 

[atomLI631]

I've been loving the Tungsten DS for metal

have you ever heard the SS? I have the SS on order and Im considering changing to DS bc of FOMO. I heard the SS and thought they sounded great and I think a mild V-shaped FR would be better for metal, but everyone seems to prefer the DS. Im hoping to hear the DS at Canjam NYC, which should give me time to change my order if I like them more.

 

[Evldice]

when I first got my 325x I felt the same way. they were unbearable after about 45 minutes. I wore a hat with them to take the pressure off the tops of my ears. I then started playing with bending/massaging the headband and finally got them to a place where they are perfect. Can wear them for hours now with no issue. cable still sucks though. really considering doing a detachable cable mod on them.

There is this: https://www.beautifulaudio.biz/grado-cable-adapter I've been considering it. I've tried to bend them to comfort but they just hurt my ears - I wanted to try different pads but I'm worried it will change the SQ.

 

[Saabas]

I would not buy Utopia -22 without testing just for metal. I demoed it maybe a year ago and I hated it with metal. It was ruthless with bad recordings (and even with some good ones), I listened some Cannibal Corpse, Judas Priest, Alice in Chains and Mastodon. On Utopia the treble was a bit piercing and I would have wanted a touch more bass.

Check The Composer if you can, so much better with metal.

 

[blackromek]

Hello, what do you think? Does it make sense to buy the highly praised metal LCD-X when I have an LCD-4 z with

 

[Dreadzombie]

yeah the X ans XC are tuned very differently. I still use EQ with my LCD-X but so far I have yet to hear a headphone that does metal better.

I’m hoping to find something that outdoes them at canjam NYC lol, I love them but the comfort isn’t for me

 

[monkey4054]

Yeah I’m definitely considering the Utopia 22, I’m just worried about clipping. I bought my Clear OGs thinking that it’s probably not such a widespread issue and sure enough, on some tracks with punchy kick drums it was clipping a lot. Maybe it’s not as common with the Utopia 22 though?

How is your TC for metal? I was looking at a Phi TC but I have no clue about the differences yet.

I had the Clear and never really noticed the 'clipping' issue, I don't believe. I listen loud as well (80-90dB). The Utopia 2022 is a near perfect headphone, the only 'weakness' would be a narrower soundstage and imaging compared to some of the other flagship headphones. Although, for Metal music, I don't consider this an issue and I think sound staging is an overrated quality in headphones, if you are so worried about sound staging then, get speakers...

The 1266 TC is great in a lot of ways, it just has a weird fit and comfort, you can't just put them on your head like the Utopia for example and be done with it. Depending on how you have the earcups positioned and how the 1266 sits on your head, the sound signature changes significantly. This is good in some ways, as you can change the sound to your liking, especially the bass response, but to me, it is ultimately a bit annoying. The 1266 TC sounds most similar to the Hifiman HE6/SE but even more extreme in bass impact and it has a cold mid-range timbre. Definitely top-level in detail retrieval but it is perhaps slightly over-hyped given its price-point among the flagships.

 

[Evldice]

Hello, what do you think? Does it make sense to buy the highly praised metal LCD-X when I have an LCD-4 z with

The LCD4z is by far my favorite Audeze. My second favorite is the LCD2. I didn't care for the LCD-X, but I also didn't EQ it, the consensus seems to be it is amazing EQd.

 

[CarinTorment]

Has anyone tried the Focal Elear? They will know how they go with metal and rock

 

[monkey4054]

Has anyone tried the Focal Elear? They will know how they go with metal and rock

Get an Elex instead for cheaper. Yes, great for metal and rock.

 

[CarinTorment]

Get an Elex instead for cheaper. Yes, great for metal and rock.

I already got the Elear, and I did like how it goes with the genre.

Does anyone else have it or use the Elear or some other metal focal length?

 

[CarinTorment]

The one I really liked is the AKG K712, has anyone tried it?