[mysticstryk]

Of those three, I would say 400s. X2 is not good with a lot of metal IMO and the hd600 should have something more powerful than a Q1 powering it. The 400s is pretty easy to power.

 

[bavinck]

Of those three, I would say 400s. X2 is not good with a lot of metal IMO and the hd600 should have something more powerful than a Q1 powering it. The 400s is pretty easy to power.

I assumed the OP was using the "s" as plural I have not heard the 400s, but people that have heard both the 400s and 400i have told me the 400s does not have the same detail, speed and depth of bass response.

 

[shuto77]

I ordered a Fostex TH-X00 from a fellow Headfier. Looking forward to see how these complement my HE-400is. I need a headphone that can bring the thunder when needed, without sounding like a garbled mess. It sounds like the TH-X00 should fit the bill. I'm assuming they'll be similar to the Fidelio X2s, but a bit better and a little bassier.
 
I liked the Beyerdynamic T70s, but with the padswap, I feel like they're too similar to the HE-400i. The T70s are a really good headphone, and I will defnitely recommend them to people going forward. I'd probably keep them if I didn't have the HE-400i, actually. 
 
I actually feel as though I should write a review of the T70 before I sell it. It will be one of those, "It's not you; it's me..." kind of reviews.

 

[stefanolandesca]

Headphones/iem for prog death/ djent?
Add recommend a dac/amp also

 

[bavinck]

Headphones/iem for prog death/ djent?
Add recommend a dac/amp also

Look up, lot's of recommends.....

 

[Russian1]

An open headphone will always beat a closed one head-to-head, IMO.

 


I am not too sure about that. Especially in the "Metal Music" thread. Bass is about punch as well. And punch is physically a little bit incompatible with open cans.

 

[madwolfa]

Headphones/iem for prog death/ djent?

 
I don't care what others say. I'd still say - X2. I'm now listening to above genres more than ever.

 

[Hansotek]

An open headphone will always beat a closed one head-to-head, IMO.

 


I am not too sure about that. Especially in the "Metal Music" thread. Bass is about punch as well. And punch is physically a little bit incompatible with open cans.

I'm talking about direct A/B-ing... Saying it's not a fair way to judge a closed can. They tend to sound artificial in direct A/B comparison. Listening even a few minutes apart is a tremendous palette cleanser.

On the impact of open headphones, I disagree. I take it you haven't heard the HE-6.

 

[sagana]

  I assumed the OP was using the "s" as plural I have not heard the 400s, but people that have heard both the 400s and 400i have told me the 400s does not have the same detail, speed and depth of bass response.

I've read that too, but sadly, where i live the 400i cost 530€ and the 400s "only" 290€, so the 400i is not really an option for me

ps: if you have other headphones in mind other than the ones i suggest, in the 0€---300€ range for black metal please tell me, if not, thank you all for your suggestions and i'll go with the he400s in a week

 

[bavinck]

I've read that too, but sadly, where i live the 400i cost 530€ and the 400s "only" 290€, so the 400i is not really an option for me
ps: if you have other headphones in mind other than the ones i suggest, in the 0€---300€ range for black metal please tell me, if not, thank you all for your suggestions and i'll go with the he400s in a week

Thx00 is nice for black, should be dropping again soon

Pm3 is great for black.

For a budget can, k7xx is great for black.

 

[Psalmanazar]

@sagana Black metal is so lo-fi, any real treble emphasis is a no go. You want something flattish with a good soundstage and instrument separation for the Emperor and Absu type bands. Open headphones will present them much more clearly.
 
If you don't already have a DAC+amp, a receiver, or good soundcard that will eat into your budget too if you don't want to be stuck with choosing between say the Sennheiser HD 558/598, Oppo PM-3, Philips X2, HE 400S, or closed headphones that you can use out of your phone or laptop's headphone jack. Some of them are not worth their price in many places, eg The Oppo PM-3 is almost 600 euros on Amazon.de
 
You should actually try the 400S before making your purchase. It has issues with the pads sealing and pair to pair variance that can make some sound very veiled including the pair I tried. If you have to buy the Focus pads to get the 400S to seal, you might as well just get a real HD 600 and a cheap dac+amp for that price. The 400i doesn't have these functionality problems which is why everyone went nuts when it was priced below the 400s for a bit last year.
 
For a 300 euro limit setup I would go used: a working HD 580 or 600 (200 or below), a cheap sound card or combo unit like the Monoprice Desktop Amp or Fiio FiiO E09K, and a new set of Sennheiser brand replacement ear pads (40-50ish). If new, I would just get an HD 598 (only 20-30 euros more than the 558), plug it into my laptop, and save up to get something better. I hated the X2 and AKG K7XX has a hole in the staging that separates the guitar note/string from the distortion which I find to be completely unacceptable for listening to metal. Try before you buy of course.

 

[bavinck]

  @sagana Black metal is so lo-fi, any real treble emphasis is a no go. You want something flattish with a good soundstage and instrument separation for the Emperor and Absu type bands. Open headphones will present them much more clearly.
 
If you don't already have a DAC+amp, a receiver, or good soundcard that will eat into your budget too if you don't want to be stuck with choosing between say the Sennheiser HD 558/598, Oppo PM-3, Philips X2, HE 400S, or closed headphones that you can use out of your phone or laptop's headphone jack. Some of them are not worth their price in many places, eg The Oppo PM-3 is almost 600 euros on Amazon.de
 
You should actually try the 400S before making your purchase. It has issues with the pads sealing and pair to pair variance that can make some sound very veiled including the pair I tried. If you have to buy the Focus pads to get the 400S to seal, you might as well just get a real HD 600 and a cheap dac+amp for that price. The 400i doesn't have these functionality problems which is why everyone went nuts when it was priced below the 400s for a bit last year.
 
For a 300 euro limit setup I would go used: a working HD 580 or 600 (200 or below), a cheap sound card or combo unit like the Monoprice Desktop Amp or Fiio FiiO E09K, and a new set of Sennheiser brand replacement ear pads (40-50ish). If new, I would just get an HD 598 (only 20-30 euros more than the 558), plug it into my laptop, and save up to get something better. I hated the X2 and AKG K7XX has a hole in the staging that separates the guitar note/string from the distortion which I find to be completely unacceptable for listening to metal. Try before you buy of course.

You recommend the HD600? What a surprise!!!

 

[YtseJamer]

HD600 + metal music...meh

 

[vapman]

HE400, Monk, Titta, HD25-1 II, any Stax great for Black Metal off the top of my head IIRC.
 
HD600 has too much fake airiness to me; I don't think it has enough impact for most genres, definitely not metal, I think it's too boring of a headphone for stuff like metal IMO. I'm not a very big HD600 fan, though.

 

[madwolfa]

  HD600 + metal music...meh

 
Yeah. Nope..