[vonBaron]

Are you only interested in recs for IEMs or Closed-Backs?

For something in your budget, used Focal Elears are probably the best option, for Metal, that I've heard yet. Obtainable for $400-500, alas, they are Open-Backs.

By far the best set of Closed-Back cans I've heard, in my demoing so far for Metal, are the ZMF Atticus. Obtainable for $800-1k, if they pop up used.

I've demoed with traditional heavy, prog metal, thrash and death. I find most black metal to be almost unlistenable with high-fidelity headphone options, it's just too much, so I leave that for the car audio mostly now lol. Although I'm currently listening to a "black metal" album on the Elears, as we speak, and it sounds awesome (Hail Spirit Noir - Mayhem in Blue).

+1, Elear for 500$ has no match for metal in open back headphones, i used them around 2.5y and they was great.

 

[gazzington]

What would the lcd2 closed be like for metal?

 

[housekrl]

Best I've heard for Metal are Hifiman Anandas. The crunch of the guitars are so addictive. HE560 are good too.

 

[gerrtier]

Looking for new experience now choosing between hifiman 560, 4xx, he-4, sundara.

 

[340519]

I like the clears with metal myself.

 

[bode]

Looking for new experience now choosing between hifiman 560, 4xx, he-4, sundara.

I received my Sundara headphones a few days ago. I've only been listening to Dream Theater so far. First impressions is that they don't do anything which offend my ears...no painful screeching or sibilance.

Trebles are perfect, the middles are great..guitars crystal clear, but I'm wondering if the bass is a bit light for my tastes, so it lacks a little depth to the overall sound. I'll listen to a few more albums to get a better idea of the bass.

 

[hemipowered007]

Looking for new experience now choosing between hifiman 560, 4xx, he-4, sundara.

He560 and he4 are going to be alot better than 4xx, no experience with the sundara though.

 

[vonBaron]

Looking for new experience now choosing between hifiman 560, 4xx, he-4, sundara.

Try find HE-5LE, they are better for metal than this four.

 

[housekrl]

Looking for new experience now choosing between hifiman 560, 4xx, he-4, sundara.

HE560 is good for Metal. I found the Sundara to bright and harsh for metal/hard rock, so I sent them back and kept the 560.

 

[genck]

I found the Sundara to bright and harsh for metal/hard rock

Was that with the WA6 and Audio gd 19?

 

[housekrl]

Was that with the WA6 and Audio gd 19?

Yes. The Dac19 is anything but bright. And I run NOS 6SN7 tubes in the WA6, but it might run on the bright side. But I've had quality ss amps that are much brighter.
Edit: To be honest the Sundara actually hurt my ears, but it's great for other kinds of music.

 

[340519]

Yes. The Dac19 is anything but bright. And I run NOS 6SN7 tubes in the WA6, but it might run on the bright side. But I've had quality ss amps that are much brighter.
Edit: To be honest the Sundara actually hurt my ears, but it's great for other kinds of music.

I sold my sundaras due to build quality issues.

 

[housekrl]

I sold my sundaras due to build quality issues.

Unfortunately that's the chance we take when buying from Hifiman. But dang there headphones sound good

 

[gazzington]

What's a good portable headphone for metal?

 

[vonBaron]

I now listen AQ Owl and they are very good for it price and good for portable headphones too.