[TheUbiquitous]

Hi! I am looking for a new set of closed over-ear headphones that are a step-up from ATH-M50's which I have owned and enjoyed for a couple of years now. The other pair of headphones I regularly use are the DT990's and I really enjoy their wider soundstage and airier sound, but I feel both could do better in the mids, with voices specifically.

I listen to a wide variety of music, and my source would be the ibasso DX100 and hopefully very soon the DX200.
Also next on my list is getting the HD650's and I would like to improve with open designs from there on, but I would like to have a better closed option first.

Budget would have to be under 1k.

I appreciate any inputs!

 

[Luminance]

In this price range your best options in my opinion would be:
Sennheiser HD 650, Beyerdynamic Amiron, DT 1990 Pro

Both HD 650 and Amiron are softer, musical headphones, perfect for long listening sessions.
DT 1990 Pro is the very accurate one, direct upgrade from the DT 880/990, you would probably like this one a lot as well.

Or you could look into these planar options, but I don't know if your DAP would drive them properly.
hifiman HE-400i, hifiman HE-560. Monolith M1060

 

[buke9]

Don't think the Dap would drive the 650's well enough.

 

[TheUbiquitous]

The HD650's are following in the list, but I need something closed first.

Don't think the Dap would drive the 650's well enough.

These are the specs I found on head-fi for the daps:

DX100:
Output power: 2x 125mW 2V (32Ω) with no gain (Lo)
2x 245mW 2.8V (32Ω) for +3dB gain (Mid),
2x 83mW 5V (300Ω) for +8.5dB (Hi)


DX200:
2.5mm Balanced Output: Output voltage 6Vrms
3.5mm Single-ended Output: Output voltage 3Vrms

I'm not 100% sure how to interpret those, you think it is not enough?

Thanks!

 

[serman005]

Maybe check out a MrSpeakers AEON. It might be a nice choice for you and it is within budget.

 

[Luminance]

My bad, I didn't notice you'd like the closed headphones.
MrSpeakers Aeon or ZMF offerings are probably the best closed headphones in the upper price range.
I would also consider Beyerdynamic T5p or DT1770, you may get them for a little less.

 

[chimney189]

I'd recommend a used Mr. Speaker's Alpha Prime. There are a few around in the trading forums.
I've always been impressed by its soundstage, imagining, clarity and balance. A true neutral headphone if there ever was any.

 

[TheUbiquitous]

Thanks for your replies! It seems like I have a lot of reading to do. Unfortunately where I live there is no way I know of auditioning before buying so I have to rely on reviews.

Two options I had looked into that have not been brought up are the Audeze EL-8 and the Fostex TH610.

It would help a lot if you could say why you recomend certain model, so I can understand better!

My bad, I didn't notice you'd like the closed headphones.
MrSpeakers Aeon or ZMF offerings are probably the best closed headphones in the upper price range.
I would also consider Beyerdynamic T5p or DT1770, you may get them for a little less.

Luminance, which do you think would suit me better, DT1770 or T5p?

Thanks!

 

[cossix]

In terms of that DAP you posted, 83mW is pretty weak. The Magni 2 sounded pretty good at 260mW into my 650's but they really opened up going balanced with the Jot at 900mW. I don't think the power of that DAP would do the 650 any justice at all IMO

 

[BunnyNamedCraig]

The Aeon is a very good recommendation as someone else mentioned... under the $1000 bracket by $200, and build quality is superb. Very neutral sound, but with 2 foam inserts adds more bass (which I prefer). It's totally worth a listen for the sound.

you have a good bit of options out there!

 

[TheUbiquitous]

I have been reading many reviews, mostly here in head-fi, and so far I really like the dt1700, but fear they may be underpowered by the dap (specially since they can't be balanced). The Aeon seems very nice but the reviews don't praise it as much as for example the T5p second gen, I wonder if it has something to do with differnt comparison points, but for now the option I see most likely is the T5p second gen.

Another option that hasn't been mentioned here is the Shure SRH1540, I really like their looks, but I don't know if they can be put in the same league soundwise as the Aeon or the T5p.

Thanks for your answers, I really appreciate them!

 

[Monsterzero]

+1 for Aeon.

If you had a good amp I'd suggest ZMF Atticus or Ori,but since you dont,Aeon checks all your boxes.

 

[TheUbiquitous]

Well it seems to be coming down to the Aeon vs T5p 2nd gen. While in this thread you have recomended the Aeon more, in the reviews the Beyers are parised better, but I may be misreading something. Could anyone who has heard them compare the two briefly?

On the other hand I must say I am tempted to wait a bit longer and go for the Ether C Flow, but then again I might be underpowered for them.