[InsTwin]

Hi all,

Recently decided to sell a bunch of my entry headphones to try to move a bit more into mid-fi, I'm coming from the AKG K7XX, HE400i, and TH-X00. I like the TH-X00 but the sound was never quite full enough for me, I think I just really like the way planars present music. I had been primarily running a fairly bright combo of the HE400i + Magni 2Uber + Modi Multibit with a light EQ to tone down the brightness.

This time last year I bought a pair of Vanatoo T0 speakers and they get most of my daily desk duty now, which is why I'm selling my lesser headphones and looking for an upgrade. I'm planning an amp upgrade in the future, but not before buying my next headphones (Currently considering the NFB-1AMP, Jotunheim, or something in that range, likely still solid state). I'm looking for something I can put on and melt away too, that's easy to listen to while still being revealing, detailed, and musical with a phenomenal low end.

I'm currently debating new and used options around ~$900, was hoping I could get your takes on the following:
Aeon Flow Open/Closed
LCD 2C
LCD X / C
ZMF Eikon / Atticus

And I'm open to other suggestions too of course. I like to listen to all genres of music, so an all-arounder is preferred, however I do listen to a lot of lo-fi, hip hop, phonk, electronica, and would really like something with a crisp, deep reaching low end that doesn't bleed too much into the mids.

From reading online and doing my research, it seems like everyone liked the LCD-X when released, but the current opinion of them is not nearly as favorable. The 2Cs seem like a good value, though I may miss the detail other options may provide. The Aeon Flow's might be slightly too analytical for my tastes, as I don't love the Sennheiser sound signature, and I most often see them compared to 650s with slightly extended low end.

I don't know much about the Eikon / Atticus but they seem very well regarded. Your help is much appreciated!

 

[Rhamnetin]

Seems like you need something with very good bass and mids, and good quality treble is always mandatory so that rules out all Audeze models in my opinion.

In that price range, the best headphone I've used was the ZMF Ori. You can read my review of it here. But I never got around to listen to the Eikon; if I was still into dynamic and planar magnetic headphones, I'd check out an Eikon for sure. It doesn't have the usual sub-bass rolloff for a dynamic headphone which is great. So my vote goes towards the Ori or the Eikon.

In terms of bass slam, I believe the ZMF Ori has more than everything there. Even the Audeze's from my experience, bass is just more forward on the Ori.

 

[Monsterzero]

If you like thump in your music you can cross the Aeon Flow Closed off of your list. Theyre not analytical at all IMO,in fact theyre glorious sounding headphones,but a lack of slam and rumble killed it for me. They also sound nothing like the 650s to my ears.

The only other HP on your list that I know is the Atticus,which is a helluva fun headphone. Great mids and slam in abundance,however I would recommend a solid OTL for them.

I used to own the LCD-2 pre fazor,and wasnt that impressed with it except for the sub bass rumble. Ended up selling it to fund the Atticus. I dont know how the LCD-2 stacks up against the 2c though.

 

[InsTwin]

So my vote goes towards the Ori or the Eikon.

Thanks! Leaning towards the Eikon now my self, been looking into it more and more over the past day and it seems exactly what I'm looking for.

If you like thump in your music you can cross the Aeon Flow Closed off of your list. Theyre not analytical at all IMO,in fact theyre glorious sounding headphones,but a lack of slam and rumble killed it for me. They also sound nothing like the 650s to my ears.

The only other HP on your list that I know is the Atticus,which is a helluva fun headphone. Great mids and slam in abundance,however I would recommend a solid OTL for them.

I used to own the LCD-2 pre fazor,and wasnt that impressed with it except for the sub bass rumble. Ended up selling it to fund the Atticus. I dont know how the LCD-2 stacks up against the 2c though.

Thanks! Planning to audition some Audeze at a local shop. I'm leaning slightly more towards the Eikon over the Atticus, but ideally I'd be able to listen to each of them first (unlikely). I was leaning more towards the Aeon Flow Open over the Closed, but I've seen good reviews of each of them and it's hard to tell the small discrepancies between them without A/Bing them.