Help with closed-back headphones for classical music

[tjkohli]

Meze Liric II is amazing for classical IMO

 

[Tudorsound]

What did you choose?

Nothing. After trying the PX8 for a while, I sold them as I didn't think the sound quality was good enough for the price. It sounded small and tight to me. The Focal Bathys were painful on my head and basically too big. I ended up sticking to the open back Sennheiser's HD660 (gorgeous sound!) and some apple AirPods Pro, which has great noice cancellation. I've temporarily given up on noice cancelling, closed back over-ear headphones.... Have bought some Kef LSX II speakers since then and very much enjoying those.

 

[WILLJS]

if you like the hd600 maybe go for the hd620?

 

[Tudorsound]

if you like the hd600 maybe go for the hd620?

Hey thanks so much, I didn't know about these! I suppose they're not noise cancelling but could be sufficient. Worth taking a look.

 

[WILLJS]

Hey thanks so much, I didn't know about these! I suppose they're not noise cancelling but could be sufficient. Worth taking a look.

I haven’t heard them but from the reviews they are relatively similar to the HD6xx, but with more treble (which i would call an improvement, as long as it isn’t to big a spike)

 

[Tudorsound]

I haven’t heard them but from the reviews they are relatively similar to the HD6xx, but with more treble (which i would call an improvement, as long as it isn’t to big a spike)

Definitely worth checking out. thanks.

 

[lisciuu]

Definitely worth checking out. thanks.

To encourage this, consider trying the HD620, which received a good review on our forum from a user who works closely with sound (opera or something similar—I don't recall exactly, but you can find it). It might even be your perfect choice for those preferences. I was surprised it was suggested so late.

 

[WILLJS]

I was surprised it was suggested so late.

To be honest i only thought of the 620 because so many people had already recommended my other option (the elegia) which happens to be vastly different in tuning to the 600 series.

 

[ursine 122]

I think the Dan Clark Aeon 2 Noire and Beyerdynamic T5 would be great options for classical music, as their detail retrieval is absolutely outstanding. Plus, they’re relatively affordable and easy to find, whether new or used.

 

[Johnny Walker]

What did you choose?

Bro replied after 2 years inactive

Nothing. After trying the PX8 for a while, I sold them as I didn't think the sound quality was good enough for the price. It sounded small and tight to me. The Focal Bathys were painful on my head and basically too big. I ended up sticking to the open back Sennheiser's HD660 (gorgeous sound!) and some apple AirPods Pro, which has great noice cancellation. I've temporarily given up on noice cancelling, closed back over-ear headphones.... Have bought some Kef LSX II speakers since then and very much enjoying those.

This! +1

He made the right choice! I spent lots of money trying to convince myself that expensive closedbacks will do the thing with classical music. It is impossible. Classical music needs a LOT of air, a lot of space that closedbacks simply cannot deliver. Some expensive models can recreate well the "image" with a solid separation of instruments and strong separation between highs and lows. The thing is...the mids, THEY are the real issue.

Meze Liric II is amazing for classical IMO

True. It was on my wishlist, actually, for christmas. Couldn't get those for healthy reasons

I think the Dan Clark Aeon 2 Noire and Beyerdynamic T5 would be great options for classical music, as their detail retrieval is absolutely outstanding. Plus, they’re relatively affordable and easy to find, whether new or used.

yes ....and no

I own two pairs of Aeon Flow 1 and 1 pair of Aeon 2 Noire, the only one I don't have is the Aeon Flow 2, the red version, focus on the mids and voices, so i can only speak in this case for the other 2.

The noire is such a beautiful piece. They are double V-shaped XD : v shaped on the diaphragm and V -shaped on the frequency reponse. This two reasons makes them sound punchy. The lows have a lot of pressence but in control, and the highs are present as well. The mids, they dont sound bad. The thing, with classical music, when I'm listening with the noire is like: alright, separation is good...but when I swap to openbacks is like: wow...such a relieve...no harsh highs, the flutes suddenly have the shape they have to have and the voices and violins sound with a proper tone and not covered with a "veil".

And that applies for every single closedback headphone, not only the noire, which i'm a huge fan.

If you really need it (isolation) my suggestion is: go for the most expensive if money is not an issue and if you are going to enjoy the music instead of analyzing it---> That's a lost battle. If you are on a budget, get yourself with a used pair of meze classics 99 for 100$€ LOL Their name is giving you the clue--> Classics. They were made for it. If that's not the case...then why that name?!?! LOL

Closedback technology itself and its purpose of noise isolation is just not compatible with classical music. Rap, pop, rock and metal, YEAH baby, but classsical....that's another story.

....except the meze 99. That baby is pure fire!​

 

[lairpost]

Fiio FT1 closed (not FT1 Pro, they are open planars) are surprising a lot of people and not only because of the price.

 

[Tudorsound]

It's funny this thread was brought back to life so long after I asked. But I appreciate it!
The meze classics 99 are a tad cheaper than the Sennheiser 620S. I will google around for reviews for both. Mostly wanted closed backs (or noise cancelling) to block out spouse watching tv or other family sounds. Since most I tried did the noise thing quite well, but the music thing not so well (or were simply huge and uncomfortable and very expensive) I gave up and just stuck to AirPods Pro when I need to block the family out and use my speakers and Sennheiser's at all other times. I might well try again with these new suggestions!! I plug my headphones into my MacBook Pro (still looking for some dongle to use on my iPad) which works quite well.
Thanks everyone!

 

[Johnny Walker]

It's funny this thread was brought back to life so long after I asked. But I appreciate it!
The meze classics 99 are a tad cheaper than the Sennheiser 620S. I will google around for reviews for both. Mostly wanted closed backs (or noise cancelling) to block out spouse watching tv or other family sounds. Since most I tried did the noise thing quite well, but the music thing not so well (or were simply huge and uncomfortable and very expensive) I gave up and just stuck to AirPods Pro when I need to block the family out and use my speakers and Sennheiser's at all other times. I might well try again with these new suggestions!! I plug my headphones into my MacBook Pro (still looking for some dongle to use on my iPad) which works quite well.
Thanks everyone!

Families...they're always the problem

 

[Tudorsound]

Just got myself some Bose quiet comfort Ultra. Sound quality is very decent, and noise cancelling excellent (both better than AirPods Pro 2). Will use for watching films, travel, and classical music when I cannot use the open backs or speakers. Only trouble is they are a bit loose on my narrow head and so rest mostly on top of my head and are not overly secure on my head. Still time to return them but I am not disappointed by their quality so far.

 

[fidgeraldo]

Still time to return them but I am not disappointed by their quality so far.

Sony MDR-M1... pretty good for the price and very comfortable!

Cheers!