[InsanityOne]

My main lineup for home use is the HE-500 w/ angled ether C pads, Fostex TH-X00 Mahogany, and Mayflower T50RP V1s. I'm in a similar quest looking for a closed can with proper bass akin to the lush HE-500. I also have a set of Audio Technica A990Zs that come close to that tight and lush bass response but a bit too veiled in the upper frequencies to appease my liking for detail retrival. I want to pull the trigger on a set of DT1770s but they may be too similar to the X00 so I'm thinking I'll try the A1000Z and see what's good.

Yeah, having heard some of them before, I don't think any of Audio-Technica's lineup is going to have comparable bass to the HE-500. If you like the Fostex TH-X00's then I would consider upgrading to a TH-610, I owned a pair of Lawton modded TH-600's and they were awesome! But the new TH-610 / TH-900 mk2 already include Lawton's driver modifications so the only real benefit would be the deeper wood cups. Either way, the quest for a resolving closed-back with proper bass response really is difficult isn't it?

The JVC DX1000 might be what you are looking for @InsanityOne

You think so? What makes you say that? I've owned LA600's (Lawton Modded TH-600's) in the past and really enjoyed them, but they were a bit too muddy for me. But man, that bass response was sweet. I always forget that the JVC DX1000's exist, but maybe I will give them a shot. I'll go poke around and see what some of the older reviews have to say.

 

[gug42]

Really with the same "meat" and density ?

For me DT 1770 havent the same bass "texture".

 

[gug42]

Well by the way a serious contondant could be the LCD-X and LCD-XC : really great bass with less trebble (less fatigue). But the price ....

 

[Cloud6]

The Dx1000 I've heard didn't sound very good to me... Bass wasn't mind blowing, midrange sounded really off to me and while the treble was smooth, it was not enough for me. Tbh focuspad HE500 bass sounded leagues better to me, but it's not a fair comparison anyway. YMMV and all that, but I didn't think they sounded the same.

 

[InsanityOne]

The Dx1000 I've heard didn't sound very good to me... Bass wasn't mind blowing, midrange sounded really off to me and while the treble was smooth, it was not enough for me. Tbh focuspad HE500 bass sounded leagues better to me, but it's not a fair comparison anyway. YMMV and all that, but I didn't think they sounded the same.

This is what I have gathered from a lot of the reviews I've read (and I've read a lot over the past few days) about the JVC Victor HP-DX1000. I guess my best bet really is to just go for a LA900, or just fork over the money for a really good balanced parametric EQ so that I can turn the Ether C's in the "perfect" headphone.

 

[Cloud6]

This is what I have gathered from a lot of the reviews I've read (and I've read a lot over the past few days) about the JVC Victor HP-DX1000. I guess my best bet really is to just go for a LA900, or just fork over the money for a really good balanced parametric EQ so that I can turn the Ether C's in the "perfect" headphone.

I'm guessing you have no way to try one? That's what I recommend, you may like it a lot more than I. I was able to try one out when I went to Japan. It was around $300 AUD and my full intention was to buy it, but after hearing it, I really just didn't like it very much. It looked really cool though, and the serial number was 66!

 

[SilverEars]

Any comparison to the HE-560?

 

[vlach]

Any comparison to the HE-560?

Funny you ask, i just asked for comparisons of the HE-500 on the HEX V2 thread.

Anyway yes, i extensively compared the HE-560 to the HE-500 and i 'wanted' to prefer the HE-560 since it is more comfortable, however i found the HE-560 thinner sounding and a tad shrill on top. To me the HE-500 is weightier with more body and better bass impact.

 

[SilverEars]

Funny you ask, i just asked for comparisons of the HE-500 on the HEX V2 thread.

Anyway yes, i extensively compared the HE-560 to the HE-500 and found the HE-560 thinner sounding and a tad shrill on top. To me the HE-500 is weightier with more body and better bass impact.

Ok, tad shrill is understandable. So, I'm getting that treble isn't as lifted or the lower mids have more presence or warm for the HE-500? How about resolvability, which do you find to be more transparent?

 

[vlach]

Ok, shrill is understandable. So, I'm getting that treble isn't as lifted or the lower mids have more presence or warm for the HE-500? How about resolvability, which do you find to be more transparent?

I would say the HE-560 comes across as more transparent by virtue of being leaner overall. I initially enjoyed this aspect over the HE-500 only to end up with listening fatigue after a few minutes. The HE-560 is more resolving, the HE-500 is thicker and richer.

I basically don't view the HE-560 as a step up and wondering if the HEX V2 would be a worthwhile upgrade hence my question on that thread.

 

[bracko]

Any comparison to the HE-560?

I have both and I basically agree with vlach. But, while HE-560 actually are more resolving (technically speaking and probably because they pronounce some "crucial" frequencies in the spectrum) I still think that HE-500 are more naturally sounding which, for me, means that HE-500 are a "clearer" window into music. With HE-560, the headphones are more "present" and in the way for the music I am listening to. For what it is worth, I am using my HE-500 far more often than my HE-560 for all kinds of music.

 

[bracko]

Another thing. I have also had HE-500 in HE-560 enclosure and they sounded a bit brighter than regular HE-500.

 

[vlach]

I have both and I basically agree with vlach. But, while HE-560 actually are more resolving (technically speaking and probably because they pronounce some "crucial" frequencies in the spectrum) I still think that HE-500 are more naturally sounding which, for me, means that HE-500 are a "clearer" window into music. With HE-560, the headphones are more "present" and in the way for the music I am listening to. For what it is worth, I am using my HE-500 far more often than my HE-560 for all kinds of music.

Yes, more natural is a good way to describe the HE-500.

Have you had a chance to hear the HEX V2?

 

[SilverEars]

Another thing. I have also had HE-500 in HE-560 enclosure and they sounded a bit brighter than regular HE-500.

Did you open them up? Are they the same drivers? I wonder how both will sound like after a driver swap. Did the HE-560 sound warmer after the swap?

 

[bracko]

Did you open them up? Are they the same drivers? I wonder how both will sound like after a driver swap. Did the HE-560 sound warmer after the swap?

I never did a driver swap. I bought HE-560 cups and headband and a pair of HE-500 drivers from Hifiman a couple of years ago and assembled a hybrid HE-500 with HE-500 drivers and HE-560 enclosure.