[Mufti]

OK, OK, how about HE-1 Jr. for $2K?

No need for HE-1 Jr bringing back HE90 is fine

 

[donlin]

HD600

 

[Catharus]

My wants are:

• Comfort
  • Light weight
  • Around large ears
  • Easy to lay down on pillow: no extension backwards beyond ear by hinges or cups.
  • Cool temperature, air circulation
  • Comfortable against my skin
  • Quiet and supple cable
• Soundstage size of well placed speakers in a treated room. I want the size of the singer to be of a real person in my room.
• Imaging having extreme depth and height. Especially replicate sounds recorded behind the microphone.
• Tone/Timbre believable for especially triangles and high hats
• Esthetics: non-dorky looking. Needs to look good in ten years time
• Serviceability: spare parts I can order and replace myself.
• Hard case for transport and storage
  

Things that I am willing to compromise on:

• Price
• Sensitivity
• Delivery time
• Presentation boxes and retail packaging

 

[pietcux]

The ie900 was a pleasant surprise to me and still is. You could fine tune the HD series into that direction and "tada" all would be good.

 

[ericpalonen]

My second holy grail is my the headphone that changed my life. The headphone that brought me into this hobby, and the headphone that is never going to get replaced: Sennheiser HD598.

This headphone has been with me for 6 years (soon 7) and it has never left me. While it has been my primary headphone for music listening for roughly 4 years, it has also been my main gaming headphone ever since it was bought. To this day I use it for gaming. What else to say, superb build quality, amazing sound performance, and one of the best cables to ever come with a pair of headphones!

Love this shot of the HD 598. I had the pleasure of launching this headphone, so it makes me all warm 'n fuzzy to hear it brought you into this fun hobby! I still have (and love) my set from the first shipment. Glad you're still putting miles on yours, too. Cheers!

 

[ericpalonen]

My dream headphone….

Sennheiser HE 1 for $1,000 USD.

*tries all coupon codes*

 

[ericpalonen]

The ie900 was a pleasant surprise to me and still is. You could fine tune the HD series into that direction and "tada" all would be good.

For me IE 900 is a neverending honeymoon, too. It continues to surprise. Great choice!!!!

 

[ericpalonen]

Quite honestly, the HD800 S was my holy grail for a long time, and still holds a special place in my heart for audio gear.

I still remember, years ago, stepping into a local audio enthusiast shop and listening to the HD 800 for the first time (no S model at the time). The shop owner put on a jazz trio I had never heard of, and immediately I was blown away by the clarity and luxury of what I was experiencing. That live performance recording is still my all-time favorite jazz performance to this day.

And I don’t mean luxury like a fancy watch or expensive thing, though the 800S is indeed on the expensive side. Rather, it felt like a luxury to have something so special piping through my ears.

The HD800 S was and still is special to me for how much it makes me feel intimately connected to music, particularly classical and jazz. It was as if it was made for it.

It may sound like I could just be saying this because sennheiser made this thread, and perhaps it doing so invoked that memory in me, but the memory and feelings expressed are true none the less.

If I could pick only one headphone, it would be the HD800 S. If it could be only one IEM? Unique Melody MEST.

If I could choose only one? I can’t. Give me both! I’m cheating the system.

Awesome recording, thx for sharing!!!! The HD 800 series for many is one of those "I will never forget the first time I tried..." where the exact moment is frozen in time. Thanks for the playlist and stroll down memory lane!

 

[ericpalonen]

To me it would be the HD800 resolution, imaging and soundstage with the HD598 clamping force and the HD650 midrange/pinna gain with added low end. Simple.

*read with awesome German accent* -> A true Frankenstein's monster.

Over the years I've read so many HD 598 "fit" compliments. Truly one of my all-time favorites for that and many reasons.

 

[VandyMan]

A baby HE-1 that I can use with STAX Pro bias amps (i.e. a modern take on the HE-60) for under 6K.

 

[Philimon]

HD6XX but with good bass. Great bass would be preferred but dont want to push my luck.

 

[DivineCurrent]

For me, the holy grail of hi-fi/headphones is not so much a particular device but an idea, a concept, and an experience.

The reason I say this is because my preferences and values for audio have changed over time, and as much as I hate to admit it, endgame doesn’t really exist at least for me. You will always keep chasing for that perfect sound, you will always want to get the next best thing.

That being said, my dream endgame would be a comfortable, lightweight, portable headphone that is as natural as a full size open back headphone, and as engaging and immersive as speakers. I’ve actually come pretty close to this in the form of an IEM recently, the JVC HA-FDX1. It has very good technical capability, but the tuning could use some work and so I experimented with EQ to match my preferences. And I’m happy to say that I’ve made it sound similar to an open back, but with the added benefit of isolation and portability. Plus, it’s got more extended bass than any open back I’ve tried. I enjoy this setup with the FDX1 so much, I often just listen to them instead of my Focal Clear MG, because I’m not losing much if anything in terms of sound quality and yet they are a portable and comfortable solution.

 

[protoss]

 

[protoss]

@Sennheiser
@ericpalonen

A couple of years ago I talked to your engineer and he asked me what I like to see. This was before the HD820 was released.

I said,

A closed back HD800. (How right right was I ) Thanks for listening. Even if the headphone wasn't what I was hoping for
A Wooden headphone from you guys
A HE1 Jr., a cheaper Estat in the $2000 range.

And now, we in 2021, I say more Estats.

There should be a trickle down effect from the HE90 and HE60 by now. Re-creating the HE90 in 2021 and beyond in 2022-25 should be extremely easy and cost of it should be cheap for customers.

A Russian company created a imitation of the HE90 for $1500USD.

1991 old technology to todays materials and new research. We should be getting a nice replica of the HE90 for about $1500-2000 dollars. No need for the amplifier. Just the headphone and a STAX socket.

 

[Unseen Aura]

OG Empyrean, ADI-2, & Erish. Using Eletech's Fortitude. As much as I like other artists and songs and all, my favorite person to listen to on them cans who sounds really amazing is Satinder Sartaaj.

I got into headfi on a more "serious" (in a matter of speaking) note after my accident mid last year. Aside from a ton of other issues, I developed serious sensitivity to noises and sounds, thus creating a need to search for better audio than the mainstream consumer schiit. And I needed a headphone I could use for hours on end and get lost in, can't go through multiple options and types like many others do. Meze's Empyrean's fit the bill in terms of all that plus looks, uniqueness, etc. Got a V-Moda XF2 after ordering, hating everything about it, and returning the Sony XM3's. RME suggested by a friend, same for Geshelli. Got the Eletech cables (Fortitude & Prudence) purely for looks, honest to God cannot hear differences between cables. I don't like climbing up a ladder of gear (for any hobby/interest/passion), so got things slightly above (and sometimes well over) budget to get my endgame. Only one endgame left in terms of headphones, the moment Meze Audio come out with a flagship closed back (& it's to my liking & all) I intend to save up for one, a fan of their works for the most part, and beating that comfort factor is tough in any price bracket.