I'm looking for some HPs for my son. When asked, he said his budget was up to $200 used. He listens to primarily power metal, e.g., Blind Guardian. He is looking for a balanced frequency response or maybe just a slightly boosted lower end. He cannot tolerate any brightness as he says it "hurts his ears." Looking for over the ear models. Any help is much appreciated.
HPs for power metal, $200 used
- Thread starter BillJGW
- Start date
Are we looking for open or closed headphones for your son?
Closed HPs. Thanks for asking.
For new headphones, I like the AKG K553 Pro and the SoundMAGIC HP150 very well. Neither is sibilant. I think those are your best options new. If you can find one used, I like the MEZE 99 Classics a whole darn lot. The NAD HP50 is also very good, if you can locate one slightly used. There are not a ton of options in this price range, unfortunately, but these are four really good ones.
What about Fidelio X2s?
I listen to metal about 50% of the time,everything from Priest to Motorhead to Opeth to Unleash the Archers to Agalloch to Parasite Inc. to etc............
I do not recommend the X2 for metal of any kind.I find the mids to be too recessed.I like my metal guitars to be upfront and aggressive sounding and the X2 fails hard doing that.
If you dont mind guitars and vocals sounding a few steps back then you might like them.I use my X1s(essentially the same as X2) for gaming only.
If I had only 200.00 to spend on metal HPs Id go for Grados or Meze Classics,or perhaps a HE-400S.
Im selling my HE-500s,which are exceptional for metal but its more than double your budget,but still one of the best bang for the buck HPs today.
EDIT: You do realize the X2s are open backed? You stated earlier you want closed back.....
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Yeah, I realized that about the Fidelios after I posted that. Thanks for your info, Monsterzero. There is alot of good talk about the Meze Classics right now, am investigating.
My son decided to get the Meze 99 Classics. I don't know who is more excited, him or me, cuz I get to listen to them too. He picked up a Marantz CD6005 already and I'm helping him research some vintage integrateds over on AK. I just enjoy the heck out of doing this stuff.
ProtegeManiac
Headphoneus Supremus
If he's not going to use the receiver to drive speakers he might as well just keep using the CD6005's headphone output, or get something like the Schiit Vali2 or Meier Corda Rock.
You can start researching vintage gear by looking at my gear in my signature below....I love vintage audio stuff,receivers,speakers,amps....However i should warn you that the Meze 99 probably wont sound good from vintage gear.
Low ohms and high sensitivity HPs either sound hollow or have heavy bass bloat when driven by vintage gear,caused by a severe impedance mismatch between the HP and resistors used back in the day.
Vintage receivers love planars and high ohm HPs.
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