Lunatique
1000+ Head-Fier
- Joined
- Mar 7, 2008
- Posts
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I'm now on the prowl again, and this time money is no object (but I'd like to keep it near $1,000).
As reference for my listening preference--quick impressions of all the headphones I own or have tested in the past:
http://www.head-fi.org/forums/6233935-post81.html
Essentially, I'm pretty happy with the Audio-Technica ATH-M50, except that I wish the 30Hz region is about +5dB or so, the soundstage bigger, and has a lusher sound overall (but without losing detail or gaining any treble harshness). The frequency response of the M50 is so damn close to my idea of neutral (at least in the bass region) that it's really a shame. I can't EQ its 30Hz with distorting it either.
I also like the HD650 for its comfort, soundstage, and smoothness, although its deep bass region (below 50Hz) is lacking quite a bit. This isn't obvious when I listen to the HD650 without other points of reference since it sounds quite balanced, but when I switch to my Klein + Hummel O300D studio monitors and the M50, it becomes very obvious that the HD650's 30~45Hz region is recessed by roughly 12dB or so--this is particularly obvious when listening for that "thump in your chest" characteristic of kick drums. In other words, it's lacking bass punch and the substantial deep bass that devices with really extended bass capabilities can reproduce.
It was suggested to me that I could simply EQ the HD650 to get them to sound the way I want, but after actually trying that, I found the HD650 reaches its distortion threshold just at the frequency range/amplitude I'm trying to EQ--meaning that when pushed that hard with EQ, they distort. Also, I don't like the idea of having to use EQ, since I use J River Media Jukebox, and there isn't a single very detailed EQ for it (4Front EQ10 is good, but not enough bands). I can use excellent professional EQ plugins, but they are limited to the media players that have some kind of VST bridge plugin available. So ideally, I don't have to EQ my headphones. Thus the hunt of my next pair.
At the moment, based on my readings here and elsewhere, the Denon AH-D2000/5000/7000 might fit the bill, although in my thread about testing the bass details of your headphone, one person said that his D2000 although passed the test, didn't exactly do it with flying colors.
So, is there any headphone out there that is smooth, non-fatiguing (no shrillness in treble), detailed, accurate, neutral, lush, has nice soundstage, and extended deep bass that DOESN'T start to roll off at 40Hz (so that 30Hz remains just as prominent as 40Hz)?
As reference for my listening preference--quick impressions of all the headphones I own or have tested in the past:
http://www.head-fi.org/forums/6233935-post81.html
Essentially, I'm pretty happy with the Audio-Technica ATH-M50, except that I wish the 30Hz region is about +5dB or so, the soundstage bigger, and has a lusher sound overall (but without losing detail or gaining any treble harshness). The frequency response of the M50 is so damn close to my idea of neutral (at least in the bass region) that it's really a shame. I can't EQ its 30Hz with distorting it either.
I also like the HD650 for its comfort, soundstage, and smoothness, although its deep bass region (below 50Hz) is lacking quite a bit. This isn't obvious when I listen to the HD650 without other points of reference since it sounds quite balanced, but when I switch to my Klein + Hummel O300D studio monitors and the M50, it becomes very obvious that the HD650's 30~45Hz region is recessed by roughly 12dB or so--this is particularly obvious when listening for that "thump in your chest" characteristic of kick drums. In other words, it's lacking bass punch and the substantial deep bass that devices with really extended bass capabilities can reproduce.
It was suggested to me that I could simply EQ the HD650 to get them to sound the way I want, but after actually trying that, I found the HD650 reaches its distortion threshold just at the frequency range/amplitude I'm trying to EQ--meaning that when pushed that hard with EQ, they distort. Also, I don't like the idea of having to use EQ, since I use J River Media Jukebox, and there isn't a single very detailed EQ for it (4Front EQ10 is good, but not enough bands). I can use excellent professional EQ plugins, but they are limited to the media players that have some kind of VST bridge plugin available. So ideally, I don't have to EQ my headphones. Thus the hunt of my next pair.
At the moment, based on my readings here and elsewhere, the Denon AH-D2000/5000/7000 might fit the bill, although in my thread about testing the bass details of your headphone, one person said that his D2000 although passed the test, didn't exactly do it with flying colors.
So, is there any headphone out there that is smooth, non-fatiguing (no shrillness in treble), detailed, accurate, neutral, lush, has nice soundstage, and extended deep bass that DOESN'T start to roll off at 40Hz (so that 30Hz remains just as prominent as 40Hz)?
