[DiscoProJoe]

 
Clarity is an issue.

 
Uh-oh. 

 

These should be a part of a collection and not your one and only set

 
That's not how I roll. I want one single pair of headphones that's easily portable, is well-rounded in terms of my tastes, and works well with my portable equipment. Basically, I want a versatile system that's truly meant to be "on-the-go."
 

M100...will distort on my pref settings. 

 
Do you mean to say that you're getting amp clipping? Or are the headphone drivers actually bottoming out? Never once have I ever gotten my M-100s to bottom out -- not even while maxing out the C5 amp with huge-bass EQ settings running through it. If you're also using a C5 and your M-100 drivers are bottoming out, then your M-100s probably are (or were) defective.
 
On the other hand, if you were simply getting amp clipping on the C5 while running the M-100s, and you prefer to actually listen to it that loud (for more than 1 or 2 seconds), then,..................damn,...................you must be deaf! 

 

the M100...didn't do any 1 thing better than anything else.

 
But for me, since I just want one pair of well-rounded headphones, that's not a problem. I prefer a pair that will win a gold medal in the all-around, and not necessarily in any particular single event.
 

Maybe save up for some TH900

 
I just looked that up online, and the $1,200 price tag is wayyyyyyy out of my range. Especially also since in the coming months, I plan on getting a second pair of identical headphones (M-100s) and a second C5 amp -- so I can go walking with a friend as we both enjoy the same song together with it cranked up and pounding hard. 

 

 
If you ever come to Chongqing, perhaps you can join me for a walk in the evening on Nanbin Road next to the Yangtze River with the city skyline behind it!

 

[Music Alchemist]

  That's not how I roll. I want one single pair of headphones that's easily portable, is well-rounded in terms of my tastes, and works well with my portable equipment. Basically, I want a versatile system that's truly meant to be "on-the-go."
 
But for me, since I just want one pair of well-rounded headphones, that's not a problem. I prefer a pair that will win a gold medal in the all-around, and not necessarily in any particular single event.

 
Scratch the JVC off your list, then. Everyone says it is not an all-rounder. Plus, it's heavy.
 
If you give me a target budget and more info, I may be able to help you decide on an all-rounder headphone.

 

[Hawaiibadboy]

 
This is my listening level.
 

 
Enjoy the M100...they are great cans! I will split time between Sz2000,Ma900 and ASG 2.5

 

[DiscoProJoe]

 
 
This is my listening level.

 
Haha, pretty funny!
 

Enjoy the M100...they are great cans!

 
谢谢，Xiexie, thank you!

 
Since you're in Japan, do you enjoy the music of Kana Nishino and AKB48? They're my favorite J-Pop artists. Just a few nights ago I was walking in the evening on Chongqing's Beibin Road next to the Jialing River with the city skyline behind it, and cranked up a lot of Kana Nishino songs for awhile during part of the stroll. You can click here to hear one of those songs, called "Party Up Tonight."

 

[Luckbad]

I also had and enjoyed the V-Moda M100 and would have kept them but even the XL pads were too small for my ears.

That led me to the SZ2000. They respond better to EQ than any headphone I own and sound great if you alter the sound signature via EQ to your preferences.

The big advantage of the SZ2000 is that they can shake like no other headphone I've experienced. The V-Moda can shake a bit and sounds better out of the box, but distorts well before the SZ2000 if you EQ heavily.

 

[DiscoProJoe]

  If you give me a target budget and more info, I may be able to help you decide on an all-rounder headphone.

 
At this point, I'm pretty-well settled on the M-100 unless I find something that just absolutely blows it away in terms of bass that's both deep and hard-hitting, and in overall sound quality. Comfort and portability are pretty important, too.
 
The last time I visited the local Hifi shop a month ago, I listened to a pair of Sonys with a model number that included "Z7" or "7Z" in it (or something like that; I can't remember), and also listened to a pair of Denon cans, but can't remember its model number, either. I'm happy to say that my V-Moda M-100s blew both of them away!

 
As for a target budget, I'd say around $300 USD for a pair of headphones, and around $150 for a portable amp that's non-DAC and has a good bass boost switch. I'm a huge fan of good sound quality, but am not an audiophile. (I really can't notice any difference in sound quality above 192 kbps MP3, for example.)

 

[Luckbad]

If portability is important, the SZ2000 is only barely portable. Nothing close to the V-Moda in terms of portability (which has stellar portability). They're pretty huge even though they kinda fold-ish.

 

[Music Alchemist]

  At this point, I'm pretty-well settled on the M-100 unless I find something that just absolutely blows it away in terms of bass that's both deep and hard-hitting, and in overall sound quality. Comfort and portability are pretty important, too.
 
The last time I visited the local Hifi shop a month ago, I listened to a pair of Sonys with a model number that included "Z7" or "7Z" in it (or something like that; I can't remember), and also listened to a pair of Denon cans, but can't remember its model number, either. I'm happy to say that my V-Moda M-100s blew both of them away!

 
As for a target budget, I'd say around $300 USD for a pair of headphones, and around $150 for a portable amp that's non-DAC and has a good bass boost switch. I'm a huge fan of good sound quality, but am not an audiophile. (I really can't notice any difference in sound quality above 192 kbps MP3, for example.)

 
For what it's worth, the Focal Spirit Professional is my favorite headphone. (Though I'm about to listen to my new HD 650, so that might change.) It is very neutral, but on the slightly darker side of neutral, with slightly boosted bass and no nasty peaks in the frequency response. Excellent physicality and impact, though I don't know if it would compete in terms of a basshead headphone, even if you boosted the bass with EQ. But I did feel that the bass was stronger than neutral and of high quality and speed. It retails for $349 but can be found used for much lower. Main problem is potential comfort and build quality issues.

 

[lltfdaniel]

All i got to say is woah at the bass..
 
Powered by ehp-02d
 
Since these arrived today it has cost me 

£162.76 ​

because i bought used.
 
The bass is just insane.
 
If you think you can power these with a mobile or mp3 player below half volume they will sound crap.
 
Lately today they sounded crisp now they don't just let them burn in some more or flex out the driver more like.
 
sigh sounds i dunno tinny with mainstream music like mc hammer u can't touch this.
 
Last resort is an eq then.
 
These are the most powerful headphones i have ever owned.

 

[dropbassnotbomb]

Bass tubes in car audio systems are not for all time listening. You only turn them on on occasions when you really want to enjoy the rumbling loud bass. SZ2000 are just like bass tubes for the party time when all you want to hear is monsterous bass. Low frequencies are like Crack, you want it when you want it.
Bass tubes are a hassle, takes a lot of space, heavy and extra power but still everyone wants one if they are a Basshead.

I paid for the bass and purpose served well where most headphones fail. SZ2000 will unleash their strength once provided raw power and equalizer tuning.

The final question..are you ready for 12" subs attached to your ears? (No exaggeration if compared with other headphones). Hip hop, dubstep psytrance..funk the world!!

 

[Music Alchemist]

Bass tubes in car audio systems are not for all time listening. You only turn them on on occasions when you really want to enjoy the rumbling loud bass. SZ2000 are just like bass tubes for the party time when all you want to hear is monsterous bass. Low frequencies are like Crack, you want it when you want it.
Bass tubes are a hassle, takes a lot of space, heavy and extra power but still everyone wants one if they are a Basshead.

I paid for the bass and purpose served well where most headphones fail. SZ2000 will unleash their strength once provided raw power and equalizer tuning.

The final question..are you ready for 12" subs attached to your ears? (No exaggeration if compared with other headphones). Hip hop, dubstep psytrance..funk the world!!

 
Dude, you're making me want to get rid of my HD 650 so I can get the SZ2000 sooner rather than later.

 
(Or I guess I could just do some actual work to make the small amount of extra cash I would need...)

 

[dropbassnotbomb]

Bro I took HBB advice and I am a believer. He has done enough research already and this thread made me purchase SZ2000 before creating this profile.

To be honest with you SZ2000 is a keeper for what it offers. In this hobby at least two three headphones is a must for everyone. I don't listen bass heavy music on weekdays or most days so I use a different headphone comfy, lightweight, less to offer but pairs well with most genres.

 

[Hawaiibadboy]

  All i got to say is woah at the bass..
 
Powered by ehp-02d
 
Since these arrived today it has cost me 

£162.76 ​

because i bought used.
 
The bass is just insane.
 
If you think you can power these with a mobile or mp3 player below half volume they will sound crap.
 
Lately today they sounded crisp now they don't just let them burn in some more or flex out the driver more like.
 
sigh sounds i dunno tinny with mainstream music like mc hammer u can't touch this.
 
Last resort is an eq then.
 
These are the most powerful headphones i have ever owned.

 
Raise the sub-bass, change the pads and you got the head kickers that are in the vids. (search ebay for xx pads 15 bucks or other) and eq and you should be set for...mmmm...ever when it comes to satisfying the I just wanna shake the **** outta my head and slam some sounds times in life

 

[DiscoProJoe]

  Below half volume they will sound crap.

 
Actually, this is one question about the SZ2000s / SZ1000s I forgot to ask about: how do they sound at low volume, compared to the M-100s? With my M-100s at low volume, I can use the "Treble Extra Booster" category in my custom EQ presets in Rockbox to boost the treble by 2 dB @ 1 kHz, 4 dB @ 2 kHz, 6 dB @ 4 kHz, 8 dB @ 8 kHz, and 10 dB @ 16 kHz. I'd have the bass boost switch on my Cayin C5 portable amp turned on, its volume dial at max (while controlling the volume from the iPod), but with the gain switch on the C5 set to low to eliminate the noise floor from the C5.
 
For newer music, in my EQ presets I'd use one of the biggest "Sub-Bass" increments in this "Treble Extra Booster" preset category, such as "Treble Extra Booster 7 Sub-Bass." This one boosts 32 Hz by 24 dB, and 64 Hz by 4.8 dB. For older music, I might use one of the higher "Bass" increments in this category, such as "Treble Extra Booster 5 Bass." This one boosts 32 Hz and 64 Hz by 15 dB each.
 
With my M-100s, this configuration sounds absolutely smooth and fabulous at low volume, and is excellent for studying and relaxing. Lounge music especially sounds awesome like this, such as artists by the likes of Paul Hardcastle, Lemongrass, Evolve, and many others, along with instrumental / karaoke versions of songs by Utada Hikaru and others.
 
Anyway, I'm curious to know how the JVC SZ headphones would stack up at low volume with this kind of setup and EQ'ing.

 

[gosub3]

its volume dial at max (while controlling the volume from the iPod), but with the gain switch on the C5 set to low to eliminate the noise floor from the C5.

With this configuration you will allways have distortion from the amp as you are driving it full out. In all audio reproduction you first max the source and after that the stages coming after it. Ie. For maximum distortion free output in say, car audio you max the source and then turn up the amps till distortion limit. So then you can drive your system to its limits safely and with the amps working as little as possible, that is then good as it gives minimum distortion.