Laidback headphones for relaxed sessions

[dacssoannoying]

Hello. I am looking for a secondary headphones with warm and rich sound signature with great bass. The sub bass is deep and can extend to lower frequencies and a bass that can decay longer, textured with overall great extension and decay in the bass, not slammy and fast. It can be used for relaxed listening sessions when the overall speed of the headphone carry the music slowly and can transmit sound that is decaying longer giving you nostalgia like feeling so tones should not be transmitted fast and attack you with the next tone, rather than carry you from tone to tone in a blended way and I guess that is called transient and dynamic? If I have to explain myself further about transient, the Utopia would be the most transient as it is fast and attacky, where the LCD2 Classics is more mellow and slower.

A little more to know about my preference and what I own. Airy sparkly crystally headphones are my number one to go. I like it more towards the HD800S and Utopia where clarity and air is more in the sound unlike HD600 or NDH which can be more neutral. I still like those lateral two, yet the first 2 are airy which I like. Well I guess now you know why I want a secondary laidback headphones that can be colored which I am definitely into.

I tried the LCD2C and basically what I just described in the bass in the first paragraph this thing does that, but it is not rich sounding, it sounded thin, and it makes you miss something that is more pronounced in other headphones, and it is the sound richness. So the LCD2C is great for laidback session yet not rich enough. Another warm headphones I owned is the Stellia. Great headphones it has exactly what I want in the sound richness and the bass is good, but overall sound was energetic, fast, and mid forward, so not exactly chill. Also not so much for bass. I ended up selling it and I actually don't regret it because the price just unjustifiable, also didn't like the colors.


I compiled a list and maybe you can help me know which is more neutral, mediocre bass, fast attacky sounding that I can exclude (those similar to Utopia or HD600 I am gonna rule out):

-LCD2Classics (the bass that I miss the most that is deep and relaxed, sound is thin missing richness)
-LCD2 (bass may not be as deep or decay as the LCD2C, also seems slammier and more controller not relaxed, also sound maybe learning toward neutrality?)
-LCD3 (similar bass to LCD2 it seems, but even more richer in sound overall, but I am afraid that it won't be a laidback headphone and it may lean towards being a neutral sounding headphones which is something I don't need. Also people say it has magic? I guess they say it is more apparent in how close the sound to you and in some instruments. Sounds intriguing)
-ZMF Atrium (crazy how much compliments it gets. I like when people say sound is very rich, warm with great bass, but I really want a relaxing warm and rich sounding headphones, and the Atrium might be just another warm-neutral like HD650 headphones with mediocre bass that doesn't extend deep and decays longer. Also it seems that the transient is fast here and that I don't need. This seems to me another Stellia but less sharp or honky with better looks!)
-Empy 2 (I know it has rich sound, might not be used for relaxed session and might be neutral when comparing them to LCD2, and bass wise I don't know much about it but I am guessing these aren't for long and deep decaying bass, they might also be faster than the first 3 which I also don't need now)
-Elite (probably one that my ears find the most unique. They sounded warm, dark, initiate, and much different than what I own. I am going to spend more time with them in the future. I don't know about how transient they are? They might be fast and attacky which again I am not into now.)

Alright, so it seems that the order here works out, from cheapest to the expensive. Also this order work from the least transient (slowest) to the most transient (fastest). If you tried any of these headphones, or others I didn't mention, or if you're or were in the same shoes as me, please join and comment as it will help me make a decision. Also, I may have said something that you might disagree or agree which will also help me make a decision. So far I am stuck in between those three LCD2C, LCD2, LCD3/ Although LCD2C has the speed and bass I want, I don't want to get them because I know sound is not rich as it sounded thin to me. The LCD3 might be neutral and not warm enough, also it might be fast and attacky. Unsure about the LCD2. Is the LCD3 leaps and bounds from the LCD2? Or is the LCD2 leaps and bounds in sound richness from the LCD2C, or is the LCD2C leaps and bounds from the LCD2 in bass? Another headphones that has bass that I am looking for is the LCD4z, but from what I heard people say is that it can be neutral and resolving and I definitely don't want that now, also the bass is slammy, controlled, and not relaxed which is also I am not after now.

Summary:
Looking for warm, rich, deep bass headphone with:

• Deep, slow, decaying sub-bass
• Laid-back presentation with rich warm sound
• Smooth transitions between tones (slow transients). Not fast or attacky. Not neutral, not clinical
• LCD2C fits this description well except that it felt thin and not rich in sound. Stellia fits well as it was rich and warm, but was attacky and fast also not enough bass (it was okiesh).

According to ChatGPT, it suggested Atrium as number one and runner up LCD3 because it thinks that Atrium is the most laid back warm rich intimate headphones. While LCD3 can provide that but not to that level. Bass wise, LCD3 wins because of the better sub bass and decay according to ChatGPT

 

[wantan]

The hifi headphones from Beyerdynamic could be an option. The Amiron Home is very smooth, the T1 2nd Generation has stronger transients and 3d soundstage but is less relaxed than Amiron Home. It is still relaxed compared to most other audiophile headphones. I've not listened to the new T1.3. but shares a similar sound.
Depends a bit on your amp and if you want something that is very easy to drive (T1.3) or rather high impedance like T1.2 or Amiron Home.
If you want something more neutral but with body and punch the dt880 with EQ in bass and treble sounds quite awesome.
I'd generally recommend EQ for sub bass and treble adjustment.
Body in bass and lower mids with good tonality is what Beyer is strong at.

 

[sajesak]

Hello. I am looking for a secondary headphones with warm and rich sound signature with great bass. The sub bass is deep and can extend to lower frequencies and a bass that can decay longer, textured with overall great extension and decay in the bass, not slammy and fast. It can be used for relaxed listening sessions when the overall speed of the headphone carry the music slowly and can transmit sound that is decaying longer giving you nostalgia like feeling so tones should not be transmitted fast and attack you with the next tone, rather than carry you from tone to tone in a blended way and I guess that is called transient and dynamic? If I have to explain myself further about transient, the Utopia would be the most transient as it is fast and attacky, where the LCD2 Classics is more mellow and slower.

A little more to know about my preference and what I own. Airy sparkly crystally headphones are my number one to go. I like it more towards the HD800S and Utopia where clarity and air is more in the sound unlike HD600 or NDH which can be more neutral. I still like those lateral two, yet the first 2 are airy which I like. Well I guess now you know why I want a secondary laidback headphones that can be colored which I am definitely into.

I tried the LCD2C and basically what I just described in the bass in the first paragraph this thing does that, but it is not rich sounding, it sounded thin, and it makes you miss something that is more pronounced in other headphones, and it is the sound richness. So the LCD2C is great for laidback session yet not rich enough. Another warm headphones I owned is the Stellia. Great headphones it has exactly what I want in the sound richness and the bass is good, but overall sound was energetic, fast, and mid forward, so not exactly chill. Also not so much for bass. I ended up selling it and I actually don't regret it because the price just unjustifiable, also didn't like the colors.


I compiled a list and maybe you can help me know which is more neutral, mediocre bass, fast attacky sounding that I can exclude (those similar to Utopia or HD600 I am gonna rule out):

-LCD2Classics (the bass that I miss the most that is deep and relaxed, sound is thin missing richness)
-LCD2 (bass may not be as deep or decay as the LCD2C, also seems slammier and more controller not relaxed, also sound maybe learning toward neutrality?)
-LCD3 (similar bass to LCD2 it seems, but even more richer in sound overall, but I am afraid that it won't be a laidback headphone and it may lean towards being a neutral sounding headphones which is something I don't need. Also people say it has magic? I guess they say it is more apparent in how close the sound to you and in some instruments. Sounds intriguing)
-ZMF Atrium (crazy how much compliments it gets. I like when people say sound is very rich, warm with great bass, but I really want a relaxing warm and rich sounding headphones, and the Atrium might be just another warm-neutral like HD650 headphones with mediocre bass that doesn't extend deep and decays longer. Also it seems that the transient is fast here and that I don't need. This seems to me another Stellia but less sharp or honky with better looks!)
-Empy 2 (I know it has rich sound, might not be used for relaxed session and might be neutral when comparing them to LCD2, and bass wise I don't know much about it but I am guessing these aren't for long and deep decaying bass, they might also be faster than the first 3 which I also don't need now)
-Elite (probably one that my ears find the most unique at Exclaimer. They sounded warm, dark, initiate, and much different than what I own. I am going to spend more time with them in the future. I don't know about how transient they are? They might be fast and attacky which again I am not into now.)

Alright, so it seems that the order here works out, from cheapest to the expensive. Also this order work from the least transient (slowest) to the most transient (fastest). If you tried any of these headphones, or others I didn't mention, or if you're or were in the same shoes as me, please join and comment as it will help me make a decision. Also, I may have said something that you might disagree or agree which will also help me make a decision. So far I am stuck in between those three LCD2C, LCD2, LCD3/ Although LCD2C has the speed and bass I want, I don't want to get them because I know sound is not rich as it sounded thin to me. The LCD3 might be neutral and not warm enough, also it might be fast and attacky. Unsure about the LCD2. Is the LCD3 leaps and bounds from the LCD2? Or is the LCD2 leaps and bounds in sound richness from the LCD2C, or is the LCD2C leaps and bounds from the LCD2 in bass? Another headphones that has bass that I am looking for is the LCD4z, but from what I heard people say is that it can be neutral and resolving and I definitely don't want that now, also the bass is slammy, controlled, and not relaxed which is also I am not after now.

Summary:
Looking for warm, rich, deep bass headphone with:

• Deep, slow, decaying sub-bass
• Laid-back presentation with rich warm sound
• Smooth transitions between tones (slow transients). Not fast or attacky. Not neutral, not clinical
• LCD2C fits this description well except that it felt thin and not rich in sound. Stellia fits well as it was rich and warm, but was attacky and fast also not enough bass (it was okiesh).

According to ChatGPT, it suggested Atrium as number one and runner up LCD3 because it thinks that Atrium is the most laid back warm rich intimate headphones. While LCD3 can provide that but not to that level. Bass wise, LCD3 wins because of the better sub bass and decay according to ChatGPT

The LCD3 is likely your best choice, it offers richer, warmer sound with deep, textured, and slower-decaying bass compared to the LCD2 and LCD2C. It’s less fast and attacky than models like the Stellia or Utopia, providing a laid-back, warm, and rich listening experience that fits your preferences better than the others on your list. 4.1-mini

 

[brandonfire2]

I have enjoyed the Sennheiser HD560S, great fro listening to music

 

[Spawn300Z]

I would say the Meze Audio Empyrean OGs with Angled Alcantara pads and a great hybrid cable. This turns them into a different animal. They’re comfortable, laidback, with good, bass, resolution and you can listen all day with no fatigue.

 

[bagwell359]

LCD-4 OG is like sipping your favorite drink while sunk deep in the most comfy leather recliner you have ever sat in.

Alternate: ZMF Verite Open or cheaper Auteur Classic both w/ an OTL amp. Latest Schiit Valhalla 3 getting ravs. Also either a MC phono or a R2R/FPGA DAC (or one with lots of filtering). Schiit Gungnir 2, Denafrips, etc. Not a Sabre DS DAC

 

[JerseyD]

Atrium matches your description. Great all-arounder with the bass and laid back tone you seek. It is 300 ohms, so the amp you use may become a factor

 

[GREQ]

I'll throw in a wild card - Mirph-1
These are actually SUPER relaxing.
Everything just has a sort of 'analogue' edge to it, but they actually liven up quite a bit with tube amps.

Another vote for LCD-3 - it has a sort of 'under-water' quality to the sound.