[chesterdad]

I have been a lurker on here for a while, attended the San Jose meet and consider myself an audiophile in a good way.

I am looking for some full-size headphones I can use at home that emphasize comfort first, sound second. Cost is not a major issue.

I don't want them to get too warm to wear, or feel like a vise clamp.

I listen late at night and have a three year old now so I have to find a headphone alternative that I can wear for a while. I like the sound of Electrostatic speakers because of the detailed, fast midrange without treble glare, but would love to not have to give up the dynamic range of traditional speakers.


Any comments would be greatly appreciated



Background:

Current Rig:
Phones: Etymotic ER-4S, ER-4P, and Grado 125(Which I almost never use) with Ipod and Iphone.

Amps:HeadAmp AE-2
Original Headroom Supreme that I used with a Panasonic SL-NP1AP-K back in 1993 (I am an old school Head-Fi'er).

Two channel system: Arcam FMJ CD23-Juicy Music Blueberry Extreme-Audio Research Classic 60-Von Schweikert VR4.

Surround System: Meridian 562v-518- 565 to (2) Sunfire Cinema Bi-Amped to Martin Logan Request, Logos, Aerius Surround, ML Descent Sub.

Musical Taste in order: Peter Gabriel(Everything), Camel, Chris Whitley, Chet Baker, Radiohead(OK Computer & Before), Peter Murphy, Daniel Lanois, Neil Young, David Sylvian, Journey(pre-Steve Perry), Afro-Cuban All Stars, Miles Davis, Yaz, Richard Thompson, The Call, Rage, Sarah Mclachlan

 

[musicman59]

The most comfortable phones I have tried are the JVC DX1000 and the Denon D5000 or D2000.
I own all of them in addition to the Edition 9. I have also tried AKG K340, K501 and K501 and Sennheiser HD600 and HD650.

IMO if you Markl mod the D5000 or Markl mod and recable the D2000 you will like them. They are going to be fast, clean, clear and full range.

Mybe my Edition 9 are the best sounding but when you factor sound and beauty my WD2000 RL Edition are my favorite.
http://www.head-fi.org/forums/f4/den...dition-345659/

Last Saturday a fellow Headfier listened to them and thought they were better than the Edition 9.

 

[FallenAngel]

HD600/HD650 are great for some, a little tight for others, I find them very comfortable.

D5000 are fantastic for comfort, MarkL mod is great in sound quality.

I would have to disagree about the Edition9, I think they aren't very comfortable and are a terrible value.

 

[musicman59]

I did not say they were comfortable. Their cups are a little bit to small (not to my ears) and the clamping force is a little bit high.
I was talking about their sound regardless of price/performance ratio.

The D5000/D2000 or DX1000 are the most comfortable of all and the Denon Markl moded are great sounding.

By the way, I think he will prefer closed headphones due to isolation.

 

[iamoneagain]

The perfect headphone would be the L3000. It has comfort, sound quality, and style. The problem is the cost and they're hard to come by. I listen to some of the same music and this is best closed headphone I've heard.

 

[Dominat0r]

love the 650s...can wear them for days and not notice. You do need to loosen up the headband alittle unless you have a small head.

 

[TopPop]

With the caveat that I have not tried the other headphones that have already been recommended, I can highly recommend Beyer DT-880's for comfort and sound quality.

They are by far the most comfortable headphones I've tried, and with the right equipment, can sound incredibly good as well!

 

[progo]

And no-one's recommending Staxes, even if the OP mentioned he likes the sound of electrostatics? I won't recommend either, since I don't know any by sound.

 

[manaox2]

I'm surprised that no one has mentioned Beyerdynamics. Their headphones are the comfiest I've owned (DT990) though I do not consider them very high end (really prefer the DT880 also). However, I do find the HD650 very very comfortable for myself. Evidently you can get rid of that overly strong clamp that many talk about, I know that mine has.

 

[AgainstTheGrain]

Beyerdynamics hands down. my DT770s are the most comfortable things i have ever worn over my ears or on my head in general. the DT770s are bass monsters

and i love them but for a better overall sound try the dt880s or dt990s. can't go wrong with beyerdynamics in the comfort department though.

 

[fraseyboy]

Audio Technica AD700: Most comfortable ever.

No clamping, nothing. Like pillows on the head. They sound awesome too.

 

[Uncle Erik]

I was also thinking the Beyerdynamic DT880 might be a great fit. They're some of the most comfortable headphones I own and they do well with the music you mentioned. They're forward like the Grados you have, but they're more neutral overall. One caveat, though. They are bright up top, so you might want to listen to a pair to see if you don't like the treble glare you mentioned.

You might be interested in the AKG K-1000. They fit what you're looking for and I think they're comfy. You could run them off your Classic 60, as well.

 

[Tiemen]

The AKG K601 is a very comfy headphone, with a great sound to boot.

 

[funkadelic]

They don't get a lot of love here because their sound quality isn't up with the best high-end headphones but the Senn HD590s could well be the most comfortable headphones ever made.

I enjoy their sound, and they get rave review from owners on Amazon.
but many people find them unbalanced.

Simon

 

[audible]

I'll tell you what NOT to get...the 701's band hurts if you wear them for too long...it doesn't have a lot of flex, which puts a lot of pressure on a single point on top of your head.