[edhamgtr]

Tried lcd2,x,4,5 mm500.
Hifiman 1000v2.

My quest is for a flat mixing/mastering headphone that requires the least amount of eq.
Basically 1000v2's without the 2k dip and less hyped treble (esp above 10k).

So yeah, I want an affordable HE1 .....
This pink noise test was pretty stunning.

Appreciate any thoughts and pointers on what I should look at.

 

[Kammerat Rebekka]

By flat response you mean Harman Targetish?
DCA Stealth…although it doesn’t come with the 1-2k dip that the HE1 has.

A much cheaper option is to get an HE4XX and give it a bass boost.

 

[edhamgtr]

Thanks!

Doesn't need to nail Harmon. Especially the bass. (not in the harmon bass boost camp).

But 100-10K - yeah probably flat to harmon. Any boosted freq areas just need to be subtle and smooth.
The hifiman house sound of that 2K dip with extra boosted sparkle misses for me. If they made a model flat through 2k and without the treble boost - I'd buy immediately.

The DCA element and stealth both look good but I'm finding reviews all over the map about them.
Would love to hear more opinions on them.

 

[edhamgtr]

HD4xx looks good but that -7db dip at 2k is my issue.
Sure I can flatten it with eq - but I'd like to be able to unplug from by studio rig - and have the sound pretty close to the studio eq'd version.
Context switching like that has me losing my reference sound.

Ananda Nano's seem a bit closer to flat in the 2k zone.

But maybe DCA stealth or element is the way to go.
Curious which the brain trust here would choose.????

 

[Max Choiral]

@edhamgtr, check-out HEDDphone 2.
This one might be right up your valley.

 

[Kammerat Rebekka]

HD4xx looks good but that -7db dip at 2k is my issue.
Sure I can flatten it with eq - but I'd like to be able to unplug from by studio rig - and have the sound pretty close to the studio eq'd version.
Context switching like that has me losing my reference sound.

Ananda Nano's seem a bit closer to flat in the 2k zone.

But maybe DCA stealth or element is the way to go.
Curious which the brain trust here would choose.????

I’m not sure you can find anything better than either the Stealth or E3 then. I was going to suggest the Audeze MM-500 as it is one of the few planars that comes with a neutral midrange as well as flat bass, but I see that you’ve already tried that one.
The only things I find that lead to somewhat mixed reviews regarding the DCA offerings are a) headphone placement on the individual’s head that can bring slightly different tunings in the uppermids and b) many folks in the high-end of things aren’t exactly looking for a natural sound representation and either find them ‘boring’ or too forward, as many headphones up in that price bracket come with little to no ear gain.

Regarding the Heddphone Two; if you are particular about a natural/neutral midrange, this pair is not the ticket.

Edith:
Maybe try out the SJY Umi?

https://sjyaudio.com/products/umi?srsltid=AfmBOorqlZrc0sTlM0NXadKSkEU3dgybRxde7hmMPyE4aGY3Mwl8tmKB

 

[edhamgtr]

Thanks for all that.

Haven't even heard of the the SJY Umi but the graph looks like they are contenders.

thanks!

 

[pataburd]

1) What gear [source, amp] was upstream of the MM-500 when you auditioned them?
2) What did you not like about the MM-500 (i.e. in what way(s) did they depart from the neutrality you are seeking)?
3) Are you absolutely set on planars?

 

[edhamgtr]

Thanks for the post!

MM500's are my current - Recessed high end. a couple odd Low mid bumps. the +1db@ 3k bump doesn't bother me though (this seems to be an issue for some).
+3db high shelf at 4k helps a bit along with a few midrange tweaks and I can get close.

The bummer is when I spend time on my laptop just listening.
The goal is for headphones to at least be in the ballpark as the longer we listen, the more our brains accept whatever sound is coming out to be "reality".
Its jolting to go back in my mix/mastering room, plug in phones (with eq).
A subtle difference would be fine if not awesome.

My main monitors are Kii3 (flattest on the planet along with Dutch and Gen 83x1) and my room is +/- 3db (lifetime of engineering and suffering with acoustical treatment to know how to get that).

My test is simple.
Just need pink noise on the Kii's to be in the ballpark of headphones.
Close enough that some small tweaks are all that's needed to get there so that when listening outside my studio rig - its at least reasonably close.

H1000v2's - have that hifiman house sound of a large dip @2k along with a big sparkle boost.
Was easy to eq to match Kii's but once away from my room ....... ears get used to that sound and it's a jolt when going back to studio work (with corrective EQ).
Otherwise love them.

the Video I linked about on the HE1's - ie- how close pink noise matches with them, is what I'm hoping to find and explore.

planar vs .......
Not attached to planers, but I need the low end extension (not the big harmon 100hz boost) which is a lot to ask of other types of headphones.

Make sense??? (my wife assures me I rarely do).

 

[pataburd]

The MM-500 do take EQ well [I have a set, too].
Spend most of my time with the AKG K812 and the Neumann NDH-30.
I am not a mixer/masterer but have always hankered for the [elusive] "studio neutral" sound.
What do you have on your front end [source, cables, amplifier] for your headphones?
Makes sense? To me? Yes. Perfect.
(My wife frequently renders the same verdict as yours does.)
: )

 

[cloudyhead]

Have you considered using a hardware EQ unit to shape the sound when away from your studio setup?

 

[ThEvil0nE]

If you're not dead set on planar then NDH 30.

 

[edhamgtr]

I liked the 30's but my hunch is that they are really hd600's, tuned a bit different.

Have had 600's since the stone ages. They were the first phone to get close to the neutral studio thing ....... but the low end ....

And honestly, neither the 30's or 600's have the clarity and separation needed.
Can easily get work done with them, but inevitably there is an unhappy reality check when switching over to speakers. (more balance issues than eq).

H1000v2's or MM500's with eq do better.

Grail quest is a planar that simply needs less eq to match flat accurate speakers.

Did CamJam have anything I should be looking at?

Hardware eq is under consideration. Wishing I didn't have to travel with another box for hotel work though .......

Sooooo close ...

I'm sure we are just a couple years from headphones with built in eq (like most modern studio monitors.).
Genelecs new controller/heaphones seem to be the first step. https://www.genelec.com/unio

 

[ThEvil0nE]

Switching between the NDH 30 and calibrated Adam A4Vs and back to 30 proved to flawless for me. Both are fed by RME ADI2. The only thing that differentiates them as far as sound presentation is the obvious deep phantom center on the A4Vs. Their FR to my ears are pretty spot on. The NDH 30 was that competent to me that I now have 2 pairs.

 

[edhamgtr]

Appreciate that.

fyi - I was one of the first owners of S3A's back in the day when Dave Bryce had just started distribution them in the US.
For alot of us they were either Genelec 1030 detox or NS-10 Rehab. (they landed sort of in between both. Not mid scooped like Gens nor terrible 2K hot like NS10's).
I think of them fondly. Imagine the 4V's are pretty great. Would have preferred the S3a's vertical.