[Alcophone]

Focal Listen ($249). Sound pretty close to the ÆON to my ears, but are more efficient (no external amp needed in most cases). The ÆON have better build quality and you could run them balanced without modding.

 

[Alcophone]

Oh, and Meze 99 Classics ($309) are also nice and very popular. Imaging wasn't as good when I tried them.

 

[cathee]

I think I've decided on purchasing the AQ Nightowl, MrSpeakers Aeon and Oppo PM-3, then sending back the two I don't like as much. Does anyone here mainly use their headphones from an iPhone and/or Macbook Pro? I'm looking for a portable amp/dac that would work well with this setup that doesn't require a wall socket.

Love the AQ Dragonfly for iPhone/ Mac. The Black and Red have very distinct signatures, I'd recommend trying both.

 

[koover]

Oh, and Meze 99 Classics ($309) are also nice and very popular. Imaging wasn't as good when I tried them.

Hard to beat the Meze 99 classics for the price. Save yourself $500-$700 (out of your $1k budget) by getting a pair of these. I run these with the DFR for portable. Nice neutral sounding HP with emphasized bass where they're tight, fast, deeeep and clean. Mids are sweet and highs are natural sounding. The bass doesn't bleed into the mids or highs. I have better HP's but these are probably the best bang for the buck out of everything I own. Very light on the head too. I can't recommend them enough as I enjoy them immensely.

 

[Raketen]

Might take a look at Ultrasone Signature DJ (unless you have large or protruding ears), very portable and easy to drive, good all-rounders, sort of U-shaped signature. The major downside is the price is typical Ultrasone Ultrainflated... much more difficult to recommend anywhere near MSRP.

 

[matthewh133]

Hard to beat the Meze 99 classics for the price. Save yourself $500-$700 (out of your $1k budget) by getting a pair of these. I run these with the DFR for portable. Nice neutral sounding HP with emphasized bass where they're tight, fast, deeeep and clean. Mids are sweet and highs are natural sounding. The bass doesn't bleed into the mids or highs. I have better HP's but these are probably the best bang for the buck out of everything I own. Very light on the head too. I can't recommend them enough as I enjoy them immensely.

I've heard there's issues with isolation with the Meze? As stated earlier, I'll be listening quite a bit in noisy environments, so something that blocks out the surrounding sound well is definitely high up on the list of priorities, part of the reason I had my shortlist down to the PM-3, Nightowl and Aeon.

 

[Alcophone]

something that blocks out the surrounding sound well is definitely high up on the list of priorities, part of the reason I had my shortlist down to the PM-3, Nightowl and Aeon.

The Focal Listen have excellent isolation, better than the M50x, and nobody ever complained when I cranked up the volume in the office with either (in contrast to my old Sony earbuds). Don't know how the Meze fair, but maybe you can compare measurements on InnerFidelity to find out.

 

[Hondadude85]

DT1770 would be my choice. I use my DT1990 straight out of my computer or iPhone quite often and, while it doesn't sound as good as out of the A20, it still sounds great. Tesla drivers are very efficient.

 

[Linus1]

My choices would be the B+W P7 (own one....nice and they are portable), PM3 (they are supposedly real nice, they are portable, but I don't own one), and maybe the Nightowl that you have listed (I own the Nighthawk...love them, but are only transportable, not portable).

For the amp/DAC, may I suggest the Oppo HA2? I understand that is a nice unit - it's in my crosshairs now. Nice and portable, chargable. Good things said about it.

 

[PopZeus]

E-MU Teak or Oppo PM-3 and Cayin N3 (or equivalent DAP). I'm recommending the same gear I own basically. On medium gain, the N3 drives both cans with authority.

 

[scottsays]

I would also recommend the Fostex Th 610 and Shure 1540--I own both and enjoy them equally. The Shure is probably more comfortable for extended use---
You really cannot go wrong with either of these--great sound quality---

 

[Shawn39]

I just bought some Audeze EL-8C's for around $500. I saw also Audeze is offering B-Stock EL-8's for $330 or so (via slickdeals.net). Haven't got the headphones yet so I cannot
comment on the sound yet but it fits your needs. If I didn't buy the EL-8's I would have bought the Oppo PM-3s. Hoping the EL-8 is a step up.

Here's a list of all the closed phones that I've compiled so far (all the Amazon references are just for price-checking):

Headphones List – Closed Back


1. Oppo PM-3 - $400 Amazon

2. Shure SRH-1540 - $500 Amazon

3. Beyerdynamic DT-1770 Pro - $585 Amazon

4. Fostex TH-610 - $600 Amazon

5. Audeze EL-8 - $700 - Various

6. Audioquest Nightowl Carbon - $700 Amazon

7. Audio Technica ATH-W5000 - $700 Amazon

8. MrSpeakers AEON Flow - $799 Various

9. Bowers & Wilkins P9 - $899 Amazon

10. ZMF Ori (Planar) - $899 – ZMF - (Semi-Open?)

11. ZMF Atticus - $999 – ZMF - (Semi-Open?)

12. Fostex TH-900 25 Ohm - $1100 – Amazon

13. ZMF Eikon - $1199 – ZMF - (Semi-Open?)

14. Fostex TH-900 mkII – $1,300 - Amazon

15. Audeze LCD-XC - $1799 – Amazon ($1350 at Adorama)

16. MrSpeakers Ether C Flow Closed-Back - $1810 – Amazon

17. Audeze LCD-XC - $1800 – Various

18. Sony MDR-ZR1 - $2300 - Amazon

* If there are others that someone feels should be in this list just reply to this post.

 

[barondla]

I just bought some Audeze EL-8C's for around $500. I saw also Audeze is offering B-Stock EL-8's for $330 or so (via slickdeals.net). Haven't got the headphones yet so I cannot
comment on the sound yet but it fits your needs. If I didn't buy the EL-8's I would have bought the Oppo PM-3s. Hoping the EL-8 is a step up.

Here's a list of all the closed phones that I've compiled so far (all the Amazon references are just for price-checking):

Headphones List – Closed Back


1. Oppo PM-3 - $400 Amazon

2. Shure SRH-1540 - $500 Amazon

3. Beyerdynamic DT-1770 Pro - $585 Amazon

4. Fostex TH-610 - $600 Amazon

5. Audeze EL-8 - $700 - Various

6. Audioquest Nightowl Carbon - $700 Amazon

7. Audio Technica ATH-W5000 - $700 Amazon

8. MrSpeakers AEON Flow - $799 Various

9. Bowers & Wilkins P9 - $899 Amazon

10. ZMF Ori (Planar) - $899 – ZMF - (Semi-Open?)

11. ZMF Atticus - $999 – ZMF - (Semi-Open?)

12. Fostex TH-900 25 Ohm - $1100 – Amazon

13. ZMF Eikon - $1199 – ZMF - (Semi-Open?)

14. Fostex TH-900 mkII – $1,300 - Amazon

15. Audeze LCD-XC - $1799 – Amazon ($1350 at Adorama)

16. MrSpeakers Ether C Flow Closed-Back - $1810 – Amazon

17. Audeze LCD-XC - $1800 – Various

18. Sony MDR-ZR1 - $2300 - Amazon

* If there are others that someone feels should be in this list just reply to this post.

19. Mitchell & Johnson MJ2 - $499.95. Actually all M&J are closed back.

 

[matthewh133]

I ended up buying a pair of MrSpeakers Aeon and a Chord Mojo as it was a good deal together. Going to give them a listen, and if they don't suit my style I think I'll give the Nightowls a try

 

[FlyingWing]

ZMF Eikon, Denon AH-D7200, Sennheiser HD 630VB.

Speaking of signatures I'd say reference-ish for Eikon, fun yet balanced for D7200, to definitely fun with variable bass for HD630-
It's your pick, really, there aren't too many good closed-backs around, if you want much more detail and portability, try CFA's Andro or 64's Tia Fourte.