[Vaxin]

Hey guys, new to the audiophile sphere and looking for new headphones. The Cloud Alpha has served me well these past few years but I wanna upgrade. Here's what I'm looking for:
-Either closed or open back(preferably open back)
-Around less than $200(even better if under a $100)
-Balanced or warm sound signatures, with emphasis on the mids
-Good enough build quality
-Can be driven well by just a pc(I don't own a DAC or an AMP)
-Good comfort, can be worn for 6+ hours

I've been looking into a few options beforehand like the SHP-9500, ATH-M40X, Sennheiser HD 559, Beyerdynamic DT 990 Pro(not sure about this one since the lowest impedance is a 80ohms). I'm not in a rush to buy yet but I'd like to consider this carefully so I don't waste money on a pair I won't like. I welcome your recommendations but some might be crossed out due to availability concerns(I live in the Philippines, not a lot of stuff available here).

 

[539465]

6XX for 200 and invest $150 in the iFi Zen CAN and later iPower for $50 for the long run.... cannot think of a mid forward bassy headphone and the 6XX needs the iFi's bass boost but both are worth their weight in gold and better toget5her

 

[Vaxin]

Thanks for the recommendation, though I'm not sure if Massdrop ships to the Philppines, will look into it more.

 

[539465]

Thanks for the recommendation, though I'm not sure if Massdrop ships to the Philppines, will look into it more.

if you troll ebay for a month or so i'm betting you can get a used 6XX shipped for $200usd (I assume a $50 shipping charge via ebay to you not including duties and tariffs)
the iFi Zen CAN is a big part of the combo but any AMP that has a bass boost that targets sub-bass harder will do I guess... trust me the AMP is worth the investment I know it's a lot of money but you will feel like a king my friend

 

[iFi audio]

if you troll ebay for a month or so i'm betting you can get a used 6XX shipped for $200usd (I assume a $50 shipping charge via ebay to you not including duties and tariffs)
the iFi Zen CAN is a big part of the combo but any AMP that has a bass boost that targets sub-bass harder will do I guess... trust me the AMP is worth the investment I know it's a lot of money but you will feel like a king my friend

6XX cans are awesome considering what they do and how comfy they are.

 

[calvin8902]

Hey guys, new to the audiophile sphere and looking for new headphones. The Cloud Alpha has served me well these past few years but I wanna upgrade. Here's what I'm looking for:
-Either closed or open back(preferably open back)
-Around less than $200(even better if under a $100)
-Balanced or warm sound signatures, with emphasis on the mids
-Good enough build quality
-Can be driven well by just a pc(I don't own a DAC or an AMP)
-Good comfort, can be worn for 6+ hours

I've been looking into a few options beforehand like the SHP-9500, ATH-M40X, Sennheiser HD 559, Beyerdynamic DT 990 Pro(not sure about this one since the lowest impedance is a 80ohms). I'm not in a rush to buy yet but I'd like to consider this carefully so I don't waste money on a pair I won't like. I welcome your recommendations but some might be crossed out due to availability concerns(I live in the Philippines, not a lot of stuff available here).

shp-9500 emphasis on mid and high is a bit hot . You may consider hifiman he400se or hd650/6xx. he400se is much more easy to drive direct from pc

Cloud alpha sound tune very close to harman target and not sibilant at high. It a very well tune orignal design from takstar pro 80. I have a cloud alpha too and bunch of headphones. I still keep my cloud alpha for casual listening when using my notebook.

 

[iFi audio]

Cloud alpha sound tune very close to harman target and not sibilant at high. It a very well tune orignal design from takstar pro 80. I have a cloud alpha too and bunch of headphones. I still keep my cloud alpha for casual listening when using my notebook.

These seem to be gaming headphones, am I right? If that's the case, how are they for music in general?

 

[silent-circuit]

Philips XR2HR. The SHP-9500's big brother.

 

[Vaxin]

shp-9500 emphasis on mid and high is a bit hot . You may consider hifiman he400se or hd650/6xx. he400se is much more easy to drive direct from pc




Cloud alpha sound tune very close to harman target and not sibilant at high. It a very well tune orignal design from takstar pro 80. I have a cloud alpha too and bunch of headphones. I still keep my cloud alpha for casual listening when using my notebook.

Is there enough bass on the HE400se? Looking at the graph it seems lacking with an emphasis on highs. Listening to my Cloud Alpha now the bass is there but is muddy. I think I'd prefer a headphone with punchier bass. I've also been looking into the HD500 series, particularly the HD559 and HD579. I also bought a DAC X6 in the meantime because I felt like the Cloud Alpha lacked volume.

 

[calvin8902]

Is there enough bass on the HE400se? Looking at the graph it seems lacking with an emphasis on highs. Listening to my Cloud Alpha now the bass is there but is muddy. I think I'd prefer a headphone with punchier bass. I've also been looking into the HD500 series, particularly the HD559 and HD579. I also bought a DAC X6 in the meantime because I felt like the Cloud Alpha lacked volume.

I dunno how much bass you need. he400se, 9500, r70x, hd600 series(best mid) and all those open back will give very good high but lack of bass or sub-bass rumble, but some can give warmer low mid to produce more real drum bass sounding but not muddy. A planar driver like he400se did emphasis on highs, if u need something greater and detail can go for Sundara. Hd500 series I find 560s and 580/58x is the best. But I don't think it produces enough bass as you need. Better go out try some cans, if open back not suitable then you might consider closed back with dynamic driver. It deliver more punchier bass like akg371, fostex 610.

 

[Vaxin]

Not sure how to accurately describe how much bass I need, but maybe enough that I know that the it's there but doesn't overstay it's welcome. Apologies I'm new to all this and not a lot of places to try high end headphones.

 

[calvin8902]

You can spend some time to learn and read frequency response graph. than go some website to do comparison that your cloud alpha with others cans. you might be have some idea how others cans sound differently.



some option:

https://www.rtings.com/headphones/graph#371/4011(they got a lot review for gaming headset include cloud alpha

https://crinacle.com/graphs/headphones/graphtool/
https://headphonedatabase.com/oratory/headphones?ids=285,6

btw, those link will drag you into rabbit holes. Becareful your wallet

 

[Vaxin]

Yeah I'm trying not to spend too much due to the possibility that I may not like the sound signature of the headphones I buy. I could only go so far in comparing without listening to the actual cans. Thankfully one shop here lets me test the headphones they have on display, they even have expensive ones like the HD800.