I think a good sample of high-end mid-fi / introductory hi-fi cans would be as follows. I'd like to see you guys rank these in order of preference, just for kicks:
- Fidelio X1 (Smooth, lively top and prominent bottom, with slightly recessed mids. Good imaging and wide ss. Been called a jack-of-all trades; fun and yet laid lack. Fun relative to Senns, laid back compared to Grados. Very easy to drive, and best ergonomics in the list, perhaps. Problem is...pads are non-replaceable, and Phillips seems out of the game. Walks a middle line rather well, without being neutral.)
-Beyer DT880/990 600Ohm (similar to the Fidelio with perhaps a bit more aggressiveness at the top, and slightly wider soundstage. The 990s are a tad brighter as well. Less natural sounding imo, than the already a tad colored brush of the Fidelios. These ones are more at the fun end of things.)
- Senn HD 600/650 (The most 'serious' or 'mature' of the list: best mids resolution, a bit tame on the lower frequencies, and of course the very mellow upper frequencies and treble response, which account for the so-called 'veily' sound; still, fairly neutral, laid back, and superbly detailed cans. There's a reason these work for everything rather well. The 650 is slightly darker, with more prominent bass, and even more subdued treble).
- AKG K702 Anniversary (In the same echelon as the Fidelio and Beyer, but lighter on the bass. Better detail, perhaps, than the X1s. Haven't heard these, so I don't know, but people seem to prefer these overall to the Fidelios)
- Hifiman He-400 (Slightly dark, but also have a poignant treble at the top which makes them slightly piercing to some. Great bass response and resolution, and detailed mids. Good soundstage and imaging too, if a bit rough for some. With the Senns, perhaps the most 'natural' sounding of the bunch. Build is alright, but not fantastic either. Also quite easy to drive)
- Grado s325is/s225is (Sparkle and detail in the highs, which allow rock and guitars to shine, but at the price of very subdued bass response. Prominent, detailed mids. Good soundstage and imaging though. Ergonomics are dubious; very easy to drive. A very fun and in-your-face hp, but also a very polarizing one. The 325s are even more detailed at the top, but are even brighter, which makes them quite exhausting and piercing to most. Shrill even. Still, they sound heavenly with strings, and lively music. They also have a bit more bass than the 225's, which is a good thing, though it's still lacking imo.)
- Audio Technica ATH-AD900X (Airy, breathy... haven't heard them though, I have seen quite a bit of praise).
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I personally go something like: Fidelio, Grado, Hifiman, Senn, Beyer.
I like funner profiles, and I think the Beyers are a bit sibilant and overall less impressive than the Fidelio X1. I love the Grado sound, but the lack of bass in the Prestige series does get to me a bit. The Senn sound is too mellow for my tastes, though I admire its rigor and detail. The Hifiman are overall more 'hi-fi' than the X1 due their more balanced mids, more natural and extended bass response, and greater detail than the Fidelios or Beyers. They are certainly less abrasive than the Grados, but they can be a bit harsh and darker, which I don't necessarily like, in spite of their pronounces top. The Fidelios really do everything very well, leaving me only wishing there was a slight less emphasis on the bass and a bit more definition on the mids for kicks.
I think either the Rs1/Rs2 will be my next can, since I hear they have the Grado sound, while smoothing things out at the top, AND with some bass to top it off..
