Open-back recommendations for electronic music?

[cgntvdsdnt]

Hi y'all, fellow lurker here.
I've been doing some research lately and want to upgrade my old Sennheisers. I'm far from an expert in the field so recommendations would be welcome.

So far I've tested:
HD600's (liked them a lot - although my ears might be biased since I've only used Sennheisers for the past 10+years).
Sundara's (really didn't like the muddy, murky type of sound that they have, but maybe I need to test them again with a different amp).
Meze 99, Sivga SV023, HD560 - no clear favorite here.

Right now I'm looking to test the following:
Audio-Technica ATH-R70x.
Beyerdynamic DT 1990 PRO.
Denon AH-D5200.
Sennheiser HD490 Pro.
Audeze MM-100 (Major downside is not being able to replace the pads).
Hifiman Edition XS (Are the cups really that huge on these cans as they say? [I know there are many a jokes hiding in this sentence alone]).
E-MU Teak (Would love to get a chance to try them, but they are shown as discontinued where I reside).

How has your experience been with the above?
And do you have any other recommendations for me?

My budget is up to $500.
I have an audio interface, but willing to invest in a good amp/DAC if needed.
The music I listen to is mainly IDM, ambient techno, dub techno, breakbeat, electro, etc. Although I also like to listen to psychedelic rock occasionally.

So what I think I'm looking for is a balanced, yet airy pair of cans (I hope it makes sense). Clear kicks, synths & hi-hats, and sub-bass is important (not in-your-face bass - I prefer clarity over intensity).

 

[dunring]

I've had a couple of those and use the Hifiman Deva Pro wired and HE5XX. Both fit so well and equalize them with an autoeq profile and they're really fun for fast paced music like techno.
Most headphones will need boosting sub bass using the music player. Planar magnetic like those really take well, but you need a mild amplifier for the preamp reduction.

 

[msing539]

Are you actually looking for an open back? The D5200 and Emu Teak on your list are closed. The Teak is also not neutral, though the D5200 is.

So what I think I'm looking for is a balanced, yet airy pair of cans (I hope it makes sense). Clear kicks, synths & hi-hats, and sub-bass is important (not in-your-face bass - I prefer clarity over intensity).

The Edition XS would work but the cups are somewhat large.

I would add the Quad ERA-1, Sash Tres, and Meze 109 PRO to your list and be open to buying used.

The Quad continues to surprise me but it's big, I pad mine so it fits comfortably.

I listen to a lot of synth, techno, edm.

 

[cgntvdsdnt]

Are you actually looking for an open back? The D5200 and Emu Teak on your list are closed. The Teak is also not neutral, though the D5200 is.

Oh makes sense, for some reason I thought the Teak are semi-open.
And the only reason I've included the D5200 is because I can snag it at a fairly good price - around 450$.

The Edition XS would work but the cups are somewhat large.

I would add the Quad ERA-1, Sash Tres, and Meze 109 PRO to your list and be open to buying used.

I will read about the Quad. I've already seen the Sash Tres mentioned around here in a positive light. Cheers!

 

[earmonger]

I've only had the ATH-R70X from your list, but you should definitely give them a try. They'll have more bass and more clarity than your HD600, they feel virtually weightless , they love all the stereo gamesmanship of EDM and they'll give you all the detail of IDM. Long 3m cord lets you dance around the room.

They are high-impedance, 470 ohm, and I don't know what your audio interface puts out. But if it's studio gear it's probably fine, and if not a $50 VE Megatron drives them beautifully. I hear plenty of bass just out of the box, and they claim bass down to 5 Hz. So if you want to pump up the bass with EQ you'll have some fun sub-bass that's still clear.

FWIW, I was considering the Audeze MM-100 but boy do they get mixed reviews.

 

[cgntvdsdnt]

I've had a couple of those and use the Hifiman Deva Pro wired and HE5XX. Both fit so well and equalize them with an autoeq profile and they're really fun for fast paced music like techno.
Most headphones will need boosting sub bass using the music player. Planar magnetic like those really take well, but you need a mild amplifier for the preamp reduction.

Probably won't have an option to test the HE5XX, but I might with the Deva Pro. Looks nice and is relatively cheap.

 

[cgntvdsdnt]

I've only had the ATH-R70X from your list, but you should definitely give them a try. They'll have more bass and more clarity than your HD600, they feel virtually weightless , they love all the stereo gamesmanship of EDM and they'll give you all the detail of IDM. Long 3m cord lets you dance around the room.

They are high-impedance, 470 ohm, and I don't know what your audio interface puts out. But if it's studio gear it's probably fine, and if not a $50 VE Megatron drives them beautifully. I hear plenty of bass just out of the box, and they claim bass down to 5 Hz. So if you want to pump up the bass with EQ you'll have some fun sub-bass that's still clear.

FWIW, I was considering the Audeze MM-100 but boy do they get mixed reviews.

Well, based on what I've read so far, the R70X is at the top of my list right now. I hope I won't be disappointed when I finally test them lol, but I doubt that would be the case.

What about its unique "wing support system"? Is it comfy? Any issues with that? How long have you had them for?

My audio interface is M-Audio Air 192, so I doubt it would be enough, but I'll look into buying a nice amp if I'll like them.

 

[earmonger]

The wing support system is absolute genius. Far more comfortable than Sennheisers, Grados or Sonys I have previously owned. You can find a lot of reviews saying they are ultra comfortable.

The ATH-R70X is much lighter than many other headphones to begin with, and the wings are on gentle springs that hold the headband above your head. Somehow the cups stay on without overmuch clamping force. BTW, the slotted headband is flexible metal, not plastic, so it's not fragile, just elegant.

I have had these for going on 3 years, generally using them for hours a day. Although the wings and earpads both use soft fabric and are replaceable, they still don't have any noticeable wear. I have no idea how that is possible.

Caution on hype: the ATH-R70X are not going to blow your ears off with pumped-up highs and lows on first listen. They're the opposite of flashy. Besides the spaciousness you'll immediately recognize after the Sennheisers, you'll just notice that everything is clear, detailed and in its place. Use some EQ if you want to turbocharge bass or mids or treble.

https://www.theverge.com/2018/7/6/17535412/audio-technica-r70x-review-professional-headphones

It looks like your M-Audio has balanced outputs -- do you already use some kind of adaptor? You can find affordable aftermarket balanced cables on AliExpress or Amazon, but make sure you get ones specifically made for ATH-R70X, which has unusual connectors.

 

[WorksUnit]

MX 100 you will probably want some EQ to get it sounding engaging.
Edition XS might seem "taller"than the Quad with more treble.
The Quad will hit harder in the bass even with it's flat pads.

Haven't heard the others.

 

[WorksUnit]

Forgot to mention the mass loading mod from custom cans for the Senns...
GL

 

[cgntvdsdnt]

https://www.theverge.com/2018/7/6/17535412/audio-technica-r70x-review-professional-headphones

It looks like your M-Audio has balanced outputs -- do you already use some kind of adaptor? You can find affordable aftermarket balanced cables on AliExpress or Amazon, but make sure you get ones specifically made for ATH-R70X, which has unusual connectors.

That's a great review, sounds right up my alley so far.

I bought the audio interface mainly for recording, but yeah my Sennheiser's need a 2.5mm to 6.35mm adapter.
I still think I'll need a dedicated amp/DAC if I pull the trigger on the R70X. So far I've heard good things about the Schiit Magni, JDS Atom, Qudelix-5K and a few others.
I'll look into the balanced cables as well. Thanks!

 

[earmonger]

Don't get a balanced cable until you've tried the ATH-R70X, since it won't be good for any (or at least most) other headphones.

I've used the ATH-R70X with Schiit Magni 3 and Monolith Liquid Spark and they did fine; they run on AC power from a wall wart. Since you are outside the US, shipping might get a little pricey on Schiit or JDS. But Schiit at the moment has a ridiculous low price on its Heretic amp.
https://www.schiit.com/products/magni-plus

Those are just amps, and depending on your source you may not need a DAC. (Digital Analog Converter, translates numbers into signals.) If you have a post-2021 Apple laptop, you may not even need an amp -- they quietly added an amp circuit behind the headphone jack, very nice of them.
https://support.apple.com/en-us/108351

The tiny, modest $10 Apple dongle is a simple, accurate DAC if you think there's a problem with your source. But every computer and music player already has a built-in DAC.

There are also amps from Chinese companies like Topping or SMSL that might be just as good and more affordable in Europe.

I've also used the VE Megatron, a $50 Chinese DAC/Amp dongle -- runs on USB power from computer or phone, size of a cigarette pack (which is large for a dongle but has balanced outputs)-- and that's fine too. I got it because one dongle reviewer specifically said it was great for powering ATH-R70X.

There are also small portable amps from companies like FiiO and SMSL, new models showing up just about every month; check reviews. And last month's amp is probably as good for normal humans as the latest iteration, so you don't have to spend vast amounts.

 

[cgntvdsdnt]

Don't get a balanced cable until you've tried the ATH-R70X, since it won't be good for any (or at least most) other headphones.

I've used the ATH-R70X with Schiit Magni 3 and Monolith Liquid Spark and they did fine; they run on AC power from a wall wart. Since you are outside the US, shipping might get a little pricey on Schiit or JDS. But Schiit at the moment has a ridiculous low price on its Heretic amp.
https://www.schiit.com/products/magni-plus

Those are just amps, and depending on your source you may not need a DAC. (Digital Analog Converter, translates numbers into signals.) If you have a post-2021 Apple laptop, you may not even need an amp -- they quietly added an amp circuit behind the headphone jack, very nice of them.
https://support.apple.com/en-us/108351

The tiny, modest $10 Apple dongle is a simple, accurate DAC if you think there's a problem with your source. But every computer and music player already has a built-in DAC.

There are also amps from Chinese companies like Topping or SMSL that might be just as good and more affordable in Europe.

I've also used the VE Megatron, a $50 Chinese DAC/Amp dongle -- runs on USB power from computer or phone, size of a cigarette pack (which is large for a dongle but has balanced outputs)-- and that's fine too. I got it because one dongle reviewer specifically said it was great for powering ATH-R70X.

There are also small portable amps from companies like FiiO and SMSL, new models showing up just about every month; check reviews. And last month's amp is probably as good for normal humans as the latest iteration, so you don't have to spend vast amounts.

The interest in balanced cables will come later obviously. But yeah, that's a pretty good deal on the Heretic, so I think it's worth it even with the additional ~$40 shipping fee.
I also can't seem to find the Topping DX3 Pro+ locally.
Heard good things about SMSL as well, I'll see if I can find a good model.

Thank you for the detailed response.