Brooding Sonata
New Head-Fier
I need to find a pair of headphones to ask my wife for for Christmas. I've been doing a bunch of reading but it's quite overwhelming with no real experience (have previously focused more on IEMs). I won't have time to try before Christmas, so needs to be something that's a relatively safe bet, within the parameters mentioned in this post. Budget up to around £500, but can stretch up to £1k if needed.
Source for the headphones would be my Dethonray DTR1+ DAP, and my computer's DAC/headphone output, which is an Epiphany Accoustics EHP-O2D. Files in FLAC format. The Dethonray has no EQ function, and I'd rather avoid having to get a pair I need to apply EQ to. I believe, but correct me if I'm wrong, that both these sources have enough power to drive pretty much any set of cans.
I listen primarily to prog, but also normal rock, classical, musical theatre and really anything else. I like a degree of smoothness, but a lot of detail, with slightly sparkly treble without it being harsh. I'm not a basshead, but some degree of slam is welcome. Some good dynamism and energy (and, again, detail) would be desirable for those technical proggy instrumental sections, and to help me really feel the music. I understand this last one is a strength of planar magnetic headphones.
My only pair of cans currently are Shure 1540s. They're OK, but I don't find them very inspiring. for whatever reason. For info, my top IEM at the moment is Thieaudio Prestige LTD. I find these pretty amazing.
I'm curious about planar sets for their supposed dynamism. I've read about a few of the Audeze and HiFiMan offerings, and also considered some non-planar sets like the Sennheiser HD600s. I am curious about HiFiMan Arya Organic - only thing giving me pause, apart from the price, is that many people seem to think they're too bright. But as this is a perception thing, and the brightness is an apparent function of their excellent detail retrieval in the trible, I'm not even sure if this is a negative for me. Also interested in other HiFiMan variants both above and below, e.g. the HE1000 variants and the Edition XS.
What do you think? Throw me some recs guys, if you please - especially if you're into prog rock! And feel free to comment on the appropriateness, or not, of my two sources.
Source for the headphones would be my Dethonray DTR1+ DAP, and my computer's DAC/headphone output, which is an Epiphany Accoustics EHP-O2D. Files in FLAC format. The Dethonray has no EQ function, and I'd rather avoid having to get a pair I need to apply EQ to. I believe, but correct me if I'm wrong, that both these sources have enough power to drive pretty much any set of cans.
I listen primarily to prog, but also normal rock, classical, musical theatre and really anything else. I like a degree of smoothness, but a lot of detail, with slightly sparkly treble without it being harsh. I'm not a basshead, but some degree of slam is welcome. Some good dynamism and energy (and, again, detail) would be desirable for those technical proggy instrumental sections, and to help me really feel the music. I understand this last one is a strength of planar magnetic headphones.
My only pair of cans currently are Shure 1540s. They're OK, but I don't find them very inspiring. for whatever reason. For info, my top IEM at the moment is Thieaudio Prestige LTD. I find these pretty amazing.
I'm curious about planar sets for their supposed dynamism. I've read about a few of the Audeze and HiFiMan offerings, and also considered some non-planar sets like the Sennheiser HD600s. I am curious about HiFiMan Arya Organic - only thing giving me pause, apart from the price, is that many people seem to think they're too bright. But as this is a perception thing, and the brightness is an apparent function of their excellent detail retrieval in the trible, I'm not even sure if this is a negative for me. Also interested in other HiFiMan variants both above and below, e.g. the HE1000 variants and the Edition XS.
What do you think? Throw me some recs guys, if you please - especially if you're into prog rock! And feel free to comment on the appropriateness, or not, of my two sources.
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