[FritzS]

Today
Open:
AKG K812
Austrian Audio Hi-X65
AKG K712

Closed:
Austrian Audio Hi-X55
AKG K872

 

[dweet]

I have and love the Edition XS and have been considering getting the lcd-gx as my first Audeze set. Would you say it's worth it? I'm surprised to see the HD58x above them in the ranking.

I'd say that GX is a rather gaming rig. Maybe start with LCD-2 to get some true Audeze sound?

 

[arielext]

1. Meze Empyrean with Elite pads
2. ZMF vérité closed monkeypod

4. Beyerdynamic DT 900 pro x
5. Beyerdynamic DT 700 pro x

 

[samr33]

1. ADX5000

2. D8000PRO

3. HD800S

4. D9200

5. EMPYREAN

6. HD600

 

[Davidzak64]

Here's a stab. Just currently owned. Would be way too hard to rank all the stuff I've had over the years.

1. Stax SR-009 - #1 because I know their potential. But boy, does it take a LOT of amp to reach that potential.
2. Stax 007 Mk I - Also takes a hell of a lot of amp to reach its potential
3. ES Lab ES-R10 - Wonderful tuning, magical soundstage, gorgeous cups, easy as hell to drive
4. ES Lab ES-1a - It has the wonderful Stax Omega type sound, but treble is just a smidge too dark
5. TIE Stax L700 Mk II, 404LE - Excellent Stax sound, and easier to drive than the Omega types
6. Sony SA-5000 - To me, this sounds like the "far less busted HD800"
7. AKG K340 - If and when your brain adjusts to its weird crossover, it can be magical. Especially with OTL tube amp. But man, they can sound weird at first.
8. Grado PS1000 - With reversed G pads, just a fun engaging sound. Bass is a bit overblown, but more fun and detailed than the other Grados.
9. Grado PS2000e - Really good for Grados, but can't justify the high price
10. Grado PS500e - With Todd's flat pads, a very well balanced portable Grado
11. JVC HP DX-1000 - Fun, bassy sound with a nice soundstage and lovely tonality. A bit too much of the basshead sound, but keeps in check for the most part (barely)
12. Sennheiser HD650 - A true classic, but doesn't hold up to this competition

Also have Audio Technica L3000 "Leatherhead", but I don't listen much anymore and it's hard to place based on the massive nostalgia. It should probably be around 3 or 4. Slots 3 - 5 are really close, and very dependent on my appetite for each flavor on any given day. Slots 6 - 10 are all pretty close too.

Team K340 here. Magical is a great description. These HP's are detailed image masters, But you better bring the power. They get very hungry.

 

[Krekmate]

I have and love the Edition XS and have been considering getting the lcd-gx as my first Audeze set. Would you say it's worth it? I'm surprised to see the HD58x above them in the ranking.

I think sonically the lcd-gx is definitely better and I really enjoy them but I just can't stand to wear them longer than 30 minutes due to Audeze's headband and suspension system, which is pretty terrible for comfort imo. So, due to the lackluster comfort I had to put them lower. I even modded them to improve that aspect, but comfort was still just not good enough to warrant saying I liked them more.

I generally value comfort pretty high, since I wear my headphones all day.

 

[Davidzak64]

It's been a while since I've updated my list.

1. AKG K340
2.
3. HD650
4. Sr325
5. V-Moda CFW
6. K7XX
7. Philips SHP9500
8. Pioneer Monitor 10
8. HD598
9. AKG K240

 

[ops V]

1. ???
2. Kennerton Rognir
3. Meze Empyrean
4. Denon AH-D9200
5. Quad ERA-1
6. ATH-W1000X Grandioso
7. Sendy Audio Apollo
8. Sony MDR-1AM2
9. AKG K371
10. ATH- DSR7BT

 

[Mhog55]

1. ???
2. Kennerton Rognir
3. Meze Empyrean
4. Denon AH-D9200
5. Quad ERA-1
6. ATH-W1000X Grandioso
7. Sendy Audio Apollo
8. Sony MDR-1AM2
9. AKG K371
10. ATH- DSR7BT

Now this makes sense. Forever searching for that number one top spot.

 

[Kevintj604]

Out of the full size headphones that I currently own I would rank them like this. The ranking is based on pure enjoyment and my use case.

This has nothing to do with technical performance or any other criteria:

1. Rosson RAD-0
2. ZMF LTD Vérité Closed
3. HiFiMan HE1000 V2
4. Audeze LCD-X 2021
5. Focal Radiance
6. ZMF LTD Aeolus

Out of the headphones that I've owned in the past here is how I'd rank:

1. Rosson RAD-0
2. ZMF LTD Vérité Closed
3. HiFiMan HE1000 V2
4. Audeze LCD-X 2021
5. Focal Radiance
6. ZMF LTD Aeolus
7. HiFiMan Arya Stealth
8. Audeze LCD-XC 2021 Carbon
9. Meze Empyrean
10. HiFiMan Sundara 2020
11. HiFiMan Ananda
12. Focal Clear
13. Meze Liric
14. HiFiMan HE6se V2
15. Audeze LCD2C
16. Audeze SINE
17. Sennheiser HD 6XX
18. Sennheiser HD 660S V2
19. ZMF LTD Atticus
20. Focal Elegia
21. Grado SR60
22. Bowers & Wilkins PX

 

[dweet]

Out of the full size headphones that I currently own I would rank them like this. The ranking is based on pure enjoyment and my use case.

This has nothing to do with technical performance or any other criteria:

1. Rosson RAD-0
2. ZMF LTD Vérité Closed
3. HiFiMan HE1000 V2
4. Audeze LCD-X 2021
5. Focal Radiance
6. ZMF LTD Aeolus

Out of the headphones that I've owned in the past here is how I'd rank:

1. Rosson RAD-0
2. ZMF LTD Vérité Closed
3. HiFiMan HE1000 V2
4. Audeze LCD-X 2021
5. Focal Radiance
6. ZMF LTD Aeolus
7. HiFiMan Arya Stealth
8. Audeze LCD-XC 2021 Carbon
9. Meze Empyrean
10. HiFiMan Sundara 2020
11. HiFiMan Ananda
12. Focal Clear
13. Meze Liric
14. HiFiMan HE6se V2
15. Audeze LCD2C
16. Audeze SINE
17. Sennheiser HD 6XX
18. Sennheiser HD 660S V2
19. ZMF LTD Atticus
20. Focal Elegia
21. Grado SR60
22. Bowers & Wilkins PX

Not a surprising choice of current collection

 

[LCMusicLover]

Out of the full size headphones that I currently own I would rank them like this. The ranking is based on pure enjoyment and my use case.

This has nothing to do with technical performance or any other criteria:

1. Rosson RAD-0
2. ZMF LTD Vérité Closed
3. HiFiMan HE1000 V2
.

I wonder about the top-two ranking. Is the RAD-0 preference (vs VC) about open vs closed, or tonality, or something else?

I also would have put RAD-0 ahead of HEKv2 when I owned them both, but like you, I would have also ranked them both near the top.

 

[wazzupi]

1. ???
2. Kennerton Rognir
3. Meze Empyrean
4. Denon AH-D9200
5. Quad ERA-1
6. ATH-W1000X Grandioso
7. Sendy Audio Apollo
8. Sony MDR-1AM2
9. AKG K371
10. ATH- DSR7BT

 

[hottyson]

Out of the full size headphones that I currently own I would rank them like this. The ranking is based on pure enjoyment and my use case.

This has nothing to do with technical performance or any other criteria:

1. Rosson RAD-0
2. ZMF LTD Vérité Closed
3. HiFiMan HE1000 V2
4. Audeze LCD-X 2021
5. Focal Radiance
6. ZMF LTD Aeolus

Out of the headphones that I've owned in the past here is how I'd rank:

1. Rosson RAD-0
2. ZMF LTD Vérité Closed
3. HiFiMan HE1000 V2
4. Audeze LCD-X 2021
5. Focal Radiance
6. ZMF LTD Aeolus
7. HiFiMan Arya Stealth
8. Audeze LCD-XC 2021 Carbon
9. Meze Empyrean
10. HiFiMan Sundara 2020
11. HiFiMan Ananda
12. Focal Clear
13. Meze Liric
14. HiFiMan HE6se V2
15. Audeze LCD2C
16. Audeze SINE
17. Sennheiser HD 6XX
18. Sennheiser HD 660S V2
19. ZMF LTD Atticus
20. Focal Elegia
21. Grado SR60
22. Bowers & Wilkins PX

Man, do I envy those pricey high end headphones that are above my budget! I absolutely love that you posted your ranking of past headphones so that I can see where you have journeyed from. Great selection of headphones that really provides a solid foundation to support your current rankings. Thank you for the great post!

 

[Kevintj604]

I wonder about the top-two ranking. Is the RAD-0 preference (vs VC) about open vs closed, or tonality, or something else?

I also would have put RAD-0 ahead of HEKv2 when I owned them both, but like you, I would have also ranked them both near the top.

The RAD-0 and VC are so close to my personal preference for what I index heavily for that they could easily swap back and forth. I think the RAD-0 has an extra layer of technical abilities that I find myself craving the further down the rabbit hole of the hobby I go. Tonally I would say they are very similar as each of them shine with their timboral characters. The RAD-0 is the least sounding planar I've tried so tonality and timbre is top on Rosson's list of attributes.

I've heard some reviewers say their VC isn't as punchy and dynamic as most owners would say they are. I found this to be the case until I swapped pads. I run my VC with the Eikon Suede Solid's and they're incredibly slammy. I love both the RAD's and VC equally but probably lean slighter to the RAD's because of their open back design.