Aug 13, 2024 at 12:02 AM Post #8,206 of 8,296
What are your top three among that list?

What did you think of the Mega5EST? I'm very interested in that model.

Elex, Mega5 Est, and Ether2 were my favs. Although tbh if I could have something complementary alongside the Elex and Mega5 Est, I'd most likely get an HD800S.

All the hype around Mega5 Est is well justified. Its tuning is immaculate-- like the only headphone I have that is in the ballpark tuning quality wise is the Elex. Elex is still my beloved and fav sound signature, so Mega 5 Est can be a little emphatic around 5-6khz by comparison, but it's nothing annoying.
 
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Aug 13, 2024 at 3:12 AM Post #8,207 of 8,296
  1. Focal Utopia 2022
  2. ZMF Caldera Closed
  3. Focal Utopia 2020
  4. Focal "Stelliance"
  5. Meze Elite
  6. Focal Stellia*
  7. Meze LIRIC 2
  8. Focal Radiance*
  9. T+A Solitaire T
(* Applicable when I am not in Stelliance mode but in separate Stellia & Radiance mode)

Note: The ZMF Caldera has really surprised me by taking the #2 spot, given that in principle I prefer open to closed ...
 
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Aug 13, 2024 at 3:40 AM Post #8,208 of 8,296
  1. Focal Utopia 2022
  2. ZMF Caldera Closed
  3. Focal Utopia 2020
  4. Focal "Stelliance"
  5. Meze Elite
  6. Focal Stellia*
  7. Meze LIRIC 2
  8. Focal Radiance*
  9. T+A Solitaire T
(* Applicable when I am not in Stelliance mode but in separate Stellia & Radiance mode)

Note: The ZMF Caldera has really surprised me by taking the #2 spot, given that in principle I prefer open to closed ...
This is a list I can get behind!

The Nutopia really is special isn’t it? I have so many moments where I think “this just sounds right” with it. Something in the mids in terms of realism and balance is just spot on.
 
Aug 13, 2024 at 6:53 AM Post #8,209 of 8,296
Top 5 (sound quality):

1.) Beyerdynamic DT 480 - 25 Ohm (modded)
2a.) Focal Hadenys
2b.) Beyerdynamic T1 Gen 3
4.) Focal Azurys
5.) Sennheiser HD 600


Top 5 (most used: combination of sound quality, tuning, and comfort):

1.) Focal Hadenys (basically my ideal all-purpose headphone)
2.) Focal Azurys (my ideal closed-back all-purpose headphone)
3.) Beyerdynamic T1 Gen 3 (Very spatial and unique sound signature)
4.) Sennheiser HD 600 (the classic)
5.) Beyerdynamic DT 480 (heavy at 500g so reserved for intense listening sessions)

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Aug 13, 2024 at 9:19 AM Post #8,210 of 8,296
1. or 2. Final D8000
2. or 1. OG HE-6
3. Music Master TD-E1000i
4. OG Empyrean
5. HD660 S2
 
Aug 20, 2024 at 3:45 AM Post #8,217 of 8,296
  1. Focal Utopia 2022
  2. ZMF Caldera Closed
  3. Focal Utopia 2020
  4. Focal "Stelliance"
  5. Meze Elite
  6. Focal Stellia*
  7. Meze LIRIC 2
  8. Focal Radiance*
  9. T+A Solitaire T

I guess I forgot a few (that I no longer own), added below in italic

  1. Focal Utopia 2022
  2. ZMF Caldera Closed
  3. Focal Utopia 2020
  4. Focal "Stelliance"
  5. Meze Elite
  6. ZMF Verite Closed
  7. Focal Stellia*
  8. Hifiman Edition X v2
  9. Hifiman HE1000SE
  10. Meze LIRIC 2
  11. Focal Radiance*
  12. Denon AH-D9200
  13. Hifiman Arya
  14. T+A Solitaire T
  15. Hifiman Ananda BT
  16. Mark Levinson ML № 5909
 
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Oct 11, 2024 at 1:50 PM Post #8,218 of 8,296
Current entirely subjective list below - full list and site are here: https://wordpress.com/post/bytes-bull.com/111. Site will be going down in January since I don't feel like paying for it anymore, so I'm posting this here for posterity - hopefully it helps somebody.

IEM Ranking List:


  1. FiR Radon6 (Rn6) – 5
  2. Noble Audio Ronin – 5
  3. Campfire Audio Trifecta – 5
  4. Hisenior Mega EST - 5
  5. Oriolus Traillii – 5
  6. Multiverse Mentor Jade/Emerald – 5
  7. Campfire Audio Black Star – 4
  8. Campfire Audio Bonneville – 4
  9. Campfire Audio Supermoon Universal – 4
  10. Campfire Audio Solaris Stellar Horizon – 4
  11. Sound Rhyme SR8 – 4
  12. Elysian Diva – 4
  13. Aroma Audio Jewel – 4
  14. FiR Xenon 6 (Xe6) – 4
  15. Vision Ears Elysium – 4
  16. Custom Art Fibae 5 – 4
  17. Noble Kublai Khan – 4
  18. Aroma Audio Thunder – 4
  19. Campfire Audio Andromeda 2019 – 4
  20. Earsonics Onyx – 4
  21. FiR VxV – 4
  22. FAudio Mezzo LE – 4
  23. Vision Ears VE8 – 4
  24. Thieaudio Monarch Mk2 – 4
  25. UM MEST Mk2 – 4
  26. 64Audio u12t – 4
  27. Empire Ears ESR Mk2 – 4
  28. 64 Audio Duo – 4
  29. Final A5000 – 4
  30. AFUL Performer8 – 3
  31. Hidition Viento B – 3
  32. JH Audio ROX – 3
  33. Noble FoKus Mystique – 3
  34. Symphonium Meteor – 3
  35. Mangird Xenns Up – 3
  36. TRUTHEAR HEXA – 3
  37. KZ ZEX Pro – 3
  38. Letshuoer EJ07 – 2
  39. Moondrop Blessing 2 – 2
  40. DUNU SA6 – 2
  41. 7Hz Salnotes Zero – 2
  42. TRUTHEAR HOLA – 2
  43. RAPTGO Hook X – 1
  44. KZ x HBB DQ6S – 1
  45. Hzsound Heart Mirror – 1
  46. Moondrop KXXX – 1
  47. KZ ZSN – 1
  48. Moondrop Chu – 1
Full-size Open-Back Headphones Ranking List:

  1. ZMF Caldera – 5 – Not Reviewed
  2. Hifiman Susvara – 5 – Not Reviewed
  3. SASH TRES SE – 5 – Not Reviewed
  4. Abyss Diana MR – 5
  5. JM Audio XTC2 – 5
  6. STAX SR-007A – 5
  7. RAAL CA-1a – 5
  8. JM Audio XTC-Open – 5
  9. Rosson RAD-0 – 5
  10. DCA Ether 2 – 5
  11. T+A SOLITAIRE P – 4
  12. Hifiman HE1000 v2 – 4
  13. Focal Utopia 2020 – 4
  14. HiFiMan HE6se V2 – 4
  15. Meze Empyrean – 4
  16. HiFiMan Arya V2 – 4
  17. SJY Moonlight – 4
  18. ZMF Verite Open – 4
  19. ZMF Aeolus Sapele – 4
  20. HarmonicDyne Zeus Elite – 4 – Not Reviewed
  21. Hifiman Ananda Nano – 4
  22. Sennheiser HD 800S – 3 – Not Reviewed
  23. Audeze LCD-X – 3
  24. Sendy Aiva – 3
  25. Focal Elex – 2
  26. Beyerdynamic DT1990 Pro – 2
  27. Hifiman HE400 – 2
  28. AKG K702 – 2
Full-size Closed-Back Headphones Ranking List:

  1. ES Labs ES-R10 – 5 – Not Reviewed
  2. Beyerdynamic T5 – 5 – Not Reviewed
  3. JM Audio XTC 2.5 Closed Limited Edition 1 of 5 African Blackwood – 5
  4. Kennerton Rognir – 4
  5. T+A Solitaire T – 4
  6. DCA E3 – 4 – Not Reviewed
  7. Noble Apollo – 4
  8. Mod House Argon V3 – 4 – Not Reviewed
  9. Focal Azurys – 4 – Not Reviewed (Budget Pick)
  10. Meze Liric – 4
  11. JM Audio XTC-Closed – 4
  12. Kennerton Gjallarhorn GH 50 JM Edition v2 – 4
  13. Sony MDR-Z1R – 4
  14. Sennheiser HD 820 – 3
  15. Audeze LCD-XC – 3
  16. Focal Celestee – 3
  17. Mark Levinson 5909 – 3
  18. Focal Bathys – 3
  19. Master & Dynamic MW75 – 3
  20. Sony MDR-Z7m2 – 3
  21. B&W PX8 – 3
  22. Dali IO-6 – 3
  23. Shure Aonic 50 – 3
  24. Denon AH-D9200 – 3
  25. Audeze Maxwell Gaming Headset – 2
  26. Sennheiser Momentum over-ear wired – 2
  27. Sony WM-1000XM3 – 2
  28. Drop + Dan Clark Audio Aeon Closed X Headphones – 1
  29. Bose 700 – 1
DAP Ranking List:

  1. HiBy RS8 – 5
  2. Cayin N8ii – 5
  3. Cayin N7 – 5
  4. Fiio M15S – 5
  5. HiBy R6 Pro II – 4
  6. A&K SP3K – 4
  7. Shanling M6 Ultra – 4
  8. iBasso DX240 w/ AMP 8 – 4
  9. Cayin RU7 – 4
  10. A&K P1 – 3
  11. HiBy R4 – 3
  12. Shanling M3 Ultra – 3
  13. Truthear SHIO – 3
  14. Fiio M11 Plus – 3
  15. HiBy R6 II – 1 (Software Issues)
  16. HiBy R3 III – 1 (Software Issues)
Desktop DAC/AMP Rankings:

  1. RME ADI-2/4 PRO SE – 5 – Not Reviewed
  2. iFi iCAN Phantom – 5
  3. ZMF Pendant SE w/ Custom Tubes – 5 – Not Reviewed
  4. Schiit Ragnarok – 5
  5. Chord Qutest – 5
  6. EVERSOLO DMP-A8 – 5
  7. Denafrips Pontus II – 4 – Not Reviewed
  8. Ferrum WANDLA – 4
  9. Ferrum OOR – 4
  10. Cayin iDAC-8 – 4
  11. Cayin iHA-8 – 4
  12. Matrix X-Sabre Pro MQA – 4
  13. Cocktail Audio HA500H – 4
  14. Questyle CMA Fifteen – 4
  15. Cayin iDAC-8 – 4
  16. Naim Unity Atom HE – 4
  17. Schiit BiFrost 2 – 4
  18. Schiit Jotunheim 2 – 4
  19. Cayin iHA-8 – 4
  20. Hifiman EF400 – 3
  21. Burson Conductor 3XP – 3
  22. Topping DX5 – 3
  23. Topping EX5 – 2
  24. Fiio K9 (Couldn’t get it working) – 1
 
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Oct 12, 2024 at 8:31 PM Post #8,219 of 8,296
1) ZMF Caldera Open
2) Focal Utopia 2022
3) Sennheiser HD800S
4) Focal Clear OG
5) Sennheiser HD600
7) Sennheiser HD650

(Purely based off what I’ve owned…)
 
Oct 12, 2024 at 11:09 PM Post #8,220 of 8,296
I am always very surprised that people can own so much different headphones.
I bought 12 all in all.
They were all unsatisfactory to say the least.
I even modified all of them. Each time with success. But to no avail. Even after improvements they were defectuous by design anyway...
They were deficient on many acoustic counts. Each one of them on many counts...
Be it dynamic, planar or electrostatic.

No headphone compare to speakers well done in an acoustically tuned room anyway. I knowbecause i created my own acoustic room few years ago. I lost it then i was in the obligation to use an headphone and i disliked all my headphone.

The only headphone who gave me satisfaction, as i already stated here is the AKG K340 but it takes me 6 months of experiments and 6 modifications at the end to set it to my satisfaction .

I cannot fathom or dare to buy any other one. I pay it 100 bucks and i am pretty sure that almost no other headphone will compete.

Probably the Imanis at 10,000 dollars will do...
:)

The most important characteristics of a good headphone is ultra deep bass, good timbre characteristic for voice and any instrument ( naturalness ) an imaging and a sound-staging able to make the original recording distinctive and realistic but more important than all these basic acoustic factor, the ability to give an "out of the head" acoustic holographic impression when the original recording ask for it and make it possible.. ( the soundstage dimensions must be variable and not fixed once for all by design as it is the case in all headphone , the soundstage must be as in the recording, a small studio is not a church, an electronic session is not an acoustic Hall )

I have all that for 100 bucks...

I am even afraid to buy anything else...

Perhaps the Raal Imanis will rival and better mine, after all the cost means something i think...

But i will never know ...

An improvement over my AKG K340 is not enough to justify the 9,900 $ of price difference.

And if i read the cons associated with it in some review :

https://www.head-fi.org/showcase/raal-1995-immanis.27277/

«Cons: - In the end too laid-back vocals for me
- Recessed voices and inability to sound truly intimate
- Neutral sounding, so it does not portrait a spicy rendition, can sound bland with bad recordings
- Price is extremely high »

my AKG created by the physicist and acoustician Dr. Gorike founder of AKG when improved ( vibration and resonance absorption and control and Removal of the grid protector etc) Has no defect at all for me...

I will never use 10 headphones again to compensate one defect by another different defect in a move to change the place of the acoustic pain changing headphone.. Or using different headphones for different styles of music.

Is the AKG K340 can be improved ?

Yes i proved that because i modified it myself...

Could this hybrid design with his dual acoustic chamber with 5 tuned resonators be improved?

Yes it can...

But no headphone company will use this basic genius acoustic set of designs from the start and invest big money in research to improve it using the same set of acoustic ideas...None...

Some headphone big player said to me that creating this hybrid design in the right way and improve on it ask for too much investment and then less profit...

I am too old to see this coming anyway.... I will die with my AKG K340...
 
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