An update for the end of the year.
I've downsized a part of the collection.
1. STAX SR-009 - My favorite - detailed, precise, very true to the recordings
2. STAX SR-007MKI - Could also be #1, but it just lacks a bit of sonic detail when I do a direct comparison against the SR-009
3. SONY MDR-R10 Bass Heavy - King of mids and the best of SONY in music equipment from 1989; the membrane is VERY fragile - must be cared with precaution
4. PIONEER SE-Master 1 - Really like the sub-bass presentation and quite addictive
5. STAX SR-007MKII - A little too boomy, even with modding but it remains a flagship STAX and .. what a ride, baby!
6. SENNHEISER HD800 - The bang for the buck in electrodynamics, don't need to describe them much
7. KENNERTON Odin - A real preference against the Abyss, more refined sound - needs a total tweak on the headband, otherwise too weighty and uncomfortable
8. HIFIMAN HE-6 - A real frank sounding headphones from HiFiman, needs a really powerful amp
9. AKG K1000 Bass Heavy - Speakers on your head, king of soundstage, need also a very powerful amp
10. AKG K812 - Many opposite reviews on these headphones, I like them on moderate levels as an everyday headphones, sound seems a little bit compressed to be fair
11. SONY Qualia Q-10 - A collector item and very detailed, but could be harsh with high levels and sound ssynthetic with classical music
12. FOSTEX TH900 - I like these headphones, but they are TOO bassy for a long-time session - reserved for quick moment of pure fun
13. BEYERDYNAMIC T1 MKII - Quite good, but it is the entry-level of flagship, we could do so much better (but at bigger prices)
14. BEYERDYNAMIC DT1770 (NEW ENTRY) - Quite an improvement over DT770, but they cannot compete with the others higher in the list, nonetheless rather good Q/P rating
15. BEYERDYNAMIC DT880 Pro - a classic since 15 years for me, one of the basics for beginning in the audiophile hobby
Sold :
ENIGMAcoustics Dharma D1000 - Reminds me that I'm missing my old and beloved AKG K340 (KT88 version)
AUDEZE LCD-4 - Didn't like the treble section and I prefered the sound signatures of the LCD-2 and LCD-3
JPS Labs Abyss AB-1266 - Bass is more full-bodied than the SE Master-1 and the Odin, but the latters are better on soundstage, clarity, 3D and less weighty than the Abyss
SENNHEISER HE60 - I prefer the STAX sound with my equipments, too thin on the bass section
HIFIMAN HE-1000 - Too much problems with QC (membrane tension) on 3 pairs within 5 months, so goodbye HE-1000