[geoffalter11]

  time to update my ranking.... including also cans I have already sold.
 
Utopia is still my favourite can, it really has everything I'm looking for, extremely live and dynamic, good timbre, excellent resolution. the only defect, well, you already know, the price...
Second is HEK v2, more relaxed than Utopia, less resolving, less "live", but still an excellent can for long sessions.
Second shared is for sure Sony Z1R, even if for my taste maybe a little bit too "boomy" and less resolving than both Utopia and HEK v2
Third HEK v1 (yes, I own both, but I think v1 is going to leave soon...), even more relaxed than v2, with slighlty recessed mids, but at the current price point I think it's a bargain
Fourth HE6, good overall can, but simply not at the same level as the others.
Fourth shared the Stax 507, very natural timbre but lacking bass and liveliness
Fifth Pioneer SE1, very musical, but for my taste too "colored" and "boomy"
 
1. Focal Utopia
2. Hifiman HEK v2 / Sony Z1R
3. Hifiman HEK v1
4. Hifiman HE6 / Stax 507
5. Pioneer SE1
 
I'm leaving the Abyss AB-1266 out of this. I still have to decide if I love it (and in this case would be 1st together with Utopia) or I hate it, and I will need more time and listening

Nice list.  Interesting to hear how you place the SE1.  It seems to be a headphone that has a lot of disagreement to its capabilities...  After hearing the Utopia for the first time I agree that its ability to resolve is second to none.  It was actually quite startling.

 

[pav13]

  I guess it is time to do my once-a-year post here. I'm surprised how much has changed since last year. The HD650 and HD800S remain on my list, though two headphones, LCD-X and Aeon, are inbound soon, perhaps perturbing the list a little. As of today:
 

1. Focal Utopia
2. Sennheiser HD800S
3. Sennheiser HD650
4. Sennheiser HD600

 
The most surprising thing to me is how little separates the top from the bottom of this list. There's just no longer a lot of difference, to my ears, between competent headphones. And I get the HD600, whereas I did not before. It might be higher on some people's list - just not mine. As the electronics feeding the headphones decrease in quality, the HD600 starts to move up the ranks holding stubbornly to its sonic quality, better than any other headphone on the list.
 
Don't let anyone tell you the Utopia does not take much to drive. While that is true, it is unyieldingly revealing of the entire chain. I've needed to shift my focus upstream, since its acquisition. I've learned more about power and USB in the past 6 months than in the two years prior to its purchase, when I was a recently joined member of Head-Fi, but using other headphones like the HD800, HD800S, HE1000, and HE6. Nothing tells you something is broken in your chain as much as the Utopia.

Hi, would you mind going into more detail for what you changed for the Utopia's?  What worked, what didn't work so well?  I've tried to do a lot of reading, but still lost to try to have a rough idea of power needs.  If you want to venture into DAC/souce needs as well that would be great! Thanks!

 

[Siegfried262]

Nothing too fancy but out of what I currently own.
 
1.) Audio Technica AD700: Lovely mids and highs (though a touch of grain in the highs sometimes) and a very airy soundstage. There is almost zero low end though. Despite this, I love these headphones.
 
2.) VE Monks+: They're not giant killers but I'm very satisfied with these as a portable solution. Comfortable fit with the included foam covers, clear mids and highs (though there's something I can't quite place that's occasionally odd about the treble) with some low end. Great portable earbuds for the cost.
 
3.) Koss Sporta-Pros: Used these before I got the Monks. Fold up nicely and a noticeable improvement over your various dollar store and bargain bin offerings. They have a muddy low end though and don't take well to turning them up. Still not bad as a knock-around pair. Comfort is decent as well though I have to use them at max extension for the headband.
 
I have a pair of ISK-HD9999 on the way which I'm excited to try.

 

[dwayniac]

IEM/Earbuds

1. Auglamour R8. Love the sound but with the fit there is much to be desired.
2. Yamaha EPH-100. Occasional use makes me forget how much bass it has. Wish I could easily get replacement tips for it.
3. DIY EMX500. Easily beats four other earbuds that I own.
4. QCY Q19. Great budget Bluetooth IEM.
5. Auglamour RS1. Used them in tandem with the R8 until the EMX500 came along.

 

[Kazekeil]

Rankings including my last few recent cans that I've since gotten rid of.

1. Koss 950 w/ vesper pads (Warm/"flat" endgame)
2. HD800 (Analytical/"sharp" endgame)
3. iSine 20 (portable endgame until better tech comes out. Amazing stuff here, goodbye BAs)
4. Stax 002/003
5. Monoprice 1060
6. HD700
7. Audioquest Nighthawk
8. Hisenior DC8
9. FLC 8s
10. Audeze Sine
11. Oppo PM3

 

[Wilashort]

1. Benondynamickg)))) AHDTK-5791/Beyerdynamic T90 Chrome Edition/Audio Technica ATH-W5000/Shure SRH-940 (Yeah. All of them are that good in my setups for being 2,3,4)
2. Yuin PK3 earbuds
3. Optimus NOVAnytex MDRSRHTH-9403 (should be 1 if it was feeded with a very warm amp)

 

[Shure or bust]

 

[listen4joy]

HD800
beyerdynamic dt1350
audio technica m50
rock it r50
sony mh1c
shure se215
monks +
xiaomi piston 2.0

 

[tamas]

1: Sansui SS-100 (mods)
2: ESS MARK 1 AIR MOTION TRANSFORMER (mods)
3: Sennheiser HD800SDR

Can you please tell me what is the modification on the SS-100 ?
Thank you

 

[Hifi59]

Audeze Lcd4
Hifiman HE-6
Hifiman HE-1k
Audeze LCD-3f
Zmf Eikon Cherry
Hifiman He-500
Audeze XC 2016

All as driven by Wells Audio Headtrip Amp

 

[geoffalter11]

Audeze Lcd4
Hifiman HE-6
Hifiman HE-1k
Audeze LCD-3f
Zmf Eikon Cherry
Hifiman He-500
Audeze XC 2016

All as driven by Wells Audio Headtrip Amp

How are you liking the Headtrip? Vs the Milo? I love my Eikon/Milo pairing.

 

[DancingShade]

These are all currently driven by a Jotunheim:

HD600 (you can never go wrong with these for any purpose)
ATH-MSR7 (my current go-to for sealed fun)
M1060 (great for the price if you can live with some flaws)
HD599 (there was a flash sale and I was curious... they're good but not 600 good)
AKG701 (my original entry into good headphones many years ago with the bumpy nightmare headband, only keep them out of nostalgia)

I have a couple gaming headsets too but while great for VOIP I think I'd rather barf than listen to music on them. Really terrible for that.

Have some ZMF Vibro MK IIs on order but it will be a while before I get those. I think my head would appreciate the bass to round out my collection.

 

[Hifi59]

How are you liking the Headtrip? Vs the Milo? I love my Eikon/Milo pairing.

As much as I love the Milo, the Headtrip truly takes it up a few notches. Even more slam and transparency.
Having said that, your brain adjusts to this in short order and you start wondering if the Milo was a lot closer sounding than you think. I would never pay the full price difference between the cost of the two. I got my Headtrip at a great price used, making it worth the upgrade.

 

[geoffalter11]

As much as I love the Milo, the Headtrip truly takes it up a few notches. Even more slam and transparency.
Having said that, your brain adjusts to this in short order and you start wondering if the Milo was a lot closer sounding than you think. I would never pay the full price difference between the cost of the two. I got my Headtrip at a great price used, making it worth the upgrade.

That makes sense to me. I noticed a difference between the two at Canjam. However, I did not notice a big difference between the Milo and Enigma. In fact, Jeff Wells believes that the Milo does something special sonicallly that neither the Headtrip or Enigma do. Something he cannot completely put his finger on. He knows his Headtrip is at the summit. He believes his Milo is close. He is going to create a Milo reference which he believes will be truly sensational. I would tend to agree...

 

[rudzits]

1. Audeze EL-8 Open Back
2. AKG K601
3. Fostex T20RP
4. Audio-Technica ATH-50x
5. Status Audio CB-1