Requesting Recommendation - Closed Back Headphones

[Blindspy]

Hello everyone,

I'm looking to buy a new closed back headphone and I was hoping for some help picking a pair out. I own an original Aeon Flow Closed (back when they were MrSpeakers, not DCA), but am looking to sell it. It's fast, clear, and fantastic at detail retrieval, but it also feels a bit sterile/flat/unengaging/limp and doesn't make me want to dance to my music the way my open HPs do. Here's some attributes that I'm interested in, in order of most to least important:

1. Dynamic impact/punchiness/macrodynamics - I'd really like something that makes me feel the music (the AFC really fails me here). I'm not exactly a basshead though.
2. Detail retrieval - I love headphones that can reveal subtleties in a good recording that I haven't heard before
3. Instrument separation - I like a headphone that doesn't stumble over itself when the music gets hectic/complicated
4. Sound Isolation - I already have open back headphones I'm happy with - I'm shopping for a closed specifically for times when I want to escape from outside noise
5. Spacious soundstage - only somewhat important

They're exclusively for desktop use and I really only care about the sound, so here are some things that are completely unimportant to me:

• Weight/Comfort
• Easy vs Hard to drive
• Planar vs Dynamic Drivers
• Portability
• Aesthetics
• Cable length/quality

Here are some headphones I have been considering as well as some of my impressions or concerns about them from reviews/measurements. I unfortunately don't live in a city big enough to audition any of these, which is why I'm here!:

• Audeze LCD-XC 2021: Good at most things on the list, but it measures a bit light in the low/sub bass department, which makes me worried about the macrodynamics (please correct me if I'm wrong, I'd love to shortlist these)
• Aeon 2 Noire: Bad macrodynamics just like my AFC, unless I hear otherwise these will almost certainly be a pass for me.
• Focal Radiance: Pretty good at everything on the list, but maybe a bit... too much bass/warmth with withdrawn treble
• Focal Celestee: Seems like a pretty good all-rounder, on my shortlist
• ZMF Atticus: Too much bass, fizzy treble, paying a bit extra for the craftsmanship/showpiece aspect as opposed to the sound.
• Drop + Ether CX: Similar problems to the Aeon, good technical abilities but anemic bass/macrodynamics.

My budget is $1500, but if a better headphone for the criteria is cheaper all the better. If something is slightly more than $1500, I might be willing to consider it if it's amazing enough. Thanks so much in advance to anyone who might help me narrow my options down or introduce me to another contender!

 

[jamiejmuk]

I have LCD-2 closed and LCD-XC (wood cup - not 2021 revision). The XC is, in my opinion very punchy, 2's slightly lazy in comparison to the XC's but what would any one expect at 1/2 the price.

There is no lack of bass for the 2-closed or the XC. I would say the XC is noticeably more bass-foreword than the 2's Neither is out of control, the 2's obviously not as capable as the XC.

The XC's are amazingly detailed. My music source is mostly Amazon HD (upto 24/192) on PC, Android, OSX. So accepting whatever upsampling is going on, playing through a iFi Neo iDSD and down a CustomCans balanced cable before hitting 50 year old ears, I have never felt a loss of detail that make me want to reach for my 846 IEM's

I can't really comment on instrument separation except to say that for the music I listen to it has never been a worry to me.

For both the sound isolation is good. I never seem to be disturbed by external noise (the main reason I chose closed back myself). The XC's have a noticeably wider soundstage than the 2-closed.

I've got the carbon headband which reduces the weight by an insignificant amount but does seem to change how the headphones feel.

The XC's are easy to drive, a Fiio BTR-5 and a balanced cable will do the job, the 2's not so much. An xDuoo XD-05 Balanced happily drives both the 2's and XC's on battery. I've never wanted max volume (min attenuation) from my iFi Neo with the XC's.

I love the look of the 2's the new cups make them stand out. The wooden cups of the XC's may be bit bland and I am not sure I'd like look of the carbon cups (despite having added the carbon headband).

I've not used the standard cable for either pair as all my DAC/Amps are balanced.

I wear the headphones for most of my working day either for music or with the GX boom mic for zoom meetings. They are noticeably heavier that dynamic headphones but I guess generally good planars are heavier than dynamics.

 

[Blindspy]

Thanks for the reply, I appreciate the time! I had forgotten about the LCD-2C, but I already have the regular LCD-2 so I'm looking to bring something new to the table. The good news is that if I get the XC I'll already have balanced cables for them.

It's good to hear that the XCs still have some slam to them. Right now I feel like it's between them and the Celestee.

 

[DenverW]

I was about to ditch the Atticus based on some of the critique you wrote above, but then tried them with suede eikon pads. Much, much better, and much more fun than all of my experience with dca cans, which I find dull.

Emu teak is also a very enjoyable engaging can with great tone, but lost to the Atticus overall.

 

[silent-circuit]

The Denon AH-D9200 should probably also be on your list.

 

[Blindspy]

I was about to ditch the Atticus based on some of the critique you wrote above, but then tried them with suede eikon pads. Much, much better, and much more fun than all of my experience with dca cans, which I find dull.

Emu teak is also a very enjoyable engaging can with great tone, but lost to the Atticus overall.

I appreciate the input about the Atticus with different pads - I think pads are one of the most overlooked but very important components to a headphone sound. In my experience, changing pads has altered my headphones' tuning in a much more noticeable way than cables, DACs, and most amps. I'll start looking into the E-Mu Teak too, thanks!

The Denon AH-D9200 should probably also be on your list.

Those Denons do look pretty intriguing. I'm having trouble finding reviews and measurements on them from reviewers I trust, but I'll keep trying to do more research on them.

 

[Blindspy]

I've decided to go with the LCD-CX (2021 revision) in the end. They seem to be among the best contenders based on my specific criteria, and I won't lose out on the awesome speed and detail retrieval that I get from the AFCs when they're removed from my lineup. Another bonus is that I already own nice aftermarket cables for them courtesy of my LCD-2s. The final straw came from this review for anyone interested. Thanks again for everyone's input.

 

[MakubexGB]

Since you're focusing more on punch/slam and detail retrieval over soundstage, I say go with one of the Focal's. I own or have owned various models from ZMF, DCA, Hifiman, Beyerdynamic, Focal and other brands, including less popular brands like Gold Planar. Out of all of the ones I've listened to, Focal still punches and slams the hardest. They do, however, have some of the most intimate soundstage compared to the others but the imagine is still very good. They are very engaging headphones.

 

[cool1wow]

Since you're focusing more on punch/slam and detail retrieval over soundstage, I say go with one of the Focal's. I own or have owned various models from ZMF, DCA, Hifiman, Beyerdynamic, Focal and other brands, including less popular brands like Gold Planar. Out of all of the ones I've listened to, Focal still punches and slams the hardest. They do, however, have some of the most intimate soundstage compared to the others but the imagine is still very good. They are very engaging headphones.

I just auditioned all the Focals yesterday and I found their soundstage to be too closed and narrow. I also tried the DCA Aeon 2 Noire and loved the width and openness of its soundstage but it had no punch/slam. If punch/slam is still the priority, but an open / wide soundstage is a close second priority, what would you recommend as the next best alternative to the Focal brand that still punches/slams but has a more open soundstage than the Focal headphones?

 

[MakubexGB]

I just auditioned all the Focals yesterday and I found their soundstage to be too closed and narrow. I also tried the DCA Aeon 2 Noire and loved the width and openness of its soundstage but it had no punch/slam. If punch/slam is still the priority, but an open / wide soundstage is a close second priority, what would you recommend as the next best alternative to the Focal brand that still punches/slams but has a more open soundstage than the Focal headphones?

What's your budget? Same as op?

 

[cool1wow]

What's your budget? Same as op?

Budget is up to $2000

 

[MakubexGB]

Budget is up to $3000

Where's comfort in your list of priorities? Do you have a weight limit you would like to stay under?

 

[cool1wow]

Comfort is very high priority, probably #2 on the list. For weight, I'd like to stay under 500g. That's why I loved physically wearing the DCA Aeon 2 Noires because they were super comfortable to wear, but they simple didn't have any punch/slam (as compared to the Focal line) so they won't cut it. Looking for something with more slam, but not the Focals because they have a narrow/intimate soundstage. And budget is $2000, sorry, earlier that was a typo.

 

[MakubexGB]

Comfort is very high priority, probably #2 on the list. For weight, I'd like to stay under 500g. That's why I loved physically wearing the DCA Aeon 2 Noires because they were super comfortable to wear, but they simple didn't have any punch/slam (as compared to the Focal line) so they won't cut it. Looking for something with more slam, but not the Focals because they have a narrow/intimate soundstage. And budget is $2000, sorry, earlier that was a typo.

Hmm, in that case the only one I can think of at the moment, which would be over budget unless you find it used and even then probably still a little bit over budget, would be the ZMF Verite Closed. One big advantage with this pair is that you can customize the sound very noticeable by pad rolling and there are a lot of pads to choose from.

 

[cool1wow]

Hmm, in that case the only one I can think of at the moment, which would be over budget unless you find it used and even then probably still a little bit over budget, would be the ZMF Verite Closed. One big advantage with this pair is that you can customize the sound very noticeable by pad rolling and there are a lot of pads to choose from.

If I stretched my budget to $3000 what would you recommend? Will the ZMF Verite Closed have more slam than the Noire and a wider soundstage than the Focal series without having to change the pads? I don't want to get into modifying headphones, just looking for the best "from factory" solution.