The Closed-Back Headphone Thread (Plus Comparisons & Reviews)

[gazzington]

Quite a bunch of varied responses on the topic of IEMs - I think that the earphone market is far, far wider than that of its bigger sibling. For every 1 headphone, there are probably 2 or 3 IEMs? The pace of innovation and/or iteration in the earphone space ostensibly outstrips the headphones in sheer speed and resolve, too.

For headphones, the usual suspects may rule the roost for a few years - Utopia, Susvara, Abyss for open-backs, Vérité Closed, MDR-Z1R, Stellia for closed. However, in the IEM sphere, new flagships are seemingly released on an annual basis (or more frequently).

Anyway, I used to be a huge IEM guy - I've owned a handful of CIEMs back in the day. However, I've since transitioned into a 90% headphone guy; I still use IEMs, but only when I'm out and about.

What iems do you use out and about?

 

[Malevolent]

What iems do you use out and about?

At present, I mainly use the Noble Audio Kaiser Encore, the MoonDrop KXXS, and the FiiO FH5. For DAPs, I use the Hiby R3 and/or the FiiO M6. Both are really small, and perform their tasks well - be pocket-friendly, light, easy-to-use, and deliver decent-to-good sound.

 

[Rackhour]

Quite a bunch of varied responses on the topic of IEMs - I think that the earphone market is far, far wider than that of its bigger sibling. For every 1 headphone, there are probably 2 or 3 IEMs? The pace of innovation and/or iteration in the earphone space ostensibly outstrips the headphones in sheer speed and resolve, too.

For headphones, the usual suspects may rule the roost for a few years - Utopia, Susvara, Abyss for open-backs, Vérité Closed, MDR-Z1R, Stellia for closed. However, in the IEM sphere, new flagships are seemingly released on an annual basis (or more frequently).

Anyway, I used to be a huge IEM guy - I've owned a handful of CIEMs back in the day. However, I've since transitioned into a 90% headphone guy; I still use IEMs, but only when I'm out and about.

I have a few mostly based on scenario. The sound signatures are different, but they're mostly in the range I like, for lack of a better term.

Etymotic ER4XR - near-absolute isolation, great for concentration and flying (whenever that will happen again).

Apple EarPods - use at the office; less conspicuous than open-back headphones, and still open enough to let me respond to anyone calling my name

PowerBeats Pro - working out, and general out-and-about usage (grocery shopping, for example)

I'm now mostly convinced that wireless may be the way to go as far as general usage is concerned. Anything beyond that, I'll gladly deal with wires.

 

[Coolmoose]

Hey guys im looking for a pair of closed headphones to compliment my focal radiance. I have the Denon 9200 and the ATH AWAS on my radar and can get them for roughly the same price, but i'm open to other suggestions for around that price range. Thanks

 

[lacedup]

Hey guys im looking for a pair of closed headphones to compliment my focal radiance. I have the Denon 9200 and the ATH AWAS on my radar and can get them for roughly the same price, but i'm open to other suggestions for around that price range. Thanks

Never heard Radiance but I sold my Clears for 9200s and zero regrets. Some say they are the best closed back around even beating the Stella/VC, especially for the price. I'd definitely look into them, they're an amazingly balanced headphone with extremely good bass when a song calls for it

 

[Malevolent]

I have a few mostly based on scenario. The sound signatures are different, but they're mostly in the range I like, for lack of a better term.

Etymotic ER4XR - near-absolute isolation, great for concentration and flying (whenever that will happen again).

Apple EarPods - use at the office; less conspicuous than open-back headphones, and still open enough to let me respond to anyone calling my name

PowerBeats Pro - working out, and general out-and-about usage (grocery shopping, for example)

I'm now mostly convinced that wireless may be the way to go as far as general usage is concerned. Anything beyond that, I'll gladly deal with wires.

In the past, I used to carry a stack (DAP + amplifier) wherever I went. These days, I've placed (far) greater emphasis on convenience. Sound quality is still an important factor, no doubt, but it is no longer the chief, be-all-end-all aspect to portable audio. A wireless solution and/or a small DAP (such as my Hiby R3) are better options for on-the-go use.

 

[Malevolent]

Hey guys im looking for a pair of closed headphones to compliment my focal radiance. I have the Denon 9200 and the ATH AWAS on my radar and can get them for roughly the same price, but i'm open to other suggestions for around that price range. Thanks

If you are in favor of a relatively balanced sound with great technicalities, and a world-leading bass presentation, just grab the AH-D9200, and be done with it. It's hard to beat, even when you climb the price ladder.

 

[Coolmoose]

If you are in favor of a relatively balanced sound with great technicalities, and a world-leading bass presentation, just grab the AH-D9200, and be done with it. It's hard to beat, even when you climb the price ladder.

alrite cool thanks, the denons seems to be universally praised, guess i cant go wrong with them. Would you say that the denons have a similar sound signature to the focal? cause the bass on the radiance is pretty damn nice, especially after swapping to the dekoni hybrid pads

 

[teknorob23]

alrite cool thanks, the denons seems to be universally praised, guess i cant go wrong with them. Would you say that the denons have a similar sound signature to the focal? cause the bass on the radiance is pretty damn nice, especially after swapping to the dekoni hybrid pads

If you can find a pair of the AT’s I highly recommend giving them a go. They pretty rare compared to the denons so your unlikely to get much feedback on them. I had them for a week or so and was very impressed, detailed with very natural tone and pretty even handed across the range. I had a pair of the denon’s in my office for a couple of month and found the treble a little hot but otherwise pretty good, but they’re performance to my ears is very much inline with the price point and some way behind the VCs or the stellias. My money would be on the AT’s as a nice compliment to the radiance’s

 

[subguy812]

If you can find a pair of the AT’s I highly recommend giving them a go. They pretty rare compared to the denons so your unlikely to get much feedback on them. I had them for a week or so and was very impressed, detailed with very natural tone and pretty even handed across the range. I had a pair of the denon’s in my office for a couple of month and found the treble a little hot but otherwise pretty good, but they’re performance to my ears is very much inline with the price point and some way behind the VCs or the stellias. My money would be on the AT’s as a nice compliment to the radiance’s

Usually you and I have similar likes when listening to sound, but we are going to have to agree to disagree. The D9200 is now the only closed-back I own after selling the VC and Stellia.

 

[teknorob23]

Usually you and I have similar likes when listening to sound, but we are going to have to agree to disagree. The D9200 is now the only closed-back I own after selling the VC and Stellia.

We do, but that’s fair enough. Having initially been blow away by their vast stage and big bass I found the VCs a bit W shaped and they left me wanting too, but the I’m immovable when it comes to my love the stellia’s. I know their tuning can be divisive but from dynamics and resolution point of view do you really think the the 9200s get close?

 

[subguy812]

We do, but that’s fair enough. Having initially been blow away by their vast stage and big bass I found the VCs a bit W shaped and they left me wanting too, but the I’m immovable when it comes to my love the stellia’s. I know their tuning can be divisive but from dynamics and resolution point of view do you really think the the 9200s get close?

I loved my Stellia's, you know that, especially after the Signum + cable upgrade, they took on a totally different dynamism. After I reviewed the D9200 there have been so many questions of me I wish I hadn't sold the Stellia, so I could A/B.

Rob I am real hesitant to offer my opinion without a proper A/B. I would say with the cable upgrade, the Stellia owns the dynamics, but the resolution is very good on the D9200. I do think you chose the two areas the Stellia excels in.

 

[teknorob23]

I loved my Stellia's, you know that, especially after the Signum + cable upgrade, they took on a totally different dynamism. After I reviewed the D9200 there have been so many questions of me I wish I hadn't sold the Stellia, so I could A/B.

Rob I am real hesitant to offer my opinion without a proper A/B. I would say with the cable upgrade, the Stellia owns the dynamics, but the resolution is very good on the D9200. I do think you chose the two areas the Stellia excels in.

And that’s where you’re far more considered than I am I’ve lived the stellias longer than any other headphone, getting on for 2 years and it’s not been one constant love in, although my enjoyment of them is pretty consistent now, so I’m willing to concede my time with the 9200a might have been too brief to give them a fair run. This was mainly because the treble really disagreed with me... damn you though I’m now finding myself in true Pavlovian style browsing ebay for 9200s!!

 

[elnero]

Hey guys im looking for a pair of closed headphones to compliment my focal radiance. I have the Denon 9200 and the ATH AWAS on my radar and can get them for roughly the same price, but i'm open to other suggestions for around that price range. Thanks

I'm a big fan of the AWAS, unfortunately I haven't heard the Denon 9200 so I can't give you any kind of comparison. I've been intrigued by what I've read here regarding the 9200 but I had the 7200 for a short time but it was a no go with my TMJ related jaw issues so I haven't bothered trying to track down a 9200. I'd also note that while the 7200 had more bass presence than the AWAS, outside of that, I felt the AWAS was far more refined and engaging. I would start listening to the 7200 and find myself switching to the AWAS within a few minutes.

The AWAS is not the perfect headphone though. It's weakest area is a lack of sub bass so if that matters to you it's probably not the best choice. Otherwise though, I feel like the AWAS is fairly balanced across the frequency spectrum. I do think they may be somewhat system/synergy dependant though. Because the AWAS is one of the nicest headphones I've heard and one of the few circumaural headphones that don't irritate my jaw issues too much it's become my mission to build my system around them. I feel the Denafrips Ares II DAC matches up nicely but I've been on the hunt for best amp to match with them.

The Arcam rHead is nice but on its own I've felt the AWAS can sound a touch lean with it. My preference leans more towards tubes though so I briefly tried a Pathos Aurium with an SBooster linear power supply along with some nice Mullard and Philips NOS tubes. This combination could sound jaw-droppingly good. In many aspects, a big upgrade over the rHead but the deal breaker was the bass was actually a little leaner than rHead. On a whim, I tried the SBooster with the rHead and it took the rHead up a notch, giving the whole sound a more solid feel. Unfortunately, in other aspects, the rHead/Sbooster combination doesn't have quite the magic of the Aurium. For my next try I have a TomB built Torpedo III with a bunch of tubes on the way.

The Radiance is a headphone I've quite curious about since it's release. How do you find the comfort, in particular the clamping force?

 

[waveSounds]

It's midnight here in ol' Blighty and this time of night mandates a particular kind of music; tech house! My reliable incumbents, the NightOwls, never fail to deliver on the meaty, palpable lows I require from EDM. I think a chasm in the closed-back market was left when AudioQuest vacated the headphone business. Whilst they tended to be more divisive than others (although less so still than their original brethren the Hawk) I fail to think of a better offering in the sub £600 - going on RRP alone - bracket that can remotely offer what the Owl does. I've heard many vegans that sound less organic than the Owls - and all of them less coherent