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

[AudioDuck]

Very correct.

When it comes to certain things like cables....people are actually insane with the money they are spending for no actual, perceivable benefit. James Randi offered $1 million a looong time ago to anyone who could prove that these uber-cables are any different than decent quality cable. No takers up until he died (more than 10+years). I am very skeptical that Shure, or most decent audio companies, are using sub-par materials for cabling where you might actually notice.

At best, you will pay an extraordinary amount of money for, at best, an imperceptible improvement in signal quality.

This isn't like paying lot of money for an old vintage of wine (price related to rarity, not just quality)...its like paying a lot of extra money for absolutely nothing.

Would be much better if people put all that audio-cable money to a charity or something that actually exists.

We’ll have to agree to disagree here, and that’s fine.

 

[AudioDuck]

I switched from my Denon AH-D2000's back to my SRH-1540's today, and here's my primary complaint: the Shure's are boring. They don't have the bass punch of the Denon's and have a very different character. I feel like they are more "sterile" in a way. I'm sure that is an appealing characteristic for many, but I think for the "music is fun and sounds awesome" person in me the Denon's are what I'm happier with. The major issue with the Denon's is that the earpads are falling apart (although I do have some new ones on order), and the headband is flaking, too. Maybe I can make a fuzzy wrap for it, hahaha.

Are the AH-D7200's just "much better" D2000's? If so I might have to find a way to audition them....

Thanks for articulating how you feel the Shures are lacking! It sounds like a less laidback sound may be what you are looking for. (With open-back cans, the Focal Elears fill that need, but that is for another thread...)

That said, I’ve not heard the Denons, so I’ll leave that to those who have. I’ll say the 7200s have intrigued me, and there is (was?) a pair for sale in the classifieds that I’d spring for if I had an extra $600 and thought my better half wouldn’t mind another pair of headphones around.

 

[silent-circuit]

I'll second the AH-D7200 recommendation; easily my favorite closed back. (To be fair most of my headphones are open back.)

 

[Malevolent]

Psttt... @Malevolent, you have a big surprise here.

I hope that you have your aproval (you know what I mean), I assure you that if I would have that amount of money right now (with or without an aproval) I would go for them... ... Yes, it's so crazy, just for that incredible aesthetics...

I'm waiting eagerly for impressions. Also, I hope that @ithilienrp will receive his new toy very soon

Argh! This is a bad time for the release of the Rögnir (on a personal note). I was counting on the headphone being released in the second-half of the year, actually. In the last couple of months, I've actually purchased several high-ticket items, so approval from the household's Finance Minister might not be so forthcoming, this time around. My wife will literally roast me alive if I paid for another pair of headphones, especially one that's priced at nearly 3,000 Euros.

On a good note, they are really, really pretty!

 

[Malevolent]

Glad to find this thread! I listen to closed-back headphones at work and for podcast production during recording because I can't have sound leakage. I currently have an old Denon AH-D2000 that I've modded with Dynamat a long while back, and a Shure SRH1540. I'm kind of out of the loop as to what has been happening in the sealed headphone world over the past years. Is there anything legitimately worth checking out over what I have in the sub-$1K USD range?

In the sub-$1,000 category, I'd give my votes to the Audeze LCD-2 Closed Back, the Dan Clark AEON 2 Closed, and the E-MU Teak. Not in that particular order, though, since each headphone does something uniquely well.

 

[Terriero]

Argh! This is a bad time for the release of the Rögnir (on a personal note). I was counting on the headphone being released in the second-half of the year, actually. In the last couple of months, I've actually purchased several high-ticket items, so approval from the household's Finance Minister might not be so forthcoming, this time around. My wife will literally roast me alive if I paid for another pair of headphones, especially one that's priced at nearly 3,000 Euros.

On a good note, they are really, really pretty!

I think is better to wait for initial reviews than be an early adopter of anything, and that's more important when you pay that amount of money. But I know that you wanted to be one of the early adopters... Who could depreciate that beauty?

By the way, can your suppliers get a demo for you to try them?

 

[arielext]

*looks at Ether C flow 1.1*
No I won't sell you (yet )

*looks at kidney*
...

Yeah Rögnir looks amazing and will probably sound just as fine. Kennerton's planar family is not known for being anything less then awesome. Come to think of it their dynamics deserve all the praise they get as well! Magni and Gjallarhorn are 2 pretty fine closed-back (and more affordable) dynamic headphones.

 

[Malevolent]

I think is better to wait for initial reviews than be an early adopter of anything, and that's more important when you pay that amount of money. But I know that you wanted to be one of the early adopters... Who could depreciate that beauty?

By the way, can your suppliers get a demo for you to try them?

Yes, I agree. The mad FOMO passion can be all-consuming, but oftentimes, it's good to take a step back to assess the situation. I'd like to be an early adopter, but I think it's best to digest some reviews first, and, if possible, have an audition, before I decide to drop a chunk of change on this beauty.

My local distributor carries some Kennerton products, such as the Odin and the Thekk, and they might carry the Rögnir, too. I'll check in with them soon.

 

[Malevolent]

*looks at Ether C flow 1.1*
No I won't sell you (yet )

*looks at kidney*
...

Yeah Rögnir looks amazing and will probably sound just as fine. Kennerton's planar family is not known for being anything less then awesome. Come to think of it their dynamics deserve all the praise they get as well! Magni and Gjallarhorn are 2 pretty fine closed-back (and more affordable) dynamic headphones.

Yeah, Kennerton makes some (really) beautiful headphones. They are certainly at the top of the aesthetics game. ZMF makes some fantastic headphones, too, but Kennerton is a rung up the ladder, IMO.

 

[mobbaddict]

I'm coming back to this thread after recently buying the Audeze Sine, my first closed-back headphone in 10 years, and I realize I very much agree with that point of view posted on the first page:

I prefer closed-backs over open headphones as well. My latest buy, the HD650s confirm this. I love the HD650s, tonally and timbre-wise they are the best pair I own. But I am constantly aware I listen to small confined soundscape in a open space, whereas with closed headphones this small confined space is everything. Music and sound exclusively
My favorite pairs are the Sony MDR-Z7, AudioQuest NightOwl and Audio Technica A900X. I want to add the NightHawks as well, although semi-open, they isolate better than the Sony's

I haven't really got into in-depth comparisons with my fullsize planars yet (Avantone Planar and Quad Era-1) but there is something totally addictive about the Sine presentation. The soundstage is obviously very small compared an open-back but I love the sense of immersion. I was listening to live music yesterday and I was amazed by how real the small whispers in the audience were. A few years ago I tested the closed-back Stax which was discontinued and I had a similar impression: it was incredibly revealing, like a microscope.

 

[subguy812]

Joined the ranks

 

[Nostoi]

Joined the ranks

Nice. Love these bad boys. This is MK1 with modded cable? What's the cable?

 

[subguy812]

MK1 modded with the Arctic Cables Fusion...if you want another photo with more cable let me know

 

[Nostoi]

MK1 modded with the Arctic Cables Fusion...if you want another photo with more cable let me know

Curious to see the termination and also hear your impressions. TH900 cables are a current interest of mine. Cheers!

 

[subguy812]

This is a 2.5mm balanced connection. This source is AK SP2000. As I type this I am listening to 2.5mm balanced with Shanling M8 as the source using Gain Turbo.