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

[Malevolent]

A "B"?!... Pshaw! It is to laugh. No mention of the driver asymmetry though.

Both of my current HPs rank a C btw. So there's no shame in it! Some of the top picks on the list are interesting though. Like the AT R70x, which is way up there with the big boys for a $350 HP, along with the usual Sennheiser suspects. Those are all open though. And the R70x is also very high impedance.

I haven't heard most of the stuff on his list, but generally agree with some of his assessments on the few that I have. Though I sense maybe a little bit of a bias towards brighter-sounding headphones. Particularly on the lower-end in terms of price.

The highest ranked sub-$300 closed HP on the list is the Shure SRH840, which I haven't listened to recently. Though I've certainly seen it on display at my local Sam Ash stores. Looks on the brighter side in the upper-mids and treble though. And appears to be essentially sub-bass-less.

The next contender is the AKG K371, with it's hingy issues to contend with. Followed by the $100 Shure SRH440, which also appears on the brighter side. But appears on the Crinacle plots anyway to have a bit more goin on in the sub-bass than the SRH880. Rtings plots of the SRH440 look more rolled off in the sub-bass though, and equally strident in the mid-treble...

https://www.rtings.com/headphones/1-3-1/graph#456/3182
https://www.rtings.com/headphones/1-3-1/graph#456/3183

Again, maybe a little bit of a bias towards the brighter side creeping in there. Which is less appealing to my ears these days. Still, some of these probably shouldn't be ruled out without at least giving them a listen, and may have some other redeeming qualities to make up for any deficits in tonality and bass extension. From strictly a sound-quality standpoint though, it doesn't really make sense to me to buy a closed HP without good bass extension. Because you can usually get better sound-quality and a similar (if not better) response with an open-back HP.

After the Shure 440 is the $300 AT M70x, which is another brighter headphone, without much lift in the sub-bass. So yeah, it looks like at least at the lower end of the price scale that the brighter headphones are receiving higher rankings on Crinacle's list, so far. Maybe that'll change though as more stuff gets added.

The AT M40x comes in next after a gaming headset, the Astro A40 TR. And then the E-MU Walnut... Didn't know that was only $100! Very interesting.

The AT M40x is not quite as well-balanced overall, or as clear and detailed sounding, or as comfortable imo as it's bigger brother, the M50x. But it has a somewhat smoother sound sig, that's a bit less erratic, and a whole lot of detail up top if you like that, as well as a bit of extra warmth in the upper bass. Imaging is not that great though.

Most of the bassier stuff like the Sonys, Bose, Koss, V-Moda, and AT M50x garner no more than a C grade on this list. Interesting read tho.

One of my all-time favorite headphones, the Sony MDR-Z1R, was awarded the grand rank of... "C+".

Hey, no big deal. Crin doesn't like it; but I love it. Using the same scale, the MDR-Z1R is easily an "S" in my personal list; at least, in the tonality department.

At the end of the day, how someone feels about something you like doesn't invalidate the innate qualities of said product. If an individual hates the MDR-Z1R, I'll still love it for its inherent strengths.

Don't fret over it! Enjoy your music!

 

[Malevolent]

@Terriero I was lucky and played my cards right at an early stage. My wife bought me most of my audio-gear (upon request, of course); it started with the Shure SRH1540, followed by the Focal Elear, then my SE846s and finally the Dangerous Source. She pretends to be irritated by my hobbies (motorcycles, skiing, audio) but in the years we've been together has become a willing pillion passenger on the back of my BMW K1300S, and as a talented singer herself, secretly enjoys the added depth that better audio gear lends to her own enjoyment of music (even though she'll only admit this after a bottle of prosecco).

This year has been unfortunate for so many people, me and my wife included. I left the corporate life at the start of 2020 to forge my own path with my own business, and my wife was a senior online operations manager for Debenhams, as those in the UK will know, which is now insolvent. So yes, we've had to put some luxuries on hold, but I'm appreciating what I've got available to me with my NightOwls, 846s and various sources. Hopefully the new year will turn the tides and put me back on the path to multiple TOTL closed-backs, as after all, that's really what life's about*.

*I claim no responsibility of the consequences should you choose to repeat this to a spouse.

Well, I'm a bit (too) early with this, but here's to a better 2021!

I was saving this for New Year's, but heck.. we could all use a dose of humor these days!

 

[Wishmaker]

When you think you've heard it all with these cans and Denon shows you there still is something you need to look forward too.
Focal Arche + AHD-9200 + Forza MK2 Noir : Checkmate anything else.

 

[Terriero]

One of my all-time favorite headphones, the Sony MDR-Z1R, was awarded the grand rank of... "C+".

Hey, no big deal. Crin doesn't like it; but I love it. Using the same scale, the MDR-Z1R is easily an "S" in my personal list; at least, in the tonality department.

At the end of the day, how someone feels about something you like doesn't invalidate the innate qualities of said product. If an individual hates the MDR-Z1R, I'll still love it for its inherent strengths.

Don't fret over it! Enjoy your music!

Crinacle put an "E" ( E: The truly horrible.) to Beyerdynamic T 1.3 and there are a few members in the forum that like the T 1.3 a lot (even oldest members like @MacedonianHero , that I knew when I wasn't a member here and sometimes came briefly to see something about one particular headphones - were happy times for my wallet -), althought there are a few others that dislike them... But what headphones don't suffer that? (No.... not with the AH-D9200 ).

I've also enjoyed the T 1.3 with some of my music... But had to returned them due to comfort issues.

 

[Terriero]

When you think you've heard it all with these cans and Denon shows you there still is something you need to look forward too.
Focal Arche + AHD-9200 + Forza MK2 Noir : Checkmate anything else.

Focal Arche + AHD-9200 + Forza MK2 Noir : Orgasms?

 

[SilverEars]

Crinacle put an "E" ( E: The truly horrible.) to Beyerdynamic T 1.3 and there are a few members in the forum that like the T 1.3 a lot (even oldest members like @MacedonianHero , that I knew when I wasn't a member here and sometimes came briefly to see something about one particular headphones - were happy times for my wallet -), althought there are a few others that dislike them... But what headphones don't suffer that? (No.... not with the AH-D9200 ).

I've also enjoyed the T 1.3 with some of my music... But had to returned them due to comfort issues.

I agree with Crin, and as far as MacdeonianHero, he makes mistakes. lol T1.3 has thick lower mids with lack of upper-mids and then shoots up in the treble. I usually have issues with Beyer mids.

 

[subguy812]

I agree with Crin, and as far as MacdeonianHero, he makes mistakes. lol T1.3 has thick lower mids with lack of upper-mids and then shoots up in the treble. I usually have issues with Beyer mids.

MacdeonianHero has been around along time and has a great reputation. He generally owns the gear he comments on, which means he had spent time with it and doesn't write hasty comments based on quick listens or while sitting in a noisy headphone shop. We will have to agree to disagree on who makes mistakes here. I don't think "mistake" is the correct word since it is someone's own opinion. I don't agree with him all of the time, but I don't agree with anyone all of the time.

At the end of the day it is all subjective and there is no expert, myself included. Each "commenter" is the expert of one thing, their own subjective opinion.

 

[SilverEars]

MacdeonianHero has been around along time and has a great reputation. He generally owns the gear he comments on, which means he had spent time with it and doesn't write hasty comments based on quick listens or while sitting in a noisy headphone shop. We will have to agree to disagree on who makes mistakes here. I don't think "mistake" is the correct word since it is someone's own opinion. I don't agree with him all of the time, but I don't agree with anyone all of the time.

At the end of the day it is all subjective and there is no expert, myself included. Each "commenter" is the expert of one thing, their own subjective opinion.

Well, I don't confuse good taste and how long people has been around. Those are separate things.

 

[subguy812]

Well, I don't confuse good taste and how long people has been around. Those are separate aspects.

Good taste, I do love your sense of humor....again your subjective opinion.

 

[Malevolent]

Crinacle put an "E" ( E: The truly horrible.) to Beyerdynamic T 1.3 and there are a few members in the forum that like the T 1.3 a lot (even oldest members like @MacedonianHero , that I knew when I wasn't a member here and sometimes came briefly to see something about one particular headphones - were happy times for my wallet -), althought there are a few others that dislike them... But what headphones don't suffer that? (No.... not with the AH-D9200 ).

I've also enjoyed the T 1.3 with some of my music... But had to returned them due to comfort issues.

I didn't have any gripes with the tuning on the T1 (3rd Gen) during my brief audition; of course, I was more interested with the new T5 (and other headphones), so I quickly put the open-back sibling away. However, I wouldn't say that it's horrible; far from it, in fact.

 

[Malevolent]

I agree with Crin, and as far as MacdeonianHero, he makes mistakes. lol T1.3 has thick lower mids with lack of upper-mids and then shoots up in the treble. I usually have issues with Beyer mids.

Hmm, I don't ascribe someone's preference for a headphone (or an IEM) over another to a mistake; it's simply an individual's choice, after all.

If I like something, and you don't, is that a mistake on your part? Or on mine? Or, are we simply applying the sum total of our subjective tastes, requirements, and criteria, and distilling it in the form of a selective preference for a certain (sound) signature or product?

 

[Terriero]

I agree with Crin, and as far as MacdeonianHero, he makes mistakes. lol T1.3 has thick lower mids with lack of upper-mids and then shoots up in the treble. I usually have issues with Beyer mids.

I asked you in another thread about the Denon AH-D9200. I have read the 9200' entire thread and at first you were not surprised by them and express your opinion (and almost all other went against you, like happen in every "particular headphones thread")... But with time, you started to apreciate them... That's the same that happened to me with the T 1.3. (were just almost 30 days with them and I returned them, but I listened a lot of diferent genres).

 

[waveSounds]

Well, I must openly thank my fellow closed-back brethren for their sympathies to the position this year has put the waveSounds household in (and yes, I make my wife call me Mr. waveSounds).

I've been an active member of various forums since my early teenage years, and I must admit, integrating into Head-Fi was the hardest. It's widely plagued with hostility, condescending attitudes, and pompous view points. Very different to the general spirit amongst gaming oriented communities - of course you get your fair share of morons there, too, just on a lesser scale.

The participants in, and overall sentiment within, this thread are the exception to the rule. So I raise my (fifth-tieth?!...) glass of wine to the down-to-earth, non-judgemental, open-minded fellows who make this an enjoyable place to participate.

As a gesture of early festivity, here's Badger the Christmas Collie sending his greetings:

 

[Wishmaker]

@Terriero

I agree that certain products grow on you while at the same time you have a niche which you either like or hate. There is no middle ground.
For example, when I purchased my Focal Aria speakers, the seller was surprised that I did not choose the favorite : Dali Opticon.
I explained that the sound signature I am looking for is with Aria and not Opticon.
He was surprised because quite a lot of his customers dislike Focal.

Just because I chose Focal Aria it does not mean that the Opticon were not an excellent product.
I grew up surrounded by music savvy people and my father is rocking a Strat even today given he started this in the 70s. I know what I am looking for and I can appreciate various types of sound signatures. I was lucky to have an ear that can pick up sound nuances passed on to me.

Bottom line, a true music lover will acknowledge quality in products and not offer biased advice just to put dirt on the brand that does not sponsor him.
Objectivity is rare nowadays and a big number of reviews and opinions are from users who do not have the ability to distinguish a flat sound from a V shape.
It is not their fault, their ear does not allow them but because they have a forum favourite in their hands or a specific agenda they will try to convert others.

There are plenty of good headphones out there and when I purchased my 9200 I had the UTOPIA and Stelia (amongst other things) on the table as well.
I chose the one that I liked and I did not feel the Denon to be 50% in price inferior to the Focal offerings. On the contrary in certain areas it was better than the Focal which was unexpected.

Will I get a Focal headphone? Definitely but for the time being I am happy with my Denon and if someone believes the 9200 is a bad product they should try it with a solid amp, cable and good source. They should not take opinions from someone who heard from someone else that someone listened to this and it was not good.

 

[Terriero]

Well, I must openly thank my fellow closed-back brethren for their sympathies to the position this year has put the waveSounds household in (and yes, I make my wife call me Mr. waveSounds).

I've been an active member of various forums since my early teenage years, and I must admit, integrating into Head-Fi was the hardest. It's widely plagued with hostility, condescending attitudes, and pompous view points. Very different to the general spirit amongst gaming oriented communities - of course you get your fair share of morons there, too, just on a lesser scale.

The participants in, and overall sentiment within, this thread are the exception to the rule. So I raise my (fifth-tieth?!...) glass of wine to the down-to-earth, non-judgemental, open-minded fellows who make this an enjoyable place to participate.

As a gesture of early festivity, here's Badger the Christmas Collie sending his greetings:

You made me laugh with the end of the first sentence... I imagine my wife calling me Terriero and after that calling a psychiatrist...


By the way, where did I see that red colour? Happy Christmas to all this weird year...