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

[Virion]

All's quiet on the closed-back front. Any Christmas purchases that you're considering, folks? I know what @Terriero is waiting for, though.

I have a few things I'd like to buy, pending clearance from the Minister of Finance of the Interior, of course. On the headphone side of things, I'm (seriously) considering the purchase of a Beyerdynamic T5 (3rd Generation). In the absence of an AudioQuest NightOwl, the Beyers might just fulfil the role of the dark, bass-heavy, lush, smooth headphone. Although, I suspect that the T5 (3rd Gen) might just be heavier in the lows; that mid-bass hump is quite sizeable.

What about the rest of you?

I'm trading in my eikon for a verite closed at my friendly neighbourhood ZMF dealer, as a Christmas present to myself.

 

[elnero]

All's quiet on the closed-back front. Any Christmas purchases that you're considering, folks?

I have the D7200 up for sale here in Canada and ZMF Aeolus Ltd Cocobolo with copper grill and rods on the way to me. Not a closed headphone but the Aeolus sounded like it would be good place to start to get a feel for the ZMF sound.

 

[soundblast75]

Couldn't resist despite any indication by the Financial Minister and pulled the trigger on a T5

 

[plakat]

All's quiet on the closed-back front. Any Christmas purchases that you're considering, folks? I know what @Terriero is waiting for, though.

I have a few things I'd like to buy, pending clearance from the Minister of Finance of the Interior, of course. On the headphone side of things, I'm (seriously) considering the purchase of a Beyerdynamic T5 (3rd Generation). In the absence of an AudioQuest NightOwl, the Beyers might just fulfil the role of the dark, bass-heavy, lush, smooth headphone. Although, I suspect that the T5 (3rd Gen) might just be heavier in the lows; that mid-bass hump is quite sizeable.

What about the rest of you?

Cancelled the Yamaha E700 (and according to one report in that thread this was a good idea unfortunately), ordered the AirPods Max instead. I wanted an over-ear set with Apple ecosystem integration for quite some time... that seamless takeover between devices, surround sound... just nice.

Couldn't resist despite any indication by the Financial Minister and pulled the trigger on a T5

After a long talk with someone at Beyerdynamic about their new T1/T5 and the new tuning I'm sure that much thought went into them. Feedback so far seems positive (apart from parts of head-fi obviously), their target audience seems very happy with the changes overall. I think if you give it some time it will work well as a non-fatiguing, long-term headphone. Looking forward to your feedback!

 

[soundblast75]

After a long talk with someone at Beyerdynamic about their new T1/T5 and the new tuning I'm sure that much thought went into them. Feedback so far seems positive (apart from parts of head-fi obviously), their target audience seems very happy with the changes overall. I think if you give it some time it will work well as a non-fatiguing, long-term headphone. Looking forward to your feedback!
[/QUOTE]
Thank you for the encouragement.
It is a shame there's a feeling these new series have to be defended though. I am sure that's based on a few personal taste strongly expressed opinions here and on YouTube and based on not much reality.
I find with headphone comparisons its a lot to do with what one has listened prior to evaluation and explains a lot of these strong opinions.
Anyhow, lets see exactly how impossibly dark and bloated in the bass these are..

 

[plakat]

Thank you for the encouragement.
It is a shame there's a feeling these new series have to be defended though. I am sure that's based on a few personal taste strongly expressed opinions here and on YouTube and based on not much reality.
I find with headphone comparisons its a lot to do with what one has listened prior to evaluation and explains a lot of these strong opinions.
Anyhow, lets see exactly how impossibly dark and bloated in the bass these are..

Yes, some people are quite vocal with their expectations... and most interestingly some of them consider Beyerdynamic (in this case) staff complete idiots that have no clue what they're doing. Which is absolutely not the case... I know many people there for years, and I think they are actually reflecting very much on their past products, what might be interesting to their customers. And changing something that many consider the Beyer housesound does require quite some courage I think... Keeping such an old company so agile that they don't simply continue to do what worked in the past, but try to evolve, get better in relation to what is now, not what was yesterday -- I think that's a good thing.

I'm really interested in trying the new T1 myself (I just can't stand midbass, so I'd rather start with the T1). Interestingly I was always on the brighter side of things (headphones that is), but came to appreciate a warmer signature over the years. Overall I think what the founder of Lake People once said to me is true: "If you actually listen to a concert, it is just not as bright as some want to make you believe. Natural sound is much warmer." Treble is to a certain degree an effect, a bit like bass: you suggest details and room, where you might have to listen much closer to actually hear it with a natural presentation. Overall that natural presentation is much less fatiguing though, since our brain does not analyze details and correct/eq so much, but can more get into the music I'd say.

And I'm sure neither the T1 nor T5 are actually missing details. They are just not in your face. Coming directly from a bright headphone they might sound dark, but with the direct comparison fading I expect them to sound very natural actually. As I said: I'll have to try

 

[Malevolent]

Snap t5 3rd gen. might be a nice relaxed listen

After a long talk with someone at Beyerdynamic about their new T1/T5 and the new tuning I'm sure that much thought went into them. Feedback so far seems positive (apart from parts of head-fi obviously), their target audience seems very happy with the changes overall. I think if you give it some time it will work well as a non-fatiguing, long-term headphone. Looking forward to your feedback!

I just might, actually. The revised T5 sports a signature that is very much an acquired taste; it's the opposite of many top-tier headphones on the contemporary market. It's heavy on the bass, thick and weighty in tone, and anemic in its treble response. However, for fans of this particular signature, you will enjoy a rich, savory experience. There aren't many headphones that share a similar signature (within the same tier); the NightOwl and, possibly, the Cascade are the 2 cans that come closest.

 

[soundblast75]

Yes, some people are quite vocal with their expectations... and most interestingly some of them consider Beyerdynamic (in this case) staff complete idiots that have no clue what they're doing. Which is absolutely not the case... I know many people there for years, and I think they are actually reflecting very much on their past products, what might be interesting to their customers. And changing something that many consider the Beyer housesound does require quite some courage I think... Keeping such an old company so agile that they don't simply continue to do what worked in the past, but try to evolve, get better in relation to what is now, not what was yesterday -- I think that's a good thing.

I'm really interested in trying the new T1 myself (I just can't stand midbass, so I'd rather start with the T1). Interestingly I was always on the brighter side of things (headphones that is), but came to appreciate a warmer signature over the years. Overall I think what the founder of Lake People once said to me is true: "If you actually listen to a concert, it is just not as bright as some want to make you believe. Natural sound is much warmer." Treble is to a certain degree an effect, a bit like bass: you suggest details and room, where you might have to listen much closer to actually hear it with a natural presentation. Overall that natural presentation is much less fatiguing though, since our brain does not analyze details and correct/eq so much, but can more get into the music I'd say.

And I'm sure neither the T1 nor T5 are actually missing details. They are just not in your face. Coming directly from a bright headphone they might sound dark, but with the direct comparison fading I expect them to sound very natural actually. As I said: I'll have to try

Well said, warm but with clarity is what I've been required to deliver as a top pro violinist by many greater famous musicians than myself (well, to be frank, I've mostly been required the most contrasting things like warm, but bright or clear with a veil lol, thats musical profession for ya haha)
I didn't doubt there are serious folk in Beyer, always respected them, yet T1 wasn't up there with the best and closed cans were treble sensitive, they are just great tools, Beyers.
I didn't keep any of the DTs but I've had many, i do love the Aventos, absolutely fab once you change cable.
And thanks for the Impacto tip, arrived the other day, what a steal at 50 eur..just wow!!
Beyers site has stopped working lately tho and i can't order anything from them at the mo. Very strange, wouldn't load pages. Was gonna get the gaming one 300r something, cheap..
Btw, the Denon 9200 has same conectors as T5s right? Just ordered a Cuprum Arctic cable..

 

[Malevolent]

I'm trading in my eikon for a verite closed at my friendly neighbourhood ZMF dealer, as a Christmas present to myself.

The Vérité Closed offers a more luscious sound, with a meatier, fuller tone; the Eikon is the more energetic headphone, however. Both are good examples of their respective signatures, though.

Congrats on the purchase!

I have the D7200 up for sale here in Canada and ZMF Aeolus Ltd Cocobolo with copper grill and rods on the way to me. Not a closed headphone but the Aeolus sounded like it would be good place to start to get a feel for the ZMF sound.

Congrats! Hope they fit you in both sound and comfort, my friend.

 

[plakat]

Well said, warm but with clarity is what I've been required to deliver as a top pro violinist by many greater famous musicians than myself (well, to be frank, I've mostly been required the most contrasting things like warm, but bright or clear with a veil lol, thats musical profession for ya haha)
I didn't doubt there are serious folk in Beyer, always respected them, yet T1 wasn't up there with the best and closed cans were treble sensitive, they are just great tools, Beyers.
I didn't keep any of the DTs but I've had many, i do love the Aventos, absolutely fab once you change cable.
And thanks for the Impacto tip, arrived the other day, what a steal at 50 eur..just wow!!
Beyers site has stopped working lately tho and i can't order anything from them at the mo. Very strange, wouldn't load pages. Was gonna get the gaming one 300r something, cheap..
Btw, the Denon 9200 has same conectors as T5s right? Just ordered a Cuprum Arctic cable..

Impacto Universal is already sold out, I was thinking about getting a second unit for the flexible USB cables and the battery...

yes, in general cables should work with both T5 and D9200.

 

[AudioDuck]

Impacto Universal is already sold out, I was thinking about getting a second unit for the flexible USB cables and the battery...

yes, in general cables should work with both T5 and D9200.

All's quiet on the closed-back front. Any Christmas purchases that you're considering, folks? I know what @Terriero is waiting for, though.

I have a few things I'd like to buy, pending clearance from the Minister of Finance of the Interior, of course. On the headphone side of things, I'm (seriously) considering the purchase of a Beyerdynamic T5 (3rd Generation). In the absence of an AudioQuest NightOwl, the Beyers might just fulfil the role of the dark, bass-heavy, lush, smooth headphone. Although, I suspect that the T5 (3rd Gen) might just be heavier in the lows; that mid-bass hump is quite sizeable.

What about the rest of you?

Since I splurged on a pair of LCD-XCs (funded mostly by the sale of Focal Elears with Moon Audio Black Dragon Premium cables), I’m all about getting a proper custom cable. Unfortunately I just discovered that I’ll have to wait until a Christmas gift comes in closer to New Year’s... which KILLS me as I’m missing Black Friday sales at Wywires and Norne, and there is a nice fellow selling a Draug 3 in the classifieds! Argh.

But either way I am going for Norne (Draug 3) or Wywires (Red)- they seem like the perfect fit.

 

[Terriero]

All's quiet on the closed-back front. Any Christmas purchases that you're considering, folks? I know what @Terriero is waiting for, though.

I have a few things I'd like to buy, pending clearance from the Minister of Finance of the Interior, of course. On the headphone side of things, I'm (seriously) considering the purchase of a Beyerdynamic T5 (3rd Generation). In the absence of an AudioQuest NightOwl, the Beyers might just fulfil the role of the dark, bass-heavy, lush, smooth headphone. Although, I suspect that the T5 (3rd Gen) might just be heavier in the lows; that mid-bass hump is quite sizeable.

What about the rest of you?

After almost a week struggling with Wifimedia, explaining them the lack of obligation to pay taxes where I live, and waiting a lot for their email replys (had to insist a lot about), I realized that they didn't have any interest to sell me the AH-D9200 (is something that happens sometimes to Canary islands people when we try to buy something from outside of our comunity, even from the rest of Spain) and yesterday I said to them to forget about the order...

Today, I ordered the Denons from a spanish web shop (1299 € = 1088,55 € -without taxes- shipping included) and now is time to wait for the possible customs (yes, although we are from Spain we have to pay customs - if the customs office stop the package to inspection -)... Maybe I get them by the end of next week or the beginning of the other due to the christmas period.

Obviously, I'll post my early impressions about them here... after all this waiting nightmare

 

[bythebookiii]

"And better times will come"...

 

[Terriero]

@bythebookiii I hope you find them comfortable I'm very interested in your impressions, given that you have tried Denon AH-D9200 and you have the Z1R to compare

 

[Malevolent]

Since I splurged on a pair of LCD-XCs (funded mostly by the sale of Focal Elears with Moon Audio Black Dragon Premium cables), I’m all about getting a proper custom cable. Unfortunately I just discovered that I’ll have to wait until a Christmas gift comes in closer to New Year’s... which KILLS me as I’m missing Black Friday sales at Wywires and Norne, and there is a nice fellow selling a Draug 3 in the classifieds! Argh.

But either way I am going for Norne (Draug 3) or Wywires (Red)- they seem like the perfect fit.

Out of curiosity, I note that you are a new member of the forum, but are you also a new audiophile? If so, that's some good, top-level gear that you've amassed, thus far.