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

[nerdoldnerdith]

Seriously though, if you live alone, decent speakers are better.

But headphones are cool

 

[ruinedx]

Once you go closed-back, you never go back...

Seriously though, if you live alone, decent speakers are better.

Not if u got hd800s + nice amp

 

[obsidyen]

I guess I shouldn't have generalised. I really like my Dali speakers. and enjoy closed-back headphones (and their bass response) while I'm doing anything on computer. But everyone has their own preferences...

 

[limaaa]

Nooooooooo... https://crinacle.com/graphs/headphones/meze-99-classics/

I don't know how to read that

 

[Kelt0912]

I don't know how to read that

That would be "hard core" audio nerd stuff. Like on another level of nerd stuff. They are the ones that look at charts and sound wave stuff and say... Ya that 4k headphone is crap. The sound study says so.

 

[Raketen]

I don't know how to read that

It says: "V"

 

[gazzington]

All I can say is that since I bought the AT wp900 is that I use them everyday with my hugo2. I may actually settle with this set up for a long time

 

[limaaa]

It says: "V"
[/QUOTE

All I can say is that since I bought the AT wp900 is that I use them everyday with my hugo2. I may actually settle with this set up for a long time

They are not available in Europe?

 

[gazzington]

They are not available in Europe?

Jaben Singapore is where I got mine from

 

[Malevolent]

Oh yes. This is the thread I feel like I've been waiting for my entire (head-fi) life. Big thanks to @Malevolent for kicking things off!

I've read all prior pages up until this point and the one thing that stands out above all other, which often is hard to come by on these forums; the lack of pretentiousness and snobbery. Just a bunch of dudes (and the occasional dudette?) sharing their appreciation for the closed-back form.

I've enjoyed the contributions from all here so far, there's been a lot of good recommendations I've manged to add to my closed-back shortlist. I must admit so far my go-to has been the NightOwl which I love for its laid-back, smooth and non-fatiguing presentation. My preferences are definitely towards the bass-head end of the spectrum, and I've not felt the Owl lacking in this respect, but I know there's more out there in the bass department if you push the envelope of price.

Regardless, this was more a ramble of my appreciation for this thread's existence, and its contributors, more than adding anything worthwhile to the conversation at this stage. I suppose the one thing I could inject is the lack of mentions of the Shure SRH1540 thus far, particularly for those with a more restrictive budget. Swapping out the OEM pads for a set of sheepskin leathers removes a lot of the bass bloom that can occur at higher than moderate listening volumes, as well as contributing to a more sparkly top-end.

As you were...

Glad to have you on board! Since my introduction into the upper-echelons of the headphone world, I've always found myself at odds with the general audiophile. Whilst everyone was seemingly clamoring for the best open-back cans on the market, such as the HD800 S, the HE1000, the SR 009, I was always eagerly yearning for headphones of the closed persuasion. Initially, I thought I was a lone wolf in the pack, an anomaly of sorts.

In any case, it appears that the closed-form factor has its many fans. We must be a sizeable minority; otherwise, the companies wouldn't be bothered to churn out this many closed headphones, and great ones at that!

By the way, it appears that one of the more common threads linking fans of closed-back headphones together is the appreciation of a more forward and prominent bass presentation. A large chunk of us might even be bassheads; I know I am one of them!

 

[Malevolent]

Once you go closed-back, you never go back...

Seriously though, if you live alone, decent speakers are better. If you live with other people, closed-back headphones are better. For me open-back headphones are meaningless. I owned them in the past, but after getting a TH610 and seeing its advantages, I will only be buying closed-backs in the future.

Ideally, I'd like to have a set of good speakers to complement my usage of headphones. However, my apartment is rather crowded - besides my wife, my parents also stay together with me. And since it's an apartment, blasting dance music on speakers might result in neighbors calling the cops on me. I'll skip that hassle; my headphones are sufficient, for now.

 

[waveSounds]

Glad to have you on board! Since my introduction into the upper-echelons of the headphone world, I've always found myself at odds with the general audiophile. Whilst everyone was seemingly clamoring for the best open-back cans on the market, such as the HD800 S, the HE1000, the SR 009, I was always eagerly yearning for headphones of the closed persuasion. Initially, I thought I was a lone wolf in the pack, an anomaly of sorts.

In any case, it appears that the closed-form factor has its many fans. We must be a sizeable minority; otherwise, the companies wouldn't be bothered to churn out this many closed headphones, and great ones at that!

By the way, it appears that one of the more common threads linking fans of closed-back headphones together is the appreciation of a more forward and prominent bass presentation. A large chunk of us might even be bassheads; I know I am one of them!

Whilst I cannot say I own the privilege of having joined the summit-fi pack (yet), my sentiments mirror your own. Starting out here can quickly disorient you and lead you to believe your tastes are wanting. Personally, I have no desire for anything that would be considered clinical or analytical. I don't even indulge in critical listening. I listen to music purely for my own enjoyment, and my job doesn't require me to have these needs. If anything, the less involved I am "critically" with the music, the better. Of course that's not to say it's wrong, it's just not my bag.

Ha, I'm not sure you know how right you are with your last surmise. My music preferences are... expansive; from classical to jazz, indie to folk, acoustic to rock, hip-hop to chill-hop and most sub-genres that fall under the electronic umbrella (but perhaps especially deep house, techno, liquid drum and bass, and ambient). With all the aforementioned I find it exceeding displeasing should the bass be under-represented. OK, not over-represented.

You've amassed an excellent group of music aficionados with the starting of this thread, and one that I've had the pleasure of reading the majority of responses within. Not something I can say from most other threads I'm "monitoring"

Through all Head-Fi's faults I can't distance myself from the majority, however. The endless search for better. For more. As I previously mentioned, my daily driver is the NightOwl. But you couldn't be a member of this forum without willingly accepting your desire to know what awaits in pastures more expensive. From everything I've read previously, review-wise, and in this thread, I think the Sony MDR-Z1R is probably my end-game calling.

 

[Malevolent]

Whilst I cannot say I own the privilege of having joined the summit-fi pack (yet), my sentiments mirror your own. Starting out here can quickly disorient you and lead you to believe your tastes are wanting. Personally, I have no desire for anything that would be considered clinical or analytical. I don't even indulge in critical listening. I listen to music purely for my own enjoyment, and my job doesn't require me to have these needs. If anything, the less involved I am "critically" with the music, the better. Of course that's not to say it's wrong, it's just not my bag.

Ha, I'm not sure you know how right you are with your last surmise. My music preferences are... expansive; from classical to jazz, indie to folk, acoustic to rock, hip-hop to chill-hop and most sub-genres that fall under the electronic umbrella (but perhaps especially deep house, techno, liquid drum and bass, and ambient). With all the aforementioned I find it exceeding displeasing should the bass be under-represented. OK, not over-represented.

You've amassed an excellent group of music aficionados with the starting of this thread, and one that I've had the pleasure of reading the majority of responses within. Not something I can say from most other threads I'm "monitoring"

Through all Head-Fi's faults I can't distance myself from the majority, however. The endless search for better. For more. As I previously mentioned, my daily driver is the NightOwl. But you couldn't be a member of this forum without willingly accepting your desire to know what awaits in pastures more expensive. From everything I've read previously, review-wise, and in this thread, I think the Sony MDR-Z1R is probably my end-game calling.

Ahhh, you're an EDM fan, too. You're a man of culture, I see.

Wel, it's nice to chat with fellow closed-back fans. We're quite an eclectic bunch, but ostensibly, we're all here to enjoy the pursuit of great sound, as opposed to the soulless quest for the next big thing, the "new kid on the block". I wouldn't want to paint a broad stroke across a large chunk of audiophiles on the various fora that I frequent, but one thing typically stands out as a pseuo-axiom - the more expensive the headphone, the better it performs. And thus, round and round the block, we go, an endless pursuit of "perfection".

But back to regular programming, shall we?

I have the MDR-Z1R myself, and it's definitely a keeper. It produces some of the best bass in the business, rivalled only by a few challengers. It is comparatively thick-sounding, with a lush and rich tone that, at first glance, doesn't conjure a picture of absolute clarity and detail. Nevertheless, if you're not in the game for the most resolving headphone, the Sony flagship is sure to please, with a musical and endearing sound. Stick around a little longer, and you'll start to unravel the layers of music, and then you'll realize, it's not so bad with detail at all.

 

[jwong]

I currently have the Elegia and, with EQ, they're my current favorite closed backs. Is that Is there anything closed that might be an improvement under $500? Their slam is nice, detail is great. With EQ the bass is good, but I would like even more. The WP900 sounds great to me but over the price range.

 

[Kelt0912]

Ahhh, you're an EDM fan, too. You're a man of culture, I see.

Wel, it's nice to chat with fellow closed-back fans. We're quite an eclectic bunch, but ostensibly, we're all here to enjoy the pursuit of great sound, as opposed to the soulless quest for the next big thing, the "new kid on the block". I wouldn't want to paint a broad stroke across a large chunk of audiophiles on the various fora that I frequent, but one thing typically stands out as a pseuo-axiom - the more expensive the headphone, the better it performs. And thus, round and round the block, we go, an endless pursuit of "perfection".

But back to regular programming, shall we?

I have the MDR-Z1R myself, and it's definitely a keeper. It produces some of the best bass in the business, rivalled only by a few challengers. It is comparatively thick-sounding, with a lush and rich tone that, at first glance, doesn't conjure a picture of absolute clarity and detail. Nevertheless, if you're not in the game for the most resolving headphone, the Sony flagship is sure to please, with a musical and endearing sound. Stick around a little longer, and you'll start to unravel the layers of music, and then you'll realize, it's not so bad with detail at all.

I currently have the Elegia and, with EQ, they're my current favorite closed backs. Is that Is there anything closed that might be an improvement under $500? Their slam is nice, detail is great. With EQ the bass is good, but I would like even more. The WP900 sounds great to me but over the price range.

I am looking into the Sivga Phoenix for open back. For closed back I would have to look up stuff for under 500. I keep hearing good things about the Sivga Phoenix and it's under 300.