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

[immortalsoul]

Do you have a budget, or is the sky the limit?

The budget is 1000 and I want to buy on the used market

 

[Mhog55]

I like a headphone that has a nice soundstage with great instrument separation and it doesn't have piercing highs because I can't stand piercing highs

What else do you like/want?

 

[immortalsoul]

What else do you like/want?

I am waiting suggestions. I was interested in the Fostex TH900 too

 

[Mhog55]

I am waiting suggestions. I was interested in the Fostex TH900 too

I mean sound presentation wise. I know you don't want bright highs. A fairly large soundstage with good detailing and separation. Anything else? It's hard to recommend without a little more information.

 

[immortalsoul]

I mean sound presentation wise. I know you don't want bright highs. A fairly large soundstage with good detailing and separation. Anything else? It's hard to recommend without a little more information.

I am intrigued by Kennerton Magni but I need some more information on that particular headphone. Also I really like the wood cup headphones and I like a headphone that is not scooped in middle frequency

 

[Mhog55]

I am intrigued by Kennerton Magni but I need some more information on that particular headphone. Also I really like the wood cup headphones and I like a headphone that is not scooped in middle frequency

The Teaks do have a mild recession in the mids. Just buy the Magni, listen to it for a while, and then tell me all about it !

 

[GREQ]

Can we stick to using the embedded emoji system please
(as opposed to uploading your own private emojis)
... this is getting out of hand ...

 

[Malevolent]

I am waiting suggestions. I was interested in the Fostex TH900 too

The TH900 Mk2 is a highly-energetic headphone with a vigorous low-end presence coupled with bright, strident, and sometimes-sibilant highs. If you're not a fan of piercing treble, you ought to strike the Fostex off the list. The E-MU Teak is a toned-down version of the TH900 Mk2, with a comparatively linear signature, offering a good balance between the bass, midrange, and treble sections.

Still, neither headphone has a signature that is similar to the JH Audio's Roxanne; the latter is darker, offering a luscious, thick sound that can be described as velvety and rich.

 

[immortalsoul]

Thank you all for your advice, I am almost sure that my choice will be Kennerton Magni. I just need to find one on the used market

 

[normie610]

I may have missed it, but is there a comparison between D9200 and AWAS? Looking to get the D9200 but a bit concerned on the treble peak since I’m quite sensitive to it, especially if it invokes sibilance.

 

[immortalsoul]

Is there anyone that has Kennerton Magni and Denon D9200 to compare the two? Thank you!

 

[elnero]

@elnero I know you'd be going from memory, but as an Owl keeper (and lover ) I'm always interested in hearing comparisons to the more opulent closed-backs. Definitely one of the most comfortable cans, open or closed. She's also quite the seductress with her liquid, silky charms.

Sorry for the late reply to this. Over the years I've come to learned not to rely on my acoustic memory so I'm not really comfortable giving a comparison when I can't listen side by side. If I do end up picking up another Owl I'll be sure to do a comparison though.

 

[bythebookiii]

I may have missed it, but is there a comparison between D9200 and AWAS? Looking to get the D9200 but a bit concerned on the treble peak since I’m quite sensitive to it, especially if it invokes sibilance.

In my short experience I've learned to be open minded when some kind of peak is present, It's easier to tame it down with eq.

On the contrary, when the HPs are lacking a frequency range, it's really hard to lift it up, specifically on bass.

 

[normie610]

In my short experience I've learned to be open minded when some kind of peak is present, It's easier to tame it down with eq.

On the contrary, when the HPs are lacking a frequency range, it's really hard to lift it up, specifically on bass.

Fully agree, but the thing is the large part of my library consists of DSD files, so can’t really do EQ.

 

[noplsestar]

One closed back phone that doesn’t get much love over here in this thread is Stereophile‘s Headphone product of the year 2020:
https://www.stereophile.com/content/stereophiles-products-2020-headphone-product-year

This doesn’t mean it’s „better“ than the headphones you guys are talking about most of the time, but it does mean that closed backs do get more and more important in comparison to all the open backs out there! And that’s a good thing, right?

Ps.: I am convinced that Focal‘s stock cable is holding them back. They should send them out with a good occ silver cable like - if I'm right - ZMF has as an option. But that’s just my opinion.