Chris Kaoss
Headphoneus Supremus
Wish y'all the best for a new year of greater musical enjoyment then before.
Well, what do you think about the past year, and the year ahead, in terms of headphones, both closed and open?
Let's see those responses! It would be interesting; a recap of the year, of sorts.
- What have you bought in 2020?
- What's your favorite headphone of 2020?
- What do you regret purchasing in 2020?
- What are you hoping to buy in 2020? (could be a new or rumored product)
I missinterpreted the question number 3. I thought it was "What do you regret not purchasing".Happy new year to all of you. Have a good saving in 2021 to buy audio things (Rögnir...)
1. DT 1990 Pro (sold, want to re-buy), Amiron Home (returned, want to re-buy), DT 150 (sold), T 1 rev 3 (returned), Sony Z7 (second hand), Denon AH-D9200.
2. Soon to say, but probably 9200, also I love Sony Z7.
3. DAC/AMP, but I'm still investigating about and waiting for the release of Flux lab Volot.
4. DAC/AMP and some mid-budget headphones... and if my economy is strong: Z1R and Rögnir from which I'm falling in love...
Typically, I'm a bigger fan of dynamic bass than the ones generated by planar magnetic drivers; however, a well-tuned planar can produce some alluring lows, too. Headphones like the LCD-XC and AEON 2 Closed prove this point rather well.4. DAC/AMP and some mid-budget headphones... and if my economy is strong: Z1R and Rögnir from which I'm falling in love...
Well, well, that's quite a list you've got there, my friend! Good luck on your headphone quest!4. What are you hoping to buy in 2021? (could be a new or rumored product)
Hopefully nothing.
But have an eye on Heddphone and Empyrian.
Oh, and a good set of TWS Anc phones (Android) for work, bc i can't stand over ears (sweating issues).
That's quite a lot of headphones, indeed! And speaking of closed-backs.. how did you manage to get your hands on an AH-D2000? Was it a used item? Those things are practically extinct right now. Well, I'm not saying that they are bad, though. They are, in fact, pretty darn good - I have one myself. I still use my AH-D2000 occasionally, in fact.Happy new deer indeed
Fun little exercise...and a little scary considering how many headphones I’ve plowed through...
1) HE5XX, K371, HE400i, D2000, HD58X, HD580, K245, K612, Aeon Flow C RT, Sundara, K712, K702, LCD-2C as well as a couple of coconuts I’m forgetting this minute. A fair few of these were cans I’d already owned before...and I funnily enough ended up selling many of them off yet again
2) Hard to say really but speaking as someone who probably spends 90% of his listening time with openbacks, I gotta say that I have been completely spellbound by the old Denon D2000 ever since I got it a few weeks back. Getting back the Sundara was also quite the experience...’now how on earth did I ever even think about selling this badboy?!??’
Oops, yes, I meant 2021. I've amended the post!Happy holidays to you all!
1. Alot actually! For me. See my sig.
2. So far, my Beyer 250 ohm DT-770+EQ. AKG's new K371 has some potential as well in the same price range. Though I'm not a fan of their hinge and extender design. And don't find the pleather pads on the K371 as plush and comfortable as the velour pads on my DT-770.
3. Nothing, so far. (knock wood)
4. You mean in 2021, I assume... Not sure. I could probably use a better DAC to replace the cheapy off-the-rack job I'm currently using from Best Buy. $$ are very tight right now though. And it gets the job done. So I really have no complaints.
Headphone-wise, I'm not sure either. But probably nothing. I have flirted with the idea of getting the AKG K371. But I spent quite a bit of time and energy arranging for my other HP purchases in 2020. And don't really need another headphone for portable use at this point. So right now, I'd just like to get the sound tweaked a little better on what I've got. After I've done that, then I'll think what I else I can maybe add into the mix.
There are alot of things I'd eventually like to try though, including some open-back headphones, planars, and dynamic headphones with better quality drivers like the Denons and Focals, among others. I need a better paying job though first.
I have enjoyed checking out, and hearing about all of the nice closed HP gear here this year btw. So thank you especially to Malevolent for starting this topic!
Well, 'hoping not to buy' was always my original intention. I keep telling myself that I already have enough - why do I need (yet) another headphone? But, well, here I am. So much for willpower, huh?What are you hoping to buy in 2021? (could be a new or rumored product)
What am I hoping not to buy would be the question. All my purchases in 2020 were not needed. Yes, I love the Fidelio X3s, but I can live without them. I already owned the NightHawks, Owls and Sony MDR-Z7s to keep me satisfied.
I've amended the question to reflect either option - "What do you regret purchasing?" or "What do you regret not purchasing?"I missinterpreted the question number 3. I thought it was "What do you regret not purchasing".
My answer is: I regretted sell DT 1990 Pro and returned Amiron to buy T 1.3 (I wanted (and hoped) that the T 1.3 aglutinate the best of both).
Happy New Year, everyone! Here’s to 2021 being far better than the horrible year we are leaving behind.Well, 'hoping not to buy' was always my original intention. I keep telling myself that I already have enough - why do I need (yet) another headphone? But, well, here I am. So much for willpower, huh?
I've amended the question to reflect either option - "What do you regret purchasing?" or "What do you regret not purchasing?"
I don't want to be guilty of being "that guy", but if you enjoy the LCD-XC, the upcoming Rögnir from Kennerton might pique your interest. In many respects, it can be seen as a contemporary to the LCD-XC; the Rögnir is also closed-back, uses planar magnetic drivers, and features (beautiful) wood cups. It's certainly on my "must-try" list for 2021. I'm enjoying my LCD-XC a lot more these days, but I'm also interested in seeing the ways companies advance and improve upon the (high) performance bars set by top-level closed planars such as the LCD-XC and the Ether C Flow 1.1. Certainly, good times ahead.Happy New Year, everyone! Here’s to 2021 being far better than the horrible year we are leaving behind.
- What have you bought in 2020? -- I have changed up my signal chain completely! I bought a Schiit Gungnir Multibit and am running it via a balanced Straightwire Virtuoso R into an SPL Auditor. These replaced two Bursons: The DA-160 and HA-160, both excellent products. In addition I sold my Focal Elears (with Moon Audio Black Dragon Premium) to move to a closed solution that was matching in detail level and range.. the pandemic has meant I needed better isolation! I ended up with Audeze LCD-XCs, which are excellent but need the polish of an aftermarket cable to add some warmth and midrange body for older/lower-fi recordings. And I just pulled the trigger on a Norne Drausk cable to do just that!
- What's your favorite headphone of 2020? — I have to say the Elears. They are truly amazing, bringing high-end performance well below the $1000 mark. Once the XCs have better cables, I expect next year’s answer to be “LCD-XCs”.
- What do you regret purchasing in 2020, — Fortunately nothing, though I was disappointed that the Auditor wasn’t a better immediate match with the XCs. It was phenomenal with the Elears, and powers the XCs very well- but the transparency of the Auditor coupled with the XCs can be a little cool for my taste with some recordings.
- What are you hoping to buy in 2020? (could be a new or rumored product) — I may bring back a high-end open-back set of cans... we will see!