[goldwerger]

I'd suggest we open it up to everyone to answer. What's a good, reasonable affordable amp that can drive a wide variety of headphones well enough - not perfectly, but well enough to get a sense of what different headphones are like when adequately driven?

What a fantastic question. I’d have mentioned most everything you have, and perhaps add the Ferrum Oor, a very capable and dynamic little amp that packs a punch. There are used ones at the $1-1.5k range making that an excellent all-rounder in that price bracket.

 

[G8torbyte]

@Sajid Amit +1 for the Bokeh, love it!

@JMAX2016 another open back for consideration that was impressive to me at CanJam was the Auribus Sierra.
Site: https://auribusacoustics.com/

I spoke some with the Sierra developer at the NYC CanJam and enjoyed trying these. At the time the prototype was using a 3D printed plastic housing and it was feather-light and very comfortable. Also for consideration would be the new Fostex open planar, TH1100RP's. I'm partial to Fostex bass and want to try these at the next CanJam.

 

[G8torbyte]

This is a great question but a tough one to answer. I'd suggest we open it up to everyone to answer. What's a good, reasonable affordable amp that can drive a wide variety of headphones well enough - not perfectly, but well enough to get a sense of what different headphones are like when adequately driven?

What a fantastic question. I’d have mentioned most everything you have, and perhaps add the Ferrum Oor, a very capable and dynamic little amp that packs a punch. There are used ones at the $1-1.5k range making that an excellent all-rounder in that price bracket.

I typically prefer smaller desktop amps due to space limitations in the mid-fi price range. I've found the following in no particular order to be excellent and work very well across a range of HP's including the ZMF's:
- Violectric V222, superb powerful solid state in a smallish case
- JDS Labs/ZMF Homage, also a very nice performing solid state with versatility for planars and dynamics
- Icon Audio HP8-MkII, powerful, punchy transformer coupled tube amp. Love it with the Atrium especially
- Linear Tube Audio Velo, lovely sweet, spacious sound and a joy with tube rolling and using as a pre-amp with speakers

 

[jinxy245]

Only closed-backs worth buying.



I recommend getting ears on an ETA Mini-C. Not quite in the same league as far as detail retrieval, but tonaly









IMHO.

can actually agree on this.

I'd recommend getting ears on an ETA Mini-C.

Not quite in the same league as far as detail retrieval, but tonaly a really good headphone with a lot to offer. Relatively inexpensive too, at least in comparison to the above headphones.

 

[Monsterzero]

some vintage headphones show such incredible staying power (e.g. Susvara

AKG K240 Sextetts- "hold my beer"
My absolute favorite mids since 1975
I've asked Zach a few times to make a modern version, and his response was "Never say never"

I tried the ZMF verite closed. And they were just ehh to me. That’s the only ZMF I heard. I heard great things about ZMF so I was excited to try it.

What amp did you use? ZMFs can sound underwhelming on many amps with a low output impedance.

In my experience, the short answer is that "it depends." I don't mean this as a cop out but your choice of headphones will dictate, to an extent, which amp to get.

+1

This is a great question but a tough one to answer. I'd suggest we open it up to everyone to answer. What's a good, reasonable affordable amp that can drive a wide variety of headphones well enough - not perfectly, but well enough to get a sense of what different headphones are like when adequately driven?

Cayin IHA 6 is a good starter amp that can drive most every headphone out there with it's variable output impedance.
Moon Audio has it for 650.00.

If you just want to drive high impedance headphones, a vintage receiver from the 1970s will rock your world and depending upon the make and model, and with a little patience, I've picked a few up for under $100.00

My Kenwood Model Eleven GX.

 

[JMAX2016]

AKG K240 Sextetts- "hold my beer"
My absolute favorite mids since 1975
I've asked Zach a few times to make a modern version, and his response was "Never say never"



What amp did you use? ZMFs can sound underwhelming on many amps with a low output impedance.

+1

Cayin IHA 6 is a good starter amp that can drive most every headphone out there with it's variable output impedance.
Moon Audio has it for 650.00.

If you just want to drive high impedance headphones, a vintage receiver from the 1970s will rock your world and depending upon the make and model, and with a little patience, I've picked a few up for under $100.00

My Kenwood Model Eleven GX.

Interesting. 2 channel music is where I got my start. So a late 1970’s receiver? Could it be from the 2000’s? There are plenty of receivers around where I live for sale. They have a headphone output then. That’s good.
I actually have a Yamaha RX-A3060. But it’s a newer one.
The Cayin is very approachable with its price.

 

[theveterans]

Auribus Acoustics Sierra

Dynamic Driver open backed headphone for bass heads

I can't believe I missed this as my ultimate recommendation! @JMAX2016

 

[TheMiddleSky]

Auribus Acoustics Sierra

Dynamic Driver open backed headphone for bass heads

I can't believe I missed this as my ultimate recommendation! @JMAX2016

What do you think about Sierra vs Dahlia?

 

[theveterans]

what you th

What do you think about Sierra vs Dahlia?

I didn't get to hear the Dahlia unfortunately

 

[chrisnyc75]

Then you have cases like the Spirit Torino Valkyria. Super expensive headphone with a pre-defined limit of 99 units, but a change in tuning after the first dozen or so units. Now it's impossible to get what many believe to be the best version of a landmark headphone.

This sounds like an urban legend to me.

 

[ThanatosVI]

This sounds like an urban legend to me.

Which part?

 

[G8torbyte]

Auribus Acoustics Sierra

Dynamic Driver open backed headphone for bass heads

I can't believe I missed this as my ultimate recommendation! @JMAX2016

Yeah, as I mentioned earlier, the developer was pleasure to meet at CanJam. His work on the bass extension was evident and even with the noisy conditions at CanJam this was a headphone that stood out to me. And Goldensound gave it a shoutout at the end of CanJamNYC 2024 as well.
They wrap it up at the 1-hr point here:

 

[paggio]

I have both of these headphones. While I’m not familiar with the graphs, I’m familiar with their sound signature, and I suspect that you are using the AWKG with the stock pads. If so, try the alternate ZMF pads that are supposed to come with it (universe hybrid solid). Those make them very warm and mid-bass centric headphones; it may or may not be to your liking, but it’s a very different presentation, so I recommend to at least try it. That said, those two headphones will still sound miles apart.

I don’t think it is possible replicate the ADX5000 in closed back. That treble shimmer and speed is just not readily available in closed back headphones (excluding some vintage/unibtainium models).

But if you want great closed back headphones that are dynamic and forward in the upper mids, I’d highly recommend the Atrium Closed. They aren’t similar to the ADX5000, as they have more decay and less speed comparatively (but just enough to sound organic and natural, they are fast enough!), but have those two traits you are looking for; and one of the best bass of any headphone to boot. To get close to an open back presentation, I’d recommend them with them with the Caldera Suede pads.

Thank you very much. This may be helpful a lot. Zmf pads are my First choice

 

[chrisnyc75]

I’m not sure if this is the right thread or not. I’m very new to Head-fi (haven’t posted much, just read).
My question is, I am having trouble finding a pair of open back headphones that have enough bass. I’m not a bass head. But I like excitement in the music. The Sony MDRZ1R is the closest that I can find, but it’s closed back. I love the way it sounds, but I’m looking for an open back that would sound even better. I am trying out a pair of Hifiman edition XS. Basically what I am looking for is the Edition XS with better resolve/clarity, and more bass. Really like the soundstage, etc.
Would anyone have any suggestions of what headphone that I should try? Thank you.

"Better resolve" AND an open back AND "more bass" than Edition XS is a tall order - usually you get one OR the other, but not both. If you want both you're going to have to pay for it.

Caldera fits the bill, but will run you ~$3K. Abyss 1266 TC fits the bill, but will run you upwards of $5K.

If you really just want more bass (with similar resolution), Fostex T909 might fit the bill. Focal Clear also might fit the bill, though it's more mid-bass than sub-bass. Focal Utopia would fit the bill, but it will run you $5k new, and although you can find pre-owned Utopia OGs at a fraction of that cost, it will still cost you considerably to get the right DAC & AMP to drive it. If you are open to IEMs instead of over-hear headphones this becomes a much more interesting discussion, the tech in that segment moves a LOT faster than it does in over-ears.

So really, here's your dilemma: do you REALLY need both "more resolve" AND "more bass" or are you really just seeking one or the other? Either one alone is a lot easier to find than both together. And if you really do need both together, then welcome to our pathology. Get your wallet ready, it's going to be a bumpy ride.

 

[goldwerger]

Thank you very much. This may be helpful a lot. Zmf pads are my First choice

(I shared some detail on this pad combination in my CanJam NYC writeup)