Upgrade from Denon D2000 Redux

[jonathanjong]

So, I lost my Denon AH-D2000. Yea.

They were wonderfully recabled by Qusp, too. Anyway, I'm taking the opportunity for an upgrade.

The main contender so far is Shure SRH840, and by all accounts it is an upgrade from D2000. Any naysayers?

As for other recommendations: I'm in the market for closed headphones for work. They have to be comfortable for long periods of listening. I mostly listen to indie rock (e.g., Decemberists, Frames), indie pop (e.g., Belle & Sebastian, Camera Obscura), trip hop (e.g., Massive Attack, Portishead), other electronic-ish indie stuff (e.g., Postal Service, Stars), alternative rock (e.g., Muse, Radiohead), and post rock (e.g., Silver Mt. Zion, Mogwai). These cans don't have to do classical or jazz well.

My other main headphones are: ESW9, Alessandro MS2 Fatboy, and HD580. (I'm not sure this tells you much about my taste in headphones. I tend do go for variety, but I'm currently looking for an all-rounder, I guess. Can't have 3 pairs of headphones at work.)

The headphones will be plugged into an iBasso D10 into an iMac, playing high bitrate mp3s and AACs.

Thanks in advance, Head-Fi!

 

[K3cT]

The ESW9 is a bit polite-sounding so I'm not sure how it would do with your trip hop, rock or electronica. Otherwise, it's an excellent all-rounder with weighty bass and musical midrange.

I haven't heard the SRH840 so I can't comment on that.

 

[jonathanjong]

^ Indeed, I own a pair of ESW9, as I said.

 

[musicman59]

If you liked the D2000 that much and want to upgrade why you don't go to the D7000?
The D7000 smoke the D2000 and D5000. I own or have own the three of them and the D7000 is far superior then the other two.

 

[Mink]

When you had the Denons, did you consider them to be your all-rounder headphones?
If so, why not get a new pair?

Never heard the Shures for a long time, but I don't think they will be an 'upgrade', but just different.
Well considering they are made for studio purpose and are meant to be neutral these may in fact be great all-rounders...

 

[erikzen]

What about going up the line with the Denons to the D5000 or D7000?

 

[jonathanjong]

Thanks for your responses thus far.

Indeed, the alleged neutrality of the Shures is an attractive feature.

For my purposes, I did consider the D2000 an "all rounder" (i.e., it performed adequately for all my music preferences). However, I found the cable intolerable (hence engendering a recable) and I found it too heavy and unwieldy in general. Also, I was afflicted by the infamous build issues. More relevantly, however, is the fact that D7000s are really hard to come by in NZ, and when they do, they are far more expensive than they are in the U.S. As such, I'd rather not go down the Denon route again.

 

[K3cT]

Quote:

Originally Posted by jonathanjong /img/forum/go_quote.gif ^ Indeed, I own a pair of ESW9, as I said.

My bad, I thought you have the ESW9 as one of your main considerations.

In that case, the SRH840 is looking like a sidegrade from the D2000 honestly for me.

 

[jonathanjong]

The few comparisons I've read suggest that they're in the same class, but that 840 is preferred of the two. I think I'd count that as an upgrade, albeit a very subtle one.

 

[Mink]

I'd say go for the Shures.

I own a pair of neutral Audio Technica studio headphones myself and although there isn't much of a soundstage, the sound is full, non fatiguing and especially great for the music you mention.
I thought the Shures sounded very much like them and given the praise the Shures received and the better soundstage they probably have (than my studio phones), I would at least audition them.

 

[jonathanjong]

Sweet, that's one for a Shures among a few for higher end Denons.

What about other candidates? I know close to nothing about Beyers and higher end Sonys, etc.

 

[jonathanjong]

Upon an updated reading of the big SRH840 thread, I've noticed several things:
1. Most people are discussing SRH840 qua sub-$150 cans, not qua ~$200 cans. I'll be purchasing them for a shade more than US$199.
2. While no one (as far as I can see) are contradicting the subtle preference over D2000, I do see that some prefer other headphones I own over them. Granted, this seems to be a matter of taste (e.g., I see K601 > 840, RE0 > 840 and 840 > D2000...but to me D2000 > K601 and RE0), but it raises room for doubt for sure.

 

[K3cT]

Quote:

Originally Posted by jonathanjong /img/forum/go_quote.gif The few comparisons I've read suggest that they're in the same class, but that 840 is preferred of the two. I think I'd count that as an upgrade, albeit a very subtle one.

Exactly. I would rather go for the next level if you get what I mean.

Ever thought about going into the IEM route?

 

[moonboy403]

Budget? For all we know, you might be able to afford the JH13!

 

[jonathanjong]

Nope, no IEMs. Just don't like having the things in my ears, though I always have one pair for the times when it's most convenient. My current pair are RE0s.

I don't really have a budget, which is a dangerous thing to say, but I don't think there are many closed headphones in the uber-expensive region anyway. If you must...say under-$600?