ezil71
New Head-Fier
- Joined
- Jan 24, 2017
- Posts
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I am just getting into decent headphones but am not new to audio. I've been a musician nearly all my life (45) and have a very good ear by comparison to most so I like detailed sound that is near neutral, but not sibilant with a touch of warmth for a more natural sound.
I listen to all kinds of music but more acoustic/piano/jazz/female vocals (Jonatha Brooke/Grace Potter/Nora Jones/Sara Bareilles/Beth Hart/Ray LaMontagne and all kinds of blues/rock/classical and alternative). Also for TV use/watching concert DVD's etc.
I'm looking for my 'next level' cans in the sub $300 range.
Here are some that I have experienced:
M50's - the originals, not the x - lack of sound stage, muddy bass, no mids decent highs
M40x - I liked the overall balance, maybe a touch lacking in mids, liked the bass but lacking clarity and detail and soundstage
SR80's - loved the detail but way too bright and like it was missing half the mids and nearly everything below. Extremely uncomfortable
598's - liked the overall balance, decent soundstage but too muddy/veiled and lacking in detail. Not very comfortable (ears felt like they didn't fit well/crushed). Better when on high gain but still too veiled/lacking in detail for my taste
SHP 9500 - really love the detail, best I've heard. Just a touch thin/bright and not quite as balanced at a few points. Close to what I am after but I'm hoping for better soundstage and a slightly fuller warmer sound without losing the detail, a touch better bass, more like the m40's but with detail.
Some IEM's I've tried or own:
1More Triple Driver - pretty decent but felt like they were missing random gaps across the frequency, a very odd feeling
Soundmagic E50 - muddy/dull, not horrible just didn't like them
Brainwaves Delta - 'almost' kept them. Liked the sound a lot for a cheaper IEM but the sibilance was a deal breaker - painful at random points which is too bad because I liked the soundstage and just about everything else.
For gear I am running a shiit modi 2 uber/magni 2 uber and also have a bravo 2 with a gold lion tube as well, fed from either lossless on my PC or an optical from my HT system.
Based on what I've heard I think I'm looking for something that lies between the 9500's and the 598's. The detail and clarity and comfort of the 9500's with the balance and soundstage of the 598 minus the veil. Just a 'touch' warmer than the 9500's in the highs. Low end closer to the m40x's but without covering any mids.
Based on my research I'm considering:
Fidelio L2 - if I can find them at a reasonable price still, X2 seems like it would be too bass heavy and lacking in mids
7XX or 712's - I haven't heard AKG not sure how thin vs full sounding they are compared to what I have heard above
PSB M4U 1 - seems like perhaps a good fit but I don't know much about them
I don't think the HD600 or 650s would be good based on my experience with the 598's
Unfortunately I don't have a good place to demo anywhere near me.
Thanks for any feedback or suggestions - Ed
I listen to all kinds of music but more acoustic/piano/jazz/female vocals (Jonatha Brooke/Grace Potter/Nora Jones/Sara Bareilles/Beth Hart/Ray LaMontagne and all kinds of blues/rock/classical and alternative). Also for TV use/watching concert DVD's etc.
I'm looking for my 'next level' cans in the sub $300 range.
Here are some that I have experienced:
M50's - the originals, not the x - lack of sound stage, muddy bass, no mids decent highs
M40x - I liked the overall balance, maybe a touch lacking in mids, liked the bass but lacking clarity and detail and soundstage
SR80's - loved the detail but way too bright and like it was missing half the mids and nearly everything below. Extremely uncomfortable
598's - liked the overall balance, decent soundstage but too muddy/veiled and lacking in detail. Not very comfortable (ears felt like they didn't fit well/crushed). Better when on high gain but still too veiled/lacking in detail for my taste
SHP 9500 - really love the detail, best I've heard. Just a touch thin/bright and not quite as balanced at a few points. Close to what I am after but I'm hoping for better soundstage and a slightly fuller warmer sound without losing the detail, a touch better bass, more like the m40's but with detail.
Some IEM's I've tried or own:
1More Triple Driver - pretty decent but felt like they were missing random gaps across the frequency, a very odd feeling
Soundmagic E50 - muddy/dull, not horrible just didn't like them
Brainwaves Delta - 'almost' kept them. Liked the sound a lot for a cheaper IEM but the sibilance was a deal breaker - painful at random points which is too bad because I liked the soundstage and just about everything else.
For gear I am running a shiit modi 2 uber/magni 2 uber and also have a bravo 2 with a gold lion tube as well, fed from either lossless on my PC or an optical from my HT system.
Based on what I've heard I think I'm looking for something that lies between the 9500's and the 598's. The detail and clarity and comfort of the 9500's with the balance and soundstage of the 598 minus the veil. Just a 'touch' warmer than the 9500's in the highs. Low end closer to the m40x's but without covering any mids.
Based on my research I'm considering:
Fidelio L2 - if I can find them at a reasonable price still, X2 seems like it would be too bass heavy and lacking in mids
7XX or 712's - I haven't heard AKG not sure how thin vs full sounding they are compared to what I have heard above
PSB M4U 1 - seems like perhaps a good fit but I don't know much about them
I don't think the HD600 or 650s would be good based on my experience with the 598's
Unfortunately I don't have a good place to demo anywhere near me.
Thanks for any feedback or suggestions - Ed