You can only keep one!

[Tex Irie]

Given the choice of the following headphones which one would you keep and why?

AKG K872
Audeze LCD-XC
Audeze EL-8
Audioquest Nightowl Carbon
Focal Elear
Mr. Speakers Aeon
Sony MDR-Z7

 

[FastAndClean]

Mr speakers aeon, comfortable neutral sounding planar with good isolation

 

[Oscar-HiFi]

Aeon too, comfortable, relatively neutral and just a great headphone.

 

[banco-sg]

Elear, nicely built, comfy and versatile

 

[N3verender]

I'd also go with the Elear, for exactly the same reasons as banco listed.

 

[ahmadfaizadnan]

elear. all rounder. works well with any genre.

 

[Tex Irie]

@Oscar-HiFi @FastAndClean. I have a question about the Aeon. Can either of you explain how the foam inserts affect the sound the Aeon produces?

 

[FastAndClean]

@Oscar-HiFi @FastAndClean. I have a question about the Aeon. Can either of you explain how the foam inserts affect the sound the Aeon produces?

Foam inserts are lowering the treble a bit making them warmer

 

[Oscar-HiFi]

@Oscar-HiFi @FastAndClean. I have a question about the Aeon. Can either of you explain how the foam inserts affect the sound the Aeon produces?

As @FastAndClean stated, it lowers the treble a little and makes them a tad warmer. I much prefer the sound with the foam inserts inserted, it becomes more natural as I find them a little lean without them.

 

[Oscar-HiFi]

elear. all rounder. works well with any genre.

If you were only allowed one, and no EQ, the Aeon would trump the Elear. That upper midrange / lower treble dip in the Elear kills the initial cymbal crash in rock tracks, not good

 

[FastAndClean]

Elear are heavy with small soundstage and drowned upper mids, I don't like them at all, but is a matter of taste

 

[FastAndClean]

The best thing you can do in my opinion is to get headphones close to neutral that have good speed and can take bass eq without losing control, then you can tweak them to sound good with every genres of music, that was my approach and now I am very happy

 

[Tex Irie]

@FastAndClean , @Oscar-HiFi Thank you both for the input. Are the any suggestions for balanced cables for the Aeon that have a 2.5mm TRRS termination?

 

[Oscar-HiFi]

@FastAndClean , @Oscar-HiFi Thank you both for the input. Are the any suggestions for balanced cables for the Aeon that have a 2.5mm TRRS termination?

Try Plussound as you are in the USA, excellent cables

 

[Tex Irie]

Elear are heavy with small soundstage and drowned upper mids, I don't like them at all, but is a matter of taste

I've heard people say this but I don't hear that, maybe its source dependent. The Elear's are really my cup of tea. Reminds me of why I love my Shure SE846 warm. lush, engaging sound with sparkle and clarity. Definitely looking forward to the Aeon's for use in the office!