Balanced headphone suggestions

Randy Myers

Randy Myers

Well-known member
Joined
Nov 7, 2015
Messages
6,085
Location
Kansas
I have KEF M500 headphones which are very comfortable and neutral sounding. Very nice to use portable with my Pono.

I am just starting to think about a step up headphone. I have used the McIntosh, but found them a little uncomfortable and I was not particularly fond of the total closed back design. I also had a pair of Audeze EL-8, but again felt they were not real comfortable for long time listening, a couple hours or more.

I am thinking about a balanced design (if I do get something fairly sure I want to use a balanced cable), with comfort as a very important criteria. Obviously sound quality is important. Thinking about Christmas suggestions for my wife :). Therefore I would say max budget would in the $2k range, hopefully a little less.

Any suggestions on some good cans to consider?
 
Re: Balanced headphone suggwstions

Randy - The MrSpeakers Ether line is right in your price range and have been getting universally great reviews. Might be worth your consideration if you can hear them.
 
Re: Balanced headphone suggwstions

Thanks for both suggestions! Have either of you had the chance to listen to either the MrSpeakers or Focal line?

Does the Focal offer a Balanced cable. I don't see anything mentioned on their web-sight.

The Ether line also looks interesting.... looks like the Balanced cable is an option.

Wondering how either of these compare against the Sennheiser HD800S?
 
Re: Balanced headphone suggwstions

I've heard the MrSpeakers Ether and Ether-C and found them stunningly good, they made a lasting impression on me but I'm not really a headphone listener. I didn't have a chance to compare them to the HD800S but I recall reading a review that found the Ethers a definite step ahead. Good luck with your search!
 
Re: Balanced headphone suggwstions

Thank you Bill.... It is the very initial stages (unlike most other things I have bought :) )... I know I want an upgrade and three major criteria for are; balanced cabling, comfort, and sound quality.
 
Re: Balanced headphone suggwstions

I should have also mentioned that I found the MrSpeakers headphones to be some of the most comfortable I've ever tried, but of course YMMV definitely applies.
 
Nice, but those are a tad out of my range Mike :). Maybe I missed it, but I did not see anything about balanced connection???
 
Randy Myers said:
I have KEF M500 headphones which are very comfortable and neutral sounding. Very nice to use portable with my Pono.

I am just starting to think about a step up headphone. I have used the McIntosh, but found them a little uncomfortable and I was not particularly fond of the total closed back design. I also had a pair of Audeze EL-8, but again felt they were not real comfortable for long time listening, a couple hours or more.

I am thinking about a balanced design (if I do get something fairly sure I want to use a balanced cable), with comfort as a very important criteria. Obviously sound quality is important. Thinking about Christmas suggestions for my wife :). Therefore I would say max budget would in the $2k range, hopefully a little less.

Any suggestions on some good cans to consider?
Click to expand...

The best I've heard recently were the Hifiman HE-1000, but they are rather pricey. There is now however also a slightly more affordable version, which I however have not heard.

For lesser money the open PM-1 and closed PM-3 are worth their money. I have the latter ones for travelling and telcos.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
 
How about Sennheiser? Much research keeps coming back to these. Any opinions? How about HD800S versus HD700? Looking at over $1600 compared to about $770 with balanced cable... reviews seem to love the HD800S, but most talk very highly about the HD700.
 
Have the HD800, which probably are the highest resolution cans out there. W/o a little TLC they tend to be a little too bright, but with an appropriate HP amp incl. power treatment, good DAC and a replacement cable (Cardas is very good) they really deliver resolution and detail aplenty and a very well defined bass (latter requires the aforementioned treatments to shine). They are a little like Magico speakers: Drive them appropriately and they are superb; plug them into you integrated amp's HP outlet and you will not have fun. But in terms of details and a spatial sound they are unbeatable.

Have not heard the HD800S, but I understand they make the bass a bit easier to handle. Between the HD700 and the HD800 there still is a class difference.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
 
The big ticket item is going is be the balanced headphone amp that does justice to either the HD800 , I just couldn't swing the extra for a Woo WA22 so I went with the WA6se instead,. It drives the HD800 with ease vast soundstage, clear. . But we always seem to go back to me old HD600 and the HD650 as headphones that just seem to work with all types of music. My dealer has the Mr Speaker Ether c and that will most like be my next pair as they are very comfortable for those long sessions.
 
How are the cable connections on the HD650? The pictures look like they are using those slot type connector. Do they hold well? I had a pair of Audeze EL-8 and they were not the most comfortable to me, but the slot type cable really was kind of a pain.

I ask this because no matter which I choose the plan is to add a balanced cable.

I have the KEF M500 which are very nice sound and very comfortable headphones. They work great for mobile use (with the Ayres Pono) but I want something a little better for my in home music listening.
 
Sure they do :D.... the HD650 can be had at about $380-$390 and the balanced cable is $240 from what I am seeing at this point.
 
Randy Myers said:
How are the cable connections on the HD650? The pictures look like they are using those slot type connector. Do they hold well? I had a pair of Audeze EL-8 and they were not the most comfortable to me, but the slot type cable really was kind of a pain.

I ask this because no matter which I choose the plan is to add a balanced cable.

I have the KEF M500 which are very nice sound and very comfortable headphones. They work great for mobile use (with the Ayres Pono) but I want something a little better for my in home music listening.
Click to expand...

The connection have been holding for years. Its a little 2 pin per side for the 600 and the 650's. If you are going to a balanced connection what headphone amp are you going to use that supports a balanced headphone connection?
 
I am playing around with the NuPrime DAC-10H. Seems like a pretty darn nice unit and a very highly rated headphone amplifier. The KEF's sound excellent with it!
 
Randy Myers said:
Sure they do :D.... the HD650 can be had at about $380-$390 and the balanced cable is $240 from what I am seeing at this point.
Click to expand...

Ok, fair enough. We're talking a different price point then. My headphone set up is between $5000-6000,-.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top