Headphones, got any favorites?

ZMF Auteur Blackwood, Audeze LCD-3, Sennheiser HD600, Fostex TH-X00 Ebony, E-MU Teak. In that particular order. Everything else sold. :) In terms of amps I am loving the PrimaLuna HP, Luxman L590AXII, Woo Audio WA6, Audeze Deckard and SPL Phonitor 2730B in that particular order, everything else sold :)
 
For me headphones are a casual experience and comfort is the most important. I have a pair of the Massdrop HD6XX that sound very nice, but I still prefer my HD598 for the sheer comfort and lightweight design. I realize its a high end sector that focuses highly on fidelity, but I still can't bring myself to throw serious money at them.
 
Last month we held a Can Jam for our audio club. There were various amps being used. One of our members brought his Woo 22, another the Bryston that I traded him. Several pair of Audeze were there, my MrSpeakers, a nice pair of HiFi Man, and a pair of the Focal Clear. Several other lower end models also.

My preference was the HiFi Man, and then my MrSpeakers. The Audeze were very nice, but like all Audeze, to me they are not as comfortable.

The general consensus; people seemed to really like the Focal, MrSpeakers, and Audeze the best.... some really liked the HiFi Man also.

I owned a pair of the HD800S, which were superb. I end up selling them after getting the MrSpeakers. I just never listened to them any more, the Ether were just that much better and more comfortable.

Recently I have been using my headphones more, again. So I bought a one year old Dennis Hap Dragon Inspire amplifier with a couple sets of tubes. It is supposed to arrive next week. From everything I have read it appears to be a great headphone amp. My friend with the Woo 22 is excited to compare. He is very into tubes (has a ton of extras) and wants to try rolling some with it.
 
I got the Abyss AB-1266 Phi CC last week. There is nothing like it, period. It sounds like floorstander speakers attached to your head.
 
vortrex said:
I got the Abyss AB-1266 Phi CC last week. There is nothing like it, period. It sounds like floorstander speakers attached to your head.
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Unbelievable. Any idea how they compare to LCD-4?

I've always wondered if a can out there can combine clear articulated extended low-end that has texture, with, sparkling high end with great resolution up there.

Right now I have a few cans including he400i that I like for it's resolution and textured highs and mids. I'll buy LCD-2C for extended textured engaging low end.

I've just always wondered if there's a can that has both great highs and great lows all in one.

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I was set on moving from the Utopia to the LCD-4 because I had the LCD-3F and liked the bass with those. Then a LCD-4 owner (and former Utopia owner) heard the Abyss and bought them on the spot. He said there was nothing the LCD-4 could do at the level of the Abyss. I took a chance and bought them without a demo. These are a different animal than other headphones and it's apparent in the first few seconds on your head. Drive these with a good amp (I'm using an Allnic HPA-3000 GT) and you will forget about your speaker system. Percussion is stunning. The sound is big, powerful, dynamic, textured, detailed. No grain, no molasses, no sibilance. On top of that, the build quality makes other headphones feel like toys. The fit is a little strange since there is no clamping pressure. They only rest on your head and cover your ears. This takes some getting used to.


rfan8312 said:
Unbelievable. Any idea how they compare to LCD-4?

I've always wondered if a can out there can combine clear articulated extended low-end that texture, with, sparkling high end with great resolution up there.

Right now u have a few cans including he400i that I like for it's resolution and textured highs and mids. I'll buy LCD-2C for extended textured engaging low end.

I've just always wondered if there's a can that has both great highs and great lows all in one.

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Click to expand...
 
The Abyss appear to be amazing... I guess at $5k they had better be. To me comfort is very important, open smooth sounding... I really liked the HD800S when I owned a pair, but I felt that the MrSpeakers were just that much better. They are also the most comfortable headphone I have ever listened to. If I were looking for cans in that range the Abyss would certainly be on the list.
 
I have Senns 800 with Bryston headphone amp. This works quite well for me. I also have Senns 600 that I changed the cables. This was a large improvement on the 600s.
 
This is a pretty new world for me, but am currently really liking the HIFIMAN Sundara powered by an iFi xDSD. Quite shocking the sound quality for the money.
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A really good headphone that is underrated is the Pioneer SE-MASTER1. I've had the Fostex TH900, Audeze LCD-3F, Mr. Speakers Ether Flow, Sony Z1R, Focal Elear, and Focal Utopia. I feel the Pioneer were easily better than all those in sound quality, comfort, and build quality except the Utopia. The Pioneer was built better and more comfortable, but overall not at the same level of performance as the Utopia. On some tracks I did prefer the Pioneer though since the bass was better. I'm selling mine now since the Abyss is the undisputed king.
 
For the money, I think it's hard to beat the Sennheiser HD 600.

I would like to try the new Abyss Diana, has anyone heard them?
 
Wow man interesting that you bring up Abyss Diana.

I thought they were ugly, compared to AB1266, when the Diana first came out. Now they look incredible to me.

If I could afford the Diana or whatever is needed to drive it I'd try it out in a heartbeat.


Btw, thanks for tip about that Pioneer. Anyone care to mention how Abyss sounds?

vortrex said:
These are a different animal than other headphones and it's apparent in the first few seconds on your head. Drive these with a good amp (I'm using an Allnic HPA-3000 GT) and you will forget about your speaker system. Percussion is stunning. The sound is big, powerful, dynamic, textured, detailed. No grain, no molasses, no sibilance. On top of that, the build quality makes other headphones feel like toys. The fit is a little strange since there is no clamping pressure. They only rest on your head and cover your ears. This takes some getting used to.
Click to expand...

Oh right, there it is lol. Very enticing. Sounds amazing. I check d out that Allnic HPA-3000 looks amazing.

I spoke online to a guy on a Facebook Head-Fi post he made, he got the Diana and loves it.

https://m.facebook.com/groups/4623534735?view=permalink&id=10156726288334736




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I’ve always liked Stax ever since I purchased my first pair over 30 years ago. They just sounded right, never too bright or boomy and very comfortable.

Ken
 
I recently got the new Stax SR-009S, and now they’re right up there with the old 009 as my favorites. Still not sure which of the two is on top though, out of my T2 amp. On any other amp, the new 009S wins.
 
I recently picked up a Dennis Hap Dragon Inspire headphone amp. Seems to be a very nice tube amp that really works well with some rolling fun.

I really like my MrSpeakers Ether... excellent planer cans that are ultra comfortable. At a recent can jam that we held for our audio club, and discussing with members afterwards it appears as if the Focal Clear were the run away winner. We had a variety of headphones.... several lower level models, such as my KEF M500s, and several nicer models. Two pair of Audeze LCD-3, one older and one with the new mods. A pair of HiFiMan 1000 v2's, my MrSpeakers, etc. The Focal Clear really shined and appears as if they were the favorite.

Since I am using my headphones much more lately I wanted to get something different then my planers but can not afford things like the Abyss. I ended up ordering a pair of the Clears. Really looking forward to their arrival and being able to switch off and on between the Focal and the MrSpeakers.
 
^incredible. Congrats man please leave an impression of your experience with the Clear.

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Always a bit if a nail biter for me. I wish I could forget it and do other things but I end up just pining for the UPS truck like a child lol.



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