# Finding my "Goldilocks" Headphone **URL:** \ **Category:** I need advice!\ **Created:** [May 17, 2020, 8:19am UTC](https://forum.headphones.com/t/finding-my-goldilocks-headphone/6601 "2020-05-17T08:19:55Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 13\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Chrono](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.headphones.com/chrono/32/12512_2.png) [@Chrono](https://forum.headphones.com/u/Chrono)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2020, 12:18am UTC](https://forum.headphones.com/t/finding-my-goldilocks-headphone/6601/41 "2020-05-25T00:18:10Z")
They aren’t really muddy, they are simply a bit grainy sounding. They lack presence in the upper mid range, more than anything. I think that for metal music they will do just fine. They have a very solid mid range after EQ–I like how electric guitars sound on the LCD-2’s. ---
**Author:** ![BlueOceanBoy](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.headphones.com/blueoceanboy/32/6293_2.png) [@BlueOceanBoy](https://forum.headphones.com/u/BlueOceanBoy)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2020, 8:23am UTC](https://forum.headphones.com/t/finding-my-goldilocks-headphone/6601/42 "2020-05-25T08:23:13Z")
Actually, I’m going to get my hands on one soon. I must have been reading the same reviews. I spoke to Zeppelin in Singapore and those guys really rate both versions. Apparently, it is a little amp picky, needing a decent SS amp to give the right expression. ---
**Author:** ![BuffaloWing](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.headphones.com/buffalowing/32/34683_2.png) [@BuffaloWing](https://forum.headphones.com/u/BuffaloWing)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2020, 9:11am UTC](https://forum.headphones.com/t/finding-my-goldilocks-headphone/6601/43 "2020-05-25T09:11:31Z")
Of course you are! I think you just need the Abyss, Susvara, SR007/009 and then you’ve done the full TOTL rounds? ---
**Author:** ![deafenears](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.headphones.com/deafenears/32/11409_2.png) [@deafenears](https://forum.headphones.com/u/deafenears)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2020, 8:42am UTC](https://forum.headphones.com/t/finding-my-goldilocks-headphone/6601/44 "2020-06-01T08:42:52Z")
@Username69, what did you end up going with? ---
**Author:** ![BuffaloWing](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.headphones.com/buffalowing/32/34683_2.png) [@BuffaloWing](https://forum.headphones.com/u/BuffaloWing)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2020, 8:49am UTC](https://forum.headphones.com/t/finding-my-goldilocks-headphone/6601/45 "2020-06-01T08:49:28Z")
Had a quick demo of a few TOTL offerings today with @BlueOceanBoy D8000, Empyrean, Stellia, Utopia and Verite Open (my contribution…). All have their “wow” aspects. All different. All excellent. All better than the others at something. At that level it’s just what you prefer. Empyrean bass is addictive, but also inescapable. Much like the MDR-Z1R. Even if you you don’t want a big huge thumping low end, too bad, it’s there. ---
**Author:** ![typicalheadfierandy](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.headphones.com/typicalheadfierandy/32/10809_2.png) [@typicalheadfierandy](https://forum.headphones.com/u/typicalheadfierandy)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2020, 2:07am UTC](https://forum.headphones.com/t/finding-my-goldilocks-headphone/6601/46 "2020-06-02T02:07:59Z")
I get that it was only a one-session listen, but I’d be curious to hear you say something about the strengths/weaknesses of each as you heard them. ---
**Author:** ![BuffaloWing](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.headphones.com/buffalowing/32/34683_2.png) [@BuffaloWing](https://forum.headphones.com/u/BuffaloWing)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2020, 4:44am UTC](https://forum.headphones.com/t/finding-my-goldilocks-headphone/6601/47 "2020-06-02T04:44:48Z")
Hmm. Lets see! Your ears and brain start to get a bit fatigued I think. Empyrean - Bass slams nicely. Its very full and always there. Comfort, and build quality excellent. Works with glasses on. Probably the least detailed of them all. The MDR-Z1R grew on me and I wish I didn’t sell it, I can see the Empyrean being a supercharged Z1R, could definately own it. Just expensive. D8000 (non pro) - Fairly nuetral, I didn’t listen much to this one. Pads don’t suit the price tag. Build feels solid, but also I guess quite strange, somewhat industrial and raw to a degree. Spending this much on headphones I’m looking for a suspesion strap people. Give me that comfort! Utopia - I run the VO daily, so these are quite bright compared. Pads are lovely, work OK with glasses. Detailed and punchy. Didn’t like that much with some songs though, Phil Collins for example. Didn’t mesh for me. These and Stellia are running out at $3000 AUD at the moment, for that price they are darn hard to beat… Stellia - Prefer them over the Utopia, but fit was an issue for me. Had to take my glasses off and adjsut it around a bit. Bit fuller than the Utopia, if I had to choose one it would be the Stellia over Utopia. Verite Open - I know this one the best, as I run it daily. Build is top notch, highly adjustable. Nice big pads, suitable for glasses wearing. Heaps warmer than the Utopia. Whilst I am familar with it and used to it, I find it sounds the most natural of them all, part of why I like it so much. About best I can do. I need to have headphones for a few weeks before I figure them out. I can’t test for a few minutes and nail it too well. ---
**Author:** ![Jsim](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.headphones.com/jsim/32/26784_2.png) [@Jsim](https://forum.headphones.com/u/Jsim)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2020, 11:29pm UTC](https://forum.headphones.com/t/finding-my-goldilocks-headphone/6601/48 "2020-06-06T23:29:49Z")
Hiya, I ended up finding my Goldilocks headphones in the Meze Empyrean, and it seems like it suits your requirements as well. I’ve kept a list of things I’ve heard, which you can see [here](https://i.imgur.com/ZFGW6S1.png). Scores are entirely subjective though, to be clear about that. Just for providing you with the context behind my choice for the Empyrean. 🙂 It pairs superbly well with a Feliks Audio Euforia, beefs up the dynamics, sountage and loosens up the bass a bit, making it less “sticky” and more fluent, so to speak. ---
**Author:** ![Username69](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/eb8c5e/32.png) [@Username69](https://forum.headphones.com/u/Username69)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2020, 11:20am UTC](https://forum.headphones.com/t/finding-my-goldilocks-headphone/6601/49 "2020-06-07T11:20:13Z")
Nice! Can’t wait to hear your impressions if you do get them in. ---
**Author:** ![Username69](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/eb8c5e/32.png) [@Username69](https://forum.headphones.com/u/Username69)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2020, 11:23am UTC](https://forum.headphones.com/t/finding-my-goldilocks-headphone/6601/50 "2020-06-07T11:23:08Z")
Still haven’t decided yet, also I need to sell off some of my current headphones before I get anything new. Shortlist is currently this: D8000 Pro Empyrean HE6SE Verite/ Closed RAD-0 LCD-X, LCD-2 or other Audeze TH-900 ---
**Author:** ![Username69](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/eb8c5e/32.png) [@Username69](https://forum.headphones.com/u/Username69)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2020, 11:32am UTC](https://forum.headphones.com/t/finding-my-goldilocks-headphone/6601/51 "2020-06-07T11:32:31Z")
Hey Jsim, thanks for your recommendation. Looks like you have definitely tried a lot of the different high-end headphones that are out there. It’s interesting to see both you and @BlueOceanBoy both ended up with the Empyrean after trying lots of different flagship headphones. They must be pretty damn good. They are at the top of my list right now for sure. The only thing that has thrown me off (other than price) is while there are a lot of reviews saying they are the best headphone ever, there are a couple saying that the sound is good, but just not good enough to justify the price. ---
**Author:** ![Jsim](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.headphones.com/jsim/32/26784_2.png) [@Jsim](https://forum.headphones.com/u/Jsim)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2020, 11:55am UTC](https://forum.headphones.com/t/finding-my-goldilocks-headphone/6601/52 "2020-06-07T11:55:49Z")
> [@Username69](#): > > The only thing that has thrown me off (other than price) is while there are a lot of reviews saying they are the best headphone ever, there are a couple saying that the sound is good, but just not good enough to justify the price. It just depends on how much you value technical performance. It was pretty much at the bottom of my list before I started auditioning things, and I initially went in with the expectation to walk out with a Clear or HD 800S. Yet here we are. 🙂 It is “detailed enough” for me to the point where it doesn’t feel like it’s lacking, and the overall sound signature and soundstage presentation are just sensational, and they have yet to cause me any listening fatigue at all. Considering the build/comfort/aesthetics in addition to that, the price was easily justified for me. It’s not a sound that everyone appreciates equally, but it’s all subjective in the end. They’re definitely worth checking out, and just let your own ears be the judge. ---
**Author:** ![alexk345](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/0ea827/32.png) [@alexk345](https://forum.headphones.com/u/alexk345)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2020, 10:41pm UTC](https://forum.headphones.com/t/finding-my-goldilocks-headphone/6601/53 "2020-06-19T22:41:16Z")
i am gona buy hifiman sundara [Previous page](https://forum.headphones.com/t/finding-my-goldilocks-headphone/6601.md?page=2)