The Fostex TH-909 is semi open. I don’t know what its bass is like, but I’d guess it’s pronounced given the company’s house sound? It’s just over @Dave_M_Smith’s budget, though.
2 Likes
I feel this goes here rather than the EQ software thread since it is a more general exploration of the subject as it relates to headphones.
1 Like
Low shelf EQ boost on an open planar. It’s kinda my thing.
1 Like
I am hoping this is the right place to post this…
I am looking for some counsel. Out of the blue I quite unexpectedly received a $1200 stimulus check today. So, of course, solely motivated to do the right thing for the worldwide economy, I have decided to purchase some some long desired and considered headphones. The selection has narrowed to the Focal Clear Pros, the ZMF Aeolus, or the Hifiman Arya. I’ve read the reviews, watched the videos, and I am still undecided on which to buy.
I listen to literally all kinds of music - blues, jazz, classic rock, edm, etc. I currently listen to the Elear, which I really like with Oratory’s EQ; the same with the HD700; Beyer T1.1’s & DT1990’s, some modded Stax LS300 and the Nectar Pollinators; Sundaras; Fostex Purplehearts. As you can see I have been really enjoying “Mid-Fi” but now I would like to take it up a notch.
If you are willing to share your thoughts and/or experiences they would be most appreciated!
3 Likes
A few more details might help others to give you advice… what are you looking for in your upgrade - something new or different from your current headphones? Or a higher-end version of one of your current headphones, e.g. the same signature but with better technicalities? What’s your favorite now?
What DAC and amp would you be using?
3 Likes
Great questions!
Easiest first… Two DACs, the SMSL M500(by far the most used) and a Project Pre-Box S2 Digital. Four amps, SMSL SP200, IFI iCan Micro SE, JDS Atom, and a Darkvoice 336SE. And also a Loki. I use Roon, with my collection and Qobuz and Tidal.
What am I looking for? A surprisingly tough question. I think I will summarize it this way: I would like a great “All-rounder” that is detailed and fun - a headphone that could happily be the only one in the collection. I really had targeted the Clear because I do like the Elear - both the EQed sound and the build. Then paralysis by analysis set in as was reading how posters here were preferring the Aeolus and the Arya to the Clear. I think the build quality of the ZMF’s and Focal’s makes them more desirable to me.
3 Likes
I’m not familiar with much of your equipment - or I only know it by name, not by listening experience - but it seems as though you have a nice, versatile range of devices, so you can experiment a bit with different combinations for the headphones you end up choosing. I don’t have enough experience of the Arya or the Aeolus to give you good advice, so I’ll defer to others about their sound qualities and suitability as all-rounders.
Given the significant investment, it’s worth noting that ZMF has an excellent warranty (lifetime for the drivers, I believe), and the ZMF headphones have an exemplary reputation for superb build quality. They’re built to last forever! HiFiMan headphones, by contrast, have a poor reputation for build quality, as you seem to be aware, and the warranty is for just one year. There are reports of driver failure for the Focal Clear, although I’m not sure if this is really a problem or an issue of people driving them too hard when playing music with low sub-bass extension, thereby causing driver excursion. I’ve never had a problem with mine, although I avoid high volumes. Regardless, the Clear come with a 3-year warranty, I believe (I think it depends where your dealer’s located). I’m speaking for the US, here. Check to be sure. Also note that replacement parts are expensive with Focals; the Clear Pro’s pads and underside of the headband might prove more resilient than the grey ones to discoloration.
The Clear and the Aeolus are exquisite, luxurious things of beauty.
Full disclosure: I’m biased as I have the Clear and love them as all-rounders. The bass is good enough for EDM (not as thumpy or thick as your Fostex, but faster and tighter, and plenty deep); the resolution and treble extension and sparkle would serve you well for jazz, and they’re great for rock - nice electric guitar bite and crunch - although they’re not necessarily the best headphones for this genre (although they’re fine). You might want to check out the Aeolus threads for this, either here or on other forums; I understand that the timbre of the ZMF and the Focal headphones is quite different.
I find the Clear to have a nicely balanced sound signature - especially vs. the Elear - and wonderful macro-dynamics. They’re great fun to listen to, and they’re super fast and resolving. If you want excitement and detail, they’ll serve you well. They can be fatiguing, though, and too punchy or bright for some, and they don’t have the widest, most open soundstage. Soundstage is something I value, with my HD 800, but I don’t mind the Clear’s presentation given the excellent imaging and separation and layering - they’re not in the least bit congested. Coming from the Elear, you’ll be familiar with the slam and the soundstage. And the Clear are easy to drive. I use the MCTH amp for them, which I recommend highly (it’s just $175 on Drop now).
You’re best bet is probably to see how people’s sound preferences - and their corresponding fondness for the Clear or the Aeolus (or the Arya) - might align with what you like and what you’re looking for.
Good luck, I hope this helps!
5 Likes
Basically there are three options in my mind.
1.Focal Clear. 2. Save $1200 put it towards HD800 with Burson Conductor 3.
3.Again save, $1200 put it towards Susvara.
1 Like
They’re all completely different sounds with the last one needing a pretty substantial amount of power to drive properly
1 Like
Lol No hps sound exactly the same. I never said they sounded the same 
. This is just my opinion based on my preference in upper tier hps. Tonally, anybody can spend a fraction of this and be happy.
Again, in my mind lol. Basx a100, Basically $160 bucks used can drive Susvara. Also, ‘speaker taps’
What amp are you currently using? That Susvara is very power hungry.
I’d plan the amp purchase carefully.
2 Likes
I have been watching too much @TylersEclectic on the hobbyists show, so now I have a bunch of Yaxi pads coming my way from Japan.
- Two sets of Porta Pro pads, red and blue of course.
- One pair of ST2 pads for my AT Bluetooth phones.
- One pair of HD 650 pads.
I am going to make a set of Frankenphones from a Porta Pro headband, one pair of KSC75 and Yaxi pads. I might even try to cable mod them.
8 Likes
You can check out the Porta Pro thread. I believe there’s some posts regarding that mod.
Cheers!
7 Likes
Hey there @turdferguson lol your name cracks me up. I think @Tchoupitoulas made some great points in his response to you. I actually just finished a/b listening to the Focal Clear professional and the ZmF Aeolus this evening after a couple weeks of listening to the Clear, as well as the Focal Clear Vs. Hifiman Ananda.
I also auditioned side by side the Focal Utopia vs. the Focal clear. I have filmed reviews for the Utopia, Heddphone, ZMF Aeolus https://youtu.be/14nH518upEQ and I am Filming my review for the Focal Clear tomorrow if you can hang tight, I will get my edits done for the Clear video soon which will be linked on my YouTube and hopefully that will help you make a Decision Vs. The Aeolus. I thoroughly enjoyed all of the headphones and personally own the Ananda, and the Aeolus. I haven’t auditioned the Arya yet but am working on getting a pair to review.
13 Likes
I apologize for beating a dead horse here, but I just saw this I’d just like to provide some perspective as someone who participates in both communities. It’s easy to assume SBAF as this monolithic culture of Schiit/ZMF/HD650 shills, because in some ways, we are. But I’ve seen a good amount of love for solid state amps and non-ZMF cans as well (Black Widow, ECP 3F, Rad-0, SR1a, and recently Grados??!?! wtf lol) so I don’t think it’s totally fair to reduce them to such things.
Also in regards to bashing and abrasive overall tone of SBAF, I won’t deny it does happen especially to newer members, but I would say 99% of the time they did not follow the rules with disclaimers that we’re not a normal audio forum and it’s not for everyone. I too was scared of SBAF when I was a lurker back then, but I’ve received a lot of help from older members (now good friends!) when I didn’t know jack shit about …well, anything. I think most of the members are actually quite nice and friendly, but as an outsider looking in, we tend to only see the "loud and abrasive ones who like to poke fun at newcomers. Like @ProfFalkin I don’t participate in the typical hazing we see on SBAF (NEVER used the dislike button during my years in SBAF) and offer genuine responses/advices when newcomers ask for help. We’re not all meanies or bullies! 
I know there’s a quite a few members who participate in both forums so I’m sure they can attest to that 
Another side of SBAF that most outsiders don’t see is the close friendships and sense of community. During my time at SBAF, I’ve made some really cool friends across the country and I really think SBAF is friendship first, audio second because often times we have threads about some of the most random shit that’s not related to audio (fermenting, cooking, lego building, and cute puppy/kittens thread, just to name a few haha)
I’d like to think that truth is always somewhere in the middle. There’s some truth to both sides of the argument, but I strongly encourage you to keep an open mind and give SBAF a chance, even if there’s a good chance it might not be for you
Hopefully my long rambling and anecdotes have help spread some positive vibes regarding SBAF. If any of you guys have more questions, I’m more than happy to answer. I enjoy both communities and just here to make friends while talking about audio 
OK back to studying!
11 Likes
That says enough, but I’m glad you’ve had a positive experience there. 
I’ve skimmed over some threads but never felt the need or desire join. Just isn’t my jam.
Edit:
Yeah, especially that third line. Definitely not my jam.
3 Likes
I’m sorry Luke i know you like Hifiguides. But the pretension that they are the kinder gentler open-minded audio forum of the internet is false. I’d rather have a place like SBAF than a place like Hifiguides. Hifiguides has this conceit that its the kinder gentler audio forum of the internet. So they immediately start to harass and dog a person when they give their honest opinion if it contradicts someone else’s. Especially ironic since its supposed to be Zeos and DMS’s forum. Those guys have no problem giving an opinion even if its not popular. Zeos him self will get enraged if something offense his sensibilities. Its an example of the inmates talking over the Asylum.
I went there and fell in love with the place and people posting there. But apparently and inadvertently made some enemies there with my opinions. So they started spamming the moderators with complaints about my posts. Even though i hadn’t broken any rules and had not stirred up any discord they still silenced my account. its been a month now and ive sent the moderators 3 letters that they’ve ignored.
I’d rather be on a forum like SBAF than a place like Hifiguides.
1 Like
So just like @tommytakis put the given perspective about SBAF into perspective, I’d like to do the same for HFG.
Out of the 6 online communities I frequent, HFG has the least moderation, true. Which is an approach I have not seen float before. The place does not even have rules! I am frankly baffled the threads on there stay on-topic 80% of the time.
The only other forum coming anywhere close to this Laissez-faire approach to a community would be L1T (props to the moderators there! and “just the custodian” Wendell). On TPU, LTT and other forums, moderation is not iron fist, but they keep tight control on enforcing their rules.
Is it though? DMS and Zeos just pay the bills for the open mic night.
That is a flat out lie, you know perfectly well what you got suspended for.
1 Like
For all of these comments, keep in mind that the Internet is full of random strangers and people with unknown (possibly nefarious) motives. Approach every new culture like walking down a dark alley in a big city. You just don’t know who, what, or why things are as they are.
My online rules are very simple: DO NOT ENGAGE, DO NOT DWELL, DO NOT DEMAND THE LAST WORD. Online relationships can seem like friendships but everyone just fills in the blanks with their imagination. Social media fools people into reading too much into trivial, fragmentary encounters. It’s like a guy who falls in love with a prostitute and then gets jerked around or strung along. It’s like teenage girls who become anorexic, neurotic, or even commit suicide over dwelling on social pressures.
This place (headphones dot com) tends to attract and keep (1) true professionals who don’t have time for it, or (2) those who consciously maintain perspective. Please hold and spread this attitude.
13 Likes
And what was that Maze? Cause i dont know. and i did nothing to get banned for