I have a Sonos connect for very cheap if interested? If you have an external DAC this streamer is all you really need. I upgraded to a Bryson bdp2.
I’m looking to buy a new headphone. Not bothered if it’s closed or open. Price range $300 to $1000. I like most types of music, Rock, indie, classical, jazz, country. They are purely to be used for listening for pleasure at home. I already own Hifiman Ananda which I feel are pretty neutral, maybe just a little bright of neutral and Beyer DT880 600 ohm. I’m looking for a fun headphone with a little more bass. I like my bass to be well controlled and articulate, I’m certainly not looking for a boom box. Something dynamic would be good.
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Welcome to the forum @alavar.
What DAC and amp are you using for your headphones? That will help people with their recommendations.
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thanks for the feeback…but rting aren’t opinions…they are using actual measurements and showing how far off each measurement is from the neutral point of reference… so isn’t that unbiased? If anything their measurement is a true source for raw data that would be the smartest way to judge things apart of in person, wouldn’t it be??
I appreciate your response…but as I said …I’m willing to pay up to $1000. I definitely don’t believe in going over that for a headphone even when I can easily afford to. It’s just a principle I live by.
I agree on the diminishing returns…and I think that’s my point. I don’t see a headphone under $1000 that truly beat the 58x based on the performance and price point. And for me graphs and measurements that rting and other use is the only true unbiased tools to use “for me”…and based on measurement …not emotions or preferences of color, brand, or cost…those graphs show very little differences that equate any major jump that matches prices being asked…“for me”. Things like 800’s are still beat in areas by the 58x and other lower price headphones while still asking for over $1000 …And my point is that …there shouldn’t be a single area in measurement that a headphone like the 800 gets beat at from a $170 headphone in sound and things like that happens …“for me”…it proves they are not worth their price.
Again, this depends on personal preference more than anything else.
If a headphone (say your 58x) has the perfect tuning for your taste, then another headphone that doesn’t have that exact same tuning will never beat it in tuning, independent of the price. However, let’s say the same headphone is lacking in treble, or in bass, for someone else, then another headphone with more treble or bass will be an improvement for that other person.
That is without actually getting into the quality of said sound. The graphs may show you how the headphone is tuned, but they may not tell you how the headphone deals with those frequencies. There may be a headphone that has the same tuning but uses a driver that is more capable of delivering speed, keeping up with fast passages that other headphones may struggle with etc.
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Measurements generally do reveal whether a product is warm, neutral, or bright. They can also help to find trouble spots. Many of @Resolve’s reviews on this site are beneficial there. Still, measurements can have no relation to what you will enjoy. Many of us have been down the data path and visited audio measurement sites to guide purchases. Many of us bought THX AAA 789 or Topping amps because of the great measurements but ended up hating the products. Many of us prefer to test with our ears to find out what we like. Some of the regulars here have spent $5,000, $10,000, or $50,000 on headphones and related hardware (I’m on the lower side but I demo expensive stuff in local stores).
I myself judge equipment based on fatigue over time, often not knowing in advance. Each of us has different hearing abilities and some have hearing damage. What’s good for you can be bad for another. A neutral score on Rtings may or may not match your needs and preferences, the headphones may not fit your particular head/ears, etc. For example, I’d never own the older Audeze models because they cause me jaw pain. I didn’t know that until I bought one and sold it a while later. They recently redesigned their products so I’ll probably try again.
The point is not to spend more than $1,000. The point is to learn what you get for the money. I demoed the $4K+ Focal Utopia more than once and didn’t like some things, and didn’t buy it. I ended up with the $1K Focal Clear (original model). It’s not technically as good, but it’s easier on my ears.
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The numbers also don’t tell you a lot of things like speed, timbre, detail, dynamics, slam, etc. All those things you discover by listening (and it’s where reviews rather than numbers can be helpful).
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If the measurements on rtings are all the information you want or need, I am unsure what a bunch of headphone enthusiasts can add to that. Sounds like you’ve already decided to me. Good luck and happy hunting. 
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Hi Digitalcrack,
I can’t help but reply to your question because it sounds like you and I have the similar tastes and values. I love the Sennheiser HD-58X. I also think I know the perfect headphone for you to try. I don’t guarantee that it is what you are looking for, but I do believe that it stands the best chance of being the headphone that you are looking for. The headphone that I am recommending for you is the HifiMan HE6se V2 $600 when it goes on sale from Adorama. However, it will likely sound like poop on your Drop THX headphone amplifier. For this headphone, it demands much and you would have to upgrade your headphone amplifier to a Schiit Jotunheim 2 $400 or RebeAmp $500 minimum to make them sing.
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This logic is flawed. Floyd Toole - pretty much the leading pioneer on transducer measurements - said: “no matter how it measures, it’s not good until it sounds good.” Not to mention, FR measurements don’t show technical performance - not yet anyway.
Measurements won’t tell you everything. Sure, you can probably weed out the garbage if you know what your preferred tonal response is, but that’s about it (at least at this stage). Assuming you have ears, let them decide what’s good and what isn’t. If you’re concerned about bias, bring a blindfold and partner to your local HiFi shop and go to town.
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Correct . And only you the listener not a group telling you what you need to like is the only way to know what sounds good to you.
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Thanks’ for the welcome.
I use a Singxer SA1 headphone amp with the Topping D90SE DAC. I tend to play the music from CD using an Audiolab 6000 CDT transport. I also use an Xduoo TA-10R hybrid amp/DAC which has a valve in the pre amp stage. I sometimes play Tidal from a Samsung tablet. I think it’s possible to use the tube preamp in conjunction with Singxer but I’ve not looked into it yet. I’m quite new to headphone listening and have only had this set-up for a couple of months.
I was going to get a high end set-up but decided that the law of diminishing returns told me that I could spend three times what I have done and possibly only improved things by 10%. So I settled on what I have. I’m very pleased with it so far.
I would be interested in a headphone that had more dynamics, bass and slam than the Ananda and DT880 have. That said I don’t want to stray to far from accuracy. I’m no bass head. Most of the music I listen to is either rock/indie or classical with some jazz. Plus some other stuff as the mood takes me.
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I’m not the most experienced here, but I think OG Clear or ZMF would be a great direction.
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I don’t know if you used your Singxer SA-1 headphone amplifier when you listened to the Hifiman Ananda headphones, but that combination yields a sound that is too smooth and lacking slam for many tracks. From my amplifiers, the following amps sound better than the Singxer SA-1 when paired with the Ananda:
- RebelAmp
- Schiit Jotunheim 2
- Schiit Jotunheim 1
- Massdrop Liquid Carbon X
- Beyerdynamic A20
- Headamp Gilmore Lite Mk2
- Singxer SA-1
So, you may want to give HifiMan Ananda another shot with an appropriately paired amp before you dismiss them. And, I am not dismissing the Singxer SA-1. It is my second favorite solid state amp of my collection and pairs well with some headphones such as HifiMan Sundara, HifiMan HE560 V4, HifiMan HE350, Monolith M1570, Fostex T50RP, Fostex T60RP, Beyerdynamic DT770, Beyerdynamic DT880, Beyerdynamic DT990.
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I’m certainly not dismissing the Singxter SA1 it’s just that I would like something with a different flavour. Something that would work well with most music but give me a little more bass and slam for rock tracks especially. When I bought my gear I had hoped it would be a solid all around system, the Ananda just a little brighter than neutral whilst the Singxter is just a bit warmer than neutral. I’m happy with how things have turned out, I’m still working my way through my CD’s but have enjoyed all genres that I’ve tried so far. I can certainly agree that the Singxter works well with my DT880 600 ohm.
Thanks’ for the amp recommendations.
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Besides dynamics/bass and slam, what other differences are you looking for? You said the Ananda is a little bright, so are you looking for smoother treble as well? Do you like the midrange of the Ananda?
The answers to those questions will help us make better audition recommendations. But, the already mentioned Focal Clear would be a solid choice in my opinion. Or, if you want a darker sound, the Audeze LCD-2 Fazor. Finally, the Aurorus Audio Borealis is said to be neutral and dynamic. Here’s Resolve’s review of it: Aurorus Audio Borealis Review
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OG Clear, is that the original Clear? I think that’s around £1100 here in the UK. Which ZMF headphones would you recommend?
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He means the Original, grey colour Clear, not the MG.
For ZMF if you want a warmer sound signature you can take a look at the Aeolus.
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