General purchase advice: Ask your questions/for advice here!

I like the Zero Red, and thought your comments were spot on. I haven’t heard anything in the $200 and under that I like more. Many compromises. That’s why I suggested used. Also I’m not that much of an IEM guy. Apple AirPods, the Audeze line = not much like other planar IEMs. Older tech, but huge diaphragm 30 mm

Sennheiser IE40 Pro is worth a listen. @antdroid, @Lothar_Wolf, what do you think, since @SenyorC is occupied?

I find it difficult to evaluate the Kato and the ALBA individually in this case and can only understand the evaluation to a very limited extent.

1.) I do not know the reviewer’s sound preferences.

2.) I have no idea in which pairing the “sound experience” took place.

3.) EQing can be helpful, but it is no substitute for a natural symbiosis.

4.) and most important, the Eartips!!

Why am I writing this?

Well, my experience with both the Kato and the ALBA is completely contrary to Your experience.

Based on my experience with ChiFi =

I use them, usually with ifi dongles or amplifiers, as these harmonize excellently in 90% of cases, as is the case with the Kato.

I can understand the problem in the high frequencies to some extent if I use the wrong Tips or a Questyle or Apple dongle, for example, but with a selected playback device the Kato is an above-average ChiFi in-ear in its price range (in my opinion).

The Alba anyway, since I know that Meze works with both Chord Electronics and Feliks Audio, the pairing with the Chord Mojo2 is outstandingly good and I tend to say that the Alba in this pairing sounds far more “expensive” than it actually costs.

My experience with ChiFi planar in-ears is that they only really develop their true strength with amplifiers with decent power and I actually use them with my stationary amplifiers, xDuoo Tubes, or the ifi Signature.

But all of this is just my personal opinion and does not necessarily reflect the experience of others.

And I always want the devices to show their qualities, even if it requires a little effort.

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So, I find @Lothar_Wolf to generally match my listening tastes, albeit with way too much time on his hands and lots of equipment.

I agree about the iFi house sound for amps. I use an iFi Go-Link, not expensive, an entry-lever dongle/micro DAC/Amp. You might consider picking one up, along with an assortment of ear tips before giving up on those IEMs.

I’m certain if you do, you’ll gain valuable insight, even if you eventually return or resell them.

I have the Ifi Zen Can Sig and love it. I get it. Yeah great sound

@listen_r Pardon. Do you have any EQ for the new 5128 meta target curve for the Kato and Alba ?
I saw you have some EQ settings .

Much appreciated if you do!

Maybe if I tune these two IEMs I have to the newer Meta target and like it, I can set my sights on getting something like the Dunu DaVinci as a last stab at IEMs.

I already have an Alba EQ here Headphones.com EQ Repository & Request Thread - #229 by listen_r, and I’ve added a Kato EQ there as well for you, it should be the last reply.

Thanks so much!
I saw the alba and will try it.

Funny the alba one worked more than the Kato EQ.
I had to tweak the alba one though.

Does that mean my ear canals are ‘ odd’ ? Or different?

What target EQs are good to look at for reference on making our own eq or tweaking?

Thanks

I am looking for over the ear headphones for both home and travel use. I have tried Sennheiser Momentum 4 and Bose…and both the sound is muffled, no soundstage, no detail…sounds like a blanket is over the drivers. I want POP and sharpness like audiophile speakers. I also feel the over the ear designs limited the external noise enough. I dislike the fake noise cancellation feeling of being in a padded room.

I assume then a great pair of non noise cancelling will work and then it moves to wired ones that may need amp and DAC etc, not as easy for travel but not impossible.

The type of headphone/amp/DAC I am looking for is (Closed-back, open-back, in-ear, wireless, etc): Over ear, driven from phone.

My price range is: $500 more if necessary

I like to listen to: Pop, Classic Rock, EDM like Rufus

I will be using them for: (Travel, commuting, home, gym, etc…): Home and travel

Sorry if too vague, but what about Sennheiser HD650?

You’ll need a hell of a portable amp to drive those to proper fidelity, as they’re 300 ohms impedance. HD 650/6XX are somewhat bass-light even with power, so they’ll be bass-deficient without it. I’ve listened to my HD 6XX straight from my phone with an Apple dongle, and it sounded like ass.

Have you considered the Focal Bathys wireless ANC can? It’s widely regarded as the most “audiophile” wireless closed-back. Around $700 new, but I think it can be found for $600ish on sale or open box.

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Closed headphones do tend to sound like that, at least after 1-2 hours of use. Many very expensive closed headphones get that way too.

See @pk500. For pop and sharpness I think of Focal first.

I’ve been down this path and settled on the Apple Air Pods Pro IEM as the least offensive, most functional travel, gym, mobile option. The problem with high fidelity in noisy locations is that the noise will mask the details. You might as well stick with Bose or (sealed) Air Pods Pros because the noise canceling allows you to hear roughly “the best” noisy space quality at a lower volume level. Non-noise canceling and open headphones require quite high volume to cut through the background sounds.

Finally, headphones are prone to becoming slimy and damp if you get sweaty or venture into rain/humid weather. Some ear pads may be impossible to clean, extremely hot, clammy, or disgusting to use. Wireless IEMs sound mediocre but are much, much, much easier to use.

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Thanks. I have AirPods and similar. I was surprised how I was turned off by the M4 so quickly.

I also see open back isn’t good idea for public spaces.

Now I’m looking at closed back. I do love planar drivers which intrigue me. Hifiman

Or maybe higher end IEM that purely reduce noise based on function.

I use open-back headphones 50% of the time at home, and move around the house with my Air Pods. I used to travel with Sony and Bose closed noise canceling headphones, but abandoned them for the smaller, lighter, similar-sounding APP.

I spent around $700 several years ago on Dan Clark AEON closed planar headphones. I almost never use them now, as closed-cup air pop fatigue gets terrible after 1-2 hours. They sound nice before that. No air vents = feel every pounding beat in your eardrums. I can wear open-backs for hours and hours without complaint.

High-end IEMs will be better than many options, but beware that they too often have vents to improve sound quality. Etymotic products (not high end) are famous for great passive noise blocking and for going deep, deep, deep into the ear. Their sound quality and price is mid tier.

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@generic is spot on about the cabin pressure created by Dan Clark Aeon Closed headphones, which use soft earpads and a headband that doesn’t budge to create a tight seal against the face to enhance bass. Unbearable pressure for me after about 30-45 minutes.

Planars are not a great idea for portable use, especially straight from a phone, since they love juice to reach peak fidelity.

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I too thought of the Focal Bathys as first response to @SpartanGA Even though I don’t own a pair and generally grab for the AirPods 2 Pro or the Senn Momentum 4. The $500 price tag makes a number of possibilities difficult. A quality dongle like the Luxury & Precision W4 will eat up much of that. And the Bathys is pretty expensive to just buy on spec.

@generic 's sensitive ears are right about any extended listening. I’ve found very few closed backs listenable, with the M4’s electronic gimmickry actually being it’s strong suit. Although it is NOT more than a mid-fi device.

For a good while I used my Grado RS1e with the Beautiful Audio pads for home and travel. They drive well from a phone, but benefit from a DAC/AMP dongle. Downside was the Grado cord, which some have replaced. That gave crisp (not peaky) sound, more than adequate base and excellent soundstage. I hear the RS1x has a slightly less ROMEX like cord. Note that the RS1e has a larger driver than the RS2e or the Prestige series, which is one reason the bass is adequate.

If you are ok with EQ I’d suggest to try DT770 80Ohm, I prefer them over Audeze LCD-XC/Maxwell, DCA E3, DT1770, Focal Bathys/Elegia/Celestee/Azurys, Sundara closed back. I even prefer them over some open-back like HD600, Sundara.
For me it has great combination of comfort, isolation and decent sound because of velour pads. It has enough details, dynamic and staging.
Like them with Qudelix5k, but with better amp they can sound a little better.

Thanks. Great response. I agree I would not do well with closed back and pressure. I can’t stand the M4 feeling

I’ll stick to my AirPods or beats Powerbeats pro for travel. I may try some higher end IEMs

Thanks everyone

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Let’s say I have some spare cash and no particular direction. And that I live in the United States.
What are the top 2 or 3 headphone audio related things that I should think about buying SOON that are made in China?
I have the Luxury & Precision W4, that would be my first thought if I didn’t have one.

Not a huge IEM guy, so that might not be a focus area.

Some tasty tube gear? IDK. I have had a hard time finding a use case for a DAP, but I guess most of them are made in China.

Just thinking ahead to the possibility of a significant ahem… financial disincentive … that might be placed on imported goods.

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So you want to build a fleet of ultra clean technical DACs and amps?

Think back to the late lockdown era when China shut down the country several times in a futile effort to stop the virus. Supply chains froze. I think the biggest impact may be on rare earth magnets, rechargeable batteries, injection molded plastic parts, stamped metal parts, vacuum tubes, electrical wires, and everything that goes into everything else.

China plays an enormous role in global manufacturing, half because the West seeks to avoid the pollution of mining and manufacturing and half because the Chinese are very good at this work.

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Some Hifiman headphones?

Not a fan of their sound signature myself, but to each their own… Idk if you have or had anything of theirs.