I don’t have any places nearby where I could try any of these out, which is slightly annoying. What I might try to do is narrow down to three of the four and compare them and return the two I like the least, as that’s the closest I can get to trying out multiple, I’d just need to make sure I don’t lose anything or mess anything up. I have watched the video you linked, but it didn’t really help me narrow it down sadly.
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Not really. Aside from the HD550 and HD560S, I have my DT770, which was recently refurbed.
Not a bad-looking headphone when it’s all put back together.
I also have parts of some other headphones I used to tinker with, like my old AKG K553. But nothin else that really works. And one of the Senns will probably also go back. I have used and listened to a number of different lower-cost headphones over the years though.
I liked the sound of the K553’s extended frequency drivers. And still have some thoughts of trying to redesign it into a better headphone. Time is fleeting though.
I think its helpful to try more than one at a time, if that’s feasible. Many of the headphones in the above video would probably be outside of your current price range though. A few might be within reach, if you don’t mind buying used.
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Yeah, I agree with your logic, I’ll likely narrow down one of the two sennheisers from the set I listed of hd550, 6xx, edition xs, and ar5000, since I feel they would be the two most similar of the four, and the other two offer something different in terms of tuning and what I’ve heard of their soundstages. From there I can try them each out, preferably side by side, and then make my final decision based on what I find to be my preference. That would also allow me to see which of them I prefer for gaming as well as music.
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I’d pick HD6xx over Edition XS - better comfort (after banding metal part of the headband), better sound (more normal tonality) both for music and fps gaming (I play Hunt Showdown), no problem with positioning/imaging. And I’d say the same for any other planars I have tried - dynamic drivers wins for me when it comes to comfort and positioning in fps games (I mean competitive games that strongly rely on audio).
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I find it interesting how differently people seem to perceive this stuff. I see so much conflicting info regarding imaging and how people perceive it with different headphones.
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Yes, that’s why it’s important to try yourself and find your personal preferences anyway.
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I’ll probably end up comparing the 6xx to the edition xs and the ar5000 and cut the 550 out of the comparison, and just figure out which one I prefer subjectively. As much as I know the 6xx is basically just the standard, I think it will be better for my brain if I compare all of them. I’m very prone to overthinking stuff and regretting things that I do or decisions I make, so it helps with that.
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BTW, give some reasonable listening time (like more than 1 day) for each of them to accustom to the sound after switching between them.
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Good to know, thanks for telling me.
I also agree that you have to try them for yourself. But good imaging isn’t quite as complicated as some like to make it.
If a headphone has good pinna interaction, good dynamic range, good tonal/timbral balance and extension in the bass and treble, low distortion, good symmetry/driver matching, quality control, and excess group delay, then it should image pretty well. Open is also usually better for imaging than closed.
part of me also understands that there is a good chance I will like any good pair of headphones I get, as I’m moving from a gaming headset, but I still want to make sure I’m satisfied.
There are different philosophies on this. Most enthusiasts will tell you that you have to listen for an extended period of time.
Audio memory is short though. And to get a better feel for the actual differences in timber, clarity, spaciousness, etc., I try to switch fairly rapidly between headphones on the same content.
Human beings also have a remarkable ability to adapt, including in their hearing. And the more time you spend with a headphone, the more likely your ears are to adjust to its flaws. Switching more rapidly between them will help to short-circuit some of that adaption though.
I will also spend whole evenings listening to just one headphone at a time though, and also trying different EQ settings with it. It’s all informative.
More extended listening sessions will also give you a better idea of a headphone’s weight, comfort, clamp, heat, breathability, ergonomics, and so forth, which are also important factors to consider.
The differences may or may not be night and day to you. Some of it depends on how sensitive you are to some of the things I mentioned above on imaging. Gaming headsets have also gotten alot better in recent years. So do not be shocked if the differences aren’t as dramatic as you hope or think.
At least just looking at the graphs, I definitely feel that the ft1 might be strikingly similar to my current headset, and I’ve heard similar things about people not noticing as big of a difference as they thought, so I’ve kind of toned down my expectations. The main reason I’m getting these headphones is more so for some extra enjoyment since I’m not exactly having a good time in life currently and my main thing I do is use my PC. I somehow managed to get interested in all the expensive hobbies, what with this and building keyboards.
When I try to switch between two pairs multiple times I usually feel more confused 
For me better works to listen for a long time one pair then switch to another pair quickly but don’t switch back and forth multiple times after that.
As a result I choose those in which I like to spend more time over the other.
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I’ll probably try both methods within the return window. If I feel that I’m getting confused by switching quickly then I’ll try spending more continuous time with each. I’ll probably test with some of my more familiar songs and games to minimize any variables.
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Rapid switching could also be problematic if the headphones you’re trying have very different sensitivities and loudness. For best comparisons, ideally the headphones should all be volume matched. Or at least adjusted so they’re subjectively similar in volume. Otherwise you are likely to just pick the headphone which plays the loudest.
Quieter headphones have some advantages though. The main one is that they will not amplify source-based noise as much. They can also have better electrical damping, if they have higher impedance.
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Thanks both of you guys for helping me out with this, you’ve given me some useful information and things to consider.
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The AR5000 (V-shaped since the Mk.2) and Edition XS (Neutral-ish and Bright) will be the more exciting listen among those 3, but I still prefer the 6XX.
Personally I’d do the 6XX + a Qudelix 5k. I find it sufficient to drive my 6XX, and the Qudelix App is easy and intuitive, just play around with EQ to change the 6XX’s sound more to your liking.
I have not tried the CrinEar Protocol Max, Fiio K13 R2R, Topping DX5 II*, so I can’t comment on those.
*I do have the Topping Centaurus, and the EQ App (Topping Tune) experience is good, not as seamless as the Qudelix App (for me), but works well enough.