Please provide feedback on them! I see this “good closed back” question a lot and haven’t seen answers that don’t start with a Z, end with an F and have an M in the middle. ;p.
ZMF is above requested price point. I am trying the LCD-XC soon as my first closed back headphone. There just aren’t a lot of well liked closed back. It seems like it’s always “if you can’t have an open you might be able to live with X”
I am hoping to prove that wrong.
I think that if you don’t own a decent open back, then you will probably be able to find a great closed back.
The problem is later listening to a similar quality open back 
Welcome to the forum. It sounds like you’re new to all of this. I advise being careful with your dollars until you learn more about what you want and what’s appropriate for you. In order to get started, we need more information from you so that we can give reasonable advice.
Where are you now? From your post you say you work in “FL Studio” - so are you looking for headphones for your work? How do you use your current headphones? What model are they? What do you plug them into? What music or other audio are you listening to? When you say that the sound is “so-so” can you please describe that better? What do you like or dislike?
Where do you want to be? What are you trying to change? Do you know if you like headphones that have open or closed backs? Are you concerned about other people hearing? Are you considering IEMs?
Can you get there? What is your budget? No really, what do you want to spend vs what you can spend. Are you willing to experiment, which might involve buying used or selling something you decide you don’t like? Are you looking for something that doesn’t exist?
How do you get there? This is where you look at replies to what you’ve posted in questions 1,2, and 3. And give us some feedback as you try things out.
Stay on track. If you’re married, give your wallet to your wife. No, that’s not a good idea, lock your wallet in a safe deposit box and mail the key to a friend in another state via USPS.
Hope this helps!
IMO, both of these are not great options. 2k is a very healthy budget for starting out. You are thinking right in that you should focus most on the cans, but 100% on cans aint great either. Are you open to used at all? If not, how about refurb w/ warranty/openbox/b-stock?
EDIT REplied to the wrng comment
Thanks for the reply. I am familiar with the Pendant, though tbh I haven’t given it much consideration as it has less power than the Mogwai SE but still none of the features of the Decware. It is beautiful, though, and I’m sure it sounds amazing. If anyone here has both a Pendant and an Arya I would be most interested to hear how they work together?
I kind of agree to that. But in my case I need (well, want) close backs for their seal. In-ears would do the trick as well, but I cannot wear them a whole working day, hence the over-ear.
Yes, ZMF sound intriguing, but above my price range (I do need a new set of tyres when season starts, talking about rabbit holes…). I thought about Audeze as well; let us know what you think of the LCD-XC.
Still traveling down the rabbit hole and looking at dedicated dac’s. I’ve seen very little about the Matrix X-Sabre pro mqa, curious about it, seeing that in the same price range as the Schiit Yggy. Open box of Matrix, save a few bucks and I’ve seen used Yggy’s with v2 analog with unison usb for around the same or less than the matrix open box. Currently running Bifrost2. Curious if anyone has used the Matrix and thoughts between the two. Use would be ZMF Aeolus and VC (unless this magically changes soon but I think they’re a sweet spot, give me a couple days) > BF2 > Auris HA-2SF Tube Amp (another unknown tube amp). This will probably use with iphone/ipad. Going to research this weekend in regards to Roon and Tidal. I’ll look into the future in regards to possible laptop and/or server. Thanks.
To clarify, the Mogwai SE has 2 inputs. I also considered Decware and spoke to Steve D. While tube type is not conclusive of anything, at this price point (greater than $2k), I took into account tube type and ultimately opted for a tube amp that is designed/built using 8-pin tubes (such as the Mogwai SE) rather than 9-pin tubes (such as the Taboo). Granted, tube adapters can be used.
I also tend to prioritize performance/sound (Vitamix blender) over features/bells and whistles (Blendtec). Good luck.
Ah ok, I couldn’t quite tell from the pics on their site, thanks for clarifying.
Any particular reason you prefer 8 pins to 9?
That may be the first audio related blender metaphor in human history.
You bet, I agree that the site photos don’t make it easy to see.
I’ll start by saying amp design and execution are more important than pin count.
That said, more powerful tubes and amps tend to feature 8 pins (e.g., KT88 and 6550). It is interesting that my Mogwai SE has 8 pin sockets, but I’ve gotten better sonic results with 12A_7 9 pin tubes with adapter than I do with 6SL7/6SN7 8 pin tubes.
In terms of history, 9 pin tubes were introduced years after 8 pin tubes were.
Some people believe that 8 pin or 9 pin tubes have certain sonics. I’m not able to declare that at this juncture.
It seemed appropriate here. Ha.
Ah ok, gotcha. Well, frankly one of the most confusing things about this hifi thing is that I really have no way of knowing what anything sounds like before I buy it, so I sort of HAVE TO make decisions based largely on features, especially when it comes to something like an amp which I need to have synergy with everything else in my system. But yeah, if I knew for a fact that one sounded “better” than the other, or one had the exact sound I’m looking for, that would 100% win. For now, from what I’ve read the Decware & Pendant are a bit more lean & neutral than the Mogwai which leans a bit warmer and has more impact. But again, that doesn’t really tell me anything concrete, so I’m back to “which one looks like it would work best in my system?”
Anyway, I have a pretty big purchase on the way right now which I suspect will be my last hifi purchase for some time. I think I need to sit back and enjoy what I’ve assembled and just let this tube amp question bounce around in my brain until it kicks out the answer. It always does.
Thanks for the input. 
Good points and it does make it challenging to select gear where one is not able to audition in advance, and it’s uncertain whether one’s hearing lines up with those of others offering impressions.
I’m sure you know this, but just to put out there that the focus is on gear pairing and whether the delivered sonics line up with your preferences, as opposed to something being absolutely better.
Your description of the Pendant is accurate. I can’t speak to the Decware. What stuck out to me for Decware is that the different mods and upgrades can push the sonics in multiple directions, so you might want to drill that down.
I don’t describe the Mogwai as necessarily warm, whereas the Kenzie is likely the warmer representative in the A&S lineup. The Mogwai has much tonal weight and impact.
It’ll all work out.
Thanks again for your input, you’ve been quite helpful. 
You’re welcome! I like the vinyl setup in your profile.
Beautiful. That tonearm looks intricate and I like your record weight.
Wow! Great analog setup (vinyl collector here).
Thanks. It’s a hybrid tonearm design specific to EAT, I think. The effect is that it’s light as a feather and basically feels like it’s floating.
Vinyl4life. 
I have about 1000 records I’ve been collecting for the past 20 years, decided it was time to finally get a turntable worthy of the collection.
She sings like an angel.