# Resolve's Headphone Ranking List **URL:** \ **Category:** General Headphone Discussion\ **Tags:** end-game\ **Created:** [December 29, 2021, 3:33am UTC](https://forum.headphones.com/t/resolves-headphone-ranking-list/16052 "2021-12-29T03:33:49Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![pk500](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.headphones.com/pk500/32/25083_2.png) [@pk500](https://forum.headphones.com/u/pk500)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2021, 7:11pm UTC](https://forum.headphones.com/t/resolves-headphone-ranking-list/16052/21 "2021-12-29T19:11:52Z")
Why shots fired? Dude is one of the top headphone experts on Earth and is giving his opinion. I respect and love that @Resolve is sharing his wisdom with us and don’t consider his recommendation of a headphone I don’t like as a “diss,” “shots fired” or any of that garbage. Social media has f\*cked this world, big time. Nobody can give an opinion without it being “shots fired” or a “hot take,” and if their opinion differs from yours, they’re a “hater.” Sorry, I’m just in a particularly salty mood today due to a variety of factors. ---
**Author:** ![Resolve](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.headphones.com/resolve/32/51647_2.png) [@Resolve](https://forum.headphones.com/u/Resolve)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2021, 7:15pm UTC](https://forum.headphones.com/t/resolves-headphone-ranking-list/16052/22 "2021-12-29T19:15:01Z")
haha I think maybe the closed-back list will be more of a ‘hot take’ - working on that now. ---
**Author:** ![pk500](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.headphones.com/pk500/32/25083_2.png) [@pk500](https://forum.headphones.com/u/pk500)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2021, 7:17pm UTC](https://forum.headphones.com/t/resolves-headphone-ranking-list/16052/23 "2021-12-29T19:17:47Z")
Quick question on DCA Aeon X Open. Your description makes it sound like a more comfortable planar version of the 6xx. Is that an accurate assessment? I own the 6xx and enjoy them very much, but I’m also interested in the DCA’s. Are they just a more expensive, more refined, more power-hungry version of the 6xx? Wondering if I really need them. Thanks, Andrew! ---
**Author:** ![EminentOne](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.headphones.com/eminentone/32/64833_2.png) [@EminentOne](https://forum.headphones.com/u/EminentOne)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2021, 7:20pm UTC](https://forum.headphones.com/t/resolves-headphone-ranking-list/16052/24 "2021-12-29T19:20:03Z")
Lol! Chill dude, just a midnight comment in a joking manner. I appreciate the list as well. Hopefully all the feedback, not just this one leads to manufacturers upping their game. ---
**Author:** ![Resolve](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.headphones.com/resolve/32/51647_2.png) [@Resolve](https://forum.headphones.com/u/Resolve)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2021, 7:22pm UTC](https://forum.headphones.com/t/resolves-headphone-ranking-list/16052/25 "2021-12-29T19:22:14Z")
Weirdly the HD6XX is more detailed - the Aeons are a bit blunted sounding, possibly due to the extreme driver damping going on. But where the Aeons have the advantage is in the sense of tightness/speed and immediacy of the initial leading edge of tones, leading to very good image separation and the ability to isolate individual instrument lines well. Is it better than the HD6XX? Not meaningfully. But the Aeon X Closed is one of the best closed-backs for the price in my opinion. If you really want an upgrade to the HD6XX, you’d be looking at something like an Elex or Clear. ---
**Author:** ![Ray\_Cabrera](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.headphones.com/ray_cabrera/32/37729_2.png) [@Ray\_Cabrera](https://forum.headphones.com/u/Ray_Cabrera)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2021, 7:37pm UTC](https://forum.headphones.com/t/resolves-headphone-ranking-list/16052/26 "2021-12-29T19:37:27Z")
Great list, cant wait for your closed back list. ---
**Author:** ![Eskamobob1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/43a26b/32.png) [@Eskamobob1](https://forum.headphones.com/u/Eskamobob1)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2021, 7:54pm UTC](https://forum.headphones.com/t/resolves-headphone-ranking-list/16052/27 "2021-12-29T19:54:01Z")
The Hot Take: They all have trash tonality ---
**Author:** ![pk500](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.headphones.com/pk500/32/25083_2.png) [@pk500](https://forum.headphones.com/u/pk500)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2021, 8:04pm UTC](https://forum.headphones.com/t/resolves-headphone-ranking-list/16052/28 "2021-12-29T20:04:43Z")
Sorry. As I said, I’m salty today. Shouldn’t have taken it out on you. Regards, The Sodium King 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![pk500](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.headphones.com/pk500/32/25083_2.png) [@pk500](https://forum.headphones.com/u/pk500)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2021, 8:05pm UTC](https://forum.headphones.com/t/resolves-headphone-ranking-list/16052/29 "2021-12-29T20:05:23Z")
Mega thanks, man. Appreciate your wisdom and advice, as always. ---
**Author:** ![Resolve](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.headphones.com/resolve/32/51647_2.png) [@Resolve](https://forum.headphones.com/u/Resolve)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2021, 8:11pm UTC](https://forum.headphones.com/t/resolves-headphone-ranking-list/16052/30 "2021-12-29T20:11:45Z")
Actually surprisingly some don’t! But, in some ways the hot take is that the ones that don’t have a trash tonality aren’t always the best haha. ---
**Author:** ![Eskamobob1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/43a26b/32.png) [@Eskamobob1](https://forum.headphones.com/u/Eskamobob1)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2021, 8:15pm UTC](https://forum.headphones.com/t/resolves-headphone-ranking-list/16052/31 "2021-12-29T20:15:17Z")
Hahahaha. Yuuuuup. I was all mega excited for stealth just to find out I liked it less on my gear (at the time at least) than even the mega fucked FR (and resonance?) of R10P. I have some friends whos ears I trust who are getting some dynamics/kick back into them with stuff like the HSA-1B but my hopes arent particularly high given my similar impressions across 5 demos over the course of almost 2 months… ---
**Author:** ![deafenears](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.headphones.com/deafenears/32/11409_2.png) [@deafenears](https://forum.headphones.com/u/deafenears)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2021, 8:26pm UTC](https://forum.headphones.com/t/resolves-headphone-ranking-list/16052/32 "2021-12-29T20:26:48Z")
With a published ranking list, you’re likely going to get asked “why is X not on the list?” (like the LCD-4z **hint hint** ) quite often. Hopefully that doesn’t burn you out. Appreciate the time taken to come up with this list (and updating it), thanks Resolve. Torq doesn’t have a thread of his ranking list and it’s scattered around some of his posts. Thought it might be worth mentioning here for those interested: > [@What headphones do you have in your collection and why?](https://forum.headphones.com/t/what-headphones-do-you-have-in-your-collection-and-why/4501/149): > > Primary Cans: These are listed in order of how much listening time they get, on average, in any given month: RAAL-requisite SR1a: Single best all-around headphone I’ve heard, bar none - closer to listening on a good near-field speaker setup than any other headphone I’ve heard (which includes all of the current flagships I’m aware of). It’s the fastest, most detailed and resolving, linear, dynamic and transparent headphone I’ve come across. If not for the need of a proper speaker amplifier (or … > [@I'm Sailing Away](https://forum.headphones.com/t/im-sailing-away/5367/72): > > 10 Favorite Open-Back Headphones A bit more considered than one of my earlier lists. And not solely based on what gets the most listening time - but definitely based on what I use, enjoy, own and/or would buy/re-buy if doing it all again. RAAL-requisite SR1a ZMF Vérité (Open) LB-Acoustics MySphere Focal Utopia Abyss AB-1266 Phi TC Audeze LCD-4 Rosson Audio RAD-0 HEDD Audio HEDDphone ZMF Aeolus Sennhesier HD650 Assume similar caveats here as for [this](https://forum.headphones.com/t/im-sailing-away/5367/59) post on DACs. > [@I'm Sailing Away](https://forum.headphones.com/t/im-sailing-away/5367/80): > > 5 Favorite Closed-Back Headphones Why 5 and not 10? I can’t currently name 10 closed-back headphones I would be willing to spend my money on, at least not again, for the purposes of just listening to and enjoying music with. ZMF Vérité Closed Focal Stellia Sennheiser HD820 ZMF Eikon Focal Elegia > > > **The Next Three ...** > > > > Dan Clark Audio AEON Flow Closed 2 Sony MDR-Z1R Fostex TH-900 MK2 The Sony here is just so warm, and the bass is really not well controlled, bloomy and gets into the lower-mids, th… … and the last update: > [@I'm Sailing Away](https://forum.headphones.com/t/im-sailing-away/5367/615): > > Oh, and I guess this would lead to a new “Headphone Top 10” (with no real need for separate open/closed categories anymore) … RAAL-requisite SR1a STAX SR-009S ZMF Vérité LTD Focal Utopia Audeze LCD-4 STAX SR-007 MK2 ZMF Vérité Closed LTD Rosson RAD-0 Sennheiser HD800S Focal Stellia Positions 1 & 2 could swap based on musical genre. I am excluding HE90/HEV90 (offers you can’t refuse suck, should have kept those) and HE 1 on the basis they are complete systems, not just headphones. ---
**Author:** ![Resolve](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.headphones.com/resolve/32/51647_2.png) [@Resolve](https://forum.headphones.com/u/Resolve)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2021, 11:15pm UTC](https://forum.headphones.com/t/resolves-headphone-ranking-list/16052/33 "2021-12-29T23:15:41Z")
Updated with an initial list of closed-backs. I’ll be adding more over time. ---
**Author:** ![stormcloud64](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/85f322/32.png) [@stormcloud64](https://forum.headphones.com/u/stormcloud64)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2021, 12:55am UTC](https://forum.headphones.com/t/resolves-headphone-ranking-list/16052/34 "2021-12-30T00:55:28Z")
I had the ZMF Verite closed, and actually sold them to get the Verite (during the November 2021 sale). I have no need for a closed back (live alone) and just like being able to hear myself as well. I purchased a 2021 LCD-X and loved it, until I saw the LCD 5. I was able to return the X and order a B-Stock 5. Should arrive Friday. I think that may be my final (for now) headphone collection (beyond my ZMF Ori & ZMF Blackwood). One stellar planar and one stellar dynamic. Do you EQ the Verite? ---
**Author:** ![Resolve](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.headphones.com/resolve/32/51647_2.png) [@Resolve](https://forum.headphones.com/u/Resolve)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2021, 1:05am UTC](https://forum.headphones.com/t/resolves-headphone-ranking-list/16052/35 "2021-12-30T01:05:32Z")
Yes of course - keep in mind I only have the Open. But for the closed, I believe Chrono may have made a good starting point that I’d probably give a go. ---
**Author:** ![stormcloud64](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/85f322/32.png) [@stormcloud64](https://forum.headphones.com/u/stormcloud64)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2021, 1:38am UTC](https://forum.headphones.com/t/resolves-headphone-ranking-list/16052/36 "2021-12-30T01:38:51Z")
Did you post the open EQ settings? I no longer have the closed. ---
**Author:** ![deafenears](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.headphones.com/deafenears/32/11409_2.png) [@deafenears](https://forum.headphones.com/u/deafenears)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2021, 1:45am UTC](https://forum.headphones.com/t/resolves-headphone-ranking-list/16052/37 "2021-12-30T01:45:46Z")
Great, thanks again! I’ve compiled a list of headphones you’ve measured. Might be good to link in the first post of this thread? > [@Index / collection of measurements made by Resolve](https://forum.headphones.com/t/index-collection-of-measurements-made-by-resolve/15251): > > @Resolve doesn’t have something similar to Oratory’s [Grapher Headphones](https://headphonedatabase.com/oratory/headphones), crinacle’s [Graph Tool](https://crinacle.com/graphs/headphones/graphtool/premium/), or [Squidlink](https://squig.link/) so I decided to create this post to have his measurements all in one place for those who might find it useful\*. I’m only including links to the measurements he’s made using [GRAS 43AG-7 and KB5000 (KEMAR Anthropometric Pinna)](https://forum.headphones.com/t/whats-in-the-box/1765/1580). I’m hoping to fill this in with more as I find them. Abyss [AB-1266 Phi TC](https://forum.headphones.com/t/abyss-ab-1266-phi-tc/3896/90) Apple [AirPods Max](https://forum.headphones.com/t/apple-airpods-max-new-over-ear-headphones-from-apple/9536/59) Audio Technica [ATH-70X](https://forum.headphones.com/t/audio-technica-official-thread/13923/3) Aurorus Audio [Borealis](https://forum.headphones.com/t/aurorus-audio-borealis/5992/11) Audeze [CRBN](https://forum.headphones.com/t/audeze-crbn-electrostatic-headphone-official-thread/13786/29)[LCD…](https://forum.headphones.com/t/lcd-2f-2020-review/6578/21) ---
**Author:** ![04gto](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.headphones.com/04gto/32/12895_2.png) [@04gto](https://forum.headphones.com/u/04gto)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2021, 2:58am UTC](https://forum.headphones.com/t/resolves-headphone-ranking-list/16052/38 "2021-12-30T02:58:09Z")
I already thought we were pretty close in our sound preferences. We are super close for open backs. On your closed back list…it is like you were peeking at my notes. My top three is identical to yours. Outside of that I would probably rank the Radiance (I owned it) below the Celestee and bring the Fostex TR-X00 Ebony up a few spaces behind the Celestee (?) and ahead of the Radiance. Outside of that, we are in lock step. I recommend the song “Big Balls” by AC/DC from the Dirty Deeds album. Because, you got 'em. Okay, I would totally understand why you would not want to, but PLEASE consider posting this list on Head-fi. Even if just for my individual entertainment. 😃 Nice work. ---
**Author:** ![Stin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f17d59/32.png) [@Stin](https://forum.headphones.com/u/Stin)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2021, 4:36am UTC](https://forum.headphones.com/t/resolves-headphone-ranking-list/16052/39 "2021-12-30T04:36:27Z")
I had narrowed down my TOTL collection to one open back and one closed back, and decided to go with the VC & LCD-5 based on reviews and comparisons (before seeing this post just now.) Had a nice sense of validation based on his list here… Not that there’s ever a last word in this hobby – but if there was one, Andrew would probably be it. 😉 I also have an MDR-Z1R as a unique guilty pleasure. Tho, we’ll see how much head time those get moving forward. ---
**Author:** ![jlbrach](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/278dde/32.png) [@jlbrach](https://forum.headphones.com/u/jlbrach)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2021, 5:00am UTC](https://forum.headphones.com/t/resolves-headphone-ranking-list/16052/40 "2021-12-30T05:00:08Z")
I think resolve seems like a really earnest guy and a nice guy and I know that these things are all completely subjective…that said any list that doesnt include the abyss Tc and the sr1a at the very top doesnt compute to me…I have or have heard all of them other than the stats and to me it doesnt compute…that said as I said it is all subjective [Previous page](https://forum.headphones.com/t/resolves-headphone-ranking-list/16052.md?page=1) [Next page](https://forum.headphones.com/t/resolves-headphone-ranking-list/16052.md?page=3)