What headphones do you have in your collection and why?

My current headphone lineup is a bit out of control, but I sometimes find it difficult to part with what I have loved.

I’ll start with my current favorite, a complete surprise that I discovered out of nowhere.

My Denon AH-D9200.

I had these at home for a few days together with a Dan Clark Aeon 2 Closed and the Focal Stellia’s to find out which closed headphones I like the most.


Why did I choose the Denon?

— Because in my Eyes / Ears it has no weaknesses (until today). —

1.) Processing = A +

2.) Comfort = A-

3.) Sound image = A +++

4.) Bass = super dry, hitting hard, very well defined

5.) Mids = very good definition of voices, instruments and space, the whole thing is served razor-sharp and completely nuisance-free.

6.) Heights = tender as butter and crystal clear.

7.) Stage = absolutely extraordinary for a closed headphone.

8.) The best thing about these headphones is that all these attributes apply across genres.

If you are looking for" jack-of-all-trades" headphone, you will find it with the Denon’s.


My next choice is my beloved Sennheiser HD800S.

There is “The concert hall” in my portfolio, the qualities of which are well known.

I mainly use it for classical and live recordings.

And contradict those who claim that this is only really fun with tube amplifiers.

Questyle tunes their amplifier tonally with the HD800S.
And you can clearly hear that, the symbiosis of this pairing is extremely smooth.


The third in the group is my GRADO GS3000e.

In forums like this one more like a “frowned upon exotic outsider” who enjoys my absolute affection.

For jazz, blues, folk and rock, in the past 40 years in which I have dealt more intensively with this hobby, I have not found anything that reproduces these genres more “lively” than these headphones.

With a wonderful spatial musical reproduction, the tonal fading of every single note in the room, I cannot hear it with any other headphones.

These headphones are “living proof” that frequency measurements are only half the story.


Now comes my “intense activist”, the Focal Clear.

For me one of the headphones with a more intense sound, with which it is difficult not to focus completely on the music being played.

I find it difficult to “listen continuously” in a relaxed manner with these headphones, they are a precise sound monster, for which I recently had the opportunity to give them away in exchange for a new 2020 Focal Utopia for a small surcharge.

REJECTED, because somehow these headphones are “addictive”.


I don’t think I have to say anything about the next set of headphones, because the story speaks for itself!

Sennheiser HD600 = sit down, enjoy!


Here are my sonic surgical instruments, my DT880 edition 600 Ohm.

My analyst for musical recordings for 30 years, which I could wear on my head all day due to its comfort.


The second closed headphone in my portfolio, the Dan Clark Audio Aeon 2 Closed.

The first and only planar magnetic headphones to date that allow me to hear stress-free for more than 30 minutes.

After an inspiring initial phase of 20 minutes, this type of headphone sounds somehow “unnatural” TO ME, especially voices.

The Aeon 2 Closed does not do this to my ears, for this reason alone I keep it.

No, of course not only, it sounds very defined and clear to me, with good spatiality.
In addition, relatively little weight and very practical to handle.


Now a “little noticed” headphone with exceptionally good sound skills, the iBasso SR2.

All in all, the most well-balanced and most convincing headphones in the “mid” price segment, which in my opinion even reproduce “musical performances” well above its price segment.


Without question, the GRADO RS2e is THE headphone,

that, due to its sonic quality and comfort, encourages me time and again to give me time for relaxed listening with a good glass of scotch or bourbon in the armchair, close my eyes and relax.


My absolute price-performance winner in 2020, the Sennheiser HD560S.

Hyped or poorly portrayed.

Both nonsense, it is simply a very good-performing headphone that deviates from the typical sound of a sennheiser headphone.

That disappoints some, it excites others.

I try to see it neutrally, and tonally recognize a kind of “mini Focal Elex” for me, and the price is simply excellent for that.


I could go on here, but I think it will be too boring for one or the other :sleeping:.

Therefore, in the end, “the miracle weapon” of every audiophile lover;

And that is meant very seriously :heavy_heart_exclamation:

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Very nice collection, and a cool way to present them with photo of each.
Danke! :wink:

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Great post. Great collection.

Did you ever own the Aeon Flow Closed (v1 Blue) to compare to the Aeon Closed 2. I have the original version, and I think they are great headphones, and comfortable for prolonged sessions.

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Unfortunately not, but this may help you further:

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Nice collection and bit of storytelling. I like how you’ve given each a name or label based on their sound signature.

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Thanks @Lothar_Wolf

The people at Dan Clark are great. I live about 75 miles from them. I’ve been to the facility when I needed a repair to my Ether 2s mini XLR jack. It’s near the San Diego Sports Arena (Pechanga Arena). They fixed my headphones on the spot and sent me home with a nice T-shirt. Sue and Andy Regen are great folks working with Dan too.

I also own of HD800S and Focal Clear. Definitely great cans. I’d suggest you get one of those Geekaria headphone bands for the Clears. That light grey shows everything.

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I initially was very interested in Abyss headphones, but, am questioning that. I’m a female with a relatively small head and worry about the 1266 comfort. I’m contemplating between the Diana Phi or Diana V2 and adding padding to the headband to give a lift if it needs one.

I suffer from headaches and migraines, so, comfort is important. I LOVED the sound of the Raal SR1A but the pressure from the pads on the sides near the temples gave me really bad migraines in the short time that I owned them before sending them back. For that reason, because I suffer from tension headaches as well, I’ve ruled out Audeze due to the weight issues.

Everything in my current collection is super comfy. Focals are very comfortable for me, as is my Meze Empyrean, and especially the HD800S. I was looking for a comfortable headphone to get next. 80% of the time, I’m listening to classical, opera, or ballet. I’ve spoken to many people who vouch for the Susvara excelling particularly with these genres.

That being said, I’ve heard the original Abyss 1266 years ago and love their house sound, but, the comfort / fit are huge issues for me. I already know that I’ll most likely enjoy an Abyss Diana because I enjoy their house sound, and, they have more conventional fits that I could really try to make work better with my head.

For that reason, my next headphones will likely be a Hifiman Susvara and a Diana Phi or V2. The only other headphone that is on my list is a ZMF Verite open or closed, but, I’m just getting the big ones out of the way first before I save for those to top my collection off.

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Not to encourage spending.
I recently picked up a Susvara, and while I couldn’t justify retail, it was worth the used price.
It’s also probably the second most comfortable headphone I own (Dan Clark ether CX is the most comfortable, but not a headphone I’d recommend)
Still interested in a Diana V2 and the 1266 phi, one will probably happen in 2021.
With good amplification, the Susvara is incredibly resolving, I’d still take the D8000 pro for bass reproduction, but the Susvara ability to provide good dynamics in quiet passages is quite special. Reminds me a little of electrostatics in that regard without the glaring weaknesses.

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Have you tried any electrostatics? All of the STAX traditional Lambda style phones are light and comfortable, at least for me.

Yes, a decent amp for them is a consideration. I think they are well suited to the genres you like.

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The Stax are light and comfy. I find the Dan Clark headphones to be consistently comfortable as well, and I wonder if the Voce might be of interest to you, @Lana? I’m not recommending it - I heard it once at CanJam, in a quieter side room away from the main exhibition space, and while I was very much impressed by it, I’ve been intrigued about why there are so few reviews or impressions of it on the forums I follow (I seldom visit head-fi). I wonder why the Voce hasn’t been more popular?

Edit: the MySpheres might be of interest, too, especially for the genres you mention.

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Welcome back to the forum. I recall you posting earlier this year about choosing between the Empyrean and Abyss. It sounds like the former has worked out well for you.

I like your selections and your input is helpful. I had not considered the Diana Phi.

For this classical music purpose, I’m likely to go with a ZMF Verité Closed (I prefer closed back) using the Be2 or Auteur pads, which lean toward neutral and detailed compared to the Universe pads – perhaps ripe for classical music. The VC checks more boxes for me as a primary headphone, including classical.

Beyond that, I’d probably consider the SR1a, MySphere, and Diana Phi – subject to comfort considerations and matching well with tube amplification.

Hifiman, especially the Susvara, should excel with your primary genres. I understand they were tuned with such in mind and are the founder’s preferred music. See below.

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Dan Clark Ether 2 is worth a look. Caveat. A ZMF Co-Pilot makes them super comfortable. They are very light-weight (290g) headphones.

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What amp or amps are you using?

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In another thread on the forum I had described the kind of music I seem to prefer, and you recommended considering the iBasso SR 2. I did some further research (I was surprised by how relatively little there is published about these headphones) and ended up getting it a few weeks ago, and I agree with you 100%. It is warm, as opposed to analytical, with sufficient bass and punch, a fuller sound. To describe it in one word it would be “balanced”. It is now my favorite headphone and that includes the Ananda which had been my favorite. So thanks.

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It was a pleasure :pray:

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Yes!! More SR2 love! Did you try the 2nd pads? I just posted a “review” of it and truthfully, I was more critical of it then needed. I didn’t want to overhype, but it really is a great headphone especially when price and accessories are taken into account.

I’ve been acquiring headphones for the past 20 or so years. My first acquisition was the AKG K340 hybrid dynamic/electret that I picked up on eBay. That led me to discover Headwize, the first headphone site, and then to Head-Fi. The slogan there was “sorry about your wallet.” Man. were they right! I haven’t been that active in recent years, as I’ve been more into speakers and vintage audio equipment. Anyway, here’s the list of what headphones I currently possess.
PS…I’ve only sold one headphone that I owned…Sennheiser 600. It just didn’t do it for me.

AKG: K1000, K340,K501,K270S, K240 Sextett
Alessandro MS Pro
Audio Technica: ATH-EM7, ATH-EW9 Sovereign
Beyerdynamic: DT880, DT770 Pro, DT831
Etymotic: ER6i, HF5, MC5, ER4S,ER4P, ER2XR, ER3XR
Future Sonics Atrio M5
Grado:HF-1, HP-1000 (HP1),RS-1,SR-325,SR-325i,
SR-200, SR-100,SR-60,SR-40,
Koss: Porta Pro, KSC35
Sennheiser: MX500, PX200, HD545
Sharp MD33
Shure:E2, E3c,E4,E5, SE215
Sony: MDR-CD3000,MDR-CD1700,MDR-V6 (2 pair),MRD-V600, E888 buds (2 pair),D66SL Eggo
Stax: SR-5, SRM-001 MKII
TDK BA100
UltimateEars SuperFi.5Pro
Westone UM2, UM30 Pro
Yuin RE2 IEM, OK2, OK3 (ear buds)

Most of these headphones lie unused, but some of them get a regular workout, particularly the Etymotics. I just love the in-your-head clarity of those little gems. For full sized phones, I’m pretty much a Grado guy. But I enjoy many of the others as well, if not on a regular basis.
BTW…this site seems to be a very nice, laid back community with a keen interest in the topic of headphones. Thanks for that.

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Welcome -
From another guy who likes Grado, has some Etymotic ER4s that he can’t find but still listens to his STAX SR-5n, is a Koss Porta Pro booster, and has had or destroyed a few of the other headphones on your list. Never sold a headphone either. Happy New Year and good riddance 2020.

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Figured I’d update the list.

  1. Focal Elegia: Because I wanted to ruin my opinion of all other closed backs for the rest of time.

  2. Sennheiser HD6XX: Because they feel and sound like a warm hug from an old friend.

  3. Sennheiser HD559: because my brother hasn’t asked for them back yet.

  4. Etymotic ER2XR: Because Slickdeals is a dangerous site and they’re more portable than noise cancelling headphones.

  5. Koss KPH30i: Because if you’re doing anything else to get this much enjoyment out of $20, it’s
    probably illegal.

  6. PortaPro: Because I loved the KPH30i so much.

  7. LTA V1: Because my brother has a 3d printer and what’s a hobby if you’re not making something? Seriously though, I’ve learned so much trying to put these together. Looking forward to building V2.

  8. V Moda LP2: Because my partner needed headphones 8 years ago and has been using them ever since.

  9. 3x Aftershokz Aeropex headsets: Because sometimes sound quality < Convenience. And these are way more convenient than true wireless. They also get the most listening time by far.

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Thanks for the welcome!
Yeah…Etys, Grados, and Stax are my favorites, although I appreciate any headphone that can have me immersed in the music, even if only for a little while. In looking at the lists that others have posted, I realize I’ve been out of the game for about 15 years or so, because I don’t even recognize many (if not most) of the brands. But, I’m happy with vintage. Except of course for my new favorite…ER2xr. They still have that classic Ety sound, but with a bit of bass boost. And I’ve discovered that Westone silicone Star tips provide close to the isolation of the Tri-Flanges, but have better ease of insertion and improved comfort. :slight_smile:

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