Your Top 5 Favourite Headphones

Headphones General Headphone Discussion
101

Here’s my list, from least significant to most significant.

  1. Hifiman Sundara - Sold a while ago because I didn’t have anything to properly power it. Would love to buy again though since I have proper equipment now.

  2. Sony WH1000XM3 for when I just want low volume listening or peace and quiet.

  3. Koss KPH30i due to its price point and how much joy it brings me when I listen to it.

  4. Sennheiser HD6XX for its impeccable sound quality and extraordinary comfort.

  5. Aftershokz Aeropex because there’s nothing better than being able to have your own background music absolutely everywhere. They don’t sound the best, but nothing I’ve used is more comfortable, convenient or versatile. I wear these for hours a day, every day and only take them off to sleep or listen to something else.

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102

List changed and now we stand as:

HiFiMan Susvaras - The best sound stage and imaging I have heard today. Also worth noting the amzing impact they carry.

The Hive - Second to my Susvaras, the imaging on this headphone is amazing and, for ESTAT they carry an impact of their own. Superb ESTAT headphones for the price.

Focal Elegia - Over all good closed back dynamic headphone.

HEDDphones - Demo them for a week or so and they had good stage and good over all tonality.

Koss Porta Pros with Yaxi pads - Awesome headphones for the price.

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103

My list would be the following 4 headphones based on what I own after testing a fair number of headphones:

  1. ZMF Verite Open - Really just a joy to listen to. Sits very well in my sound signature preferences and has been a god send during this work from home period. I might also like the closed version, but I don’t have the funds for that right now.

  2. 64 Audio Nio - The best IEM’s I have heard to date. Hits the mark at all levels from bass to mids to treble.

  3. Focal Elegia - A great set of closed back headphones. For my money they punch well above their price point.

  4. Sony WH-1000XM3 - My go to anytime I get on a plane or train. Great noise cancellation and an enjoyable listen.

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104

In no particular order:

  1. Focal Utopia. Wow, just wow! This is why I own a younger sibling headphone from the Focal line.
  2. ZMF Auteur. The timbre accuracy claims are real folks! I will likely be ordering a Wenge wood variant this month.
  3. Sennheiser HD 650/6XX. This is what got me into the hobby and will always be a staple for me.
  4. Oppo PM-3. Still the best closed-back I’ve heard without hitting four figures.
  5. Audeze LCD-4. Although the frequency response is a bit odd sounding, the technical performance blew me away.
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105

I love these too, especially for podcasts and audio books.

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106

Really great choice. The D 8000 from final audio is one of the most addicting headphones I’ve ever heard. I just feel it is about 1000$ overpriced. Pretty damn expensive

107

They were going for $3300 AUD ($2400USD) here for couple months, and I didn’t know I wanted a pair then.

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108

I have far less experience than most others here, but I’ll list my five anyway:

  1. ZMF Aeolus - nothing else comes close.
  2. Sennheiser HD6xx - solidly competent all-around
  3. Sony WH1000XM3 - a bit bass heavy, but great comfort and noise cancelling ability
  4. PSB M4U2 - replaced by the XM3 when the left channel died. This one is pretty close to the XM3, beaten only by the XM3’s superior noise cancelling
  5. Fostex TH-X00 Purpleheart - love the bass, didn’t really like the funky treble. Beautiful cans only bested by the Aeolus in that regard.

If we include IEMs, I’d have the Final E5000 in #2 or #3 spot.

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109

Here they are…

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110

Your HiFiman Deva, Focal Elear, and Emu Teak look great! I don’t recognize the one on the left or the one on the bottom.

I’m kidding - nice cans!

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111

I had to evacuate from the California fires this afternoon and I took with me a:

Clear
Elegia
Arya

So that is probably the most honest “top 3” list one can give. Sort of like the time that Willie Nelson saved his guitar and stash from a housefire.

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112

Hope that you - and what you left behind - are safe.

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113

Amen to that…:pray:t4:

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114

Ya know we’re doing fine. We had enough time to pack 2 cars full of all the irreplaceables, documents and valuables. Everything left is just the “equipment of living.” Clothes, furniture, decorations, tools.

If the worst case happens, we’re lucky enough to be adequately insured. There are much worse things that could happen in life than having to buy new clothes or a new house.

Now, just to survive staying in my mom’s 2 bedroom condo with my mom, wife, 2 daughters and 2 cats (also females).

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115

No wonder you have such a calm demeanor. :grin:

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116

You mean because I’m surrounded by ladies all the time?:joy::joy:

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117

Precisely…

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118

Three words. Elegia closed back. I kid. All the best.

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119

Man, I hope all is well! Fingers crossed the fires get rained on or contained efore they do anymore damage.

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120

wish you and your family all the best and keep my fingers crossed for your house!

at least you had a bit of time, to get out some things

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