Recommend me a $2k headphone

[bruc3]

Ah ok,  glad you are enjoying it. Thanks for the feedback.

[indy500]

On 27/10/2020 at 9:43 AM, bruc3 said:

 

Do you actually own one or have personal experience with one?

 

As I have heard otherwise.

Strongly recommend you listen to one yourself if possible as we all hear differently (with the headphones that you intend on using). I found it too bright and fatiguing with my Clears and ended up getting the Moon 230had on the weekend (and pocketing $$).

Edited October 28, 2020 by indy500

[John Buchanan]

18 hours ago, indy500 said:

Strongly recommend you listen to one yourself if possible (with the headphones that you intend on using). I found it too bright and fatiguing with my Clears and ended up getting the Moon 230had on the weekend (and pocketing $$).

It certainly is neither bright nor fatiguing on the 4 headphones I've tried the Burson with (Beyerdynamic T1 Gen. 2, Mysphere 3.2, Neumann NDH20 and AKG K701 - all with varying headphone impedance ranges). 

[indy500]

You raise a good point - we all do hear differently! Edited my post above to clarify.

[bruc3]

Hi guys,

Thanks for everyone's input.

 

I have bought a Sennheiser HD 800 S and Questyle CMA Twelve.

 

Waiting for it to ship to my place, once I spend a bit of time with it I will post here again about my impression/thoughts.

 

 

[bruc3]

Hi all,

 

Just some update, due to some unforeseen circumstances I ended up receiving my Questyle CMA Twelve but did not get the HD800S.

 

I will take this opportunity to now go in store to try out various headphones and decide what to get.

 

I plan to audition below headphones:
 

- Sennheiser HD800S

- Audio Technica ADX5000

- Focal Clear

- HifiMan Arya

 

Is there any other headphones you would suggest I try while I am there?

 

 

[Bengineer]

TH900 MK2 Sapphie

Audeze LCD-X

 

[bruc3]

noted, I will give those a try too. Thanks.

 

 

[Yetiman]

I have the Sony MDR-Z1r & MrSpeakers ether C flow with the 1.1-kit so you can adjust the sound, both fantastic IMO..

Edited November 17, 2020 by Yetiman

[bruc3]

Thanks guys for the input, I think I have enough headphones in the list now to audition.

 

I will post back likely tomorrow with my impressions and decision.

[bruc3]

Ok just an update, I drove to the store early this morning around 8am but was stuck in traffic and ended up taking 2 hours to get to Minidisc, which did not give me a great amount of time to audition and compare the headphones thoroughly. In hindsight, I probably should have just taken the whole day off work to audition instead of only half a day, oh well.

 

Here is my findings below for the brief time I did get to try them, however I wish I had at least another 1 - 2 hours more to test/compare. Also bear in mind I am not very good at describing sound, just know what I like and dont like.

(note: all my listening was done on the Questyle CMA Twelve, which is the same dac/amp I own).

 

- Focal Clear = I dont know, just did not wow me and seemed just ok, sounded a bit more closed in versus all the others so I did not spend much time on these

- Sennheiser HD800S = very open sounding as expected, but on some tracks I played had a slightly tinny sound almost like unnatural tone, but some classical tracks like Vivaldi - Four Seasons sounded really great

- HifiMan Arya = these sounded really good to me, dont know how to explain it but similar to reviews I read, things just sounded bigger and more there, quite enjoyable

- Audio Technica ADX5000 = Somewhat similar sounding to HD800S I guess, but probably not as open sounding but had a more nicer tone (more natural sounding) and less tinny, but the definite thing I preferred was it had more intimate sweeter sounding vocals (especially for female vocals)

 

So all in all, I would say the Arya and ADX5000 were my favourites, but really did not get enough time to compare those 2 side by side to really say which I preferred overall.

 

However, I will more than likely just buy the ADX5000 as the Hifiman has questionable build quality and QC issues. Also the ADX5000 on demo build was extremely creaky, but I was told this has now been resolved in current production models.

 

Minidisc have said that their supplier currently is out of stock of the ADX5000 and currently no ETA on when new stock is arriving, but could be 2 - 3 weeks, so I will check with them again in 2+ weeks time.

 

I guess its lucky in a way that the HD800S purchase I placed earlier fell through, as now I found a headphone I prefer in the ADX5000, although HD800S is still definitely the better valued package since its cheaper and also comes with balanced cable.

 

Also special thanks to @Bengineer and @peppy for giving me a lot of advice/suggestions.

Edited November 18, 2020 by bruc3

[peppy]

44 minutes ago, bruc3 said:

Ok just an update, I drove to the store early this morning around 8am but was stuck in traffic and ended up taking 2 hours to get to Minidisc, which did not give me a great amount of time to audition and compare the headphones thoroughly. In hindsight, I probably should have just taken the whole day off work to audition instead of only half a day, oh well.

 

Here is my findings below for the brief time I did get to try them, however I wish I had at least another 1 - 2 hours more to test/compare. Also bear in mind I am not very good at describing sound, just know what I like and dont like.

(note: all my listening was done on the Questyle CMA Twelve, which is the same dac/amp I own).

 

- Focal Clear = I dont know, just did not wow me and seemed just ok, sounded a bit more closed in versus all the others so I did not spend much time on these

- Sennheiser HD800S = very open sounding as expected, but on some tracks I played had a slightly tinny sound almost like unnatural tone, but some classical tracks like Vivaldi - Four Seasons sounded really great

- HifiMan Arya = these sounded really good to me, dont know how to explain it but similar to reviews I read, things just sounded bigger and more there, quite enjoyable

- Audio Technica ADX5000 = Somewhat similar sounding to HD800S I guess, but probably not as open sounding but had a more nicer tone (more natural sounding) and less tinny, but the definite thing I preferred was it had more intimate sweeter sounding vocals (especially for female vocals)

 

So all in all, I would say the Arya and ADX5000 were my favourites, but really did not get enough time to compare those 2 side by side to really say which I preferred overall.

 

However, I will more than likely just buy the ADX5000 as the Hifiman has questionable build quality and QC issues. Also the ADX5000 on demo build was extremely creaky, but I was told this has now been resolved in current production models.

 

Minidisc have said that their supplier currently is out of stock of the ADX5000 and currently no ETA on when new stock is arriving, but could be 2 - 3 weeks, so I will check with them again in 2+ weeks time.

 

I guess its lucky in a way that the HD800S purchase I placed earlier fell through, as now I found a headphone I prefer in the ADX5000, although HD800S is still definitely the better valued package since its cheaper and also comes with balanced cable.

 

Also special thanks to @Bengineer and @peppy for giving me a lot of advice/suggestions.

 

@bruc3 well described and good you took a call based on what your ears liked , and not any reviewers. !!!

 

 

[bruc3]

Exactly, well said.

 

I guess all the reviews/opinions I read could never truly determine whether I would like a headphone or not, since sound is very subjective and in the end only listening for myself could determine that.

 

So as everyone always said, if you can, always try before you buy.

 

One more thing, when I was at the store I listened to all the headphones using the SE unbalanced cable connected to the CMA12. Volume wise I never went past 10 o'clock for any of the tracks I listened to on any of the headphones, so seems plenty of headroom left.

 

Technical things aside (with balanced vs unbalanced) do you think there would be an audible improvement using the balanced connection on the CMA12?

 

As the ADX5000 charges a whopping $500 for their balanced cable, and dont really want to fork out that kind of coin for no audible improvement. If it does make an audible improvement/difference, would a cheaper balanced cable from Aliexpress suffice?

 

Something like below:

https://www.aliexpress.com/item/4000720141314.html?spm=a2g0o.productlist.0.0.59af254c9Ev2N0&algo_pvid=abf8f804-7122-417b-a108-8bf24728926a&algo_expid=abf8f804-7122-417b-a108-8bf24728926a-57&btsid=0b0a556416056756143353661ec584&ws_ab_test=searchweb0_0,searchweb201602_,searchweb201603_

Edited November 18, 2020 by bruc3

[peppy]

6 minutes ago, bruc3 said:

As the ADX5000 charges a whopping $500 for their balanced cable

dont worry we can get you one from someone i know at an exceptional price.

We usually get $650-700 moon cables , same quality and sound for $300-$400

 

The AD5000x one, can be done for even less, I am sure.

And you will be much happier coz CMA12 is geared as a fully balanced internal circuit which means the front 4 pin XLr is not only for higher volume current, but is a proper upgrade and using internal circuitry to its fullest.

So Yes 4-pole XLR on CMA12 does sound better than SE , more open and holographic. 

 

Not night and day difference, but surely enough for you to go XLR only.

 

Edited November 18, 2020 by peppy

[bruc3]

Great, obviously a good portion of the cost of the unit goes into the balanced design, so would be a pity not to use it I guess. Thanks.

 

 

[Bengineer]

Balanced is the way to use the CMA12. SE is fine, but it's better on XLR. Enough to bother I guess.

[bruc3]

XLR balanced it is then.

[RePete]

Bruc3, next time your auditioning try a pair of Grado’s you’ll know in a few minutes if they are for you or not but it they are you’ll be hooked.

 

I was at minidisc 6 weeks ago to with my daughter for her birthday and tried a pair of PS500’s they were close but a little bright. Then I tried the RS1’s and that’s what I wanted but they were out of stock. I grabbed their last pair of GH4’s and my headphone obsession began.

 

I had purchased a pair of LCD2’s on the classified and while they were nice they didn’t wow me and I still preferred my speakers.

 

The GH4’s had me up late listening to album after album when I should have been sleeping so when a pair of PS1000’s came up in the classifieds I grabbed them and I love them. The speakers only get used on weekends now and the Grado’s now sit beside my bed plugged into my Oatley electronics valve amp kit that I recently built.

 

after some research I think the PS500’s with the larger ear pads would have tamed the treble and been close to the PS1000’s. My own experiments with the GH4’s and the larger ear pads confirm this as it tamed the treble a little and made them more comfortable 

 

 

Turns out headphones are really personal and you have to find what your ears like

 

good luck on the hunt 

Edited November 18, 2020 by RePete

[Bengineer]

24 minutes ago, RePete said:

Bruc3, next time your auditioning try a pair of Grado’s you’ll know in a few minutes if they are for you or not but it they are you’ll be hooked.

 

I was at minidisc 6 weeks ago to with my daughter for her birthday and tried a pair of PS500’s they were close but a little bright. Then I tried the RS1’s and that’s what I wanted but they were out of stock. I grabbed their last pair of GH4’s and my headphone obsession began.

 

I had purchased a pair of LCD2’s on the classified and while they were nice they didn’t wow me and I still preferred my speakers.

 

The GH4’s had me up late listening to album after album when I should have been sleeping so when a pair of PS1000’s came up in the classifieds I grabbed them and I love them. The speakers only get used on weekends now and the Grado’s now sit beside my bed plugged into my Oatley electronics valve amp kit that I recently built.

 

after some research I think the PS500’s with the larger ear pads would have tamed the treble and been close to the PS1000’s. My own experiments with the GH4’s and the larger ear pads confirm this as it tamed the treble a little and made them more comfortable 

 

 

Turns out headphones are really personal and you have to find what your ears like

 

good luck on the hunt 

The PS1000e being the shiny metal ones?

 

You heard the GS1000e at all?

[RePete]

9 minutes ago, Bengineer said:

The PS1000e being the shiny metal ones?

 

You heard the GS1000e at all?

I haven’t heard the GS1000 but it would be lighter and more comfortable than the PS1000

 

yes my cans are the shiny metal ones but they are a few years old and not the current “e” version. 
 

You have to love the Grado sound in order to overlook the build quality. The plastic rod locks aren’t so much of an issue with the timber versions but my old PS1000 had worn and the earpieces slid down under their own weight

 

I ordered alloy rod locks with grub screws and a padded headband from Shipibo in Poland and they are perfect but the thought of doing this to a $2.5k headphone is offensive.

 

it didn’t hurt so much as mine were old and second hand but it’s all about the sound.  If you love them you’ll be a fan and put up with the issues if you prefer something else you won’t understand why anyone would tolerate them 

[MachinePlay]

Koss Portapro End Game

[bruc3]

1 hour ago, RePete said:

Bruc3, next time your auditioning try a pair of Grado’s you’ll know in a few minutes if they are for you or not but it they are you’ll be hooked.

 

 

Minidisc is a fair bit of a journey for me to get to (1.5 hours drive and Sydney traffic ruins the drive) as I live far South of NSW, so I doubt I would be going again any time soon. I literally only venture out to the Northern suburbs when I want to get new audio gear or when I get crazy cravings for some good yumcha or Shanghai dumplings lol.

 

I have always been a fan of Audio Technica sound (tuned with more upper mids and emphasis on female vocals), so when I went in, to be honest I kind of expected I would favour the ADX5000 already.

 

However, I have never heard Grado headphones before and I do actually tend to like trebly/bright headphones (as seems I have lost some hearing in the higher frequencies) so bright headphones are generally not sibilant for me and actually sound more lively.

 

Ironically though I actually really love my Sennheiser HD6xx which some consider a dark headphone, but I dont feel that way about them.

 

Maybe in the future I will get a chance to hear a Grado, and will definitely keep in mind when I do venture out to Minidisc next time. Thanks.

 

But I currently have my mind set on getting the ADX5000 now, just waiting for it to come in stock before I snap it up.

 

[RePete]

Keep an eye out in the classifieds or grab one of their entry level phones. From what I hear they all share a similar sound with slightly different voicing and details 

[Bengineer]

They have a strange product lineup. Various models share the same driver but vary a lot in price. Tweaks to the wood and chambers tweak the sound.

 

I've been told by the resident Grado nutter, hope he reads this, that the GH1, 2 and 4 are all pretty good and similar. And about the right price to performance ratio. Past that it gets a bit more of a collectors thing than pure value. Of course if you're right into the Grado sound, its worth it.

[RePete]

10 minutes ago, Bengineer said:

They have a strange product lineup. Various models share the same driver but vary a lot in price. Tweaks to the wood and chambers tweak the sound.

It’s unclear if they share the exact same driver or only the same size driver?

 

44mm drivers can be different 

 

either way the pricing of most products is questionable at the higher end 

Edited November 18, 2020 by RePete