I once heard an ex-audiophile state that they wish they just stopped at the HD600 and Schiit stack and saved the thousands they wasted. This has stuck with me since I got into headphones and is great advice
@@superash82 Except hd600 is not great at anything in particular... Its so avarage headphone, that it will make you want other headphones that are great at certain things... Hd 600 is avarage at everything and if you are really audiophile, sooner or later you will seek better
I tell you why! You guys keep making me want new headphones. I’m also into amps, speakers, tubes, vinyl, turntables, phono cartridges,... Its not a rabbit hole it’s more like a bear cave at this point.
While I personally own and enjoy experiencing multiple headphones, I openly admit that I just love having different toys to play with. If it were 100% about the music, one set of perceptually flat/good all rounder headphones would do the trick and my brain's ability to normalise the sound would be a bonus because it would essentially be an aid to transparency.
That makes total sense. I own 6 pair of headphones ranging from $250-$500. That "normalization" is a real phenomenon. That also applies to loud speakers as well.
There was a solid piece of advice at the end: keep a few pairs of old headphones as a contrast to your latest and greatest purchase. Good headphones can last for decades, just buying a new pair every few years and keeping the old you will accumulate a significant collection! There is no need to buy two lesser headphones instead of the best you can afford today, and there is no need to have everything you want right now. Having multiple headphones is good future goal: if you stick with the hobby long term it will inevitably happen anyway! Well, unless you constantly buy new gear so the old gear still looks like new, and put in the effort to sell the old gear to fund new gear. If you keep and use your headphones for, say 5 years, they probably won't look perfect and thus will be much harder to sell at a price that justifies doing so - versus the enjoyment you'd get from keeping and occasionally listening to them.
I'm with you on this. If you eat your favorite food for every meal, you probably won't enjoy it as much over time. Headphones are similar in that variety can be great thing. I suggest buying Koss KPH 30i or Takstar Pro82, something affordable and good, and listen to them once a week or more. Then you'll remember just what you love about your other gear. Happy listening!
@@amirkhalid5449 OOOOOOHHH, I'v just been wearing mine, like to keep my ears warm. I wondered what the wires are for. Who does the music? Nickels Backs?
Heh. My hearing is clearer too in the morning but I prefer listening at night even if I'm tired because my brain seems to smooth out the sound somewhat.
This is the most TRUTH I've heard in this hobby. Having owned 20+ headphones and then selling them eventually... it was the only reason i knew these current ones were my end game.
Brilliant! As i have been chasing the tail of the tiger (buying more headphones for that elusive sound quality) I have slowly been arriving at similar conclusions. Thanks again!
Based on your comments about the response curves and the optimal curve for various musical genres, it would wonderful to see a matrix of headphones most suited to various genres of music!
I kinda feel the opposite way, I enjoy the headphones I like best after getting used to the "burn-in" period I go through every time I put them on. It takes a bit to let my brain get "tricked" properly, but after about 20 minutes (sometimes more like an hour), the strengths really begin to shine
yeah same, it takes a while to get used to some signatures and to really start enjoying them, especially on higher end ones where the difference is not about which sounds good but which sounds better than "good", having going back and forth between headphones when i own multiple pair say flagships it also just comes to me that even if i enjoy the signature or stage of another i always falls to whichever one has the most detail, and until i compare susvara or ab1266 level stuff ill just always prefer the more expensive one because usually it simply means that it retrieves more detail
There is a breaking point and you'll know exactly when you are too deep into this hobby.. it starts right about when you start using music to listen to headphones instead of using headphones to listen to music..
I love that you took the time to make this video. It shows how passionate and considerate you are not just as an audiophile but widening the opportunity for a greater experience for others. That is selfless and admirable. Thank you man!
Neuroscience-wise, absolutely correct. Whenever we deviate from some static or homeostatic place our body strives to normalize. Like…clothing. Within moments we basically don’t feel our clothing. Unless they happen to bind or pinch. And smell. Do an experiment. Go to a garden, or a florist, and smell some fragrant fresh flower lime a rose. See how long you can smell it. Even at all? Mere minutes. That’s also why we cannot understand that the “mild” perfume or cologne we are wearing is so objectionable to our coworkers. We can’t smell it. That’s why good chefs on a tasting menu mix it up. The surprise factor is necessary for perception and pleasure thus derived. So it is the same for sound.
When mixing music, it's super important to take breaks and listen to music that you know is mixed well on the same gear you're mixing on. It's way to easy to fall into this same problem of acclamation to the way something sounds.
Absolutely great video. You need to own at least 2 headphones for different genres. (Would-be) audiophiles will benefit from accepting this excellent idea, and spare themselves the pain of hunting for that ultimate End Game pair (which does not exist : ( . IMHO, no one hp can do justice to ALL genres, no matter how high-end/ expensive it is. For ex., I put on the Beyer 1990 when I am in the mood for some modern rock; Senn 660S for vocals & jazz; Audio Technica MSR7b for classical; & AKG 712 Pro for gaming.
I think choosing headphones for genres is a bit pointless, especially if you have EQ. The most important things about any sound reproduction systems are technical capability and having a frequency response that doesn’t have huge issues. Having said that headphones have different characteristics. Dynamics sound different to planars. Headphones have different sound stages, different style of delivery / intensity, different detail retrieval etc. For example HEKse and Utopias are very similar on paper. You can EQ them to have the same FR, but they will sound dramatically different when you put them on even though all the measurements will be very close.
I liked a lot about this video except the point about eq being cumbersome. It's much easier to set up EQ once and then just click on a button on Peace to change genres vs switching headphones and plugging it in. EQ fixes lots of "issues" differences in sound. is slightly bigger soundstage/imaging/etc worth spending thousands? Depends on the person and their budget. For most, if you have either sundara or 6xx and something like a dx3 pro+, you're already at endgame. Do not fall into the rabbit hole, it's just not worth it.
I explored this in a Reddit post when I asked folks what their "endgame" was and I've come to the conclusion like you there is none. Finding 2-3 headphones that serve different purposes is probably best way to go. Warm, bright, v shaped ? Different variations of warm or bright or v shaped? Idk what the answer is but just seems smart to do.
I think he’s saying no one headphone “does everything”, unless you are only listening to one genre and have a headphone that works perfectly for that genre.
I like many fell into the rabbit audiophile hole and have tried a plethora of headphones and iems over the last decade. I am primarily a 2 channel audio person above all else for personal preference and also work reasons. But that didnt stop me from purchasing several headphones at a time hunting for those few pairs that suited my work and personal wants. Of the many I found myself keeping were the Sennheiser HD800 for work(use with speakers), the Audeze lcd3 and the Audio Technica adx5000(got for good price) for personal listening. I did however stumble across the Audio Technica R70x about 4 years ago and decided to give them a shot as well. For better or worse, I ended up being utterly astonished by them, even frustratingly so. Now I'm contemplating selling the lcd3 and adx5000's, purely because the little R70xs, in every aspect from the mixing/mastering process to personal listening aspects just do everything surprisingly well or competently enough. Certainly the most accurate and natural sounding pair Ive tried to date, especially considering their asking price. Its important to note that they are designed for reference/monitoring purposes. They are not saturated and artificial sounding in any way like many of the headphones out today. Presumably why many reviewers give lower marks and even disregard them. The other big selling point these hold for me, is that they are the only headphone I can do most of my work on, without needing to constantly go back n forth with my monitors. They translate extremely well in that regard which is super handy. Possibly the bigger selling point is that they are unbelievably comfortable. Ive never been able to wear a pair for 8-12 hours or work and finish without taking them off to wind down and listen to music for another 2 hours or so if time or wife allows.
I used to have a bunch of headphones in the 200 dollar range, sold them all and bought a LCD-2C and zmf auteur very recently and I think I'm done with this for a while.
I've owned a few mid range headphones over the years, but then bought some cheap ones... oh my once you've had reasonable headphones, forget the cheap ones! I'm rocking Beyerdynamic DT700 ProX (48 ohm) that I'm really happy with. I'm a little sceptical if $1000 headphones are much better, but I would'nt know as I've never experienced a top set of headphones.
Honestly, there's not necessarily a correlation between price and quality in terms of sound. Koss sells $30 headphones that sound absolutely fine they just have really weak build quality.
I needed this video because I own 5 pairs & I'm struggling to find out why 😅 & struggling to return a pair lol... I'm someone who loves different genres of music.
I try not to sell off old headphones when I buy a new one because of this exact reason. Sometimes when I am dying to buy something new or upgrade, I switch in a cheaper pair of headphones for a few weeks and when I go back to my TOTL I feel like I have new, TOTL headphones again. Much cheaper than upgrading!
I recommend hifiman he4XX, focal elex, focal elegia and ether cx. Those are entry/ mid level headphones that will keep you busy for a while. I mainly listen to 80s 90s jazz funk soul r&b, hip hop, classic rock music and today's music on those genres. For high end headphones I'm interested in the sony z1r and hifiman arya when I start listening to flac one day with higher end amps/dacs. I don't hear a huge difference between flac and spotify. I ended up funding for my home theater speakers so Im glad I didn't go crazy on headphones. Speaker experience vs headphones are both very different.
I think it's good to have different headphones, I have the Abyss PHI TC which sounds very open and the Audeze LCD-XC which sounds really good and neutral for a closed back headphone and I hear the same music with the two headphones, only it gets to me presented differently and that's what makes it so appealing to me.
My latest adventure: I decided to get after some time of consideration the Audio Technica adx-5000. Received it today and I have absolutely no regrets. The new 58mm driver is fantastic. Very neutral, huge sound, the clarity was the first word that came to my mind. The highs are beautiful... listening right now: Saltwater by Chicane ( behind the sun - deluxe version- remastered) to try the low end, and it is sounding perfect, lots of punches with sub bass. Top notch! Have you ever heard the adx5000?
The HEADPHONE Show please do my friend. I forgot to mention about the vocals, smooooth.... both female and male. Jay-Jay Johanson is coming very smooth.... all genres are sounding quite great 👍 haven’t been this excited since the Susvara.
I still don't understand. All reviewers say the same things to keep the bussines runing, dont EQ but buy a new Pair !! Are we chasing after headphones that can reproduce the exact mastered studio music, similar to how Filmmaker Mode lets you watch a movie the way the director intended? If such headphones exist, wouldn't everything else be irrelevant? It would just be a hobby for people to adjust and add filters to the original music. It seems like most headphone manufacturers are deviating from the original sound, rather than trying to reproduce the exact studio or theatrical experience. Am I right? If so, why pay for something that doesn't reflect the original recorded sound
I agree. Some headphones are not so great for certain genres. For instance my Fostex TH-X00 for hip-hop and EDM. The Sennheiser 650 is a horrible choice for EDM. There is no perfect headphone for all genres-it doesn’t exist and never will.
yes well said.. i is true to me.. i notice this switch around with different headphone.. after midnight mood change some headphone sound better at different time
Uhm, if the music (no matter the genre) is mixed and mastered properly it will sound perfect with a perfectly balanced headphone. I'm not really a headphone guy, but my speakers really do sound just perfect with anything I throw at them, if it is properly produced of course. And it is the same with my only pair of headphones that I use while commuting and at work, they do sound just perfect with everything I listen to. So no I see no reason whatsoever to waste money on multiple headphones.
I really agree with you. I have 0 experience with high end audio. Only decent music player I have is my LG g7 and my only decent headphone is kph30i. Everyone says it's a 'fun and relaxed' sounding headphone and I'm really having fun with it. I am planning to buy HD 280 pro for a closed back and 'reference' experience. And maybe an iem like shuoer tape with extreme detail in treble. I want 3 devices totally different in shape, size and sound so that I have all bases covered for really long time. Thank you for the video. ☺
Honestly that G7 is pretty much all you'll ever need as long as the battery is still good. It can drive any pair of headphones you'll conceivably buy unless you start going crazy with headphones that are among the the most powerful on the market. Like over 600 ohms
@@michaelcorcoran8768 actually I got g7. It battery got busted in 2 years. And I got a newer one from Amazon. It was 3700mah so the battery performance is better than new. And I got a planar iem and headphone that are low impedance and low sensitivity so they need something more than g7. I got hip dac for that. For insensitive planars the limitation of g7 show. But for normal iems and headphones g7 is sweet. ☺
I need like 3 pairs, 1 for psytrance, 1 for metal and the other 1 for classical, Hans Zimmer music. So going to cost a fortune, so going to have to listen a lot of reviews on what they suggest.
Dont know where you live, but several companies offer a periode where you try them and then return headphones, that might be better or listen at a headphone store if you have any of those in your area. Just so that you know, what you like. Personally super new, like 5 months in to this hobby. But buying some headphones in the 100-500$ class made me learn several things about my self. Now i feel ready for the 500-1000$ class. For how many can afford the Sennheiser HE-1 in reality?
I think this video would make for a good analogy for my g-friends so they can understand why I like to have 4 or 5 g-friends as opposed to just 1. Hope this works.
Great Review. I regretted not taking your advice and bought the HD800S over my existing Arya. You did tell us that the HD800S sounds very much like the Arya and that the HD800S has potential to sound boring...well I'm getting bored with the HD800S in its first week with me... thankfully I got the 800S for $800 used and so may just sell it... EQuing the 800S takes away the openness a lot...and I'm not sure if the Arya and 800S complement each other. Thankfully, I've got the HD650 lying around to show me my true north!
I should probably do a top pick for each price bracket at some point. My pick for under $1k is the Hifiman Ananda, but it might be a bit bright for those genres. Honestly maybe the DCA Aeon 2C. It has a nice upper midrange dip that helps make electric guitars unfatiguing, but also crazy good treble detail and extension for cymbals and percussive instruments. Apart from that, the LCD-2F is still a good choice, and I think you can even find an LCD-X for around that price (but that's a heavy headphone).
The HEADPHONE Show Thank you brother! I’ve had my eye on the LCD-2F but am concerned about the weight. Perhaps I’ll give it a shot. Please keep doing what you do!
The HEADPHONE Show Tried the LCD-2, and while it sounds pretty great the weight is too much. For heavy metal, rock, jazz fusion and electronic music, would you go with the Dan Clark Audio Aeon 2 or the Focal Elegia for a sealed option? I’d use EQ with both. Thanks!
Acquire a taste for a neutral sound and use EQ on a highly capable headphone. No need for multiple headphones and I listen to a ton of different genres.
I agree with this one. Though I fully understand that the way different genres are recorded and mastered can be different and require a different tuning at the reproduction end to achieve optimal fidelity, I can't justify the cost of multiple headphones just for genre-matching. It sounds more like luxury and excess to me. Different headphones for loud/quiet environments, portable or desk-bound use, sure, that makes sense. But not for different genres, I can't get on board with that.
That's a good option and I agree but let's not ignore the fact that different headphones have different timbre and flavor that cant be replicated not even with EQ.
Amps sound the same. Dacs sound the same. Headphones don't sound the same. Edit: I should revise this. Unless the amp is underpowered or has a high output impedance, any "good" amp sounds the same. And if the DAC has a solid 2v output with a flat frequency response, they will sound the same.
Pioneer SE-MJ591 (super accurate, most spot on headphone I've ever heard/owned) Sony MDR-M1ST (World-Class studio headphone, 4 years in the making!) Focal Utopia (The world's most utopian headphones! Sounds excellent unless the track has a ton of mastering errors) Try them out!
There's something great about Pioneer headphones as I recently acquired the Pioneer HRM-7, and that 8 year old headphone drops a steamy one all over my entire collection! I'll keep an eye out for the SE-MJ591, thanks for the recommendation.
I got the eikon suedes for my verite after watching zeos’ review. I loved it before but it is fun swapping pads some. Sounds great to me with all of them.
PLEASE tell me how to separately equalize left and right ears with one sided cord. Can I use a splitter with 2 channels ..if so, can u pls tell me what equipment I need? I’m mostly a singer but I have a new hearing problem in one ear and have been really frustrated…thanx..ps. So it’s not just a volume thing but a hz thing. Thx.
I own too many headphones... Abyss 1266 Phi TC, Audeze LCD 3 , LCD X, Klipsch HP3, AKG Q701... I ultimately need to sell 2-3 while upgrading my DAC/Amp/Cables to better level.
You don't need fancy cables. I mean don't buy the literal cheapest cables on the market maybe but certainly don't buy premium cables from audio file companies with ridiculous b******* marketing.
I’m in a situation where I can purchase due to discounts both a Focal Clear OG (going by the love the community has shown for them) and a Sennheiser HD800s (which has been a dream of mine of many years and one which I will buy at some point for sure) or pay slightly more and buy a Focal Utopia which until a few days back I wouldn’t have in my wildest dreams have imagined getting. Would you still suggest going for a Focal Utopia now and buy a Sennheiser HD 800 later or just get the Focal Clear and Sennheiser HD 800
so do you mean that a neutral headphone will not make certain genres sound the way it was supposed to sound, and you need a colored headphone for that other genre? how does that work?
Several things. The mistake is thinking there there is such a thing as scientifically neutral. We're used to this idea because you can measure a speaker by putting a mic in front of it and have it show a perfectly flat frequency response. But as we know, that's not how that speaker measures at the ear. It has to contend with all the various gain factors of the head, torso, and ear - and it's also at a 45 degree angle (generally). With headphones, you have different gain factors to contend with, and because our ear shapes are different, from one another, we'll end up having different gain factors. Moreover, no mic is perfectly flat either, and then no recording is 'perfectly neutral' either. That's why getting reasonably close to the general curve that an average ear imparts to that flat-measuring speaker's frequency response is good enough. Now for headphones, there are two popular target curves, namely the Harman target, with a bit more bass emphasis, and a version of the diffuse field target (the term has been appropriated by Sennheiser a bit). The diffuse field target measures brighter and doesn't have the bass shelf. In some ways, the Harman curve isn't what people think it is - it's not a target for scientific neutrality, it's a consumer preference target. And as Metal571 pointed out, who knows what's being used in the testing, because that could also impact how people response. The diffuse field target is a bit more 'scientific' in that sense, but it also has the consequence of making modern genres sound a bit unpleasant. So that's why at some point you need to make a concession. This idea of 'coloration' also doesn't make that much sense if we're talking about target curves, because something that perfectly matches the Harman target will entail a deviation from the diffuse field target. Now, if something is wacked out at certain parts of the frequency response in an area that causes it to deviate strongly from the general curve, then sure, it has some coloration there. But you could in theory have two headphones tuned to completely different target curves, have them sound completely different from one another, and have the term 'neutral' apply to both.
@@TheHEADPHONEShow wow. thnx so much for this answer. sounds like 2 headphones (1 for each curve) might be the better way to spend money. If I use the money for a Hifiman Arya, what do you suggest the other headphone be?
The type of sound I like is more the Arya's type, so should I be spending more on the verite or should I reverse it and spend more on the more expensive hifiman options instead?
Hi, Thanks for great videos and reviews! I hope you can help me in my search. I am not looking for an audiophile gadget, rather I want a reliable workhorse. I mainly work with acapella and dialogue. I want my headphones to: 1. Have flat and neutral frequency response for accurate post editing. 2. Be revealing and detailed for critical and analytic examination. 3. Give me the best possibility to clean up the audio and reach a final product that transfers well unto other sound systems. Good build and price is not crucial, but of course a bonus. What is my best pick under 1000 USD? And what is my best pick if money is not a problem? (Please give options for both open and closed back) Candidates I found so far: Clear Professional by Focal Planar by Avantone Pro M-200 by V-Moda Hi-X55 by Austrian Audio Listen Professional by Focal Best regards, Dominic Driman
So, just to begin with, 'flat' just shows how a headphone's frequency response deviates from a given target. That target could be anything, and so you really have to be careful when looking at measurements. Here's a video on how to read them that's worth taking a look at if you want to learn more: ua-cam.com/video/nR2AhYqFI_8/v-deo.html When it comes to the ones you've listed, the only one that's close to the reference target that I'm aware of is the Focal Clear. I haven't seen measurements of the Avantone yet. Honestly I think you need to figure out if you want a headphone for 'reference' sound, in which case you could go with the Clear, or if you want a headphone to help you identify all the flaws. In the latter case, you may want something with a brighter tuning - something like a DT-880 or DT-1990 Pro. I don't normally recommend those headphones but for studio use it could be applicable.
@@TheHEADPHONEShow Thanks a lot for your answer and the linked video, I just checked it out. So that I understand you correctly (I am not familiar with all the English terminology). With 'reference' you mean natural/true sounding so that I can do the EQ properly? And with 'identify all the flaws' you mean analytical sound and detail revealing? I am not too caught up with the curve itself. The point is that I want headphones that let me hear basically what I would hear if I was sitting in the room of the dialogue or in the studio of the performer. Without coloring or distortion of the frequency/sound. Example: If I choose headphones that are really weak in the base the risk is that I boost the base in the EQ. If the end user later listen to the track on a pair of headphones that are base heavy. His brain will explode. Therefore I want neutral headphones. So that I can reach a neutral end product. Hope what I wrote makes sense.
@@dominicdriman1319 sounds like you want the headphone as a reference point. The focal clear would be good for that but... Honestly the much less expensive akg k371 would work too. It's tuned to the 2018 Harman Harman over ear reference curve.
@@TheHEADPHONEShow Thanks! Clear vs K371 is a huge price difference. And I do actually prefer a closed-back. Would I get any advantages with the Clear or is it just a waste of money?
I agreed with you for most of my life...Until I got the Rosson Audio design RAD-0. Matched with the Denafrips Ares 2 DAC & Woo WA6SE amp - the sounds is so damn nice on every genre. Open, liquid, natural, fast, slamming, organic, non sibilant and smile inducing. I also love the Arya.
nick figueroa I mean, yes, that does work, but the dongle can’t push the headphones to their full potential, as it’s better to just get a dedicated music player instead. At least for the isine20 there’s a lightning cable that has a built in dac, which is enough to make it sound good. There are way too many choices of IEMs and portable players (which I wanna go for but don’t have the money sadly), and for me there’s no room for trial and error, simply coz I can’t afford them. So I went the easy way. It’s sad, but I had to accept it.
@@t-blade Only an iPhone? www.stereophile.com/content/apple-ipod-portable-music-player-measurements www.kenrockwell.com/apple/iphone-5/audio-quality.htm
The rabbit hole never ends
Rabbitholeception
BEcasue its a money grabbing strategy where noone makes a perfect product... You are on a plate
I once heard an ex-audiophile state that they wish they just stopped at the HD600 and Schiit stack and saved the thousands they wasted. This has stuck with me since I got into headphones and is great advice
@@superash82 Except hd600 is not great at anything in particular... Its so avarage headphone, that it will make you want other headphones that are great at certain things... Hd 600 is avarage at everything and if you are really audiophile, sooner or later you will seek better
@@frog382 I think the point is that you will never find the endgame headphones you crave and will waste thousands searching for them.
OK, you’ve just made a video for my wife.
Its for you as well
Where did you get the wife from?
Your wife tells you what to do?
Haha very good 👌😅
Just let her listen to the music, she will be hooked too. Maybe by then you are the one complaining.
I tell you why! You guys keep making me want new headphones. I’m also into amps, speakers, tubes, vinyl, turntables, phono cartridges,... Its not a rabbit hole it’s more like a bear cave at this point.
While I personally own and enjoy experiencing multiple headphones, I openly admit that I just love having different toys to play with. If it were 100% about the music, one set of perceptually flat/good all rounder headphones would do the trick and my brain's ability to normalise the sound would be a bonus because it would essentially be an aid to transparency.
That makes total sense.
I own 6 pair of headphones ranging from $250-$500.
That "normalization" is a real phenomenon. That also applies to loud speakers as well.
There was a solid piece of advice at the end: keep a few pairs of old headphones as a contrast to your latest and greatest purchase. Good headphones can last for decades, just buying a new pair every few years and keeping the old you will accumulate a significant collection! There is no need to buy two lesser headphones instead of the best you can afford today, and there is no need to have everything you want right now. Having multiple headphones is good future goal: if you stick with the hobby long term it will inevitably happen anyway!
Well, unless you constantly buy new gear so the old gear still looks like new, and put in the effort to sell the old gear to fund new gear. If you keep and use your headphones for, say 5 years, they probably won't look perfect and thus will be much harder to sell at a price that justifies doing so - versus the enjoyment you'd get from keeping and occasionally listening to them.
I'm with you on this. If you eat your favorite food for every meal, you probably won't enjoy it as much over time. Headphones are similar in that variety can be great thing. I suggest buying Koss KPH 30i or Takstar Pro82, something affordable and good, and listen to them once a week or more. Then you'll remember just what you love about your other gear. Happy listening!
bruh when i bought ksc75 i started to remember why i hate other gear
Do you listen to headphones, or do you listen to music?
@@amirkhalid5449 Yes.
@@xianduvallx The point is not the gear, the point is the music. Listen to music.
@@amirkhalid5449 OOOOOOHHH, I'v just been wearing mine, like to keep my ears warm. I wondered what the wires are for. Who does the music? Nickels Backs?
Heh. My hearing is clearer too in the morning but I prefer listening at night even if I'm tired because my brain seems to smooth out the sound somewhat.
Its quieter and cool at night, that's why I prefer to wait until the end of the day to listen.
@@olimphus26 Depends on where you live. There's no audible outside noise in my house during the day.
@@SoundWaveTrax lucky LoL
This is the most TRUTH I've heard in this hobby. Having owned 20+ headphones and then selling them eventually... it was the only reason i knew these current ones were my end game.
I for one really appreciate this more philosophical type of content. Thanks!
Brilliant! As i have been chasing the tail of the tiger (buying more headphones for that elusive sound quality) I have slowly been arriving at similar conclusions. Thanks again!
Audiophiles listens to headphones, less to music itself
Based on your comments about the response curves and the optimal curve for various musical genres, it would wonderful to see a matrix of headphones most suited to various genres of music!
My wallet disliked this video
I kinda feel the opposite way, I enjoy the headphones I like best after getting used to the "burn-in" period I go through every time I put them on. It takes a bit to let my brain get "tricked" properly, but after about 20 minutes (sometimes more like an hour), the strengths really begin to shine
yeah same, it takes a while to get used to some signatures and to really start enjoying them, especially on higher end ones where the difference is not about which sounds good but which sounds better than "good", having going back and forth between headphones when i own multiple pair say flagships it also just comes to me that even if i enjoy the signature or stage of another i always falls to whichever one has the most detail, and until i compare susvara or ab1266 level stuff ill just always prefer the more expensive one because usually it simply means that it retrieves more detail
There is a breaking point and you'll know exactly when you are too deep into this hobby.. it starts right about when you start using music to listen to headphones instead of using headphones to listen to music..
This video is literally listening TO headphones instead of listening THOUGH headphones, hoonestly one of the worst videos he's ever made imo
The background with the ifi amp& dac and the Phonitor amp looks like heaven....
I love that you took the time to make this video. It shows how passionate and considerate you are not just as an audiophile but widening the opportunity for a greater experience for others. That is selfless and admirable. Thank you man!
In my culture when you agree with someone you tell them "their head is there". Yes, your head is there.
What culture are you referring to sir...
@@alexandergomes3317 Yoruba culture, if I'm not mistaken
Some great insights… not just about headphones. About self-awareness and insights into objective analysis! TY
Neuroscience-wise, absolutely correct. Whenever we deviate from some static or homeostatic place our body strives to normalize. Like…clothing. Within moments we basically don’t feel our clothing. Unless they happen to bind or pinch. And smell. Do an experiment. Go to a garden, or a florist, and smell some fragrant fresh flower lime a rose. See how long you can smell it. Even at all? Mere minutes. That’s also why we cannot understand that the “mild” perfume or cologne we are wearing is so objectionable to our coworkers. We can’t smell it. That’s why good chefs on a tasting menu mix it up. The surprise factor is necessary for perception and pleasure thus derived. So it is the same for sound.
When mixing music, it's super important to take breaks and listen to music that you know is mixed well on the same gear you're mixing on. It's way to easy to fall into this same problem of acclamation to the way something sounds.
Absolutely great video. You need to own at least 2 headphones for different genres. (Would-be) audiophiles will benefit from accepting this excellent idea, and spare themselves the pain of hunting for that ultimate End Game pair (which does not exist : ( . IMHO, no one hp can do justice to ALL genres, no matter how high-end/ expensive it is. For ex., I put on the Beyer 1990 when I am in the mood for some modern rock; Senn 660S for vocals & jazz; Audio Technica MSR7b for classical; & AKG 712 Pro for gaming.
I think choosing headphones for genres is a bit pointless, especially if you have EQ. The most important things about any sound reproduction systems are technical capability and having a frequency response that doesn’t have huge issues.
Having said that headphones have different characteristics. Dynamics sound different to planars. Headphones have different sound stages, different style of delivery / intensity, different detail retrieval etc.
For example HEKse and Utopias are very similar on paper. You can EQ them to have the same FR, but they will sound dramatically different when you put them on even though all the measurements will be very close.
I love my RME ADI-2 DAC coz it can save 20 EQ settings.
Highly agree with this
I liked a lot about this video except the point about eq being cumbersome. It's much easier to set up EQ once and then just click on a button on Peace to change genres vs switching headphones and plugging it in. EQ fixes lots of "issues" differences in sound. is slightly bigger soundstage/imaging/etc worth spending thousands? Depends on the person and their budget. For most, if you have either sundara or 6xx and something like a dx3 pro+, you're already at endgame. Do not fall into the rabbit hole, it's just not worth it.
I explored this in a Reddit post when I asked folks what their "endgame" was and I've come to the conclusion like you there is none.
Finding 2-3 headphones that serve different purposes is probably best way to go.
Warm, bright, v shaped ?
Different variations of warm or bright or v shaped? Idk what the answer is but just seems smart to do.
For most people tho. Getting a headphones that does every thing well is ideal if ur only gonna get 1.
I think he’s saying no one headphone “does everything”, unless you are only listening to one genre and have a headphone that works perfectly for that genre.
I agree on this. You really need some sort of reset to compare your new headphones to the old ones you like.
I like many fell into the rabbit audiophile hole and have tried a plethora of headphones and iems over the last decade. I am primarily a 2 channel audio person above all else for personal preference and also work reasons. But that didnt stop me from purchasing several headphones at a time hunting for those few pairs that suited my work and personal wants. Of the many I found myself keeping were the Sennheiser HD800 for work(use with speakers), the Audeze lcd3 and the Audio Technica adx5000(got for good price) for personal listening. I did however stumble across the Audio Technica R70x about 4 years ago and decided to give them a shot as well. For better or worse, I ended up being utterly astonished by them, even frustratingly so. Now I'm contemplating selling the lcd3 and adx5000's, purely because the little R70xs, in every aspect from the mixing/mastering process to personal listening aspects just do everything surprisingly well or competently enough. Certainly the most accurate and natural sounding pair Ive tried to date, especially considering their asking price. Its important to note that they are designed for reference/monitoring purposes. They are not saturated and artificial sounding in any way like many of the headphones out today. Presumably why many reviewers give lower marks and even disregard them.
The other big selling point these hold for me, is that they are the only headphone I can do most of my work on, without needing to constantly go back n forth with my monitors. They translate extremely well in that regard which is super handy. Possibly the bigger selling point is that they are unbelievably comfortable. Ive never been able to wear a pair for 8-12 hours or work and finish without taking them off to wind down and listen to music for another 2 hours or so if time or wife allows.
I used to have a bunch of headphones in the 200 dollar range, sold them all and bought a LCD-2C and zmf auteur very recently and I think I'm done with this for a while.
"think" and "a while" seem to suggest otherwise hehehe
@@masterxyr exactly. I started with some affordable B&W, ended with flagship P9.
Now looking to Focal and Hifiman :))
I've owned a few mid range headphones over the years, but then bought some cheap ones... oh my once you've had reasonable headphones, forget the cheap ones! I'm rocking Beyerdynamic DT700 ProX (48 ohm) that I'm really happy with. I'm a little sceptical if $1000 headphones are much better, but I would'nt know as I've never experienced a top set of headphones.
Honestly, there's not necessarily a correlation between price and quality in terms of sound. Koss sells $30 headphones that sound absolutely fine they just have really weak build quality.
Why one shouldn't have only HD650 AND speakers
I needed this video because I own 5 pairs & I'm struggling to find out why 😅 & struggling to return a pair lol... I'm someone who loves different genres of music.
I've bought the Marshall Monitor II A.N.C. for indoors, I don't want them getting stolen and I have wireless neckband headphones for outside.
I try not to sell off old headphones when I buy a new one because of this exact reason. Sometimes when I am dying to buy something new or upgrade, I switch in a cheaper pair of headphones for a few weeks and when I go back to my TOTL I feel like I have new, TOTL headphones again. Much cheaper than upgrading!
And the saddest thing is the exact same thing applies to speakers guys 😭 although there are some good all-rounders
The best thing about the headphone show, the audio
Gazing at the phonitor-x in the background
You should now a video on why we should have multiple amps
I recommend hifiman he4XX, focal elex, focal elegia and ether cx. Those are entry/ mid level headphones that will keep you busy for a while. I mainly listen to 80s 90s jazz funk soul r&b, hip hop, classic rock music and today's music on those genres. For high end headphones I'm interested in the sony z1r and hifiman arya when I start listening to flac one day with higher end amps/dacs. I don't hear a huge difference between flac and spotify. I ended up funding for my home theater speakers so Im glad I didn't go crazy on headphones. Speaker experience vs headphones are both very different.
I think it's good to have different headphones, I have the Abyss PHI TC which sounds very open and the Audeze LCD-XC which sounds really good and neutral for a closed back headphone and I hear the same music with the two headphones, only it gets to me presented differently and that's what makes it so appealing to me.
I‘m gonna tell you the best joke about audiophiliacs: There was a guy owning just one headphone. BADUM TSSS 😂😂😂
My latest adventure: I decided to get after some time of consideration the Audio Technica adx-5000. Received it today and I have absolutely no regrets. The new 58mm driver is fantastic. Very neutral, huge sound, the clarity was the first word that came to my mind. The highs are beautiful... listening right now: Saltwater by Chicane ( behind the sun - deluxe version- remastered) to try the low end, and it is sounding perfect, lots of punches with sub bass. Top notch! Have you ever heard the adx5000?
No but I've heard good things about it. I'd love to try it at some point
The HEADPHONE Show please do my friend. I forgot to mention about the vocals, smooooth.... both female and male. Jay-Jay Johanson is coming very smooth.... all genres are sounding quite great 👍 haven’t been this excited since the Susvara.
I always say: There is no best headphone, only better.
i kind of which you swapped headphones between each cut from b-roll in the video.
I still don't understand. All reviewers say the same things to keep the bussines runing, dont EQ but buy a new Pair !! Are we chasing after headphones that can reproduce the exact mastered studio music, similar to how Filmmaker Mode lets you watch a movie the way the director intended? If such headphones exist, wouldn't everything else be irrelevant? It would just be a hobby for people to adjust and add filters to the original music. It seems like most headphone manufacturers are deviating from the original sound, rather than trying to reproduce the exact studio or theatrical experience. Am I right? If so, why pay for something that doesn't reflect the original recorded sound
I agree. Some headphones are not so great for certain genres. For instance my Fostex TH-X00 for hip-hop and EDM. The Sennheiser 650 is a horrible choice for EDM. There is no perfect headphone for all genres-it doesn’t exist and never will.
yes well said.. i is true to me.. i notice this switch around with different headphone.. after midnight mood change some headphone sound better at different time
THANKS FOR THIS GREAT ADVICE😇
Uhm, if the music (no matter the genre) is mixed and mastered properly it will sound perfect with a perfectly balanced headphone. I'm not really a headphone guy, but my speakers really do sound just perfect with anything I throw at them, if it is properly produced of course.
And it is the same with my only pair of headphones that I use while commuting and at work, they do sound just perfect with everything I listen to. So no I see no reason whatsoever to waste money on multiple headphones.
I have 4 sets of hp (3 Beyer) and I do use all of them. And I'm thinking of getting 1 or 2 more...Audio-Tech ADX 5000 and/or Focal Clear.
I really agree with you. I have 0 experience with high end audio. Only decent music player I have is my LG g7 and my only decent headphone is kph30i. Everyone says it's a 'fun and relaxed' sounding headphone and I'm really having fun with it. I am planning to buy HD 280 pro for a closed back and 'reference' experience. And maybe an iem like shuoer tape with extreme detail in treble. I want 3 devices totally different in shape, size and sound so that I have all bases covered for really long time. Thank you for the video. ☺
Honestly that G7 is pretty much all you'll ever need as long as the battery is still good. It can drive any pair of headphones you'll conceivably buy unless you start going crazy with headphones that are among the the most powerful on the market. Like over 600 ohms
@@michaelcorcoran8768 actually I got g7. It battery got busted in 2 years. And I got a newer one from Amazon. It was 3700mah so the battery performance is better than new. And I got a planar iem and headphone that are low impedance and low sensitivity so they need something more than g7. I got hip dac for that. For insensitive planars the limitation of g7 show. But for normal iems and headphones g7 is sweet. ☺
Financially painful but true from my experience. Sennheiser HD820 + Sony Z1R + Fostex 610 + Sennheiser HD600 + Sennheiser HD650 for the win...
I need like 3 pairs, 1 for psytrance, 1 for metal and the other 1 for classical, Hans Zimmer music. So going to cost a fortune, so going to have to listen a lot of reviews on what they suggest.
Dont know where you live, but several companies offer a periode where you try them and then return headphones, that might be better or listen at a headphone store if you have any of those in your area. Just so that you know, what you like. Personally super new, like 5 months in to this hobby. But buying some headphones in the 100-500$ class made me learn several things about my self. Now i feel ready for the 500-1000$ class. For how many can afford the Sennheiser HE-1 in reality?
"maybe you only listen to one genre" Oh how that made me feel sorry for those that do.
I think this video would make for a good analogy for my g-friends so they can understand why I like to have 4 or 5 g-friends as opposed to just 1. Hope this works.
Great Review. I regretted not taking your advice and bought the HD800S over my existing Arya. You did tell us that the HD800S sounds very much like the Arya and that the HD800S has potential to sound boring...well I'm getting bored with the HD800S in its first week with me... thankfully I got the 800S for $800 used and so may just sell it...
EQuing the 800S takes away the openness a lot...and I'm not sure if the Arya and 800S complement each other. Thankfully, I've got the HD650 lying around to show me my true north!
Love the new channel - great video! What are some recommendations under $1000 to audition for someone that only listens to rock and heavy metal music?
I should probably do a top pick for each price bracket at some point. My pick for under $1k is the Hifiman Ananda, but it might be a bit bright for those genres. Honestly maybe the DCA Aeon 2C. It has a nice upper midrange dip that helps make electric guitars unfatiguing, but also crazy good treble detail and extension for cymbals and percussive instruments. Apart from that, the LCD-2F is still a good choice, and I think you can even find an LCD-X for around that price (but that's a heavy headphone).
The HEADPHONE Show Thank you brother! I’ve had my eye on the LCD-2F but am concerned about the weight. Perhaps I’ll give it a shot.
Please keep doing what you do!
The HEADPHONE Show Tried the LCD-2, and while it sounds pretty great the weight is too much. For heavy metal, rock, jazz fusion and electronic music, would you go with the Dan Clark Audio Aeon 2 or the Focal Elegia for a sealed option? I’d use EQ with both. Thanks!
I have 8 sets, they're all good but have distinctly different characteristics, I like them all... 🤔
Well said. I listen to a wide range of music. What are some IEMs for Jazz/classical and then for Metal you can recommend.
Acquire a taste for a neutral sound and use EQ on a highly capable headphone. No need for multiple headphones and I listen to a ton of different genres.
I agree with this one. Though I fully understand that the way different genres are recorded and mastered can be different and require a different tuning at the reproduction end to achieve optimal fidelity, I can't justify the cost of multiple headphones just for genre-matching. It sounds more like luxury and excess to me. Different headphones for loud/quiet environments, portable or desk-bound use, sure, that makes sense. But not for different genres, I can't get on board with that.
That's a good option and I agree but let's not ignore the fact that different headphones have different timbre and flavor that cant be replicated not even with EQ.
@@olimphus26 Timbre is an interesting aspect but I'd probably just go for the more natural sounding one for me.
The same goes for Amps and Dacs.
does it tho? amps and dacs are like 3% of the experience.
Leviathan it does. And in a hugely way. Try for yourself.
Amps sound the same. Dacs sound the same. Headphones don't sound the same. Edit: I should revise this. Unless the amp is underpowered or has a high output impedance, any "good" amp sounds the same. And if the DAC has a solid 2v output with a flat frequency response, they will sound the same.
That is some big brain stuff. I love it.
Pioneer SE-MJ591 (super accurate, most spot on headphone I've ever heard/owned)
Sony MDR-M1ST (World-Class studio headphone, 4 years in the making!)
Focal Utopia (The world's most utopian headphones! Sounds excellent unless the track has a ton of mastering errors)
Try them out!
There's something great about Pioneer headphones as I recently acquired the Pioneer HRM-7, and that 8 year old headphone drops a steamy one all over my entire collection!
I'll keep an eye out for the SE-MJ591, thanks for the recommendation.
@@h-dawg6462 i also have the HRM-7. Great headphones. Here's another: Meters Novu-1 - my go for just enjoying the music.
Great video!
What about getting a nice pair like Auteurs and pad swapping? Think all the different pads are enough variety?
Yeah that's true actually. ZMFs and pad swapping is like a constant experiment haha
I got the eikon suedes for my verite after watching zeos’ review. I loved it before but it is fun swapping pads some. Sounds great to me with all of them.
Late to the show but: I always say you don't have just one pair of shoes for every situation. Same with headphones it's horses for courses.
Hahaha. I started with one headphone and now I got 4. Each is better for one purpose. I have one for gaming and 3 for music
Sonarworks reference 4 works great with my shure 1440 & status audio cb1
PLEASE tell me how to separately equalize left and right ears with one sided cord. Can I use a splitter with 2 channels ..if so, can u pls tell me what equipment I need? I’m mostly a singer but I have a new hearing problem in one ear and have been really frustrated…thanx..ps. So it’s not just a volume thing but a hz thing. Thx.
I own too many headphones... Abyss 1266 Phi TC, Audeze LCD 3 , LCD X, Klipsch HP3, AKG Q701... I ultimately need to sell 2-3 while upgrading my DAC/Amp/Cables to better level.
Just keep LCD x
You don't need fancy cables. I mean don't buy the literal cheapest cables on the market maybe but certainly don't buy premium cables from audio file companies with ridiculous b******* marketing.
Do you have a video for which headphones are best for Metal, Rap, Electronic, Jazz, Pop. Etc.
This isnt a video about quitting audio is it?
Great video
I’m in a situation where I can purchase due to discounts both a Focal Clear OG (going by the love the community has shown for them) and a Sennheiser HD800s (which has been a dream of mine of many years and one which I will buy at some point for sure) or pay slightly more and buy a Focal Utopia which until a few days back I wouldn’t have in my wildest dreams have imagined getting.
Would you still suggest going for a Focal Utopia now and buy a Sennheiser HD 800 later or just get the Focal Clear and Sennheiser HD 800
Imo, get focal clear and HD800s, no question in my mind
to me, neutral headphone don't sound good with a variety of music.
Hi-Fi Insider especially with aggressive music. I tend to prefer v shaped headphones for extreme metal, electronic music, and rap
What is a "neutral headphone" according to you?
Same with keyboards, fountain pens & inks, watches, DAPs, DACs, ...
Thank you for the video. Which headphones are on your head in this video ?
LCD-1 incase u will still wondering ahha
so do you mean that a neutral headphone will not make certain genres sound the way it was supposed to sound, and you need a colored headphone for that other genre? how does that work?
Several things. The mistake is thinking there there is such a thing as scientifically neutral. We're used to this idea because you can measure a speaker by putting a mic in front of it and have it show a perfectly flat frequency response. But as we know, that's not how that speaker measures at the ear. It has to contend with all the various gain factors of the head, torso, and ear - and it's also at a 45 degree angle (generally). With headphones, you have different gain factors to contend with, and because our ear shapes are different, from one another, we'll end up having different gain factors. Moreover, no mic is perfectly flat either, and then no recording is 'perfectly neutral' either. That's why getting reasonably close to the general curve that an average ear imparts to that flat-measuring speaker's frequency response is good enough.
Now for headphones, there are two popular target curves, namely the Harman target, with a bit more bass emphasis, and a version of the diffuse field target (the term has been appropriated by Sennheiser a bit). The diffuse field target measures brighter and doesn't have the bass shelf. In some ways, the Harman curve isn't what people think it is - it's not a target for scientific neutrality, it's a consumer preference target. And as Metal571 pointed out, who knows what's being used in the testing, because that could also impact how people response. The diffuse field target is a bit more 'scientific' in that sense, but it also has the consequence of making modern genres sound a bit unpleasant. So that's why at some point you need to make a concession.
This idea of 'coloration' also doesn't make that much sense if we're talking about target curves, because something that perfectly matches the Harman target will entail a deviation from the diffuse field target. Now, if something is wacked out at certain parts of the frequency response in an area that causes it to deviate strongly from the general curve, then sure, it has some coloration there. But you could in theory have two headphones tuned to completely different target curves, have them sound completely different from one another, and have the term 'neutral' apply to both.
@@TheHEADPHONEShow wow. thnx so much for this answer. sounds like 2 headphones (1 for each curve) might be the better way to spend money. If I use the money for a Hifiman Arya, what do you suggest the other headphone be?
@@Viewer13128 ZMF Verite (open or closed) if you can afford it. That's like the ultimate combo.
The HEADPHONE Show that’s so funny, the Arya and the closed verite are the two nice ones that I bought!
The type of sound I like is more the Arya's type, so should I be spending more on the verite or should I reverse it and spend more on the more expensive hifiman options instead?
I brought a few really bad headphones so I can enjoy my good headphones more
imo.... no one can rule them all...... now my missing piece is Verite......
What Headphones are you wearing in this video and why?
Title of video: Why you should own multiple headphones
1 minute in: You are way better off buying 1 $1,000 headphone than 2 $500 headphones
Yeah then just save up and by another one
@@TheHEADPHONEShow this seems like pretty spurious advice.
you must become a salesman
Is there any point in buying lcd4 or focal utopia for someone with 1000se + meze emp?
Cos none of 'em do everything well?
Should I buy HD 6xx in addition to my HE5xx?
Great discussion you just cost me a lot of money
polygamy ftw
So I just bought a sundara for death/black metal lol...
Or just use EQ...
Hi,
Thanks for great videos and reviews!
I hope you can help me in my search. I am not looking for an audiophile gadget, rather I want a reliable workhorse. I mainly work with acapella and dialogue.
I want my headphones to:
1. Have flat and neutral frequency response for accurate post editing.
2. Be revealing and detailed for critical and analytic examination.
3. Give me the best possibility to clean up the audio and reach a final product that transfers well unto other sound systems.
Good build and price is not crucial, but of course a bonus.
What is my best pick under 1000 USD?
And what is my best pick if money is not a problem?
(Please give options for both open and closed back)
Candidates I found so far:
Clear Professional by Focal
Planar by Avantone Pro
M-200 by V-Moda
Hi-X55 by Austrian Audio
Listen Professional by Focal
Best regards,
Dominic Driman
So, just to begin with, 'flat' just shows how a headphone's frequency response deviates from a given target. That target could be anything, and so you really have to be careful when looking at measurements. Here's a video on how to read them that's worth taking a look at if you want to learn more: ua-cam.com/video/nR2AhYqFI_8/v-deo.html
When it comes to the ones you've listed, the only one that's close to the reference target that I'm aware of is the Focal Clear. I haven't seen measurements of the Avantone yet. Honestly I think you need to figure out if you want a headphone for 'reference' sound, in which case you could go with the Clear, or if you want a headphone to help you identify all the flaws. In the latter case, you may want something with a brighter tuning - something like a DT-880 or DT-1990 Pro. I don't normally recommend those headphones but for studio use it could be applicable.
@@TheHEADPHONEShow Thanks a lot for your answer and the linked video, I just checked it out.
So that I understand you correctly (I am not familiar with all the English terminology). With 'reference' you mean natural/true sounding so that I can do the EQ properly? And with 'identify all the flaws' you mean analytical sound and detail revealing?
I am not too caught up with the curve itself. The point is that I want headphones that let me hear basically what I would hear if I was sitting in the room of the dialogue or in the studio of the performer. Without coloring or distortion of the frequency/sound.
Example: If I choose headphones that are really weak in the base the risk is that I boost the base in the EQ. If the end user later listen to the track on a pair of headphones that are base heavy. His brain will explode. Therefore I want neutral headphones. So that I can reach a neutral end product.
Hope what I wrote makes sense.
@@dominicdriman1319 sounds like you want the headphone as a reference point. The focal clear would be good for that but... Honestly the much less expensive akg k371 would work too. It's tuned to the 2018 Harman Harman over ear reference curve.
@@TheHEADPHONEShow Thanks! Clear vs K371 is a huge price difference. And I do actually prefer a closed-back.
Would I get any advantages with the Clear or is it just a waste of money?
@@dominicdriman1319 No I mean the Clear is far more detailed and technically capable. Also being open-back has certain acoustic advantages.
I agreed with you for most of my life...Until I got the Rosson Audio design RAD-0. Matched with the Denafrips Ares 2 DAC & Woo WA6SE amp - the sounds is so damn nice on every genre. Open, liquid, natural, fast, slamming, organic, non sibilant and smile inducing. I also love the Arya.
8:12 that’s why I’m getting beats
Does this apply to DACs and amps too?
Not really. The differences between DACs and amps are so small compared to headphones. Unless you use tube amps
If only I had 8 ears...
EQ.
I’m a poor dude and only have a iPhone. The only choice I have is the isine20.
The apple dongle is $10
nick figueroa I mean, yes, that does work, but the dongle can’t push the headphones to their full potential, as it’s better to just get a dedicated music player instead. At least for the isine20 there’s a lightning cable that has a built in dac, which is enough to make it sound good. There are way too many choices of IEMs and portable players (which I wanna go for but don’t have the money sadly), and for me there’s no room for trial and error, simply coz I can’t afford them. So I went the easy way. It’s sad, but I had to accept it.
Try the Koss ksc 75 mounted on a Parts Express headband! Really good for about $22.
@@t-blade Only an iPhone?
www.stereophile.com/content/apple-ipod-portable-music-player-measurements
www.kenrockwell.com/apple/iphone-5/audio-quality.htm
only an iPhone?
Search these 2 queries on google:
"ipod audio review stereophile"
"iphone audio review Ken Rockwell iphone 6"