In agreement with all your opinions! I have the 800S and the Clear MG, with an Arya Stealth on the way after hearing a coworker’s haha. All 3 do different things so well and compliment each other wonderfully. Hope the voice recovers! 👏🏻
@@soulfulfool surprisingly, the 800s I will never sell. What they do they do SO well, it’s breathtaking. They sound so perfect for classical music, and being an orchestral violinist, that realism is something I’d always looked for until I found these :)
@@TheBeastly1113 In that case it make sense, I do listen to classical music but not so often so I never was interested in 800s. My Grado RS1e is pretty good for orchestral with G cushion
@@TheBeastly1113 thats the point I guess there are very few headphones who ca beat the 800s for classical music especially when it comes to big orchestras maybe many of the ones who don't favour the 800s are bassheads who listen to electronic music dubsteb or so lol.
I have a lcd2 with the old headband. I've tried adding a zmf co pilot pad but honestly I should just get the updated headband because I love the sound but damn they get heavy
The Hifiman HE 1000 V2 dropped down to 2000 $ and it seems to be continuous did you take that in mind cause if this Headphone surely deserves to be in this list.
I’d wait a few weeks, Hifiman has apparently been quietly upgrading them with the stealth magnets and it might be a crapshoot if you get one with or without. Hopefully they sort it out and make a special naming scheme or section on their site soon.
@@edewolf1827 it is, they are now putting them in the v2s now lol there’s some threads about it on head-fi. Typical Hifiman constantly jacking with their line. I have the HEKse and am perfectly happy but I’ve read the v2 always had a more open sound stage that some people preferred that one. Curious how it would stack up to the SE with the upgrade. I can’t justify buying though, I try to buy headphones with different sound signatures not similar models, especially in the $500 and up category.
@@mikeg2491 Yes for me the HEK v2 is my favorite. The HEK SE is more dynamic but takes away some of that v2 depth, spaciousness and an almost magical softness. But that's not a value judgment on my part. They are just different good products. Not very different moreover, because I also liked the SE which retains the overall qualities of this magnificent line, with some extras that will also appeal. More firm bass, more treble (sometimes too much attention to those who don't like it), and otherwise they are similar in unique subtlety, naturalness and depth of scene (a little less than v2), the exquisite HIFIMAN signature . NB : The price... 1990 € for v2 ! Attention these are sales, end of the product, so it will not last!
@@olivier7779 on a side note I saw their launching a new Audivina next few weeks that looks like a closed-back He1000, I’m curious how that will turn out.
With EQ for me the LCD-X wipes all of the others off the table and costs the least. Then again HE6se V2 beats those for $550 so whatcha gonna do. I actively hate the HEDDphone's sound signature regardless of EQ, the Arya still has timbre issues and poor bass like the HD800s which has a very unnatural soundstage (also doubling of the center image) and the Clear MG is pretty nice, but can't handle EQ on the bass without clipping. I'd take Edition XS over any of these.
Don’t have a clear but that is my issue with the Utopia, it feels like there is a bass monster quietly hiding in the dungeon but if I try to bring it out I get the atrocious clipping. I know Focal is adamant it’s supposed to be that way to emphasize dynamics and only bring highs and lows out when they are supposed to, but sometimes I don’t want to follow the natural mastering of the song and just let me color and play with it.
@@ChrisKeyman Quite similar in overall SQ, but one has large and the other a medium soundstage so that causes differences in bass and macrodynamics. I sold the LCD-X and kept HE6se V2 which has a small soundstage and got an Edition XS as the counterpart. LCD-X is very nice, but not as clean the other two.
Hd 650 is a great headphone. Hd 800s is just different. I’m not going to say it’s better or worse. But it does sound like a familiar Sennheiser sound, just different. Much better imaging, staging and detail. Vocals of hd 800s are still prioritized but not as close/intimate as 650.
I'd say its more a question of taste but the technical performance of the HD 800s is clearly better for sure. Its not just the soundstage which is waaay better, its also instrument seperation clarity ....
Few seems to think what amplification do to sound of each headphone. I have had HD800S long time. Bought better amplifier Lehmann flaggship same time, and was decent satisified compared former HD650 and low cost amplifier. Soundstage and details was really in different level. Still sound had less bass extension and not tight enough I hoped. Also with some recordings it feels sibilant. Then I ordered used Sennheiser HDV 820 ampifier for testing could it be any better (I didn belive that amplifiers could do any difference that time). But that changed my attitude. With HDV 820 with XRL wire all sibilance and harshness has gone, bass was much more present and very much tighter. From that day I have listened my hr recordings at home always via XRL (I have 2 Violectric amplifiers and HE6 and HE6se2 ). Also soundstage and instrument placement was better. Seems that HDV 820 was done for these headphones and they are not good for less than 100 ohms (like most new headphones) and works best 200 - 600 ohms like best Sennheiser, some Beyerdynamics and AKG models. Also HDV 820 seems to affect just areas which I and many others have been critical so they may not be any way neutral. I tried some day Focal Clear with it and sound was worse than with my Chord Mojo or Dragonfly Cobalt. So I think very different evaluations with headphones could depend amplifications also (even offcourse people have different ears, hearings and tastes).
Great video, Thanks! You should keep the voice, even if you have to use EQ. It adds an element of gravitas to the high quality information you always provide.
there was one I think xD I own RS1e and even if I wish to sell them nobody want a Grado 😂 for price of 3000x you can get so much better headphones, John Grado got mission to destroy that company he thinks its still year 1990
The HEDDphone are my main drivers for a long time now and they have yet to be beaten sound wise (and for the price.. because even meze empyrean/elite sounded MEH for the asking price compared to the HEDD). Weight is not a problem for me but I see how there will be people who just won't be able to use them at all. Especially people who love "how speakers sound" these are the one and only for them.
The meze cant compete with the heed imo. I was really dissapointed by meze... Its very hard to beat the heed in its price range. If you like the tuning that is.
It's a matter of preference for sure. I for one despise the HEDDphone due to the nonstop airy sound and timbre that makes everything sound like cheap woodwind. Including bass drums.
Hi Cronos I have a question. I almost have enough money to purchase the Focal Stellia which costs $3,000. How is the tonality and frequency response compare to the Focal Clear MG? Do you think the Beryllium driver inside the Stellia improves sound quality?
Hey dude I currently have both of these headphones. I bought the Stellea back in August this year and the Clear MG in September last year. The clear has a better tuning and seems more flat overall but the Stellea is better in every other way by quite a margin. Both are pretty close when it comes to dynamics although the Stellea has morebased quantity and quality. Stellea has much better imaging, detail retrieval and layering. Clear have a slightly wider sound stage but it’s not as deep as the Stellea. Stellea is also quite a bit easier to drive so it’s a bit more versatile although the clear isn’t exactly hard to drive either. Both headphones are really comfortable. Stellea also slightly warmer and have better timbre.
Stellia is overall the best choice in Focal line up, go for it if you have money! But not for 3k better find used pair or if closed back headphones are your target look also at verite closed, personally own them and would not change or sell them, never!
Great list! Just got the Clear MGs. They are a real (k)pop machine, and after burn-in, everything else is wonderful as well. Especially on a headphone amp, even something as modest as a Topping DX3 Pro+. A surprisingly good combo!
I think bass is important so these recommendations are not for me. I own the LCDX though and love them. The Arya stealth’s I’m considering selling because they are technically very good but fatiguing to listen to after 30 minutes.
1:48 I get scared when reviewers speak like this now I got the DT1990 pros after a bunch of reviewers said things like "a tiny little bit harsh at times", had to refund it after 2 weeks because I could not live with that ear stabbing treble cannon.
I agree on the clear mg being better than the og, Atleast for me. I have all of these headphones except for the mm500 and heddphone, love them all for different reasons.
Arya stealth (v3) is the headphone of the year 🔥🔥🔥 ( with EQ it's insanely good) I had the bravura and the Arya was very close . The bravura had way better tuning and timber
@@thetshadow999animates9 maybe for you, with proper source I would have choose HD600 definitely vs planars which has awful timbre and tonality, there are few exceptions but they are above 2k$ mark
Great video. I couldn’t agree more with this list, although I haven’t heard is the HEDDphone. You did a great job of explaining the distinctions/differences between these headphones and similar versions of each. (For example clear OG vs MG) I am also glad you said that the hd 800s is less bright than the Arya and less bright than most people make it out to be, because that was my initial impression of my hd 800s as well.
The HE-1000 Stealth kills them all. And that not a single reviewer, will mention the Clear mg's mechanical clipping issue, will probably never change... Usually the answer is that it doesn't happen in real life. Seeing former owners like me, of course completely different...Former owners see things differently.
Hifiman cant tune trebles right so they most likely kills themselves, Focal clipping issue is most likely caused by construction of driver at least its what Focal said (they once reply me as their drivers deliver quality but at high SPL there will be clipping they know it and dont rly care)
Do you think that the Hifiman Edition XS is enough (comparing to the high end tier headphones you mentioned) to listen with the best quality sound???? I am from Buenos Aires, Argentina, where poverty is brutal. You have no idea what it cost me to buy the Sennheiser HD600!!! In my country, having a monthly salary of 500 dollars registered by the State is equivalent to being in the richest 10% of the country (that's why the black economy not registered by the State is vital to survive). In addition, the tax burden is one of the highest in the world, for example, if the Hifiman XS costs 500 dollars in the United States in Argentina arrives for 900 dollars thanks to the excessive taxes charged by the State.
Edition XS is very similar tonally to the Arya Stealth, the Arya is better but it's not a massive difference IMO. The Arya does have a much better headband. It does compete with this stuff IMO and is probably the best headphone around its price range.
Experiencing any one of these is a dream, but my budget will never make it a reality. One obstacle being an Aussie means adding about 50% more than US price. The Focal Elegia retails at $1,399AUD which is well out of my reach... But I just ordered them on sale at $499AUD! I'm excited to finally own a piece of high end audio even if it is entry level.
Planars are all pseudo open. Because there are no vents from front area connected to the rear area of the drivers. So after putting sealed in listeners’ head there is no ventilation in the front of drivers
After watching and cross check reviews, I've decided to get the Sennheiser HD800S, and paired it up with a Fiio K9 Pro ESS. That's my end game setup for now.
@@raymondtong7613 The FIIO K9 Pro is equipped with the latest AKM converter which the AK4499, OPA1612 output stage therefore a beast of competition. The first time I heard of the ESS I was very enthusiastic but listening on 4 different headphones it was a very big disappointment, suddenly me and my friends never understood the reason for all this praise concerning the DAC ESS. The DAC ESS , sound with the PIONEER U-05-S : Lacks body, material, brilliant at the top of the spectrum, much less precise than an AKM in locating the different sound sources than an AKM, it's lifeless. The few negative feedback that I have read come from the same observation. I've never listened to the HD800S but aside from the frequency response curves and returns, I think you need something at the DAC level that sounds natural and linear and also an EQ. Like this : ADI-2 DAC FS "V2". From fall 2019 to mid-2021. Updated with AK4493
I'd have to A/B them to see if they sound 10 times better tham my $180 M570 open back planars or if they even sound 5% better ( which they hopefully do).
Would be super grateful if you could give me a hand choosing a new gaming headset for my PC. So i’m in need of an upgrade from my wired HyperX Cloud II’s and would love to hear your suggestions, i’ll list some preferences to narrow it down - Has a 𝗴𝗼𝗼𝗱 𝗺𝗶𝗰 - Sound quality as good as cloud II’s - Preferably 𝗰𝗹𝗼𝘀𝗲𝗱-𝗯𝗮𝗰𝗸 - Can’t decide on 𝘄𝗶𝗿𝗲𝗱/𝘄𝗶𝗿𝗲𝗹𝗲𝘀𝘀🤔 - Comfortable (not giant or heavy) - Around £𝟯𝟬𝟬 𝗕𝘂𝗱𝗴𝗲𝘁 ($350 ish) Unfortunately the high end 𝗦𝗲𝗻𝗻𝗵𝗲𝗶𝘀𝗲𝗿’𝘀 are a little out of my price range 😅 and i don’t want to go down the 𝗺𝗼𝗱𝗺𝗶𝗰 route anyway. I was looking into the *𝗔𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗼 𝗔𝟱𝟬 and 𝗩𝗦𝗥 𝗠𝗼𝗱𝗲𝗹 𝗢𝗻𝗲* but would like to know if i can get anything better for my money that’ll last. A𝙣𝙮 𝙝𝙚𝙡𝙥 𝙞𝙨 𝙢𝙪𝙘𝙝 𝙖𝙥𝙥𝙧𝙚𝙘𝙞𝙖𝙩𝙚𝙙🤙
@@co0per412 Gaming headphones are essentially by default garbage. The companies who make "proper" headphones have been doing it for decades while the gaming brands just started making them a decade ago since kids are easy to separate from their money. The best gaming headphone imo are AKG K 240 or K 701 with Oratory1990 EQ preset and some modmic or table mic on top. These are so many steps above gaming headphones that it's not even funny.
@@hartyewh1 found this super helpful, ty bud. Would you consider the VZR Model One a good headset? I keep reading it’s a good gaming/audiophile headset ? Do you have an opinion on them
In agreement with all your opinions! I have the 800S and the Clear MG, with an Arya Stealth on the way after hearing a coworker’s haha. All 3 do different things so well and compliment each other wonderfully. Hope the voice recovers! 👏🏻
800s could be a drop out since Arya got soundstage and bass xD swap 800s with LCD X to have big trio
@@soulfulfool surprisingly, the 800s I will never sell. What they do they do SO well, it’s breathtaking. They sound so perfect for classical music, and being an orchestral violinist, that realism is something I’d always looked for until I found these :)
@@TheBeastly1113 In that case it make sense, I do listen to classical music but not so often so I never was interested in 800s. My Grado RS1e is pretty good for orchestral with G cushion
@@TheBeastly1113 thats the point I guess there are very few headphones who ca beat the 800s for classical music especially when it comes to big orchestras maybe many of the ones who don't favour the 800s are bassheads who listen to electronic music dubsteb or so lol.
@@soulfulfoolsome would rather drop the Arya out instead.
The bass on the HD800S is not especially present, but by God it can seriously slam.
Love my LCD X 2021. can wear for hours. Prefer the extra bass and not forward upper mids over the MM 500.
Yeah, MM-500 was for me at least quite a dissappointment compared to the LCD-X. LCD-5 is absurdly good, but with a price tag to match.
Believe me, EQ the mm500 it’s incredible. It respond better than the lcd x.
I have a lcd2 with the old headband. I've tried adding a zmf co pilot pad but honestly I should just get the updated headband because I love the sound but damn they get heavy
The Hifiman HE 1000 V2 dropped down to 2000 $ and it seems to be continuous did you take that in mind cause if this Headphone surely deserves to be in this list.
Soooo good 🔥
Ya i auditioned both, hek v2 is basically a warm arya with better technicalities. Much beefier tone too
Attention these are sales, end of the product, so it will not last!
@@olivier7779it's now going for 1400 USD on directly from hifiman new, it seems this will be permanent
The Heduh duh phone? 😁
Germans casually slapping esoteric shit on the inside of their headphones lol
I prefer iems
Why
@@thetshadow999animates9 I'm usually never home
@@allen0088 makes sense
Same old headphones you sell on your site 😁 nothing new in 2022
Are you drunk???
Have the Arya Stealth. It's amazing. HD800S is next if i can afford one.
Hey how would you say they compare? I'm kinda interested
Clear O.G. vs 109 Pro?
Clear, at 900$
Clear, no competition
Can someone explain to me what you get out of buying multiple expensive headphones that you can't achieve by just EQing a decent pair?
You should’ve talked about the more expensive cans before Christmas and the sales, and the lesser expensive cans after…
#jussayin
The Hifiman HE1000 v2 is available for 1999 now...
I’d wait a few weeks, Hifiman has apparently been quietly upgrading them with the stealth magnets and it might be a crapshoot if you get one with or without. Hopefully they sort it out and make a special naming scheme or section on their site soon.
@@mikeg2491 I thought the steath magnet version was the HE1000 SE?
@@edewolf1827 it is, they are now putting them in the v2s now lol there’s some threads about it on head-fi. Typical Hifiman constantly jacking with their line. I have the HEKse and am perfectly happy but I’ve read the v2 always had a more open sound stage that some people preferred that one. Curious how it would stack up to the SE with the upgrade. I can’t justify buying though, I try to buy headphones with different sound signatures not similar models, especially in the $500 and up category.
@@mikeg2491
Yes for me the HEK v2 is my favorite.
The HEK SE is more dynamic but takes away some of that v2 depth, spaciousness and an almost magical softness.
But that's not a value judgment on my part. They are just different good products. Not very different moreover, because I also liked the SE which retains the overall qualities of this magnificent line, with some extras that will also appeal. More firm bass, more treble (sometimes too much attention to those who don't like it), and otherwise they are similar in unique subtlety, naturalness and depth of scene (a little less than v2), the exquisite HIFIMAN signature .
NB :
The price... 1990 € for v2 !
Attention these are sales, end of the product, so it will not last!
@@olivier7779 on a side note I saw their launching a new Audivina next few weeks that looks like a closed-back He1000, I’m curious how that will turn out.
Love my Clear MG. No regrets.
Same (so far lol)
With EQ for me the LCD-X wipes all of the others off the table and costs the least. Then again HE6se V2 beats those for $550 so whatcha gonna do.
I actively hate the HEDDphone's sound signature regardless of EQ, the Arya still has timbre issues and poor bass like the HD800s which has a very unnatural soundstage (also doubling of the center image) and the Clear MG is pretty nice, but can't handle EQ on the bass without clipping. I'd take Edition XS over any of these.
How compares the edition xs with lcd-x?
Don’t have a clear but that is my issue with the Utopia, it feels like there is a bass monster quietly hiding in the dungeon but if I try to bring it out I get the atrocious clipping. I know Focal is adamant it’s supposed to be that way to emphasize dynamics and only bring highs and lows out when they are supposed to, but sometimes I don’t want to follow the natural mastering of the song and just let me color and play with it.
@@mikeg2491 Aeon 2 noire and aeon2 closed are very good for bass and sub bass.
@@ChrisKeyman Quite similar in overall SQ, but one has large and the other a medium soundstage so that causes differences in bass and macrodynamics. I sold the LCD-X and kept HE6se V2 which has a small soundstage and got an Edition XS as the counterpart. LCD-X is very nice, but not as clean the other two.
@@hartyewh1 I sent the lcd-x back because of the weight.
It was almost perfect with some eq.
If the edition xs is close to the sound it would be great
I havent tried these but I still enjoy my HD 650, they are like end game to me. Might consider the HD800S
I prefer the HD650 over the HD800s so don't assume it's better.
Hd 650 is a great headphone. Hd 800s is just different. I’m not going to say it’s better or worse. But it does sound like a familiar Sennheiser sound, just different. Much better imaging, staging and detail. Vocals of hd 800s are still prioritized but not as close/intimate as 650.
I'd say its more a question of taste but the technical performance of the HD 800s is clearly better for sure. Its not just the soundstage which is waaay better, its also instrument seperation clarity ....
@@camoturtle18 yeah vocals might be the only plus for the 650s
Few seems to think what amplification do to sound of each headphone. I have had HD800S long time. Bought better amplifier Lehmann flaggship same time, and was decent satisified compared former HD650 and low cost amplifier. Soundstage and details was really in different level. Still sound had less bass extension and not tight enough I hoped. Also with some recordings it feels sibilant. Then I ordered used Sennheiser HDV 820 ampifier for testing could it be any better (I didn belive that amplifiers could do any difference that time). But that changed my attitude. With HDV 820 with XRL wire all sibilance and harshness has gone, bass was much more present and very much tighter. From that day I have listened my hr recordings at home always via XRL (I have 2 Violectric amplifiers and HE6 and HE6se2 ). Also soundstage and instrument placement was better. Seems that HDV 820 was done for these headphones and they are not good for less than 100 ohms (like most new headphones) and works best 200 - 600 ohms like best Sennheiser, some Beyerdynamics and AKG models. Also HDV 820 seems to affect just areas which I and many others have been critical so they may not be any way neutral. I tried some day Focal Clear with it and sound was worse than with my Chord Mojo or Dragonfly Cobalt. So I think very different evaluations with headphones could depend amplifications also (even offcourse people have different ears, hearings and tastes).
Great video, Thanks! You should keep the voice, even if you have to use EQ. It adds an element of gravitas to the high quality information you always provide.
I take offense on how you show 'two' with ur fingers, I felt a part of my brain kindda pull a muscle
I would like you guys to review electrostatic headphones like stax l series, es-1a, hifiman Shangri la jr, etc...
Chrono looks like Ben Shapiro if he had a soul
Gee.. I still can't find Grado GS3000x review.. :P
there was one I think xD I own RS1e and even if I wish to sell them nobody want a Grado 😂 for price of 3000x you can get so much better headphones, John Grado got mission to destroy that company he thinks its still year 1990
Another headphone you guys HAVE TO listen to is T+A Solitaire T. Nothing comes close to it in Bluetooth headphones . It's Insanely good
I had the T+A under consideration until I saw that they were using Bluetooth 4.2😮. Totally unacceptable at the asking price!
@@arthurhaywood2184 they sound amazing, check them out
1600 🗑️
bluetooth...... lolol
i do not realy hear the differences if its about hifi listening or mixing / mastering headphone for example in this video.
The HEDDphone are my main drivers for a long time now and they have yet to be beaten sound wise (and for the price.. because even meze empyrean/elite sounded MEH for the asking price compared to the HEDD). Weight is not a problem for me but I see how there will be people who just won't be able to use them at all. Especially people who love "how speakers sound" these are the one and only for them.
The meze cant compete with the heed imo. I was really dissapointed by meze...
Its very hard to beat the heed in its price range. If you like the tuning that is.
@@tdfmike3915 Meze Empyrean or Meze Empyrean Elite ?
It's a matter of preference for sure. I for one despise the HEDDphone due to the nonstop airy sound and timbre that makes everything sound like cheap woodwind. Including bass drums.
Hi Cronos I have a question. I almost have enough money to purchase the Focal Stellia which costs $3,000. How is the tonality and frequency response compare to the Focal Clear MG? Do you think the Beryllium driver inside the Stellia improves sound quality?
Hey dude I currently have both of these headphones.
I bought the Stellea back in August this year and the Clear MG in September last year. The clear has a better tuning and seems more flat overall but the Stellea is better in every other way by quite a margin. Both are pretty close when it comes to dynamics although the Stellea has morebased quantity and quality. Stellea has much better imaging, detail retrieval and layering. Clear have a slightly wider sound stage but it’s not as deep as the Stellea. Stellea is also quite a bit easier to drive so it’s a bit more versatile although the clear isn’t exactly hard to drive either. Both headphones are really comfortable. Stellea also slightly warmer and have better timbre.
Stellia is overall the best choice in Focal line up, go for it if you have money! But not for 3k better find used pair or if closed back headphones are your target look also at verite closed, personally own them and would not change or sell them, never!
you can buy a used last gen utopia on headfi classifieds for the same price. It’s at least better than the Stellia.
I saw you did this and under $500 but what about under $1000?
HEDDphone is great but it’s real small fit for my big head
Interesting point about the heddphone bass, seems to be very dependant on the individual. For me it has better bass than anything ive heard
For me, it's still the Audioquest Nighthawk Carbon. Haven't found anything that provides more of all-around enjoyment. Hybrid amp
Great list! Just got the Clear MGs. They are a real (k)pop machine, and after burn-in, everything else is wonderful as well. Especially on a headphone amp, even something as modest as a Topping DX3 Pro+. A surprisingly good combo!
Lost all creditability when you said "burn in"
@@bren4973 true, I still don't get how people haven't realized it's purely psychological.
@@bren4973 In many things, the placebo effect is real. Not denying it.
@@Half-V These micro thin drivers do stretch with use. Audeze burns all their headphones in on a large rack overnight.
I think bass is important so these recommendations are not for me. I own the LCDX though and love them. The Arya stealth’s I’m considering selling because they are technically very good but fatiguing to listen to after 30 minutes.
my Arya v2 also had terrible high freq, sold it and dont want another hifiman products
1:48 I get scared when reviewers speak like this now
I got the DT1990 pros after a bunch of reviewers said things like "a tiny little bit harsh at times", had to refund it after 2 weeks because I could not live with that ear stabbing treble cannon.
😂 some headphones are not made for pleasure, mostly those pro for studio use
I agree on the clear mg being better than the og, Atleast for me. I have all of these headphones except for the mm500 and heddphone, love them all for different reasons.
LCD X caused me crazy fatigue some reason…
Neck workout?)
Arya stealth (v3) is the headphone of the year 🔥🔥🔥 ( with EQ it's insanely good) I had the bravura and the Arya was very close . The bravura had way better tuning and timber
Lumberjack moment
@@NFStopsnuf lol
Can you compare the ananda SE with the ananda OG ?
The HEADPHONE Show Thanks Much !
No love for ZMF headphones? Aeolus, the new Auteur Classics.
Excellent video man
good to see nothing has changed.
Are all these headphones better than the HD600? The 600 seems to be very popular.
Of course, and by a massive leap
@@thetshadow999animates9 maybe for you, with proper source I would have choose HD600 definitely vs planars which has awful timbre and tonality, there are few exceptions but they are above 2k$ mark
Great video. I couldn’t agree more with this list, although I haven’t heard is the HEDDphone. You did a great job of explaining the distinctions/differences between these headphones and similar versions of each. (For example clear OG vs MG) I am also glad you said that the hd 800s is less bright than the Arya and less bright than most people make it out to be, because that was my initial impression of my hd 800s as well.
The HE-1000 Stealth kills them all.
And that not a single reviewer, will mention the Clear mg's mechanical clipping issue, will probably never change...
Usually the answer is that it doesn't happen in real life.
Seeing former owners like me, of course completely different...Former owners see things differently.
Hifiman cant tune trebles right so they most likely kills themselves, Focal clipping issue is most likely caused by construction of driver at least its what Focal said (they once reply me as their drivers deliver quality but at high SPL there will be clipping they know it and dont rly care)
No ZMF Auteur? Bruh. Best midrange timbre in that price range. Especially now with the “classic” drivers even better sound overall.
Auteur Classic should be up there, among those plastic & metal headphones should be ZMF wooden classy option.
Headphone show has a real lack of ZMF for some reason
@@Farpun Not easy to get them in for review, since we have to rely on users to send them in.
@@ResolveReviews that's fair enough, thanks for taking the time to explain why
@@ResolveReviews I dont blame the users, probably its hard to be a part from own ZMF headphones they are so personal, love that brand
Do you think that the Hifiman Edition XS is enough (comparing to the high end tier headphones you mentioned) to listen with the best quality sound????
I am from Buenos Aires, Argentina, where poverty is brutal. You have no idea what it cost me to buy the Sennheiser HD600!!! In my country, having a monthly salary of 500 dollars registered by the State is equivalent to being in the richest 10% of the country (that's why the black economy not registered by the State is vital to survive). In addition, the tax burden is one of the highest in the world, for example, if the Hifiman XS costs 500 dollars in the United States in Argentina arrives for 900 dollars thanks to the excessive taxes charged by the State.
Edition XS is a wonderful headphone and I wouldn't pay a $100 more for the Arya due to the timbre issues and worse bass.
What if buying from aliexpress/amazon and ship it to Argentina? Will the tax be charged of buying headphones from aliexpress/amazon too?
Edition XS is very similar tonally to the Arya Stealth, the Arya is better but it's not a massive difference IMO. The Arya does have a much better headband. It does compete with this stuff IMO and is probably the best headphone around its price range.
@@itt9037 The problem is that the tax is charged on the product when it arrives at customs. That is when the Argentine State commits the looting.
@@blorg8206 I tried out the Arya's, and the difference to me became immense the more I listened to it.
Experiencing any one of these is a dream, but my budget will never make it a reality. One obstacle being an Aussie means adding about 50% more than US price. The Focal Elegia retails at $1,399AUD which is well out of my reach... But I just ordered them on sale at $499AUD! I'm excited to finally own a piece of high end audio even if it is entry level.
@Bert Sutherland 🤔
@Bert Sutherland haha yes, I got the Elegias on sale, which are excellent btw. I figured you were jokingly trying to scam me haha. No worries.
Planars are all pseudo open. Because there are no vents from front area connected to the rear area of the drivers. So after putting sealed in listeners’ head there is no ventilation in the front of drivers
Glad to see some HEDDphone representation! It's by far one of my favorite open backs!
After watching and cross check reviews, I've decided to get the Sennheiser HD800S, and paired it up with a Fiio K9 Pro ESS. That's my end game setup for now.
I think a DAC chip from AKM is preferable given the sound of these HD800 headphones.
@@VENOM-vq3ju sad thing is AKM K9 Pros were a thing of the past when I was shopping for one. 😶
@@raymondtong7613
The FIIO K9 Pro is equipped with the latest AKM converter which the AK4499, OPA1612 output stage therefore a beast of competition.
The first time I heard of the ESS I was very enthusiastic but listening on 4 different headphones it was a very big disappointment, suddenly me and my friends never understood the reason for all this praise concerning the DAC ESS.
The DAC ESS , sound with the PIONEER U-05-S :
Lacks body, material, brilliant at the top of the spectrum, much less precise than an AKM in locating the different sound sources than an AKM, it's lifeless.
The few negative feedback that I have read come from the same observation.
I've never listened to the HD800S but aside from the frequency response curves and returns, I think you need something at the DAC level that sounds natural and linear and also an EQ.
Like this : ADI-2 DAC FS "V2". From fall 2019 to mid-2021. Updated with AK4493
I'd have to A/B them to see if they sound 10 times better tham my $180 M570 open back planars or if they even sound 5% better ( which they hopefully do).
Yea Croatia, Boo Argentina(even tho favorite S.A. country)
Would be super grateful if you could give me a hand choosing a new gaming headset for my PC.
So i’m in need of an upgrade from my wired HyperX Cloud II’s and would love to hear your suggestions, i’ll list some preferences to narrow it down
- Has a 𝗴𝗼𝗼𝗱 𝗺𝗶𝗰
- Sound quality as good as cloud II’s
- Preferably 𝗰𝗹𝗼𝘀𝗲𝗱-𝗯𝗮𝗰𝗸
- Can’t decide on 𝘄𝗶𝗿𝗲𝗱/𝘄𝗶𝗿𝗲𝗹𝗲𝘀𝘀🤔
- Comfortable (not giant or heavy)
- Around £𝟯𝟬𝟬 𝗕𝘂𝗱𝗴𝗲𝘁 ($350 ish)
Unfortunately the high end 𝗦𝗲𝗻𝗻𝗵𝗲𝗶𝘀𝗲𝗿’𝘀 are a little out of my price range 😅 and i don’t want to go down the 𝗺𝗼𝗱𝗺𝗶𝗰 route anyway.
I was looking into the
*𝗔𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗼 𝗔𝟱𝟬 and 𝗩𝗦𝗥 𝗠𝗼𝗱𝗲𝗹 𝗢𝗻𝗲*
but would like to know if i can get anything better for my money that’ll last.
A𝙣𝙮 𝙝𝙚𝙡𝙥 𝙞𝙨 𝙢𝙪𝙘𝙝 𝙖𝙥𝙥𝙧𝙚𝙘𝙞𝙖𝙩𝙚𝙙🤙
Serious? Or trolling?
Never mind...
Massdrop pc38x
Or get Sennheiser hd590/599 either with mic in cable or desktop mic.
I recommend the latter...
@@tdfmike3915 why would i be trolling? Ig the ones i were considering are bad or something ?
I have the VZR model One. It’s a footstep king
@@co0per412 Gaming headphones are essentially by default garbage. The companies who make "proper" headphones have been doing it for decades while the gaming brands just started making them a decade ago since kids are easy to separate from their money.
The best gaming headphone imo are AKG K 240 or K 701 with Oratory1990 EQ preset and some modmic or table mic on top. These are so many steps above gaming headphones that it's not even funny.
@@hartyewh1 found this super helpful, ty bud. Would you consider the VZR Model One a good headset? I keep reading it’s a good gaming/audiophile headset ? Do you have an opinion on them