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Best Headphone under 1k$?

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07K2LHB1J/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o02_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

I had enjoyed using SoundMAGIC E11C while out of town for 3 weeks on May.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B077XDWT7X/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

But I also got HIFIMAN SUNDARA from Amazon 10 days ago to compare it with SoundMAGIC E11C .


Although I will keep SoundMAGIC E11C for travel, I enjoy the sound from HIFIMAN SUNDARA much better.
It sound open and balanced.
I use Chord Dave to drive it.


Now my question is whether there is any headphone under 1k$ which will sound significantly better than HIFIMAN SUNDARA.
I wish to get transparent and open sound out of it with just enough tight bass.
Of course, if it provides wide and deep soundstage, it will be better.
I do not wish to get bright sound.


Can anyone recommend best headphone under 1K$?
thanks in advance
Thomas
shkong78
shkong78's avatar
shkong78 OP
1,485 posts
 
HIFIMAN 600S V2  may be better value for the price.

I expect to receive  HIFIMAN 800S on Wednesday.

It will be very interesting to compare between  HIFIMAN 800S and Sundara.
geoffkait's avatar
geoffkait
23,365 posts
 
That reminds me. Anyone know the burn-in time for earbuds? 😬
big_greg
6,710 posts
 
Do you mean Sennheiser HD 800s?  I have the HD 800 (not the "s" model) and Hifiman HE 560.  I have not heard the Sundara, but if it has the Hifiman "house" sound, it's a very different animal than the HD 800.  The HD 800 is a very revealing headphone and some consider it "bright" (I don't).  From what I've read, the HD 800s tones things down a bit.  The Hifiman is a much "warmer" sound.

Saying anything is the "best" is always subjective, but for under $1K my recommendation would be the Focal Elex from drop.com.

https://drop.com/buy/massdrop-x-focal-elex-headphones

geoffkait's avatar
geoffkait
23,365 posts
 
I don’t necessarily believe anything I read about how things sound. 
big_greg
6,710 posts
 
Thomas,

One other thing you might consider is investing in a good headphone amp.  Most built in headphone amps are under-powered and will rarely do a good set of headphones justice.  
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