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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
big_greg
6,719 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
6,719 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.  
Post removed 
geoffkait's avatar
geoffkait
23,365 posts
 
Looks like I’m going to have to gut it out. I just read a very comprehensive review of the HIFIMAN 600S V2 which, among other things, pointed out that 200 hours is required for break-in, the headphones sounding initially rather dry, anemic and bass shy. That would certainly explain the negative reviews, probably done by those who don’t believe in or ever heard of break-in.
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