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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
128x128shkong78
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.
shkong78's avatar
shkong78 OP
1,485 posts
 
Chord Dave has enough power to drive most of headphone.

I am not going to buy headphone hard to drive.

I do not use headphone very often.

Thus I limit the budget  to 1K$ or less.
glupson
7,842 posts
 
"Anyone know the burn-in time for earbuds?"
It probably depends on the earphone model, but for Sennheiser IE80 (not 80S) is a couple of weeks of light use. Maybe 100 hours?
geoffkait's avatar
geoffkait
23,365 posts
 
Let’s get down to brass tacks. Here’s the link to the page where the sound and break in of the HIFIMAN RE-600S v2 are discussed. My order arrives today. 

https://theheadphonelist.com/hifiman-re-600s-v2-in-ear-earphone-review/3/

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