2. misc-audio
  3. 149319-118117

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
geoffkait's avatar
geoffkait
23,365 posts
 
It should probably be pointed out that some reviewers are given a free set of headphones or earphones when they write a positive review. For example, the excellent and thorough review of HIFIMAN HE—800S V2 I linked to is such a case. No, I’m not saying it’s payola. However....

I would describe my HIFIMAN HE-600 V2 at this stage with around 50 hours of burn in as sounding distorted, synthetic, wiry, spitty, metallic, amusical and bass shy but detailed and dynamic and airy. Compared to my naked Grado SR60s. We’ll see what happens. 👀
shkong78's avatar
shkong78 OP
1,485 posts
 
Geoff

I agree with your overall opinion about Hifiman RE earphone.

It sound metallic and spitty but with fast and lively dynamics.

But Sundara is very musical which beat Grado SR60 that I tried last month handily.

If you can afford, Sundarda is a real deal at 350$.
geoffkait's avatar
geoffkait
23,365 posts
 
I agree with you. But I’m quite certain the HIFIMAN HE-600S V2 will not (rpt not) sound like that after it has been completely burned in. I’ve only got 250 hours to go. 😛 My Sony Walkman earphones sound much better than HIFIMAN does now. Much much better. I don’t think HIFIMAN would allow one his products to sound that bad. It would not be good for business. Also, remember the reviewer stated the initial crappy sound did not change at all for the first 200 hours.

I would certainly hope the Sundara could beat the Grado SR-60.
shkong78's avatar
shkong78 OP
1,485 posts
 
It is taking strange turn.

Hifiman RE 800S is listenable with more bass and tamed but fast treble after 70 hours of burn in.

Now I find sound from Sundara a little bit closed on top although it sounds very musical.

I use earphone when I work on Photoshop.

It is not comfortable to wear magnifying glass on headphone.

Thus I prefer earphone to headphone for my personal reason.

It may be too early to judge Periodic Audio BE IEM only after 10 hours of burn in.

But I prefer open and fast sound from Hifiman RE 800S to the neutral sound of Periodic Audio BE.

To experience the best earphone under 1K$, I placed an order for MASSDROP X EMPIRE EARS ZEUS UNIVERSAL IEM.

https://drop.com/buy/massdrop-x-empire-ears-zeus-universal-iems?mode=guest_open&utm_campaign=Transactional%3A%20Shipping%20Notification&utm_source=SparkPost&utm_medium=email&utm_term=Transactional%3A%20Shipping%20Notification&utm_content=1560968955870.083665385797592302809037&referer=67VW66

Thomas
geoffkait's avatar
geoffkait
23,365 posts
 
Thanks for the update! You only have 230 hours to go. 😬
More to discover