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  3. 151093-82

List your state of art headphones for smart phone use!

I am looking for over the ear headphones that can play at a satisfactory volume and do not drain the battery.
I currently have Sony Pro MDR 7520 headphones that list at $500 and are on Amazon for $275.
They are comfortable and fairly good for the price.
I use an Audioquest dragonfly cobalt D/A with my iPhone, iPad, and laptop.
If I moved up to $1000 or more what would be much better?
Are earbuds an alternative at all?
At home I use Stax L700 and get very close to SOTA sound quality with a Stax tube/fet driver amp.
I do not expect the same Stax sound quality.
Can I get close to my home headphone quality?
don_c55
erik_squires
16,042 posts
 
I just got the Hifiman TWS600

https://amzn.to/2O1b40E

Really amazingly transparent mid-treble. The bass was non-existent at first but has started to fill in. Very comfortable. I've tried the Fiio FH5, and these are hugely better in fit and sound. Not to mention, those are not wireless.


With the right foam ear pads they have been really awesome. Full day's battery life in the ear buds for me and a portable charger that extends the battery life to a week. This is what I'm currently using:

https://amzn.to/2NWr5F3


These have better noise isolation and a firmer fit but still very comfortable.
don_c55 OP
1,025 posts
 
The Fiio FH5 looks interesting.

I do not want wireless bluetooth, due to poor sound IMO.

I want to use the Dragon Fly cobalt D/A converter, which I like.
erik_squires
16,042 posts
 
I have the Fiio FH5 and have used it with two different portable amps.

The Hifiman wireless spanks it in all ways.
don_c55 OP
1,025 posts
 
Eric

Bluetooth is not even CD quality!

Have you ever even heard Tidal lossless ?

Your ears are not to be trusted IMO.
shkong78's avatar
shkong78
1,483 posts
 
I paid 1K$ for Massdrop Empire Zeus earbud.


That is the best piece for smart phone with nice dynamics, nuanced details and high efficiency.

I had been happy with it for more than 4 months of use.

https://drop.com/buy/massdrop-x-empire-ears-zeus-universal-iems

I also have Stax 009S driven by Carbon amplifier.

Empire Zeus sounds almost 90% as good as Stax 009S.


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