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What are the best bang for the buck on higher end headphones?

In the last year, after solidifying my main system I have moved on to establishing my headphone system which is in our home office/game room, as this system has grown I am now at the end of the game and have just pulled the trigger on a Dennis Had Inspire headphone amp from Moon Audio that will replace my Yamamoto HA-3 amp & will sell it as well as the extra headphones that my Hifiman XV2 have beat out, with that said I want to purchase one more set of cans to go with the XV2s and have my mind on the Hifiman HE1000v1, HE1000v2 or the Focal Utopia and have found really good deals on all these mentioned as demos from dealers. I am partial to the Hifiman house sound versus Audeze but is there some cans in this league that I am missing. Have not heard the Utopia but am willing to take a chance at the great price I have been offered. What say you?
tooblue
devilboy
1,176 posts
 
I LOVE my HiFiman Arya. I used to have other headphones including the Focal Clear. As someone said above, I too can understand why people like them. However, they don't have anywhere near the midrange warmth that the planar Aryas do. 
Many people say the Arya is the sweetspot in the lineup. 

That probably doesn't answer your question. I just wanted to contribute a post on the new headphone thread on Audiogon. Lol.
big_greg
6,646 posts
 
@tooblue The LCD-4 are the best headphones I've ever heard. I haven't listened to all the uber expensive cans out there though.

I own LCD-2 (I think mine are non fazor), LCD-XC, Sony MDR-Z1R, Focal Elex, Sennheiser HD-800 and a few others. I spent some time this morning listening to the LCD-4 and the Sonys and Focals. The LCD-4 are really easy to listen to and provide visceral bass that the others can't with slightly warm but incredibly detailed mids and highs. If you like Steely Dan, Black Cow on The LCD-4s is pure bliss.

The only negatives to the LCD-4 are their weight (really heavy!) and they need a lot of power (and their price). I love the Focals, they are really detailed without being bright. The Sony's are really nice and produce a lot of bass, but it's not as tight as the LCD-4.  If I had to get rid of all my headphones but one set it would probably come down to the Focals and the LCD-4. The LCD-4 win on sound quality, the Focals on comfort. 
shkong78's avatar
shkong78
1,485 posts
 
It could be Raal Sr1a

https://forum.headphones.com/t/schiit-jotunheim-r-direct-drive-raal-sr1a-amplifier-official-thread/4094/24

https://www.head-fi.org/threads/raal-ribbon-headphones-srh1a.890603/page-105#post-15283862

I expect to audition it near future.
devilboy
1,176 posts
 
I had a couple of different Audeze headphones and they were all like cinder blocks on my head. Love the midrange and bass though! 

The HiFiman Arya has tremendously beautiful midrange, extremely sufficient, tight, low-end bass. They are also the most comfortable headphones I've ever had. And I am a Former hd800 owner.
tooblue OP
1,930 posts
 
@big_greg, thanks for the input and will add the Audeze 4 to my short list. @devilboy , the Arya have been on my radar since I read a review when they came out, they seemed to hit my hot buttons as well as my phones of choice have been the XV2s for a couple of years now. I am going to contact the dealer I bought them from who gave me 30% off as they were freshly released. Enjoy the music.
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