Top 3 Headphones

Top 3 headphones?

 

 

1. Pioneer SE-MJ591 (closed-back)

2. Pioneer SE-Master-1 (open-back)

3. AKG K872 (closed-back)

🤔🤔🤔

@thyname 

🤔🤔🤔 ?

The SE-Master 1, tuned by Tim Vine-Lott (former Technical Director at AIR Studios is the most resolving open-backed headphone I’ve ever owned/heard. It’s very much like listening to tower speakers in a control room. Minimal EQing is required to get them just right, so they’re almost exactly like a closed-back SE-MJ591..except they create the illusion of listening to speakers in a large room.

@mastering92 Some headphone people do not like that type of sound. I am not one of them. Have you compared the SE-Master 1 to the RAAL SR1a, which are revealing and sound like speakers? I am interested in headphones that sound like speakers.

@yyzsantabarbara

That’s true. Those 3 headphones will definitely reveal flaws in music. To such an extent that poor quality source material (.mp3s, running it from from a smartphone would be unsatisfactory, or just plain terrible). However, when paired right, there is tons of detail, neutrality, air, midrange clarity, treble extension, and accurate bass response that can help decipher unique styles of bass/bass lines with ease.

Vlad Savov wrote a review about the SE-Master 1, stating they have no chill. And he’s not wrong. They are just incredibly revealing of poor quality source material.

"With the Master1s, I find myself wanting to turn the music up to enjoy a richer, bassier sound, but when I do it, I get assaulted by the overzealous treble. The most annoying thing about listening to them, though, is that it’s not always terrible. These headphones are clean of distortion and provide a stalactite-sharp recreation of my music. I think they’re technically wonderful, but their tuning is just plain evil. They’ll give me a few minutes of cool tunes, and then just as I’m relaxing, they’ll drop a spike of harsh vocals on my head, with the singer seemingly screaming at me for trusting them." 

Tim Vine-Lott did an excellent job in terms of the tuning. So much so, that I emailed him to give thanks!

I have not yet auditioned that headphone. With some DSP, the Focal Utopia 2020 (have not heard the 2022 version yet) can sound like speakers too. But for that kind of "sound-like-a-speaker" experience with headphones, you are going to want open-backed headphones and a quiet listening environment.

To the OP, @bound4h ,

You may want to try the Meters Novu-1. They are my go-to headphone for just enjoying music. Somewhat warm, detailed, fairly accurate, and they sound good with almost any source.

Just know what I like and I rarely use headphones. 
Focal Elear open back.