Please Help Weed Them Out

I do need a high isolation rig, as I usually have to play headphones while others are watching TV. Even with closed backs I can still hear the TV at quieter spots on most tracks. It's not an absolute, but preferred.

Got it and thanks for the good info.  Unfortunately as an open-back guy I got nuthin’ of use for you, but I think you’re gonna be thrilled moving up to the $1500 - $2500 price range as the improvements from the sub $500 range are huge — it certainly was for me.  I actually think your new price range is the sweet spot in headphones as they’re light years above the budget ‘phones yet provide a lot of the performance/refinement of the much pricier models.  Best of luck in your very worthwhile upward trek!

@koestner

The next step up would be the DCA Stealth. MSRP is $4k. Used ones can be had from $2800 to $3200. Very similar sounding from the midrange to treble. Somewhat less response in the bass region but the clarity is unmatched. It definitely requires some power to push the volume but the HPA4 should be able to handle it.

The AKG K371 and the DCA Stealth are tuned to the Harman target frequency response curve. If you like what you hear, try to find other headphones that measure similarly.

I had a similar problem. My wife works out of the house and I can't play the big rig during the day.  Also no vocal music and symphonic stuff at night if she is working.

I wanted a headphone system with close back phones that was faithful to the music and "really" good but not as good as my speaker driven rig. (always my #1 preference for listening).

After making my myself crazy reading online reviews (I got a crash course in the cult that is head-fi listening)...I settled on Focal Stellias driven by a Mytek Liberty II DAC/Headphone amp. I couldn't be happier!

The Focals are easy to drive and my new "private" stereo system doesn't give up too much to my reference Vandersteen/ Ayre/ Audible Illusions/ Benchmark/ Audioquest reference system. And they are really comfortable and best of all....I can play whatever I want, whenever I want!!

The Focal Stellias were on my list, but I then read about quality issues and having to send them back to France for repair. I am directing my interests on Audeze. I was wondering which of these (LCD-2C or LCD-XC) has more bass?