Best sounding headphones you have owned?


At one time I had gone through Shure, early Stax, Audio Technica electret condenser....and more.

What have you owned in both expensive and inexpensive headphones that gave you pleasurable listening?

 

jusam

I recently upgraded from the HiFiMan Sundara 2020's to the HFM Ananda Nano's...
 OMG,where my iBasso SR-1's are like the finest 300B SET amplifier driving Sonus Faber speakers,the Nano's are complete polar opposites..
We're talking big Krell Class A amps driving huge Magnapans here..I can go from the baddest Classic Rock/Electric Blues/Reggae with the Nano's,to the sweetest, honey dripping Classical/Jazz/Pipe & slippers music with the simple change from 1 set to the other...Audiophile life can be pretty awesome,even if you can't afford mega $ gear!

Just recently got the Modhouse Tungsten DS with the Enleum XPA-23RMH amp, and that is a superb pairing. They sound much better through that amp than my Susvaras do, and like the Susvaras, they sound excellent on my DNA Stratus tube headphone amp. They don't have quite the detail of the Susvaras, but overall, I enjoy the experience with them more.... 

@freediver  Congrats, and I think I know what you’re talking about.  I was looking to upgrade from my HE400S and the Sundara sounded pretty much identical, but when I heard the Arya Stealths I had the same OMG reaction.  It was total next-level performance, and I’d bet your Ananda Nanos are doing a lot of the same things.  Enjoy!!!

I’m just dipping my toes into desktop/headphone audio with Focal Clear and Audeze LCD i4 matched with a tube dac/amp and AK DAP which I can use as a desktop SS dac/amp

New here....still wandering around. Came across this thread.

I listen a lot with headphones as i listen mostly when all is quiet in the house (as in sleeping peeps). Just is when i have time among other things. Also not having the size for a dedicated listeneing room there had to be compromises that make a good set of phones a better overall options these days.

Of note, prefer a flatter response curve and something more reference sided. I do not EQ unless the recording itself is wanky and that happens rarely.

So, recently did a lot of research as what i could afford three years back got me a nice set of Senheiser HD 600’s that i have liked. Look, these are great phones for the money, comfortable enough and overall the sound is solid, though a bit soft on the lower end.

So in upgrading, looked at a lot (on line as no really place to listen to too many). I narrowed things down and then looked to see where i could (if i could) listen to them.

Had it down to
HiFIMan - HE100 SE & V4
Senheiser - HD800S
Focal - Clear MG
Audeze - LCDx & MM-500

Having Sens and reading reviews i was not thrilled that too many times the low end on the 800’s seems to be like what i had which i wanted to upgrade. I am sure they are great. Just not what i wanted to by blind....or maybe that should be deaf.

HiFiMan’s - loved what i saw about sound but.....too many times build quality came up...so decided to keep looking

Heard good things about Meze Pro...but not flat enough.

Looked at the Focals, but was never really in the running based on revues and other users

Got to Audeze.....like what i saw.

So...found a place i could try them (both models)...and went. Only comparable they had at the time were Focal Clear and Stellia

Tried them all and was blown away by the MM500’s - fantastic overall sound top to bottom, acoustic to electric, clear, precise, yet warm. Sound stage is perfect, think Goldilox - the story not the song. Depth was solid and while they have a bit of wieght to them (especially as compared to the HD600’s, they are super comfortable.

Now, the LCDx are close, but there is definitely a discernible difference.
The Focal Clear - a disappointment, not comfortable and in comparison, muddy.
The Focal Stellis - which is a step up from all - did not come close to eh MM-500 in sound or comfort.

Have had them two weeks and are breaking in nicely.

At this price point...not going to get better unless you are looking for a closed set and thumping bass. If you are looking for an amazing sound where the recording sounds just as it was intended....theses are your phones.