What are your number one headphones in 2024?

Discussion in 'Soundgear' started by Zenarcist, Jun 5, 2024.

  1. Barncore

    Barncore Platinum Record

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    It's not headphones, but for those looking for a headphone amp, i'm really happy with the Topping L30 mkII i bought recently. My headphones sounded better after buying it
     
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  2. Close Reader

    Close Reader Ultrasonic

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    Another recommendation for checking out Austrian Audio Hi-x65 (open) or Hi-x60 (closed, although quite a bit more spacious than m50 or dt700). About a year ago, I've upgraded to the x60 after using the m50 for almost a decade, very happy.

    Just FYI, since I've done a lot of research and some testing at the store prior to my purchase, this website/blog is very good imo: https://diyaudioheaven.wordpress.com/
     
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  3. myk

    myk Member

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    @Bunford has it 100% right. @Zenarcist same. @Lois Lane agree. IMO ATH-M50X for anything involving mics.

    Beyer's DT 770s are detailed and silky/ very hiFi. Sound nice but not for accuracy. IMO
     
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  4. SineWave

    SineWave Audiosexual

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    I am wondering how these new Austrian Audio/AKG sound like. Please don't forget to post your impressions! :wink:
    All models above Hi-X50 look nice on picture and paper.

    Personally, I still use my AKG K240 DF (semi open) from 2002 and Sennheiser HD280 (closed) from 2013. Great combination for little money.
     
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  5. Bunford

    Bunford Audiosexual

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    Got these too. They don't half make my ears get toasty though! :rofl:
     
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  6. Swatch

    Swatch Producer

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    Potential interested Slate VSX buyer here. Read some interesting Threads.

    I currently have the DT 900 Pro X. Very analytical. Comfortable to wear. But producing and listening to it isn't necessarily that much fun.
    Room treating not possible in my flat. And Music is definitly a Hobby.
    I mainly produce electronic music: trance, techno, hardstyle. Would the VSX Essentials be something for me? I would probably also buy the “ZUMA Studio" because of the Adam SUB.
    My sound card is also a very old Focusrite Scarlett Solo USB.
    Could it be that the sound card can reduce the quality of the VSX?

    Ah, and and any Differences from the essential to the Platinum Bundle?
    Or just the rooms?

    I´m looking forward to your feedback :)
     
  7. ABCXYZ

    ABCXYZ Kapellmeister

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    Yamaha HPH-MT5 with modified ear pads.

    Working with them 2 years now. You get different variations of sound with different pads (i.e. the default are quite thin and with the drivers close to the ear they are shrieking at high volumes, so if someone do gets a pair, he should change the defaults right away) like the ZMF Ori Suede pads I get a noticeable separation between instruments and with the Oval Lambskins they get a bit on the bassy side when I need to work on bass-heavy projects. They do have the power to explode your eardrums but most of the time 40% of volume is enough to mix normally.

    Not suitable for hours on end workflow with only pee breaks. If your work on bursts however (mixing an hour and a half max and then half an hour rest, or mixing again later in the day) these may fit well.

    There is a profile for them in the Sonarworks Reference if you want to play with that too. They need a bit of getting used to but when you do, they make quite an addition to the main monitors. Don't forget to listen to your reference collection on them a lot, to get to know them. I do 70% the work on them, and then bring it to 100% on the speakers. Haven't had the chance to try HPH-MT7 and HPH-MT8 so I can't speak on them.

    Hope this helps.
     
    Last edited: Jun 5, 2024
  8. clone

    clone Audiosexual

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    Absolutely. I was using an 18i20 for quite awhile, and I got rid of it for different reasons (software). The headphones output wasn't a big deal to me because I am using monitors about 90% of the time. But it was not very good headphones output sound either.
     
  9. Sayan B

    Sayan B Kapellmeister

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    Using a pair of Sony MDR-7506s for about 8 years now. Cheap, spares are easily available, and very simple to customize and mod. Moreover, the response can be made fairly flat using custom EQ curves and correction software. Can be a good option if you are on a budget.
     
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  10. Atma_WeaponVI

    Atma_WeaponVI Member

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    I love my trusty HD600. But the phones that are on my radar are the Neumann NDH30 Black edition. I would look into those if I were in your shoes.
     
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  11. mercurysoto

    mercurysoto Audiosexual

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    One thing I can tell you from experience is that you should not look at the VSX headphones for their headphone quality per se. All of the headphones posted here are great depending on user preferences and objective quality, much better than VSX. The VSX goes beyond that. It is a system that you have to get used to. If you are familiar with high-end rooms and reference headphones, your brain will fight what it hears. Some users claim too much reverb or too artificial reverb. Others complain there's a skewed bass response. However, if you take the time to learn and get used to it, and use references a lot, you get consistent results. For mixing, that's the best purchase I've made hardware wise. I own and love my Sony MDR 7506s, my Sennheiser 280s, my AKG 701s, my AKG 240s, but they've been replaced as reference tools by VSX.

    EDIT: I bought Platinum when it was on sale, and I'm sure there will be plenty of sales in the future knowing how Slate treats their customers. The Essentials edition is more than you need. Suma or Steven's room will give you all the tools you need.
     
  12. biginjapan

    biginjapan Noisemaker

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    be very careful wearing headphones outside. music makes me lost and i lose awareness. almost died few times. not a joke
     
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  13. James Rooney

    James Rooney Member

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    Beyer DT 700 Pro X and Sennheiser HDR 280 Pro.
     
  14. Zenarcist

    Zenarcist Audiosexual

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    Anybody tried the Neumann NDH 30?
     
  15. mrpsanter

    mrpsanter Audiosexual

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    I've been very happy with my Audio Technica ATH-M50x for over a year.

    According to the brand, it's also the number one best selling headphone in the US lol.
     
  16. PartyShit

    PartyShit Producer

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    Still DT770 Pro 80 Ohm
     
  17. BlossomwoodsCollection

    BlossomwoodsCollection Kapellmeister

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    I love my DT990 Pro's 250 ohm. I also have the 880's and the HD6XX's actually, i think they compliment each other very well.
     
  18. officialswish

    officialswish Ultrasonic

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    These are mine as well. have had them for nearly 4 years now.
     
  19. Melodic Reality

    Melodic Reality Rock Star

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    Will do brother, one colleague is swearing on them and seems like folks online are blown away too, so yeah, gonna see is the hype justified. :mates:

    My main concern is how good they work with Realphones, dSONiQ rep hinted on DT1990's, but gave a nod to some folks for Austrian Audio and Ollo's in that price range, think it's pretty much preference thing at play there more than anything else.
     
  20. Lemmy

    Lemmy Audiosexual

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    I use them with the SoundID Monitor function.
    Definitely better than the treble-heavy BD1990, for example.
    But don't use them purely for mixing.
    I still need my Focals for that.
     
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