Maybe because this is not the right site if you're looking for audiophiles. Most people here will hear headphones to work on music.

 

Audeze CRBN2, I found them to have good clarity in the low mids (where most headphones struggle), with a decent soundstage.

 

I have several pairs of Sonys: MDR-7506s, MDR-7509s, MDR-7520s, and MDR-MV1.

I briefly had a pair of Focals, since I also had Focal monitors, but they hurt my ears, and I didn't like the sound. I returned them.

My "Sunday" headphones, or final mix headphones, or new album listening session headphones are my trusty Denon AH-D5000.

I had them modded when I bought them, probably mid 2008 - I forget by whom, a one man shop in Detroit I think.The modding was mostly taking out the original padding and swapping it for a different, tighter and denser material. It didn't impact the weight or feel of the cans. Unless I was using a dedicated headphone amp (currently a mobile Grace Designs m900), I could barely hear the difference.

With the headphone amp, the Denons come alive in ways I've rarely heard other headphones come alive. Reverb tails sparkle, and hi-hat sizzles in particular jolt me out of my chair sometimes. The low end is tight, right, sumptuous. I can tell a Precision from a '62 Jazz from a '77 Jazz from a MusicMan. I can tell a Steinway from a Yamaha or Bosendorfer. It's a musical sound blooming device.

Highly recommended, if you can get your hands on a pair. The AH-D7000s aren't as balanced I've been told. Pity.

 

Like I've mentioned a few times, the Shure SRH1840 are what I use to mix when I can't get loud with monitors. They're light as a feather and do as I ask of them without fault. Now I have the Neumann NDH20 for tracking that replaced the Audio Technica ATH-M50X. The Neumanns do an amazing job to seal me in and let virtually no sound through to be picked up by a microphone. I couldn't stand the Beyerdynamic DT1770 Pro MKII and am happy that they were stolen so I could buy the NDH20.

 

I've used LCD-2C, Neumann NDH30, DT770 Pro, ATH-M50X and Focal Clear MG Pro. My favorites have been the DT770 for tracking, composing and even some mixing work and the Focal Clear MG Pro for detailed mixing/mastering and also just general listening.

The Focal Clears sound like you have studio monitors mounted to your skull and I love it
The LCD-2C are really great too though, they have really good soundstage, only reason I don't use them is because one of the drivers broke
The ATH-M50X have great isolation, so they good for tracking but I don't personally love them for anything else.
The NDH30 are technically very good but also extremely boring, they are probably the most detailed headphones I've ever used but the sound that comes out of them is so sterile that I kind of grew to hate them over time lol, definitely could be useful for some purposes tho.

 

OLLO Audio S4X and X1.

 

Last edited: Jun 26, 2025

Wowee, thanks. That's some review.

 

Agreed. I like the ATH-M50x for their engaging presentation, but I wouldn't mix with them. Too much hype in the highs and lows. The ATH-M40x are similar in character, but more balanced overall.

 

Neumann NDH-30 and Audeze LCD-GX here.

Yes, the Neumanns are boring in comparison, but they deliver and I don't need to be entertained when I'm mixing.

The LCD-GX (the gaming version of the LCD-X - similar sound, significantly lighter) are gorgeous in every way, but the earpads on mine started disintegrating after two years. I had used them very lightly and kept them in their case most of the time. I'll now have to spend 109 euro for the replacement.

 

Meze Elites for enjoyment and HiFiman HE1000se (with Auto EQ curve in Pro Q 4) for mixing. No need for Can Opener. Sorry you got rolled over with the fire.

 

Addendum...I can't handle the Neumann NDH20 unless I eq the heck out of them so I'm gonna sell them. They make me feel a bit claustrophobic.

 

Im supposed to get hifiman ananda nanos today assuming the post office doesnt let me down. I work for the post office so I know its definitely a possibility haha. I make mostly electronic music and they've got rave reviews for that for mixing. Also just got zmf pads for my sennheiser hd600s. Definitely seemed to improve the soundstage on them, but the pads I replaced them for were really beat up so maybe just that. Still probably less expensive than what op is wanting.

 

facinating someone knows ollo, kudoz

 

When it comes to price, headphones adhere to the law of diminishing returns.

 

Last edited: Nov 30, 2025

I use APL Virtuoso 2 with EQ, and once acclimatised it's hard to go back. Headphones are Sennheiser HD 490 Pro and they are well engineered, but not overly expensive.

 

While browsing YouTube, I found some interesting things that are worth investigating.
Extreme? Here we go...
Audio-Technica ATH-ADX7000

DCA E3
You need an amplifier with strong enough current, or the sound will be meh.

SJY Horizon Closed Carbon
You need an amplifier with strong enough current, or the sound will be meh.

HEDDphone D1

Interesting, DMS likes to use with a 150Ω headphone impedance adapter.

https://unheardlab.com/ (Excellent)
https://diyaudioheaven.wordpress.com/