I’m rocking the Hifiman Sundaras. What about you guys?
I’ve always wanted to try the Sundaras. Currently rocking the HD8XX, and I pair it with the Hifiman HE6se. I have others in my collection, but those are probably my endgame.
I almost got the HD8XX instead of the Sundaras. At that price point the law of diminishing returns kicks in hard, so I figured I might as well get the big ol’ planar Sundaras.
I’m currently using PortaPros with Yaxi pads and a Parts Express headband. They look cheap af but they sound great lol
Got HD6xx, Sundara and now gone to the XS. Thinking of just going straight to the Arya Organic now :P
Audeze Maxwell and DCA Expanse at home desk, Focal Bathys at the workplace, and AirPods Pro 2 or Nothing Ear 2 for my commutes.
K7XX (Yaxi Pads) for Xbox/Switch gaming, HD560S for my desk/office, although yesterday a pair of HD660S arrived so that’s taking office duty for now, nice to rid of the notch that was doing my head in on the HD560s
Currently got the Hifiman HE5XX with me, but I have a Focal Elex and ZMF Eikon back at home. I also have an HD6XX on indefinite loan to a friend.
How do you like the Elex and the Eikon? Do you feel like they’re relatively higher in quality than the HE5XX and HD6XX, considering how much more expensive they are? I’m curious about diminishing returns in that price range.
With the Elex there’s definitely an increase in perceived clarity, the treble response probably just clicks for me. The Eikon is great for having a closed-back option, I just wish it was more comfortable to wear with glasses. It’s pretty neutral to my ears and is really easy to listen to for hours.
I wish I spent more time A/B’ing them to give a better comparison but I haven’t had the time! Though I perceive the Elex/Eikon to be “better”, I am still happy with the HE5XX in my alternate location, it’s exciting enough with its bass, and I don’t itch to get my other cans out.
I haven’t had the HD6XX’s for a while, but I do believe without my curiosity holding me back, I could use those forever.
I probably would be happy using the HE5XX for a long time and not going back to the more expensive ones, so I definitely feel like there are diminishing returns, especially since I’m not striving to reach for the last bit of quality.
For at least the last 20 years my main cans have been a pair of the Sony MDR-V6.
As a kid growing up, my grandparents gave my brother (older) and I each some nice headphones. He got Sennheiser 595s, and I don’t know what I got, But I liked them a lot and brought him to school in my backpack one time.
Don’t put full sized over ear headphones in backpacks. They break.
My parents bought me a replacement. Sony MDR-V600. I didn’t know how shitty those were for a very long time.
They are not the same as the Sony MDR-V6, but I honestly don’t know how different since I’ve never heard the V6. There’s a pretty big price difference and the V6s have way better reviews.
I miss my V600s. I still have them, but their fabrics are in shreds just from age, and there’s no room in the ear cups, at all. The main cable insulation broke open years ago and I’ve since gotten new headphones…
But man. That Sony sound, even on my shitty old V600s. Kind of makes me want to get a pair of 7506s or V6s.
Have you had to repair anything on your V6s?
I love a good story about headphones that mean something to someone. Thanks for sharing!
I’ve replaced the ear pads twice and the most recent one have been amazing. Very light on my head and more breathable that the originals and the first replacements I found. I can find out which one I have on them now and link them here if you’d like.
I also like to tinker a bit and was looking for a soldering project around the same time I kept seeing everyone with their headphones and cool detachable cables. So I bit the bullet and modded my V-6s with the detachable cable mod. Certainly something I didn’t have to do but it came out great and made these cans even more special to me.
I am curious. If it wouldn’t be too much hassle, I’d be interested in what you found are superior.
BRAINWAVZ Perforated Replacement Earpads for Sony MDR 7506, V6 & CD900ST with Memory Foam Ear Pad & Suitable for Other On Ear Headphones (Black) https://a.co/d/5z8ZVVe
These are the most recent Earpads I have on my V-6s.
No signs of of wear at all and I’ve had them about a year and a half.
Really enjoying the Monoprice M1570 with oratory1990 EQ on a FiiO K7
Xm4-1000
Still rocking the Sennheiser HD280’s I bought like 5 years ago, have only had to buy some replacement earpads now and then. They still sound great!
My headphones that get the most head-time are probably my Sennheiser HD 800S, but I occasionally switch to my HD 650 or one of my other headphones.
Sundaras unite! Great headphones with a portable amp for listening in bed for sure!
Good old Sennheiser Game One, but looking for something new soon.
Man I remember when those came out. Heck of a headset, even today.
Yeah it’s incredible how they’re so comfy yet so good even today!
Rotating between the HD800S, LCD-X 2020’s, and Aeon 2 Noire depending on if I am watching videos, gaming, or listening to music. The Noire’s are the newest to me, and have been getting the most head time while I’ve been on a rock/metal and electronica bent lately. Source is Amazon Music into an SMSL SU-8 to Singxer SA-1. I finally hit my perfect trifecta… until the bug gets me again.
I, too, have a pair of 800Ss. Even with EQ, have you ever gotten them to have any sort of slam? Or are they truly incapable of that?
There is a subjective component there, but I just don’t think Senn’s ring drivers are capable of really digging into a true slam. They are just too refined to do it I think. A bass shelf in EQ combined with a warmer signature and powerful amp helps, but they excel with jazz, classical, orchestral, and electro swing where slam doesn’t matter as much. That was one of the driving forces that caused me to try the Aeon 2 Noire, as even the LCD-X was not quite there to me in the slam factor for some songs. That said, no regrets with either of the 3 as they each complement each other well.
For reference I also have a Focal Elear (using Elex pads) and a Focal Elegia with Dekoni’s Stellia pads since Focal is known for dynamics and slam. Both are very enjoyable and still get some head time, but were not able to scratch that itch for me on slam. I still want to try the Clear OGs one of these days to find out if they are truly the holy grail that can slam as hard as rumor states.
Oh dang. My current daily setup is an Elear powered by a Valhalla2. I also mix audio with them sometimes, so I need them to be reference leveled so I’m not fighting my monitors, and so use that one software, SoundID Listen or whatever to get them “professionally” to flat, and then use EqualizerAPO for minor taste and hearing-loss tweaks (I got COVID in Jan 2020 and after recovering, my left ear, and kind of my right, have permanent 2-4db loss UNDER about 3khz. I had to go to an audiologist. I am very sad).
I’ve never switched out any parts at all, and have also always wondered how much better the successor Focal headphones in the Elear family are. I’ve heard the Utopia a few times, but it just sounded so damped in the highs.
I know the tech is constantly getting better, but, after Tyll retired (InnerFedelity), I feel like headphone culture kind of cooled off since there was no anchor point. He wasn’t perfect, but he made those reference charts and measurements that were super helpful.
HD6XX on a Schitt stack for the home, WF-1000XM4s on the go, and Pixel Buds A for choring.
That doesn’t stop me from going into the drawer of shame to pull out something else from time to time, but that’s my current rotation.
6XX on a Schitt stack is like THE entry level audiophile deal of the last several decades. I’ve suggested that to so many people, all of whom still daily drive and are still happy with it.
