Recent experiences with Headphones / Computer Audio

[KickAssCop]

I have been reading through Headphones and Headphoneadvice Reddits recently but also watching a lot of YouTube videos by Gadgeterytech, Rtings, Joshua and some from Resolve and his companion (forgot his name). I am still a complete nub in this space but felt I wanted to share out my experience since I auditioned a bunch of stuff (lists below).

Sound preference: I prefer a V shape curve and love strong bass, warmth but with clarity (for vocals and footsteps). I am quite sensitive to treble in 2-4KHz range and 6-10K KHz but also need an airy and expansive soundstage. I also realized I no longer have a preference for closed backs over open backs but open backs provide a better fps gaming experience as I play fast paced FPS shooters like BF and COD. In single player I play all types of games and lately have been running through Borderlands 4.

Budget: My budget was around 300$ to find the best DAC/Headphone combo and be done with it. I was purposefully not looking to spend any more. *Spoiler* I did end up spending more lol.

Testing methodology:
Music: I tried a lot of tracks to ensure that I could A/B/C test all the headphones. Primary track to check for sibilance/cymbals was Lose my mind from F1 movie. Other tracks were Billie Eilish Bad Guy for bass and Hotel California for instrument separation. Of course I also tried the usual popular music tracks (mostly weekend, Alex warren etc. stuff) and some oldies like Here I am from Bryan Adams or This is my life from Bon Jovi.
Movies: For movies I tried Mission Impossible latest one. It opens up with quite an orchestral sound and is great for sound. Finally John Wick scenes especially from movie 4 always help.
Gaming: 2-4 rounds of Call of Duty BO6 Stakeout map. Run through of a mission or two in Borderlands 4. Some single player games like Stellar Blade or Last of Us 2 (lots of vocal audio).

Average testing time per headset 3-4 hours.

Software used: APO with Peace GUI. Tuning down using the 13 bands and sometimes additional parametric filters for treble. Audeze HQ for Audeze. Sonar/GG for Arctis Nova Pro.

This is my running list of headphones I auditioned (incomplete as I forgot some models). (ret) at the end means I ordered it and returned the headphone/DAC/pads as I didn't like them, to save some money or because they were redundant to what I already have.

Air Pods Max
Anker Soundcore QC30
Audio technica ATH-M50X (ret)
Audeze Maxwell (ret)
Audeze Maxwell 2
Audeze LCD-3
Audeze LCD-X
Audeze LCD-2C (Open)
Audeze LCD-2C (Closed)
Audeze LCD-4z
Audeze LCD 5
Audeze CBRN 2
Arctis Nova 1
Arctis Nova Pro Wired (ret)
Aune AR5000 (ret)
Abyss JOAL
Austrian Audio Composer
Austrian Audio Arranger
Beyerdynamics DT 770 (ret)
Beyerdynamics DT 770 Pro X (ret)
Beyerdynamics DT 700 Pro
Beyerdynamics DT 990 Pro (ret)
Beyerdynamics Amiron
Bowers & Wilkins PX8 S2
Bose QuietComfort Ultra Gen 2 (ret)
Corsair HS 50 Pro
Dan Clark Audio Aeon 2 Open
Dan Clark Audio E3
Dan Clark Audio Noire XO
Dan Clark Audio Stealth
Fiio FT1
Fiio FT1 Pro
Fiio FT3
Fiio FT5
Fiio FT13
Fiio JT7
Fiio EH13
Focal Azurys
Focal Bathys
Focal Bathys MG
Focal Hadenys
Focal Utopia
Focal Stellia
Fosi i5
Fostex TH616
Fostex TH909
Heddphone D1
Hifiman Edition XS
Hifiman Edition XV
Hifiman Ananda
Hifiman Ananda Nano
Hifiman HE400SE
Hifiman Deva Pro
Hifiman HE1000 Stealth (ret)
Hifiman HE-R9
Hifiman Arya Stealth
Hifiman Arya Organic
Hifiman Sundara Open
Hifiman Sundara Closed
Hifiman Shangri-la
Hifiman Arya Unveiled
Hifiman Arya Wifi
Hifiman Susvara
Hifiman Susvara Unveiled
Hifiman HE1000 Wifi
Hifiman HE1000 Unveiled
Hifiman HE1000SE
HyperX Cloud 3 (ret)
HyperX Cloud 3 S wireless
Logitech Astro A50 Gen 5 (ret twice)
Logitech G Pro X SE (ret)
Logitech G332
Meze 99 Classics V2
Meze 105 AER (ret)
Meze 105 Silva
Meze 109 Pro
Meze Poet
Meze Strada
Meze Elite
Meze Empyrean II
Neumann NDH-20
Razer BlackShark V2X (ret)
RAAL Magna
Sennheiser HE-1
Sennheiser HD 480 Pro
Sennheiser HD 505 SE
Sennheiser HD 598 SE
Sennheiser HD 599 SE (ret)
Sennheiser HD 490 Pro (ret)
Sennheiser HD 560 S (ret)
Sennheiser + Drop HD 6XX (sold)
Sennheiser HD 620 S
Sennheiser HD 800 S
Sennheiser HD 600
Sennheiser HD 660S2
Sennheiser HDB 630
Sonos Ace
Sony MDR-MV1
Sony MRDR-7506
Sony XM6
Stax 007S
Stax 009D
UGreen Max5C
ZMF Atrium Closed
ZMF Bokeh Closed
ZMF Caldera Open

IEMs
Aful Explorer (ret)
Fresh X Ziigaat Arete 2
Final Audio A6000
Kiwi Ears Astral
Kiwi Ears Cadenza 2
Meze Alba
Moondrop Variations
Punch Audio Martilo
Softears Volume S
Softears RSV MK2
Sennheiser IE600
Tangzu Wa'ner 2 Red Lion
Thieaudio Valhalla
Thieaudio Hype 4 MK2
Thieaudio Origin
Xenns Tea Pro SE

TWS
Apple Air Pods
Apple Air Pods Pro
Apple Air Pods Gen 2
Apple Air Pods Gen 3
Apple Air Pods Gen 4
Apple Air Pods Pro 2
Bose QC Ultra Earbuds (Gen 2)

I also started my own audio ranking list
View: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1CXKFpp0FhTpr9QA9S_lOt2_-aML6hsGa09QKtPAcbMk/edit?usp=sharing

DACs
Allegro Mini
Creative Play!3 (ret)
Creative Play!4 (ret)
Chord Mojo 2
Fiio BTR17
Fiio JA11
Ibasso Macaron
Ibasso Machiato
K11
K11 R2R
K13 R2R
Melody Snowsky
Shanling DAP
TRN TRE Pro (ret)

Pads
Brainwavz pads (ret)
Soul wit pads (ret)
FT1 pro leather pro pads (ret)
FT1 pro cooling gel pads (ret)
HyperX Cloud 3 S - wicked cushions stealthZ
FT1 - FT1A
FT1 Pro - FT1B
Arya Stealth - Dekoni Elite Velour
ZMF Fenestrated Lambskin Pads for HE1000 Unveiled

Some cables also that I returned.

Does not include at least 50 ordered but cancelled prior to ship orders.

Pretty sure I am forgetting a bunch. Return are the ones I remember.

.

BOLD are products I still own.

IEM RECOMMENDATIONS:
A note for IEMs. I have watched a ton of reviews to make the following list of IEMs.

Most of what is below is between YouTube reviews, forum posts and also personal auditions.

1. Thieaudio Valhalla (2000$) - this one was not for me as the treble energy was too high but for people not sensitive to treble, the imaging, big soundstage, bass response and overall quality is such that for gaming you would be hard pressed to not have your wallhack moments.
2. Thieaudion Monarch MKIV (1200$) - this one is considered a goated IEM. Must have in a kilobuck collection or so I am told.
3. Softears RSV Mark 2 (700$) - absolutely fantastic IEM for both imaging and soundstage. Has also deep bass implementation which I loved.
4. Top Pro (500$) - great imaging, soundstage and technical.
5. Tea Pro (350$) - great imaging, soundstage and technical. A bit less resolution compared to Top Pro. Competes hand in hand with others on the list and may be a bit warmer (more forgiving).
6. Astral (300$) - the IEM was definitely good but for me it caused me ear pain and many people say if you want to save 200$ just buy this instead of Top Pro.
7. Fresh Arete 2 (279$). This is supposed to be 270$ IEM that is really designed for fps in mind.
8. Sub 100$. I have heard about Tuthear Pure that apparently does well (some like the older version of Hexa). There is also Simgot stuff where people have said SuperMix 4, EM6L or EA500LM are good for gaming. I personally, would find them a bit on the bright side and being treble sensitive means most Simgot stuff won’t work out for me. Another contender that is often mentioned is Truthear Zero Blue 2. For sub 30$ there is 7Hz Crinacle Zero 2. There is also Juzear Defiant that people like a lot.

You can also view Fresh Reviews Wallhack List to take your pick.
View: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1sHR4QwC1-YprWbjDEHtrz9qCQskY_uuOsAo-Amjznts/edit?gid=0#gid=0

There is also Jay's IEM list:
View: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1ZHVib50XFQW4up3SwOZUTbI-hZB6Ir5LX6XnZblIM6o/edit?gid=0#gid=0

And finally Jaytiss's IEM list:
View: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1aBAj-f2iaNSzTCcN4yoPQyBhFiEFooM-7WM9CHUS-Cs/edit?gid=0#gid=0

HEADPHONE RECOMMENDATIONS:

Open back recommendations

1. Susvara (6000$) - a stunning headphone with amazing resolution. Imagine is spot on. Treble is spot on. Once you have this, you don’t need anything else. For gaming all these qualities amplify your listening experience without fatigue.
2. HE1000 Unveiled (2500$) - everything that Arya Unveiled is but dialed to 11. I absolutely loved this one as well.
3. Arya Unveiled (1000-1500$) - same qualities as Arya Stealth but higher resolution and better bass response. May impact imaging and soundstage due to less high treble energy.
4. LCD-X (1200$) - Great imaging, layering and technical. Soundstage is small and can get a bit boomy on some tracks. Can be amazing with EQ.
5. LCD-2C (Open back) (800$) - Great imaging, layering and very technical but with warmth. Only issue is soundstage is a bit small.
6. Arya Stealth (500-600$) - great imaging, soundstage and technical. Amazing performance.
7. Edition XV (300-400$) - best all rounder headphone. Is a chameleon and can be EQ-ed to whatever you want.
8. ASUS ROG Kithara - Hifiman collab (300$) - open back magnetic planar that performs similar to an Arya Stealth. A full gaming headset and an absolute steal at this price.
9. Aune AR5000 (300$). One of the most detailed and best for gaming in mind.
10. FT1 Pro (200$). Fantastic magnetic planar headphone that does really well in terms of imaging and precision in fps games. A bit smaller soundstage compared to other more expensive options.
11. HD 505 (150$). If you can find it on a discount. This is a great headphone for gaming. Very smooth to listen to but still very detailed. Add a BAM mic and you have a full headset. This one IMO is much better listen compared to 560S which I found terrible. Needs a DAC/AMP as 120 ohms impedence.
12. JT7 (120$). This is basically a FT1 Pro with slightly more energetic tuning and better headband. Can't go wrong here.
13. Sub 100$. There are some options here that can be recommended but I am avoiding this bucket for now.

Notable mention but didn't try yet. Heddphone D1 won many headphone of the year awards (similar to Edition XV) but for 800$ I think you get way less than what you pay for.
There is also Meze 109 Pro which is quite detailed but some people like it. For me the tuning on this was borderline abrasive to my ears. Also 800$.
Hifiman Arya Organic. More energetic than Arya Stealth. I personally do not like it. However, for more money you get "maybe" slightly better build quality and higher treble.

Closed back recommendations

1. Caldera Closed (3500$). Amazing headphone with good treble energy that can help with imaging. Stage remains small but that planar sound is absolutely spot on. If you want to go all the way then this is it imo.
2. Bokeh Closed (1100$). Such a great house sound. Very detailed. I haven’t tried it for gaming but given you can pad roll to different sound profiles it can be a great premium option for closed back.
3. Focal Azurys (500$). Great closed back with good sound signature but very expensive imo.
4. FT1 ($150). This is quite possibly the best closed back I have tried. Nothing comes close at this price range even up to 500$.
5. AKG 371 ($150). I have heard a lot of great things about it. Personally haven't tried it.

Wireless recommendations

1. Focal Bathys MG (1300$). Pricey but one of the best bluetooth headphones I saw. Has option to run it wired as well. Has potential to be great for gaming.
2. Arctis Nova Elite (600$). Very pricey but has all the bells and whistles you would ever need in a headset. Mic is apparently below average and some of the tunes on Sonar are absolute garbage so make your own EQ imo.
3. Sennheiser HDB 630 (500$). Has everything you need plus a 5 band PEQ. I don't know what the fuss is about but people claim it is the shit.
4. Audeze Maxwell 2 ($330). I now own Audeze Maxwell 2. After trying many headphones in the Audeze lineup I found LCD-2C Open and Maxwell 2 to be more my jam. For this price it is hard to beat.
5. Logitech Astro A50(X) Gen 5 (250-400$). Best mic in the business. Great sound profile but the comfort destroyed me. Clamp force, shallow/soft pads and protruding plastic was pressing against my ear cartilage leading to extreme pain. Get on a discount.
6. Arctis Nova Pro (300$). Older brother of Nova Elite. Some swear by it. I don't get it. But its a good full featured option nonetheless.
7. Fractal Scape (200$). Didn't try it but people loved it. Some complaints about clamp force and also needing EQ to sound alive. Plus cloth pads apparently deteriorate in 3 months or less. Not my experience.
8. HyperX Cloud 3S (120$). Absolutely fantastic headphones. One of the best tunings. Runs great in gaming. On a budget these can't be beat.

Notable mention for bass heads. Turtle Beach Stealth 700 Gen 3 or Skullcandy Crusher ANC 2. I haven't tried it but Joe from Gadgetrytech has great videos for them.

DAC RECOMMENDATIONS:

Portable:
- JMCally JM6 Pro/JM6 Pro 2 (20$)
- Melody Snowsky (40$)
- Fiio Tiny (30$)
- Kiwi Ears Allegro Mini (25$)
- Kiwi Ears Allegro Pro (45$)
- iBasso Macaron (45$)
- Crinacle Protocol Max (89$)

Desktop:
- ifi Zen Air (100$)
- K11 (delta sigma) ($135)
- K11 R2R ($175)
- Fosi K7 ($200) - has mic output
- Fosi ZH3 ($200)
- Schiit Gunnr ($220) - has mic output
- ifi Zen Dac V3 ($250)
- Topping DX5 II ($300)
- K13 R2R ($320)

Some disclaimers about sound / comfort.

Sound and comfort are completely subjective. If you put 10 people in the room they will have different opinions. I am not an expert in anything. I just went on a journey to find best audio for myself and tried the most hyped up products imaginable.
At the end of the day the decision is yours to make.

Some omissions from above.

1. You will notice I did not recommend any Sennheiser products (beyond the HD 505). Yes, they are good but at every price point I felt they were surpassed by something better. As an example:
- At $150 HD 560S is surpassed by JT7 (high treble peaks and poor bass response)
- At $200 Drop 6XX is surpassed by FT1 Pro (poor soundstage and no bass)
- At $300 HD650/660S2 is surpassed by Aune AR5000 (closed soundstage and poor bass on the Senny)
- At $400 HD 490 Pro is surpassed by Edition XV (or even a Meze 105 AER). Edition XV was 2025 headphone of the year at many places. Enough said.
... and so on.
2. You will notice there is nothing from Beyerdynamics. I am treble sensitive and to me the BD headsets feel unnatural in treble. They are some of the most fatiguing headphones I have heard.
3. You will notice no Hifiman top budget picks in there. Sundara is not there because FT1 Pro or even JT7 is just better. Edition XS is not there as Aune AR5000 or an FT1 Pro is just better (only lacks some soundstage at a relative level).

ARCHIVE (IEM RECOMMENDATIONS FROM SOMEWHERE ELSE):

Tanchjim Bunny ($19)
Simgot EW100P ($19)
7Hz Crinacle Zero:2 ($23)
Kiwi Ears Cadenza ($31)
Simgot EW200 ($33)
Kefine Klean ($49)
Simgot EW300 ($63)
Truthear Crinacle Zero Blue 2 (69$)
Truthear Hexa ($77)
Truthear Pure ($77)
Kefine Delci AE ($79)
Juzear Defiant ($89)
ARTTI T10 Pro ($97)
Kefine Quatio ($130)
Simgot Supermix4 ($120-150)
ZiiGaat Lush ($179)
ZiiGaat x Fresh Arete ($200-250)
THIEAUDIO Hype 2 ($240-299)
ZiiGaat Odyssey 2 ($250)
Aful Performer 5+2 ($228)
Kiwi Ears Astral ($220-269)
ZiiGaat x Fresh Arete 2 ($279)
Tanchjim Soda ($299)
ZiiGaat Horizon ($275)
Xenns Mangird Tea PRO ($350)
Elysian Pilgrim ($300-400)
THIEAUDIO Hype 4 ($379)
Xenns Top Pro ($499)
Thieaudio Monarch Mk4 ($1150)

 

[KickAssCop]

Some pictures

 

[MaZa]

Do you still have the DT770? Just install PeaceGUI EqualiserAPO front end and fix it with EQ. DT770 Pro with velour pads is my favourite closed headphone, it is very neutral that followed the Harman Target surprisingly close before Harman Target was even a thing, except as you noticed the treble is too hot.

https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/1f86....pdf?rlkey=pbjpnoalny3kjqbdd3xvrecf1&e=1&dl=0

Here are the full EQ settings if you want to make it follow the target curve exactly but to fix its worst glaring flaw you really only need to take down 8khz by 3db and 16khz by 6db. Easiest EQ job ever and the result is already glorious. If you add the rest of the settings to smooth out few of the other dips and bumps and we have almost perfect closed headphone.

Oratory1990 has professional measurements and EQ recommendations for hundreds headphones so which ever you pick, check his list on Reddit to see if yoir headphone is in there and how well the headphone actually performs and if there is an EQ to make it even better.

*Edit list of Oratory's measurements.
https://www.reddit.com/r/oratory1990/wiki/index/list_of_presets/

 

[KickAssCop]

Do you still have the DT770? Just install PeaceGUI EqualiserAPO front end and fix it with EQ. DT770 Pro with velour pads is my favourite closed headphone, it is very neutral that followed the Harman Target surprisingly close before Harman Target was even a thing, except as you noticed the treble is too hot.

https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/1f86....pdf?rlkey=pbjpnoalny3kjqbdd3xvrecf1&e=1&dl=0

Here are the full EQ settings if you want to make it follow the target curve exactly but to fix its worst glaring flaw you really only need to take down 8khz by 3db and 16khz by 6db. Easiest EQ job ever and the result is already glorious. If you add the rest of the settings to smooth out few of the other dips and bumps and we have almost perfect closed headphone.

Oratory1990 has professional measurements and EQ recommendations for hundreds headphones so which ever you pick, check his list on Reddit to see if yoir headphone is in there and how well the headphone actually performs and if there is an EQ to make it even better.

*Edit list of Oratory's measurements.
https://www.reddit.com/r/oratory1990/wiki/index/list_of_presets/

Thanks. I do not have the DT 770 Pro as I only tested it in a shop. I am personally not impressed by Harman target as it makes the sound too bland for me. If the Fiio FT1 doesn't work out for me, my next venture would be to purchase a DT 770 Pro and try to EQ it. I did use Oratory's profiles for a couple of headsets but they all made headsets sound flat. As I said earlier, I prefer warmer, punchy bass with big soundstage, clear imaging and not recessed vocals. So actually at 16 KHz for most headsets I was adding +1-+3 db just to restore air. Thanks either way for your suggestions.

P.S. I did all my tuning on Peace/APO.

 

[MaZa]

Thanks. I do not have the DT 770 Pro as I only tested it in a shop. I am personally not impressed by Harman target as it makes the sound too bland for me. If the Fiio FT1 doesn't work out for me, my next venture would be to purchase a DT 770 Pro and try to EQ it. I did use Oratory's profiles for a couple of headsets but they all made headsets sound flat. As I said earlier, I prefer warmer, punchy bass with big soundstage, clear imaging and not recessed vocals. So actually at 16 KHz for most headsets I was adding +1-+3 db just to restore air. Thanks either way for your suggestions.

P.S. I did all my tuning on Peace/APO.

And that is fine. Harman target is supposed to be flat, it is tuned to be similar what good, flat hifi speakers sound like in a treated listening room but people do have different tastes and ears. Some like more or less bass and others like more or less treble. It is just a baseline, meant to be fine tuned for taste. In your case you probably want to reduce those treble peaks a bit less than what Harman target entails, to keep some of that "airyness" typical to Beyerdynamics intact.

 

[gamerk2]

ATH M50X - possibly best sounding and tunable headphones of the lot but made by sadists who don’t know what comfort it.

Ha, I see that hasn't changed since the original ATH-M50 set I owned for about 5 years. Great soundstage, but my god painful for long sessions due to ungodly head clamp.

 

[KickAssCop]

I got a chance to spend 10 mins at a specialist shop and try out

Fiio FT1
Fiio FT1 pro
Hifiman Sundara
Hifiman Edition XS
Hifiman HE-R9

Of all the headsets I preferred Fiio FT1 the most followed by FT1 Pro. Sundara was also nice but had slightly worse soundstage compared to the FT1 Pro. I might go back again to see if I can try Arya Organic, Ananda Nano, and some other headsets with slightly more time.

But definitely a little relief that the headset I chose seems perfect for my needs.

P.S. I also fixed my HD 598 SE Senns after 5 years by replacing the cable. lol.

 

[gamerk2]

P.S. I also fixed my HD 598 SE Senns after 5 years by replacing the cable. lol.

I have destroyed a large amount of my headsets because the cable goes and I lose one channel; the fact Senns have a replicable cable is a godsend.

Sadly, the replacement cables tend to be low quality and I'm lucky if they last a year :/

 

[KickAssCop]

I have destroyed a large amount of my headsets because the cable goes and I lose one channel; the fact Senns have a replicable cable is a godsend.

Sadly, the replacement cables tend to be low quality and I'm lucky if they last a year :/

I mean reviving a 10 year old headset is not nothing. I bought it in 2015 and it still works mint. So now I have an open back Senn HD 598 SE (which sounds like 20 times better than the 560 S crap), a HS 50 Pro which is still king of boom boom, and a Fiio FT1 incoming with a K13 R2R dac that is completely overkill.

 

[gamerk2]

Nowadays, I'm using a headset (specifically a Sennheiser GSP 600 at the moment). Again, the detachable cable is a godsend for me.

 

[KickAssCop]

So went again to A/V shop. Tried Edition XS, Ananda Nano, HE-R9, Arya Organic, 400SE, Sundara, FT1, FT1 Pro, BD Amiron, FT3, FT5 and also a few more that I am forgetting (basically about 80% of Hifiman popular ones). I came to the following conclusion. FT1 is what I like. It needs a minor tune and can be absolutely dope.
Second realization is that FT1 Pro for open back with magnetic planars can help with fps games. It is quite a bit better than my HD598SE which I took with me to compare. I tried the chatgpt suggested tracks for imaging, soundstage, treble harshness, bass boom etc. If I do go for a second headset for fps games the FT1 Pro wins hands down.
Only others that came close but still had some shrill/sibilance were Arya Organic (1000$) and Amiron (500$). And even then the soundstage differences were subtle enough that only during A/B test you would feel them.

So what do you think? Should I go for FT1 Pro as well and order it? Or stick to FT1 (closed) and HD598SE (for open back)?

 

[kydsid]

I feel really old, almost none of these are familiar, except Senn and Beyer, but not the models.

 

[MaZa]

I feel really old, almost none of these are familiar, except Senn and Beyer, but not the models.

Same. I recognise almost none of those heapdhones. My weapons of choices are Hifiman HE-500, DT770 (both released over 10 years ago) and as the latest addition Hifiman HE400SE because it was so cheap, all sound great with minor EQ adjustments so I have not kept up what is new in the headphone market.

 

[MaZa]

If I didn't have my HE500 then this headphone looks mighty interesting and I'd be tempted to get one. Moondrop Para 2.

https://www.audiosciencereview.com/...oondrop-para-2-planar-headphone-review.66579/

The default frequency response is more akin to the old diffuse field target curve rather than Harman and it follows it really well. Very oldschool Hifiman-like, the HE6 and HE500:ish. Virtually flat bass down into nether regions, distortion free so if you want more bass energy then you can add it without downsides, provided your headphone amp does not complain. A few db bass shelf centered at 100hz and you are done. Treble doesn't need tweaking either, maybe some deficiency in 2khz region (a trait all Hifimans also have BTW, it is their house sound) but that can be a good thing for some listeners as it can make the headphone sound bit less forward, less "in your face". But if one is obsessed to match some target curves then it is also an easy fix. Treble in general has more energy beyond 10khz but not as ridiculous peaks as Beyerdynamics tend to have, again can be a good thing for some listener preferences.

*Edit* Hifiman HE-6 a holy grail of old Hifiman in comparison.
https://www.audiosciencereview.com/forum/index.php?threads/hifiman-he-6-review-headphone.21673/

Very similar, except unlike HE6 which was stupidly hard to drive and required almost speaker amp power levels to sound good, Moondrop is rather easy and should work fine out of any decent headphone amp.

 

[KickAssCop]

For now I will stick with FT1 and K13 R2R. I also grabbed a FT1 Pro for BF6.

 

[MavericK]

I've tried a lot of headphones/headsets, and the Maxwell is my favorite out of all of them. Yes, they're heavy, but they sound great and are wireless.

 

[KickAssCop]

Yeah with this particular part of the PC, there is no real best outcome. Everyone is looking for different things and for me I couldn't consolidate my needs to a single set so I went with a system that will allow me to almost hot swap cans and be ready to enjoy whatever I like whenever I want. And it costs less than an Apple Watch so I am good with that.

 

[KickAssCop]

I went to 2 shops today. Tried

Meze 105, Meze Poet, Meze 109 Pro, Sennheiser 800S. While they were good they all felt lacking in bass. I think Poet is the only one that had some life to it. The 800S felt clean but also not exciting plus was sliding all around my head even with lowest setting. Had no seal and no impact.

Then I went back to the other shop, this time to try again Hifiman Arya Organic and Hifiman HE1000. Organic again had bad treble. Only Hifiman after trying Ananda Nano, Organic and HE1000 that I could stand was Deva Pro. It was fine but also not exciting when comparing to FT1 Pro or FT1.

Then I tried focal bathys and it had decent bass but the treble was too sharp for me. I also tried Focal Hedenys and those were genuinely nice but they just felt like a better built FT1 for the most part. Plus the comfort was slightly less as they were pushing on my ear vs FT1 that cups the ear in full. Plus they cost 7 times price of a FT1. I am pretty sure I wasn’t getting 7 times the enjoyment lol.

So effectively after even testing some of the so called “high end equipment” and now I have tried most known ones from 35$ to 2500$ - I am pretty content with my kit. Now the damn thing just needs to arrive so I can move on with my life. I think Focal can be a good set in the future but for now, I just want to try what I bought before I make further changes.

This makes a total of 40-41 headsets in the past month.

 

[uOpt]

If you need more refined bass, especially bass guitar, you should try to track down the Denon/Fostex school of headphones, e.g. a AH-D7000.

 

[KickAssCop]

If you need more refined bass, especially bass guitar, you should try to track down the Denon/Fostex school of headphones, e.g. a AH-D7000.

This one? https://amzn.eu/d/8amCcHK

 

[uOpt]

This one? https://amzn.eu/d/8amCcHK

I have the 7000, this is the 7200. They are supposed to be similar. So, yes-ish.

 

[KickAssCop]

First package came.
Waiting on FT1 Pro.

 

[uOpt]

Excellent work.

 

[KickAssCop]

Current setup.

Ordered a second stand for FT1 Pro.

 

[KickAssCop]

All setup and just waiting for my second stand.

 

[KickAssCop]

Ok after spending bulk of the afternoon on this, I am just extremely happy. I trusted my gut rather than reviewers to get what I wanted and these just sound amazing to me.

Both headphones have a space in my arsenal. The FT1 Pro is amazing for competitive gaming. I feel like I am in the battlefield. I can hear everything. Sometimes it is too much. When I die, I know that it is because I was overwhelmed not because I couldn't get the sound right. Just absolutely fantastic time. I can hear the tiny details, the soundstage is amazing, the guns when they fire are phenomenal. Similarly, COD feels like a new game. I did some tunes and am still trying them out. Also am trying some online profiles. I think it will still take me sometime to get the sound I want but I am very close. The sound is just downright legit. It is also a huge upgrade from my HD598SE. The soundstage, clarity and rumble without any form of fatigue is what I wanted and the magnetic planers can be tuned to my heart's content.

FT1 on the other hand is a completely different beast. It is like having a sub woofer in my ears. The bass has so much weight without making things muddy. I will continue to tune it but out of the box it sounds amazing to me. I still added some more bass and lifted some vocals. The soundstage for a closed back is also very nice. I can hear things from all directions even in BF6. So for a closed back, it is doing many things right. For SP gaming - like Borderlands 4, I quite enjoyed my time with it. Tense games like Cronos New Dawn etc. also feel grand. Music is on another level as well.

Final thoughts on the K13 R2R. This is especially what I wanted. A nice warm sound that is non fatiguing. I tried the K11 in a shop and I couldn't understand if it was the dac or the headphones. Now I know it was a combination of both. The NOS with medium gain is very loud already. I have yet to go over 50 volume on the dac. That is absolutely slamming. The best part, both my headphones are on when playing a game so it is as simple as choosing a peace profile and playing the game with the headphone/mood of choice. Downright amazing. I put FT1 Pro on balanced cable and FT1 on 6.35mm for now.

Still lots to learn and tune but the start is strong and for anyone considering a headphone, I think between the two you cannot go wrong. If you value your ears then these are better than all the headphones I tried. And I tried everything from 35$ to 2500$ headphones. For me, not being an audiophile, I am very happy with the 750$ I have spent on putting this setup together. Hopefully, it lasts for a long time. Hope this helps someone.

 

[KickAssCop]

So now that I have had quite a bunch of time with the products I am genuinely amazed at what good sound is to gaming or basically any experience. Onboard sound just feels "bad" now. I also think after a lot of research and trying over 40 headsets I have a good sense of where to spend my money next if it comes to it. For now I am exceptionally happy with the dac and the two pairs of headphones. They just do everything right for me. I have also managed to tune them to my liking and gaming has never been better.

 

[Comixbooks]

I can't stand my Maxwell too bright I like the Sound on my Models 1s VZR but I can't stand the design. I'm looking for a different dac to change things up.

 

[Comixbooks]

First package came.
Waiting on FT1 Pro.

How is the K13 R2R? I just noticed in Z reviews just did a Review last week.

 

[KickAssCop]

I tried a few DACs and K13 R2R is just right for me. I prefer warmer sound and this deliver tons of power and absolutely clear sound. The feature set is also very good. So no complaints.

Btw I also ordered some new pads for my FT1 and FT1 Pro plus ordered the Hifiman Edition XV for BF6. Hoping I am not disappointed.

 

[Comixbooks]

Is it similar to the K11 R2R?

 

[KickAssCop]

Is it similar to the K11 R2R?

Yes but with more power and features. Overall, sound quality is better - more detailed and nuanced imo.

 

[KickAssCop]

This puppy is sitting home waiting for me. Can’t try it for a week or two.

 

[Comixbooks]

This puppy is sitting home waiting for me. Can’t try it for a week or two.

Does it sound similar to Maxwell I own about 12 Headphone VZR Model 1 is one of the most immersive it was created by a ex Apple Audio designer. The version on Amazon is the upgraded version. HEADFI guys are blow away by it.

 

[KickAssCop]

I am not sure about the vzr model one.

I did order HD 490 Pro though. So now I will have 4 headphones for no particular reason.

 

[KickAssCop]

Last one I promise

 

[KickAssCop]

Wow wow wow.

The Edition XV will be my go to headphones for BF6. The soundstage and immersion is next level. FT1 Pro was amazing but this is something else.
HD 490 Pro is such a comforting sound that I can't believe, how good Sennheiser has made this. Compared to HD 599, HD 620 S, HD 560 S that I tried, this is on another level.
Hyper X Cloud 3 S wireless is a true bluetooth contender. I might use it for casual listening at home or gaming with my friends as it has a mic. Such great tuning and I didn't even like Cloud 3 wired before it.

FT1 Pro is sadly going to go back. I am sending it back as I saved 80 bucks ordering a new one from Ali Express so it sort of funds my Hyper X purchase lol. So many headphones and such a great time. Dope af!

 

[KickAssCop]

Testing them headphones is serious business.

 

[xDiVolatilX]

Testing them headphones is serious business.

You have absolutely no mouse space. I can tell you don't play fps games lol I would destroy everything on that desk without a 3' wide mouse pad haha

 

[KickAssCop]

You have absolutely no mouse space. I can tell you don't play fps games lol I would destroy everything on that desk without a 3' wide mouse pad haha

I use high sensitivity lol.
Also that was just for a photo op. I don't put all my headphones around me at all times.

Anyways, sending the HD 490 Pro back as I couldn't get it to my sound signature. Picking up a Meze 105 AER today.

Damn, this 105 AER is alive. Love it.