23-Sep-2015, 14:33
I can offer some of my experience of hunting for headphones, I listened extensively to a number of headphones including HD800, HIFIMan (the house sound seemed to bright/lightweight for my tastes) and the Audeze range as an upgrade to my HD650.
Firstly I would say that the HD650 are a fantastic pair of headphones, but the extra expense of the headphones I auditioned to replace them was always justified in my opinion (taking into account the law of diminishing returns of course!). There really was a big jump in performance.
I found the HD800 far to sterile and bright and require very careful matching with the amp, I was using my Chord Hugo and it didn't suit my tastes. In the end I came down to the Audeze LCD-X and LCD3 and after a lot of back to back listening I chose the LCD-X as I found them to be less laid back, more exciting, faster and with more impact. The LCD3 mids where magical but in the end just a little too relaxed in their presentation. I would have been happy with either however and a dream set up would be to have both for different moods/types of music.
The HE1000 were not available when I auditioned so I can't comment but they are another jump up the price ladder I believe and bring them into a similar price range as the Stax 007/009 electrostatics.
Firstly I would say that the HD650 are a fantastic pair of headphones, but the extra expense of the headphones I auditioned to replace them was always justified in my opinion (taking into account the law of diminishing returns of course!). There really was a big jump in performance.
I found the HD800 far to sterile and bright and require very careful matching with the amp, I was using my Chord Hugo and it didn't suit my tastes. In the end I came down to the Audeze LCD-X and LCD3 and after a lot of back to back listening I chose the LCD-X as I found them to be less laid back, more exciting, faster and with more impact. The LCD3 mids where magical but in the end just a little too relaxed in their presentation. I would have been happy with either however and a dream set up would be to have both for different moods/types of music.
The HE1000 were not available when I auditioned so I can't comment but they are another jump up the price ladder I believe and bring them into a similar price range as the Stax 007/009 electrostatics.
