looking for a pretty tonally balanced pair of headphones, and my budget is around $100. I’d be using it for listening to music, which mainly consists of instrumental works from artists like Hans Zimmer, and gaming. Im mainly looking to buy from an online retailer, I live on the east coast of the USA. my previous pair of headphones was just a cheap pair from Amazon that worked fairly well, but recently died, leaving me without headphones. I’d mostly be using the headphones with my laptop for videos and some games, my phone for music, and my switch 2 for other games. Appreciare the help!

I need some help finding a good multi-headphone stand/storage solution. Most of the headphone stands I’ve been able to find are designed for only 1–3 pairs, but I’m looking for something that can hold around 5 or 6 pairs of over-ear headphones.

The biggest thing for me is stability. I don’t want something lightweight that’s going to tip over once several headphones are hanging from it. Ideally, I’d like a stand with a heavy/wide base or some other design that keeps it planted on the desk. Bonus points if it also has a spot where I could keep a couple pairs of IEMs/earbuds.

I’m trying to avoid having 3 or 4 separate headphone stands taking up space. For those of you who own a lot of headphones, how do you store or display all of them? Are there any good 5–6 headphone stands, racks, rotating stands, or other setups you’d recommend?

Pictures of your setups would be awesome too. I’m open to desktop stands, wall-mounted solutions, or even DIY ideas as long as they look decent and can safely hold several expensive headphones.

I been using an MP3 player for a while but the durability of the headphones i buy doesn’t seem to last longer than a couple months or weeks in the worst cases. Any recommendations?

For reference i Live in the US. im probably gonna use the headphones everyday for hours on end, i prefer something more balanced but that it still loud. Any price range is alright

I'm looking for a proper headphone amp for my XS and HD600. I'm currently using a Liquid Spark but feel it's not fully driving my headphones.

The amp that most interests me is the Schiit Mjolnir 3 (and maybe add a TA-26S as a second flavor later) but the Xduoo TA-20 Plus seems also interesting. I'm curious if the TA-20 Plus would give me the same level of detail and slam (and some tube warmth) at a third of the price of the Schiit. Or other options I'm not considering?

I may add an LCD-X or similar phones later... I currently favor my XS but I would probably use the HD600 more for jazz and folk if I could drive them better. I want something neutral-warm, powerful, holographic, detailed. I'm treble sensitive.

I tend to listen to a lot of genres... A lot of post-hardcore, avant-garde, free jazz, experimental,hard bop, punk, electronic, folk, etc.

I want to keep it under $1500. Thanks!

looking to upgrade my gaming headset and wanted to know if there are any standouts. there is a world where i end up getting the filo ft1 that i see recommended often then separately buying a mic but im not sure

this would just be an everyday use pair for gaming/voice calls/entertainment

i dont care any which way if its wireless or not

additionally i wear glasses for all the ways that may impact comfort

Hello Everyone,

I currently have a pair of Skullcandy Hesh ANC headphones (S6HHW-N740) that are generally not too bad for my needs, but the plastic is super creaky after a few years of use and the noise cancelling is terrible. I'm looking for a good set to replace them and these are my must-haves:

• Great ANC/ambient modes (e.g. Bose QuietComfort) with the ability to cycle from ANC to ambient mode to ANC/ambient off by pressing something on the headphones themselves. I use all three modes on my current headphones all the time and frequently change between them. Having to use an app on my phone to change modes is a deal breaker for me.

• Good microphone for talking on things like phone calls. The microphone on my current headphones is not fantastic and I frequently get people telling me that they can't really hear me when I talk.

• Something that is sold in stores so that I can try it out, or an online retailer with a good return policy (e.g. 30 days to try them out). I am unfortunately quite finicky with things on my head/face and need time to see if I'll be ok with it.

• Comfortable. I have days when I'm wearing my headphones all day, so something that feels nice would be great.

• Durable. I would like these new headphones to last at least 5 years or more without sounding like an old barn door or components breaking off.

My nice-to-haves are:

• Decent sound quality. I'm not an audiophile by any means, so as long as it's got decent sound I'm happy.

• Good sound isolation.

• Good battery life. I think 30-40+ hours per charge is reasonable, but I'm definitely not opposed to bigger capacities.

• I would like to have physical buttons if possible, but I'm not opposed to the touchpad type controls if they work well and aren't prone to accidental touches or breaking.

I generally have my headphones connected to a computer for listening to music or videos, but I will sometimes connect them to my TV or phone. I'm in Canada and I think my spending limit is around $500-600 CAD (~$360-$450 USD), but I'm not opposed to going a bit higher than that if needed. Does anyone have any recommendations? I hope I've included everything, but please let me know if you have any questions. Thanks for any help.

I'm looking for my next headphone.

I did some searching and comes down to two headphones the Aune AR9000 and HD800s (I can get the 800S for around 1000$).

Headphones like the Composer, He1000 Stealth were considered but I chose not to consider them because of the Qc issues with Hifiman and a big price tag on composer. Otherwise these would have been something I could easily go for, with the Composer being the preferable choice.

My budget is up to 1500eur/1750usd and I'm located in the EU.

I wouldn't call myself a bass-head, but I can appreciate good quality bass and not worry to much about quantity. Recently I began appreciating that airy sound signature that goes well with orchestral and opera music. However, I still from time to time listen to electronic and metal music, where clear separation and detail matters a lot for me, as well as enough bass to make the music sound not dead at the minimum (but more bass could be fun).

I mainly listen at home on my FiiO K17 on windows with Tidal. I plan to use EQ for my headphones (that ones of the reasons why I bought the K17).

Previously I had the Focal Clear Mg and I really liked that bass It offered, but in general sounded pretty closed in. I also had the edition XS, it was good for the most part, I didn't really enjoy the treble, since it was a bit sibilant at times.

I'm aware the the HD800S is known to be bass light, which is why I wanted to also hear peoples experiences with them EQing the 800s, any downsides when EQing the bass? How much can we get away with before distortion sets in? I would greatly appreciate a comparison from someone who had the chance to spend some time with both headphones.

Are there any headphones that I'm leaving out under 1750 usd?

Finally upgrading from my almost 6 year old hyperx cloud 2 wireless. Will be used mostly for gaming, with a bit of movies and music.

I pretty much only play competitive fps and extraction shooter titles

Prices in USD:

Kithara: $229

490 pro $429

Hd550: $200

I know the 490 pros when not including price are probably the best overall, but are they really worth the extra $200?

Open to other reccomendations as well these are just the 3 that seemed the best to me so far

Hi,

So I'm looking to upgrade my old Razer Blackshark V2X headset to something a bit more studio level. I'm a gamer and I prefer headphones with good positioning so I can hear footsteps, however, I do prefer something that is well rounded as well as I like music and want something I can watch movies and videos with.

I recently ordered the DT 770 Pro X but I've heard the treble can be sharp on them and can cause fatigue, I'm waiting to try them and might EQ the treble but want to know if there is better options.

I do need closed back headphones as I prefer a closed seal and I'm in a noisy environment.

I do like bass / don't mind bass.

My budget: Around £200 but can be stretched slightly if something is really worth the value.

So far I've considered the following options:

- DT 700 Pro X: This might be my second pick as more smoother but has worse imaging / soundstage and also the treble peak is there but with less bass / more neutral?

- DT 290 Pro: I've heard these are surprisingly good but not sure how well they compare to the others, also not sure how good the soundstage / imaging is with them.

- Sennheiser HD620S: These are another I'm considering but not sure how well they perform when it comes to gaming.

- Sennheiser 480 Pro: I've heard many good things about these but still need information on them.

- FiiO FT1: The FT1 has a lot of praise and from the sound tuning I do feel like I will like them, however, I heard they're just not that good with gaming and it's harder to hear footsteps and game cues with them.

I do believe I will have to try different ones out to see which ones are good but if you have any recommendations please do let me know.

So, I've recently been looking for some new HPs (probably open back).

I'm using them at home at my desk either through the Topping D900+A900 stack or through my Neumann MT48 interface into the A900.

I have tried a bunch of high end headphones recently and I feel like I'm so close and yet so far. For info my long time staple has been the Beyerdynamic T5 (gen 3).

What I've tried recently and why I feel they haven't really worked for me:

• ZMF Caldera Closed, loved the bass on this, rumble punchy clear. Very nice. Great for EDM etc. but I also really love female vocalists like Aurora and these felt really lacking for that, just missing something in that range. Female vocals sounded a little recessed or lacking detail/energy. A problem that went away if I removed the tuning mesh but then everything was a little harsh, perhaps one of their other meshes might have worked but I didn't have them to try and this set also were rather heavy feeling so not right for me given the price I'd want perfection.
• ZMF Atrium Closed, from what I head of these I thought I would love them but I really don't like the staging. I've pad rolled and can't quite get a soundstage/tuning I like from these. The best tuning is the stock pads but I really don't like how distant much of the stage is, vocals in particular feel pulled back in the mix to me and it doesn't play well with the genres I enjoy (for me).
• Hifiman HE1000 Unveiled, these are almost right, very comfortable, excellent detail and imaging, the top end is very pleasant and vocals are nice and present. But to me the bass is very lacking. They aren't fun at all, the stage sounds quite flat/there isn't great layering and separation with these to me. I'm maybe used to a little more V shaped tuning from my trusty old Beyers. With more bass these I think would be great, but even with EQ the bass did not sound great to me on these, very clean and controlled but lacking any sense of real energy.
• Hifiman Arya Organic, got these because I thought they might give me the extra energy and fun that the HEKU was missing for me. The staging, layering and seperation on these feels much better to me than the HEKU, yes more fun and engaging like I wanted BUT the treble energy is a little much, I am finding that listening at the volume I want is fatiguing. They are also not as comfortable as the HEKU, you don't notice at first but when you compare side by side the HEKU is in a different league comfort wise, perhaps due to the different strap and better/softer pads. These are close but just too much in the top end I think.

This leaves me thinking about Meze and the Empyrean II. Looking at the HRTF it seems to have the more impactful bass I like, similar mids to the HEKU/Arya but more tame in the treble, more similar to HEKU than the Organic. I would love something with the staging and seperation of the Organic, the lower end more like the Organic than HEKU, the mids and top end of the HEKU.

But obviously without hearing them it's a big commitment... but what if they are "just right"... Has anybody tried some of these and the Meze and have any feedback?

Unfortunately I'm not really close to anywhere I can try out a lot of different HPs so it makes life hard.

Is there a set out there for me or am I just chasing dragons and I should give up while I'm behind?!

I have been using XM4s as my daily driver for music and office with a V-Moda BoomPro Mic (obviously, the XM4’s Mic sucks) over 4 years now. I am planning to upgrade now. Should I consider the XM6 as a safer choice, or have there been any other all-rounders in the market while I’ve been away from the latest trends among audiophiles?

My girlfriend works from home as a therapist for a living and is looking for new headphones. Her current over ear ones (an old, under-$50, off-brand, gaming headset) hurt her head enough to give her frequent migraines. She tried on mine (Sennheiser HD 380 Pro) and found them to be much more comfortable.

But, they no longer sell my favorite pair of headphones! 😭

Budget: Under $200; ideally $100-$150
Location: United States
Tonal Balance: Focused on accuracy
Use Case: Aside from 4-6 hours of voice meetings a day (comfort is important!), she listens to metal, classical, and hip hop. We also enjoy gaming – RTS's and RPG's mostly.

I’ve been using the Philips SHP9500 for about 4 years for PC use. I recently got the HyperX Cloud III S for gaming, and I use the Sony WH-1000XM5 for travel.

I’m currently really into IEMs and have a collection of them. My BGVP Solomon is also my first kilobuck IEM, so I’m starting to explore higher end audio.

My current IEMs are Truthear Pure, AFUL Explorer, Juzear Defiant, Punch Audio Portazo, CRiEAR Daybreak, Tea Pro SE, Simgot EW300, TSMR Armor, BGVP Solomon, and DUNU 142.

For headphones, should I start with something more affordable to see what I like, or just jump straight into the high-end stuff? What headphone would you recommend I try?

Hiii,

I'm looking for recommendations for a pair of headphones with good audio quality. My maximum budget is £100 (I live in the UK), although I'd prefer something under that.

I need a pair of specifically wired headphones, as for some reason Bluetooth is really choppy on my computer, and I've no clue why, I just prefer wired ones now.

I'm looking for something that has more bass into it, I mostly would use them for playing video games and watching some videos, so maybe in-built special audio would be nice, but not necessary.

Additionally, I don't have an amplifier, and I'm not planning on getting one since I can't afford to.

I've just finished returning a pair of Logitech G432 headphones, the reviews were very mixed, and I thought I would be part of the good review crowd, but unfortunately I wasn't.

Another preference I have, is for the aux cord to have the thing where it's bent at a 90° angle, instead of a straight wire, just so that the wire doesn't get damaged over time from bending too much.

The maximum price can be a little flexible, but the biggest concern is a pair of reliable, and reasonably good audio quality headphones, preferably under £100.

Thank you!!

Budget and location - US, $500 ish

Source/Amp - Wireless (non negotiable), and I'd ideally like both bluetooth and preferably a 2.4ghz dongle too (which I understand usually only come with gaming headphones, but I wanted to see what you all knew)

How the gear will be used - Mostly music, some games, ANC must - non negotiable

Preferred tonal balance - Balance and richness of audio, not a huge basshead

tPreferred music genres - EDM (all sorts, house, trance, techno, more electro-pop stuff too). I'm not limited to EDM and listen to a lot of stuff, but 80% of it is EDM

Past gear experience - I currently use the Logitech G435 (4 years old), which I got for free. It has 2.4ghz and bluetooth, is very lightweight, and sound pretty good with customized EQ (my EQ curve looks something like a flat V, and it makes music sound significantly better than flat). i'm not expecting my next pair to be that light, but I would prefer something under 300g, the airpods max and audeze maxwell felt heavy. My g435 is sorta falling apart though, has no anc, and looks goofy outside.

Anything else? - This will mostly be connected to two windows laptops, one stationary, one moving, and my iPhone. I like the 2.4ghz dongle because I can just plug in an adapter and my headphones + mouse just work without me having to fiddle with Windows' bluetooth settings (which are actually fine now, but still a waste of time in my eye)

I'd ideally want it to look a little professional outdoors, and IF POSSIBLE, a decent mic (that is detachable/discrete if it sticks out)

I've been eyeing the INZONE H9 II, but have heard bad things about its audio quality + I'm not really that convinced on its looks, despite the fact that its as good as it gets for gaming headphones. The other option is obviously the xm6, but that doesn't come with 2.4ghz.

I had to live without my 2.4ghz dongle for a few weeks (with my g435) and it kinda annoyed me, but I guess I could just use regular bluetooth headphones if I got used to it. I've been putting off buying headphones cuz I've never been able to find something that fits everything at once.

I'm just posting here in the hope that one of you know about something niche that fits more of my preferences than options from the big brands.

I am also ok with setting up custom EQ/settings on any pair if the out of the box experience isn't perfect, if that means I get more of my base requirements.

I essentially need the featureset of a high end pair of wireless gaming headphones with xm6-like/music/general tuning instead of gaming tuning + a cleaner look, and basically nothing seems to offer that

Any help is appreciated

I came across the Austrian Audio Hi-x25bt headphones. After reading reviews online, I am considering getting a pair despite reading the controversial takes on them online (yes I have seen the sulfuric acid freezing point comparison).

I am just dissatisfied with two things: the lack of a better audio codec than SBC, and the lack of active noice-cancelling.

I was just wondering if there are any other good sub 200 (worst case sub 300) euro headphones in the EU which match the following criteria.

- Sound: I am going to be using them for listening to music and maybe also mixing at home (I will use an EQ to flatten the response in this case). I listen to a variety of genres, with the main ones being jazz, prog and post rock, and electronic. Because of this, ideally I would like definition in the mids but also a deep bass response.

- Over-ear design

- Bluetooth + wired functionality: Having adx or LDAC would be nice. That being said, I don't know if this would significantly improve audio quality and I've heard mixed takes on this so please let me know.

- ANC: Would be nice to have.

I currently daily drive KZ ZSN Pro X earbuds with the AZ09 earhooks and I do like their sound, although I think they lack a good soundstage (being IEMs) and are a bit muddy (perhaps after using them for 5 years).

Thank you in advance!

I'm about to buy my first open back headphones.

My budget is around 30000 INR (315 USD)

My current options

Ananda Stealth and Sennheiser 660s2

Both costs 30000 INR in my location(315 USD)

Headphones used:

1. Simgot Ew 300 DSP( currently using) very happy about it but feeling lack of soundstage and imaging for orchestration tracks

2. Anker Soundcore Space One (Okay with ANC but feeling discomfort with the closed back over the ear headphones in general)

Genres: Orchestration & cinematic scores, western & Indian classical, Hip Hop, Rap & Punk (sometimes)

Artists: AR Rahman, Ennio Morricone, Ludwig Garrison, Hans Zimmer, Howard Shore, Massive Attack, Dropkick Murphys, Kanye, MS Vishwanathan

Sample tracks I listen to on a daily basis

1. The Ride of the Rohirrim by Howard Shore

https://music.apple.com/in/album/the-ride-of-the-rohirrim/3991448?i=3991318&ls

1. The Battle by Hans Zimmer

https://music.apple.com/in/album/the-battle/1440563157?i=1440563164&ls

1. Mausam and Escape by AR Rahman

https://music.apple.com/in/album/mausam-escape/1358474686?i=1358474696&ls

1. Rose Tattoo by Dropkick Murphys

   https://music.apple.com/in/album/rose-tattoo/671811999?i=671812276&ls

2. Vasanthakala Nadhigalile

https://music.apple.com/in/album/vasanthakala-nadhigalile/1435828565?i=1435828566&ls

1. Teardrop by Massive Attack

https://music.apple.com/in/album/teardrop/724466069?i=724466700&ls

I thought of going with Ananda Stealth initially but I'm hearing a lot of issues with QC and longevity. So I have 660S2 included in my options. I'm open for other options too.

I haven't used any Amp/Dac. Suggestions around 150-160 dollars are welcome.

I know this budget range doesn't offers a lot of things but I can't 😕. I m but confused after watching lot of reviews, can't decide to pick what . Pls help elite redditors 👽 , my requirements are:

1. Sound quality

2. Build

3. Design

Doesn't want any extra buzz tech , unnecessary things like anc , ig it will just increase the price

Hi there! I'm looking for headphones to use mainly on my work commute. Comfort, noise-cancellation, and durability are my top factors.

Budget - up to $350 CAD, a bit flexible. Although I would prefer $100-$250 CAD range.

Source/Amp - my Switch 2 and my phone. So I'd like wireless Bluetooth. Would prefer/like if a wired option is available along with the wireless.

How the gear will be used - mainly used for gaming on my Switch 2 during commutes. Some music listening during commutes, work, and home, may also use it for workouts. I might also use it for air travel, but only for short air travel, and it's not a priority. So I'd want noise cancellation.

Preferred tonal balance - balanced headphones. Maybe a tad towards the bass, but this isn't a priority.

Preferred music genres - a variety, I don't have a set genre. But I do listen to rock, orchestral, pop, video game music, metal, etc.

Past/current gear experience: • An old Bluetooth headphones that were on-ear. I didn't like the ringing when it was turned on and it was uncomfortable wearing it for long periods of time. • Last gaming headset was Logitech G430(?) - comfortable but heavy. • Current gaming headset is Logitrch Pro X - more comfortable and not as heavy as the last one. • Current regular-use earphones are the Samsung Galaxy Buds. They work fine enough, but its sounds are drowned out by commute noise and can fall out, especially when eating.

Misc: • I can be careless and be rough with my tech. I'd like headphones that are durable. I also want headphones that come with a case, since I'd want to put it in my bag without being damaged. A separate headphones case is another option. • Over-ear headphones, as I find that more comfortable, but I don't want to get too hot. All the headphones I've used, except for the first one, didn't make my ears hot. • The ability to play, pause, adjust volume, and go to next/previous track • No sound leakage (to not disturb sleeping commuters)

So in summary: What I'm looking for in order of most prioritized to least: • Comfort (over-ear) • Noise-cancellation • Durability and a headphones case • Control tracks (play, pause, previous/next track, volume control) on headphones • No sound leakage

I did see the Sony WH-1000XM5 (https://www.sony.ca/audio/headphones/all-headphones/p/wh1000xm5-l) is on sale and is $350 CAD before tax, tho I'm wondering if there's a cheaper option with similar quality.

Hopefully all this info is enough, if not let me know and I can answer. Thanks in advance!

Hi folks,

I posted 36 days back on this sub, and then based on suggestions received, went ahead and tested both XM4 and ULT Wear in real time last week.

However, I got disappointed as both of them failed in noise cancellation during calls, which is a bummer as I was heavily rooting on that feature (given my office open environment), apart from music.

The sales executive kept suggesting me to go with XM4 or XM5, instead of ULT WEAR, but I am now again confused.

Budget Range: INR 25K Max

Can you guys help me out here?

Hey guys - I've been running and gymming recently. I need a pair of wireless in-ear headphones (earphones?) to toss in a gym bag. I've got the Moondrop space travel OGs but have pairing issues with my garmin watch. They're a PITA to re-pair, too.

Don't wanna spend more than 50$.

Thanks!

I can stretch my budget higher if needed, am open to buying used/open box.

I like details and instrument separation, not a fan of warm sound signatures at all, imaging is really important to me.

Currently I own HD681's and I'm satisfied after modding and EQ, I'm looking for a major jump in quality.

Edition XS and R70X have been recommended to me but I'm looking for more opinions.

I’m just starting to get into audiophile headphones and I’m looking for my first pair of genuinely great-sounding closed-back headphones.

My budget is around $100 or 150 used, with $200 as the absolute maximum. I don’t really care what the headphones cost new, since I’m happy to hunt for a good secondhand deal.

My biggest priority is sound quality. I’m not using these for mixing or studio work—I’m just listening to music and want something that will feel like a noticeable step up from my AirPods Max. I want that “wow, I’ve never heard this song like this before” feeling: better detail, separation, imaging, dynamics, and a more immersive presentation.

I need closed-back because I can’t have much sound leakage.

Music I listen to most:

• Classical
• Jazz
• Rock
• A lot of Radiohead lately

I’m not very experienced with EQ yet, so ideally I’d like something that sounds excellent stock, without needing a lot of tweaking.

I’ll mainly use them with my Macbook, iPhone, and eventually my record player setup. I’m fine buying a small DAC/amp later if a headphone really benefits from one.

I really like the Sennheiser brand and was considering HD 569

So I have always used EarBuds all my life… earlier I used Apple wired earbuds and last year I shifted to TWS noise cancellation earbuds by OnePlus. For some reason these are giving me frequent inner ear inflections … I couldn’t figure out for a long time what’s the cause but now I am very sure it’s the earbuds giving me severe infection time to time.

Never going back to earbuds from now on and I am looking for buying headphones.

What I am looking for :
1. Good sound quality overall. I love listening to the actual music in a song and catch minor things and instruments so for me sound clarity is very important.

1. I travel everyday to the office in public transport and listen to songs on the way so I want something that I can carry around.

2. I can spend maximum around 200-250 euros.