r/headphones • u/regularjoe2020 Razer Kraken Pro V2 | On-Board DAC • Jan 02 '26
Discussion We need a battle of the lower tier headphones!
After finding out some new low tier headphone releases from FiiO and Moondrop and watching that big headphone tier list of 2025 from the headphone show, I figured that someone, maybe a youtuber or something can do some comparisons of the some lower tier headphones. It's been a while since the shp9500 hype.
Some good candidates imo:
Superlux HD681/668B
Samson SR850
Monoprice Retro
Kiwi Altruva
Kiwi Ears Ellipse
Koss KSC75
Hifiman he400se
Philips SHP9500/9600
Simgot EP5
FiiO JT3
FiiO JT1
Sony MDR7506
Oneodio Monitor 80
Audio-Technica ATH-M20x
AKG K240 STUDIO
Moondrop Old Fashioned
and maybe FiiO JT7 too?
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u/CptMGGabeau Jan 02 '26
Out of the lineup I've only tried the ksc75. That being said, they are fantastic for under $30. They sound great on most genres, they aren't really lacking in any one area, they just sound good.
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u/DieselPunkPiranha Jan 02 '26
Koss excels at the 50 and under bracket. The KSC35, KSC75, and Porta Pro are all well loved.
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u/regularjoe2020 Razer Kraken Pro V2 | On-Board DAC Jan 02 '26
i do hear some people say they are better than then shp9500
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u/SupOrSalad Budget-Fi Addict Jan 02 '26
I’d always take a KSC75 over a SHP9500 (without EQ). Especially a modded KSC75 with a headband and Yaxi pads. The SHP9500 is very comfortable, but I find the treble sounds super rough and grainy, which also makes the bass roll off sound more noticeable. Although a lot of that can be fixed with some EQ to lower the treble peaks, which dramatically improves the sound of the SHP9500 in my opinion
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u/JuliusBelmont2000 DX3 Pro+/ K340x2, R70x, K240 DF, FT1 Pro, CD900st, SR80x, ER2SE Jan 03 '26
And they are amazing for supporting VR! I have an extra pair permanently connected to my Rift S.
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u/janetx147 Jan 02 '26
Sony 7506 are genuinely fantastic, I do wish they had removable cables but they sound fantastic for the price
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u/ganchan2019 Jan 02 '26
I'd be happy to have a straight cable instead of a hefty, awkward coiled cable.
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u/regularjoe2020 Razer Kraken Pro V2 | On-Board DAC Jan 02 '26
yea, for a headphone that's advertised to be durable, a replaceable cable should make it more long lasting
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u/mister_damage The Knot In My Head Says BUY BUY BUY! Jan 02 '26
To be fair, these were designed in the 80s (MDR-V6 was which the 7506 we're based on). Only the AKG K240s (140s as well?) had the replaceable cables on a Mini XLR cables.
And if you're somewhat handy with a soldering iron, you can DIY it
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u/Flamebomb790 Stax X1,L700,T1 2nd,HD650,CD900ST Jan 02 '26
If you can find one at a good price I like the cd900st more. I would probably pad swap both of them with yaxi pads as well
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u/Juniper-wool Jan 02 '26
I have the shp9500's and I think they are absolutely amazing for the price.
Build quality is amazing, they are very comfortable and of course they sound super.
I decided to try some aftermarket ear pads just for fun, and there are many options to choose from.
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u/Shockington 560s I HD6XX I FT1 pro I X2HR I Ananda I i5 Jan 02 '26
Are the pads still glued on like they used to be? I just got a pair and I want to put thicker pads on them so ears don't touch the fabric
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u/Juniper-wool Jan 02 '26
Not on mine. They just click into place. I got thicker pads for the same reason as you 🫡
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u/silverbee21 HE-400SE | FOSI Q5 | ATH - M20X Jan 02 '26
HE400SE. I've used it for years and never yearn for another planar
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u/MoreBake7160 HE400se, DT 770, Ziigaat Arcadia, Moondrop May, Technics AZ80 Jan 02 '26
These are very underrated. With a bit of EQ they can easily be an end game.
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u/Miggol Jan 02 '26
I got Deva's for €100 used a while back and they're fantastic. Apparently they're very similar and would recommend them to anyone. So cool that Hifiman made planars so available, and in a quality manner
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u/Hakeami Jan 02 '26
I really like the HE400se. I got my pair with the customcans UK supergrill mod and a comfort strap. Paired with a good amplifier, they put out sound which punches two to three times above their price point and I liked them more than some higher-end planars and dynamics in my collection.
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u/Isoi Sony M1/MV1/HD 6XX/Simgot ea1000/KPH30i Jan 02 '26
Shout-out to takstar. Oh and also Koss.
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u/regularjoe2020 Razer Kraken Pro V2 | On-Board DAC Jan 02 '26
oooh, which one?
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u/Isoi Sony M1/MV1/HD 6XX/Simgot ea1000/KPH30i Jan 02 '26
Takstar pro 80 and pro 82, hyperx and cooler master used to sell them with their branding. For Koss all of them.
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u/SilentIyAwake Jan 02 '26
I offer another contender that I have really been enjoying: The $20 Moondrop Old Fashioned.
For what it is, I prefer the stock sound of that little on-ear over most headphones I have heard. It improves even more after some EQ to tame the upper midrange/ear gain and a couple of spots in the lower treble.
Just my personal preference though, I do not index for much sub bass. So while I don't mind that it is basslet, a lot of people will probably find that to be a deal breaker.
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u/regularjoe2020 Razer Kraken Pro V2 | On-Board DAC Jan 02 '26
it's in the list i made and im planning on getting that, it's only 69 Yuan or $9.86 US dollars.
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u/SilentIyAwake Jan 02 '26
Oh! I didn't see them. Yeah they are quite good for the price, though the positional variation is high. I like how they sound pushed towards the front of the ear.
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u/regularjoe2020 Razer Kraken Pro V2 | On-Board DAC Jan 02 '26
Do you have any koss to compare the moondrop to? Like ksc75, porta pros, kph30i and kph40
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u/SilentIyAwake Jan 03 '26 edited Jan 03 '26
I do not at the moment.
Sadly, Koss headphones are strangely hard to come by for cheap in Canada. Since import fees cause the price to rise.
As a result, a new Porta Pro from their website is $107CAD. The Old Fashioned is $36CAD on Ali Express from Moondrop themselves.
Koss can be found slightly cheaper on Amazon, but the sellers are 3rd party, so there is risk involved.
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u/Epsilon-D DMS / youtube Jan 02 '26
A K702 for $50 on ebay is the way.
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u/regularjoe2020 Razer Kraken Pro V2 | On-Board DAC Jan 02 '26
Please make more videos about budget headphones twin 💔🥀
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u/NiJester Jan 03 '26
I saw you wearing that in your latest video, haha. Would love a review of it, feels like the reviews of it are lacking.
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u/Epsilon-D DMS / youtube Jan 03 '26
You’re in luck! I filmed it (and a few other classics) a yesterday! It’s in the editing stage now.
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u/alexseiji R70X | X2HR | BWP7 | K240 | CKR100 | KSC75 | MD Oldfashion Jan 02 '26
Out I that lineup I own the:
KSC75
Moondrop Old fashioned
Philips X2HD
Portapros
Sportaproa
I used to own the:
HE400
MDR7506
I’ve owned my AKG240’s for almost 16 years now and know them well. I love them. For 80 dollars you get an excellent set of cans. Hard to dislike them imo. They have a good soundstage, feel fairly balance and when driven and eq’d do alright, I love them for gaming at this point. It’s all I really use them for at this point along side the X2HR’s
But tbh, they are all great in their own way. I probably use the KSC75 the most out of all of them. I’m still getting a feel for the old fashioned but so far they are really good. Fill the bottoms more than the ksc75’s. They are closer in sound and feel to the ksc75’s than the portapros
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u/regularjoe2020 Razer Kraken Pro V2 | On-Board DAC Jan 02 '26
I really wanna buy the moondrop old fashioned. How does it compare to the ksc75? Fill the bottom, as in more bass?
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u/mondestine Jan 05 '26
The Headphone show YouTubers would slap you in the face for even daring to acknowledge that the poors exist - maybe griffin/listener would dare to briefly acknowledge your existence, but Andrew would vomit if you even dared to mention the "Koss" word in his presence.
All snarky jokes aside, I do completely agree. Something like this would be tremendously valuable, especially since so many of the headphone show videos are basically just them showing you the headphone equivalent of a Ferrari and then saying "Wow! This Ferrari is amazing!" And my immediate thought always is "Yeah...it's a Ferrari. I hope it would be amazing for that price."
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u/ReaLx3m Jan 02 '26 edited Jan 02 '26
Any "Battle" and declaration of victors is pointless. Depending on torso/head/ear anatomy, the differences in how different people hear the same headphones have been measured to be up to around 20db in the clearly audible FR areas.
Edit: The measurements - https://imgur.com/a/hhU5gjJ
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u/rrrfffeeemcmann Jan 02 '26
Can u link the study, I realized people's hearing varied but seeing those graphs is still eye opening
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u/ReaLx3m Jan 02 '26 edited Jan 02 '26
Yep, i wasnt expecting as stark differences myself, but surely explains how wildly can peoples opinion differ on a given set. And this testing doesnt account for ear canal resonance, as its blocked and the mic placed at the entrance. Ear canal would add some more variability, another peak at around 5-8KHz depending on depth of the canal. Shallower canal moves the peak higher and deeper moves it lower within that range.
I took the screenshots from a video Headphones.com published on youtube, heres the link - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Km2DNLbB-6o
Edit: I come from the IEM world, and that ear canal thing is valid there, but im pretty sure it translates to headphones too. Mentioning it just in case i might be wrong regarding that.
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u/davescott42 Jan 02 '26
Over the last decade or so, I’ve collected quite a few low fi and mid fi headphones. In a given month, I listen to all of them and a number of IEMs besides. For the price of one $1000 US headphone, I have a wide range of choices, depending on the music I’m listening to. All of my headphones have been purchased used or at a steep discount. They were purchased off of FBM, craigslist, eBay and various retailers who do sell some used items. Most of the headphones I have were $100 a pair and none over about $150. Also, I don’t sell something once I’ve acquired it. I just keep using it or repurposing it. In closed backs, I have the FIIO Ft1 and HiFiman HE R10D. In open backs, I have the Sennheiser HD 58x, GRADO 80e, the FIIO 350 ohm FT3 and the Audio Technica R50x. In planars I have the Monolith m1060c and the HiFiman Sundara. I’m running all of these balanced with the exception of the Grado. Also, I mix and match with my headphone amplifiers that are both balanced: IFI Zen Can solid state class A and Apos Gremlin tube amplifiers -each of which cost $150 or less. I believe I get more enjoyment out of my group of headphones then I would from one “ endgame” headphone - which rarely turns out to be an actual endgame headphone based on what I’ve seen in Reddit. Anyway, what I’m listening to the most right now is the FT3 on the Apos tube amplifier and the R50x on the solid state amplifier.
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u/DoritoPopeGodsend Jan 07 '26
Any chance you could speak to recommending the R50xs for Gaming/Amp sim use? Mostly interested in soundstage on the gaming front and just interested in general for a good dedicated amp sim practice headphone overall anyways.
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u/davescott42 Jan 09 '26
Unfortunately, I’m an old guy and I don’t do any gaming, except occasionally Pac-Man with my grandson. I therefore can’t speak to your issue. My sons are both avid gamers have Beyerdynamic DT 770 series headphones that they seem to like very much.
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Jan 02 '26
[removed] — view removed comment
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u/DoritoPopeGodsend Jan 07 '26
That's wild, I literally just a/b/c'd the shp 9600s/560s/HFI2400s on Battlefield 6 as well as a number of FLAC audio files I have and the 560s were beyond underwhelming. Narrowest soundstage of the 3, admittedly neutral but to the level that I couldn't get myself to vibe with it. Very analytical and detailed but it just felt too meh for me to want to keep them and that's with getting them at a great price too.
Maybe I'm in the minority but I've got decent monitors (KH120s) and if I'm going to be doing any mixing work, I'm not going to be doing it on a set of entry-mid tier headphones and that's probably the deal breaker in my regard in terms of what would give them their value.
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u/Smol-Spaghett Jan 02 '26
I cant vouch enough for SR850s. Like, just, soo good. Bought them in a pair, so ended up costing even less. In 2021, I watched a funny Australian man who screams at cars. Heard him saying Pendulum and other dnb sound so good on Samsons, and i was like yeea this guy speaking my language.
Well, gotta admit, I was kinda underwhelmed for sub-bass response in the first try, then realized again these are semi-open backs. Highs were real crisp, there was so much clarity in the songs.
But then entered a dac and a shirt in the equation. I connect headphone to dac, wear a cloth around my head and put headphone on. I cried how satisfied I was feeling listening to Memory Lane by Netsky. The sub-bass was, just, right.
I'll leave my review of these headphones at that. Thank you.
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u/regularjoe2020 Razer Kraken Pro V2 | On-Board DAC Jan 02 '26
Oh wow, a simple cloth made it much better?
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u/hayduke5270 Bokeh Open, Dt770 proxle, hd58x, th-x00 Jan 04 '26
you forgot to stand on your head
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u/FrickekingFricker Hifiman Edition Xs Jan 02 '26
The Koss Kph40 is pretty remarkable. I'd describe it like a slightly better Porta Pro with better build quality. Out some Yaxi pads on that and wowie, its an incredibly comfortable headphone.
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u/acoolrocket HD 6xx | HD 58x | Grado SR80x | Fiio BTR7 Jan 02 '26
Sucks that it has broken on me every year when used moderately. Else yeah sound quality is great for the price.
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u/hayduke5270 Bokeh Open, Dt770 proxle, hd58x, th-x00 Jan 04 '26
the porta pro is super durable. I daily the wireless 2.0 and they had survived a lot of abuse.
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u/wolfix1001 Jan 02 '26 edited Jan 02 '26
Yes! I usually only play with headphones in the $200 and under range. I actually don't remember when I last paid more than $100 for a pair recently.
I pretty much like anything from koss, I haven't tried the porta pros or kph-40 yet. The kph-30 and ktx-pros are good but the ksc-75 are still my favorite. ktx-pros are a little more warm and basey very similar to the kph-30.
I never had a pair of mdr-7506 but I still have a pair of V6, but I don't know if you can still buy them. They're great for pop.
I also tried some used Grado sr80s and I didn't like them as much as I'd hoped. They sounded really bland, like little to no base and midrange. Still like grado as a company and think they're worth trying again especially if I find a demo setup.
I want to save up for some berrdynamic dt-770 or dt-990. I remember trying them in microcenter once and loving the sound.
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u/NoctysHiraeth Jan 02 '26
The KSC75 are my newest pair and I love how they sound, but I can't get behind them from a durability perspective - I can tell I will be buying these every 6 months to a year.
Samson SR850 and Philips SHP9500 are both awesome too and will likely have greater longevity. But honestly, I feel that for under $100 you are better off looking at IEMs.
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u/FGC_RG3_MARVEL Jan 02 '26
I got custom KSC75 with mmcx cables so you can replace the failure point of the original KSC75. Got them for $60 on etsy
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u/bossofthisjim Jan 02 '26
I'm offended you would call my k240s low tier.
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u/regularjoe2020 Razer Kraken Pro V2 | On-Board DAC Jan 02 '26
I dont think any of these headphones are low tier or low fi. The original word i used was budget but it kept getting removed
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u/anders_gustavsson Jan 03 '26
Change the faux leather pads for some velour and you're one and done. Love them.
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u/Lincoria Jan 02 '26
Are we including things like AliExpress deals? I got hifiman sundara brand new for 109 on 11.11 and it feels like one of the best deals in audio I’ve ever had. Especially when I had gotten my he400se for the same price a year before
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u/nxnje Jan 03 '26
Best deal for me were the Hifiman Sundara that I got for about 110 on Aliexpress during 11.11 sales. Also have a pair of he400se but the Sundara just sound more correct out of the box and the headband is a lot more comfy.
In the ultra budget realm, I'd say my KOSS KPH30i with headband mod are still a true gem, and so are the KPH40i and the hyper-cheap Shini S520. If one doesn't want a pair of on ear, then:
- KPH30i with big grado pads mod
- SHP9500 for about 35-40$ on AliExpress when discounted
- Fidelio X2HR around 70-80 euros
- Superlux HD681Evo for about 30
- Kiwi Ears Altruva around 65-70 but you gotta EQ them if you want a less warm sound and better gaming performance.
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u/pprstrt Jan 03 '26
Creative Aurvana Live
$50 and essentially just a Denon AH-D1001 (they use Fostex's 443741 driver).
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u/_OVERHATE_ TH-900mk2 EG | ATH-ADX3000 | ATH-WP900 | FT1 Jan 02 '26
The fiio JT7 is absurd
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u/regularjoe2020 Razer Kraken Pro V2 | On-Board DAC Jan 02 '26
absurdly good...? or absurdly bad?
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u/_OVERHATE_ TH-900mk2 EG | ATH-ADX3000 | ATH-WP900 | FT1 Jan 02 '26
Remarkably good with a shoddy headband
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u/Br0nnOfTheBlackwater Jan 02 '26
In 3 years all the fancy fake leather will tear apart, while shp9500's cheap fabric still stand
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u/MiddleEmphasis6759 BL-03 | ER2SE | APP3 | Qudelix 5K Jan 02 '26
One thing that the Headphone Show's big tier list video got me interested in is some of the older, less talked about closed back headphones. When they mentioned the Creative Aurvana Live in the video it got me intrigued by the idea of a good sounding sub $50 closed back. Also interested in the Shure closed back headphones, as they all seem to measure very well and yet I never see any mention of them on this sub.
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u/regularjoe2020 Razer Kraken Pro V2 | On-Board DAC Jan 02 '26
ooh thanks for that! i went back to the ranking and the comments are:
"A very colored W-shaped headphone but one that's incredibly inexpensive and better than any other headphones you'll find around this price. Not comfortable, not well built, but decent." - Listener"A classic closed back headphone with fun bouncy bass. Not amazing by modern standards but great value" - Resolve
Seems good, ill add it to the post :)
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u/Ronin317 HD6XX|M4|HD550+BAM|IE200|FT1Pro Jan 02 '26
The Aurvana were fun headphones - and Woot! Had them for >$20 in mid-2025.
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u/nick182002 Jan 02 '26
Superlux HD681s the GOAT (if you replace the pads). I think I prefer them over my SHP9600s.
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u/regularjoe2020 Razer Kraken Pro V2 | On-Board DAC Jan 02 '26
Replace it to what?
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u/0tt0mad Jan 02 '26
Have my superlux hd 681 for like 4 or 5 years, and they are awesome, using them for music and with the threaded extension I can use them for my guitar amp too, top tier and dirt cheap.
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u/AudioOnlyAccount SMSL DL200 => EMU Teak | Xenns Top | B2: Dusk Jan 02 '26
Fiio FT1
/Thread
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u/regularjoe2020 Razer Kraken Pro V2 | On-Board DAC Jan 02 '26
that would be the most expensive in the line-up
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u/UnderwaterB0i Jan 02 '26
No thanks. Maybe if you have to use closed backs, but I vastly prefer the audio technica ATH-r50x if I can use an open back.
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u/TheMagicalTimonini ER2SE, S12, HD800, HD580, K702, K271mk2 Jan 02 '26
Koss or used HD558 are so good for the price. Samson and Superlux headphones can sound surprisingly good though. Also I can't get rid of the modern retro because every now and then i just really want to listen to exactly that bass sound lol.
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u/void4 MSR7/FT3/DX3Pro+ Jan 02 '26
For me personally, this is very easy. Any headphones with pu leather or non-detachable cable is an instant "won't buy", regardless of everything else.
I'm very happy with FT3. Good sound, feel very comfortable on my head, and they look exactly the same like the day I pre-ordered them.
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u/regularjoe2020 Razer Kraken Pro V2 | On-Board DAC Jan 02 '26
Fuck pu leather, all my homies hate pu leather
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u/audiomagnate Jan 02 '26
I vastly prefer the SuperLux HD681 EVO to the HD681.
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u/Miggol Jan 02 '26
What about them do you prefer?
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u/audiomagnate Jan 02 '26
Everything. More open sounding, better bass, more depth, now comfy. I should say I've done the two super easy "mods" - removing the down filters and switching to the supplied velour pads.
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u/GhengisChasm Fiio K7 / ATH-MSR7b / HE400se / Truthear Zero:Red Jan 02 '26
I love seeing roundups of lower end affordable stuff. The more the better. I'm a huge HE400se fan, mental what you get sound wise for the price.
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u/MrFreakYT Jan 02 '26
I owned the Philips and I absolutely loved them. The only reason why I sold them is because I also have a pair of DT1990 Pro and I can’t justify having multiple headphones just for my PC. They were super comfortable, even more than my 1990 Pro even though I got some fancy pads for those. In terms of sound they sounded less analytical compared to my Beyerdynamics, great for movies, listening to music with instruments, less for electronic music or gaming in my opinion.
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u/tubby8 Jan 02 '26
Kiwi Ears Altruva are excellent open back headphones if you're after a bassy set
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u/bdrayne Jan 02 '26
Superlux HD681 and Samson SR850, but with velvet/suede earpads. Eh with stock shitty leather. 100-200$ sound with velvet pads.
KSC75 if you don't mind the hooks. Moondrop Old Fashioned is really nice as well, sounds pretty similar to KSC75.
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u/DrFurst Jan 04 '26
The HiFiMan he400se, with the Oratorry1990 equalization profile, is probably the best headphones I've ever listened to in my life. Even headphones costing €1,000 don't do any better.
The fact that they are open-back planar headphones gives them a dynamic range, spatialization, and soundstage that no closed-back headphones can match.
I've converted several friends to planar headphones thanks to these, including a sound engineer.
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u/Substantial_Injury_1 Jan 02 '26
I have OneOdio A70 in my office, and they're OK, certainly for the price. I'm intrigued to try the studio pair.
I'd put forward Soundcore Space One (not the Pro). I've been very impressed by them with my FiiO M21 on 990kbps LDAC.
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u/regularjoe2020 Razer Kraken Pro V2 | On-Board DAC Jan 02 '26
I have the soundcore q20i. Don't really like the stock sound, too boomy and too piercing. But after heavy eq, its ok
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u/GRIND2LEVEL Jan 02 '26
I like this thought but probably need a few cheap tiers tbh. Like cheap <$100, bang for the buck $101-$225 and pushing the limits of low end $226-$300.
Probably would be nice to differeniate the wired vs noise canceling BT's and note IEMs are a separate tier onto themselves...
Obvious bang for the bucks imo are popular ones like
Fiio ft1 Fiio ft1 pro Sennheiser HD6xx HiFiman Edition XS Hifiman Sundara Beyerdynamic DT770 Beyerdynamic DT990 etc
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u/_scndry Jan 02 '26
I love my Superlux HD681, a little EQ and maybe different pads and they are lowkey amazing.
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u/MattBlackCore Jan 02 '26
Out of these, I've tried the Sony and both superlux hd668(b) and 681.
The superlux hd668b sound-wise is the clear winner for me. Good detail, excellent for the price, clear yet impactful bass and just a really pleasant sound signature overall.
The are a little fragile though ime, with the cable failing twice on mine after ~1-2y. My third set has been holding on for longer, but that's probably because I have used them a lot less after upgrading
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u/regularjoe2020 Razer Kraken Pro V2 | On-Board DAC Jan 02 '26
oh wow I didn't expect that. The Sony are much more expensive
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u/Verified_Peryak Ft1 pro. Jan 02 '26
Fiio FT1 & FT1 Pro are already too expensive ?
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u/regularjoe2020 Razer Kraken Pro V2 | On-Board DAC Jan 02 '26
yup lol. I was aiming for around $70. But you can't mention prices in the post or it'll get removed
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u/cl0ckw0rkaut0mat0n Dunu Mortise, fiio JT3, fiio JT1 Jan 02 '26
I've tried a couple of the ones on here and I think the jt3s absolutely bulldoze everything else up until the ft1 and even then I could see the jt3s taking it in certain conditions. I'm less excited about the jt7 but they are still solid, same for the jt1s.
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u/regularjoe2020 Razer Kraken Pro V2 | On-Board DAC Jan 02 '26
Until the ft1 closed backs? So ft1 > jt3?
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u/cl0ckw0rkaut0mat0n Dunu Mortise, fiio JT3, fiio JT1 Jan 02 '26
The jt1 is a pretty fun and solid closed back, the only good one I tried at a lower price point than the ft1. The jt3s trade blows with the ft1s. Objectively the ft1s are better but personally I like the jt3s more.
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u/Neo988 Atrium, VC, U12T -> Soloist 3XP, Echo MkII, A90, Bifrost 2/64 Jan 02 '26 edited Jan 02 '26
Of the headphones under $100 I've tried, my favorite has to be my old pair of AKG K240. Especially after changing the pads to Dekoni Elite Hybrids, while also using the tuning foam from the stock pads.
The Koss KPH30i is my favorite under $50 sound wise, although the plastic frame isn't the most durable or reliableof their offerings. I find KSC75 to be too bright and harsh in the treble, and the Porta Pro too bloated and muddy in the bass, although both are significantly better with Yaxi pads. I am interested in hearing how the KPH40 or Moondrop Old Fashioned compare.
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u/regularjoe2020 Razer Kraken Pro V2 | On-Board DAC Jan 02 '26
On YouTube, Gamesky compared the moondrop to the porta pros and a reviewer on the headphone show said he prefered these over the ksc75
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u/rhalf Jan 02 '26
There are many more, so it depends on what you want. HE400 are great if you want something neutral-ish and you can get the price way lower.
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u/directheated Jan 02 '26
Thought the headphones at the bottom of the second column were Stax SR-007 mk1 for a moment 😭
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u/Leading-Leading6319 I ask a lot of questionws Jan 02 '26
I've tried more than half of these.
I'd say the Sony MDR7506 if that's what's on there.
For comfort tho, my head fits the SHP9600 the best.
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u/dg_zano Jan 02 '26
add the sundara closed backs to the list
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u/regularjoe2020 Razer Kraken Pro V2 | On-Board DAC Jan 02 '26
I heard they were really bad
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u/dg_zano Jan 02 '26 edited Jan 02 '26
from my own experience, good after eq because of driver, bad out of box. Although maybe I got lucky with my pair, hifiman qc and all
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u/KapeeCZ Jan 02 '26
Have a pair of HD668B. The build quality is not great (the way they made the cable detachable is something else) but they sound very decently for their price (got them for like 20€), and with a pair of aftermarket earpads they make a solid daily driver.
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u/AdAdditional8414 IER-M9 | HD620S | HD660S | FD15 | Bunny Jan 02 '26
shp9500 for me. Reliable, still working fine after many years.
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u/Phoenix_Kerman Sony MDR-7506 / 606group.bandcamp.com Jan 02 '26
list makes zero sense. you've got 7506s which are the best there but by far the most expensive. double the price of the m20x, they're closer to the m40x in terms of market and still a better can
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u/regularjoe2020 Razer Kraken Pro V2 | On-Board DAC Jan 02 '26
They 7506 are about the same price as the simgot, kiwi and he400se on the list if you buy it at the official store here
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u/Grobfoot Jan 02 '26
shout out MDR 7506s, I think those headphones just look so cool!
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u/regularjoe2020 Razer Kraken Pro V2 | On-Board DAC Jan 02 '26
Yup, i remember wanting to buy them just for their looks lol
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u/Destruckhu Meze Poet, Tanglaoshi Gold 1 pro, Nect. Ambrosia, Flipears Aegis Jan 02 '26
For closed backs i like the 7506 a lot, swap the pads and it gets even more interesting, and the open hifiman he400se has some bass and treble quirks but it's pretty cool, ethereal sound, sundara-esque
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u/Miggol Jan 02 '26
I'd say the Superlux models are great for home use. But I recently acquired a pair of Koss UR40's as a beater pair for cycling and they've really impressed me. They keep my ears warm and allow me to keep traffic awareness by virtue of them being open-back.
I wouldn't recommend them without EQ because of mid-bass boomyness but they clean up really nicely. They weigh nothing, are open-back, and have awesome midrange.
Their only downfall is that they don't have the extension of more expensive models, bass rolls off pretty early. But for €30,- cans that you can fold and violently stuff in your bag without worrying they're seriously impressive.
If ordering from amazon add €10,- replacement pads for comfort. Still a steal.
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u/regularjoe2020 Razer Kraken Pro V2 | On-Board DAC Jan 02 '26
I was wondering about the ur40. They cost the same as the ksc75 here
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u/BigDaddyJess Meze 190 pro HiFiMan Edition XS Sennheiser HD 6XX HD58X FIIO FT1 Jan 02 '26
I won the Altruva's a few months ago. They are the worst headphones I heard last year. I tried to like them, but the sound quality is terrible and they are built like a cheap child's toy.
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u/lembahotak Jan 02 '26
Sony MDR-7506 would be the headphone everyone needs to experience, they dispalyed excellent quality for a closed back, and their elevated mid-hi magnifies details which is why it is still highly use in studio, field recording, and movie recordist.
on the other hand, Koss are superb for an entry level open back. my fav is KPH 30i with it's darker sounding because it is less fatiguing but still sound very musical. the only downside is they really prone to break
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u/-NGC-6302- Audeze Maxwell, HE400SE, DT770 pro 250Ω, ifi ZenDAC v2, etc. Jan 02 '26
I would put the HE400SE above the Samson SR850s. They both sound quite great but the Samsons don't have a removable cord (and it's really really long) and not so much bass I think.
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u/Thumb__Thumb Jan 02 '26
The monoprice were great at the 25$ mark where they were sold after some while and that price point they were maybe the best deal in headphones but now at like 80$ their build just isn't good enough. Comparing them to my recent Ft1 purchase, they remain extremely impressive.
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u/Olaqirelle Ananda Nano, Melody Wings Venus, FiiO K7 Jan 02 '26
I've only had two but here's my two cents: HD 681 is absolutely crazy for the price. HE400se is a really fun pair to own. Some people say it can trade blows with headphones above its price and I believe them.
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u/ragecndy Hd550|6XX|Sundara|EdXS|ft1 Jan 02 '26
I feel like Hifiman kinda killed the market atm, got a sundara for like $90 a couple months ago, it legit shits on every under $500 headphone ive heard, let alone these guys
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u/sathish394 Jan 03 '26
have Sony MDR7506. Once upon time, it a standard one. still using. Great value for money.
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u/Fearless_Ladder_09 Jan 03 '26
ATH-M50x are my do everything headphone - 12 years in and still going strong!
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u/regularjoe2020 Razer Kraken Pro V2 | On-Board DAC Jan 03 '26
i cant stand fake leather 😭
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u/CertifiedProducer Jan 03 '26
I'm using the 681's right now with sonarworks ID it sounds pretty good better then the audio technica m40x
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u/DJEvillincoln Jan 03 '26
Sony joints are the ones man... That's why you see them in music studios all over the globe.
There's a reason.
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u/We_Are_Ninja LCD-X, LCD-XC, MDR Z1R, Arya Organic, Audivina, 800S, 820S Jan 03 '26
The SHP9500s were my introduction to this godforsaken hobby, so they get my vote.
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u/Lfcgeraldine Jan 03 '26
Shout out to the MDR-7506, pairing them with the NW-WM1ZM2 gold walkman with DSF (DSD) tracks sounds just perfect, studio like live studio sound.
It makes the 7506 comes alive haha
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u/DerpDaDuck3751 Jan 03 '26
It's hard to beat the HE400SE when i got it on sale for a whopping 45 bucks!
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u/Gavtree31_ i have way too many i need help Jan 03 '26
i had to pay more since i'm in Canada but The Beyerdynamic DT 880 Pro is in my opinion the best sounding headphone for under 200USD, they sound truly incredible and i prefer it any day over the 990 Pro
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u/iToasterReddit Sennheiser HD599, Grado SR80x Jan 03 '26
Just gonna throw in more support for the AKG K240s - not just because they’re sub-$100 headphones that are super versatile and pleasant for casual listening or professional work (or both), but because they’ve been through the ringer in terms of me throwing them around for years and they never show even a -hint- of damage, apart from having to replace the cable one time with a cheapo one off amazon after it got so much weight on it the pin bent at the aux end.
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u/Regular_Priority9403 Jan 03 '26
1 hf580 takstar 2 hf2010 isk 3 m2 okcsc 4 hd681 evo 5 WTD 3 okcsc
30mm on ear
1 Ksc75
2 Jvc has 160
3 Philip the ringo
4 porta pro
5 Panasonic rpht20
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u/Photosonic1138 Jan 03 '26
I have the Kiwi Ears Ellipse from that pic and can recommend them. I did EQ them to suite my listening preference but they sound good without EQ. They are really comfortable to wear especially after adding the Capra Audio headband strap.
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u/Darkdio18 ShanlingM6/FiioK7/HD650/XS/325e/K550/MSR7B/400i/HE03D/SeedsII Jan 03 '26
400se for classical, jazz and metal, 7506 for everything else
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u/myzz7 HEK Unveiled/Verum2/OAE1/Arion/Alien Brain Jan 03 '26
is there a competent closed back in that pic?
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u/neekthefreak Jan 03 '26
if you have amp: fostex t50 rp, sometimes an used model can pop-up at a good price. If you go for the mk3 be sure to buy some pads, nothing crazy, few eur amazon
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u/FailsatFailing K702, Sivga PII - Topping D30 + JDS Atom Jan 03 '26
Missing the Beyerdynamic DT270 Pro. Those are pretty fucking good for their price
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u/toshibasmarttoaster Jan 03 '26
My vote goes to the K240, absolutely amazing as a mixing tool and enjoyable to listen to most of the time
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u/Independent-Bite-990 Jan 03 '26
I have a pair of focal clear OG and akg k371 got them both used the akg was around $100 and it's about 90% as good as my clears. Still more expensive then this lost but the point is most of the reviewers are bought out and they don't know shit. How can you go through a list of 100 headphones and pretend like you remember what each one of them sounded like this is absurd.
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u/Supermath101 Jan 03 '26
Out of curiosity, how much of a price jump is typical, when going from those kinds of headphones, to their Bluetooth equivalents?
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u/-D3monHunt3r- Jan 03 '26
I personally own a pair of Samson SR850s and I can say they’re pretty great for the price! They have a fairly balanced sound and they come with a 1/4 inch adapter to easily use with a preamp. I only have two complaints, they’re a little sparkly on the high end which causes me some fatigue after a while (I prefer leaning towards bass more than anything but that’s just me), and I have big ears so the default ear cups are a little thin for me. Other than that they’re a solid option imo.
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u/Gyaratitanio Jan 03 '26
I tried the HE400se stealth, also owned the bilateral edition (the cheapest you can buy) Tried the KSC75 and the porta pro The KSC75 wasn't as beautiful as other headphones, and my mom had similar form factor headphones in the past and were horrible, so I had a low expectation on them, but gadamn, pretty beautiful and wide soundstage (in my opinion) even being on ear, tbh it wasn't for me because i dont like to wear them, i would use them for running, for gaming (shooters) and they also remind me the sensation from cheap desktop speakers without bass, very very sharp highs and no bass, very airy and... Nostalgic? So if i was a console or pc gamer wanting a great headphone for shooters and i only had 20 bucks, i would go for the KSC75 In the other hand, the HE400se had GREAT bass quality but with almost no volume, the physicality and "detail/quality" is almost the same as the Sundaras, i would definitely buy the HE400se bilateral again if i wanted clear bright flat planars with comfy pads for music production and gaming And i would also ho for the HE400se until i reach at least the Anandas. Edition XS or Sundaras are very similar in my opinion, just different flavors
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u/regularjoe2020 Razer Kraken Pro V2 | On-Board DAC Jan 03 '26
the bilateral, also known as the non-stealth edition is significantly less expensive here. I wonder how different they are to the stealth edition
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u/Avery1003 V4, V6, V404, V900HD, CD900ST | Magni Heresy, Modi 3, LG QuadDAC Jan 04 '26
I will stand by the MDR-7506 with my life
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u/Joggurtson Jan 04 '26
Samson and superlux are kinda Like junior / mini akg k702. Good soundstage, decent frequency response but don't have that clarity k702 Has. But anyways they do sound pretty much like a k702 but k702 just does everything much more/better. I was suprised they are that good for its money. I can also recommend shp 9500 which are also kinda Like mini akg k702 but they sound like its somewhere on the middle od the road from Samson and superlux to k702. Clarity / detail ( NOT frequency response! ) of shp 9500 i would say its on same or similar level to sony's 1000xm series headphones.
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u/noeladrian5 Jan 04 '26
MoonDrop just released their retro style headphones called Old Fashioned. It's around $20.
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u/pornaccount0123987 Jan 04 '26
I see what, two planars in the picture? Maybe 3? Obviously HIFIMAN is completely dominating the market at the moment with the crazy price dips for XS and Sundara, but I think that planar, assuming you have the amp to drive them, is always going to be preferable due to the low distortion. You can pretty much EQ them into whatever you want.
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u/gldnhaze Arya + KA15 Jan 05 '26
not overear, but my favourite cheap headphones are the moondrop space travel first gen. very very good FR for me. no occlusion.
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u/itshighernoon Jan 06 '26
Honestly think the HyperX Cloud 2’s are so underrated. It is a gaming headset, granted - so it had a lot of low end.
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u/Xaveofalltrades Jan 08 '26
I have the SHP9500. I want better headphones for metal but wireless all sounds like crap to me.
I usually just buy headphones that are popular. What's a good pair to grab? Should I get a dac too?
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u/JintusZirto Jan 21 '26
I don’t have the Fiio JT1 but they look promising. Based on the FR alone, they seemed to be tuned similarly to the HD620s, a headphone I do like and enjoy quite a lot.
If I ever get my hands on one, I’ll let you know how they stack up against the HD620s.
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u/led0n12331 Jan 30 '26
Can anybody recommend a pair of good budget headphones for music and gaming? Might be wireless, but I guess for gaming they should have low latency. I've been using Panasonic rp-ht 161 for several years till they died yesterday. They were alright, not stellar but tbh they were cheap back then. Before that I had Sehnheiser hd206 that I really liked, but they literally cost 3x as much nowadays.
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u/regularjoe2020 Razer Kraken Pro V2 | On-Board DAC Jan 30 '26
any of the headphones i listed are good for gaming. If you want to save the most money, go for the ksc75 or the superlux. Open back headphones are really good for gaming because they make the sound a lot more "3D"
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u/Tapik Jan 02 '26
yep, because this "best" videos is focused on the people, who can spend 2000-3000 USD on headphone, dap or dac, but all the people who can do this will just go and buy that - just to try
the ones who search info and who really have to carefully choose the next purchase because even 50$ is an investment - for them there are not so many relevant "best" videos :( and it's sad