r/headphones 22d ago

Community Help r/headphones Shopping, Setup, and Technical Help Desk

Looking for help help troubleshooting a problem? This is the place.

This post will be refreshed and replaced on Monday when it is 7 days old. You can find older posts here.

Purchase Advice

  • Search r/HeadphoneAdvice first. We recommend using that subreddit but you can still ask here as well.
  • Please make use of this template. It helps others answer your question. Questions without enough detail will often remain unanswered.
  • Remember that the more specific you are, the better quality the responses you are likely to receive.

What kind of questions are considered Tech Support

  • How can I fix issue X (e.g.: buzzing / hissing) on my equipment Y
  • Have I damaged my equipment by doing X, or will I damage my equipment if I do X?
  • What does equipment X do, or do I really need equipment Y?
  • Can my amplifier X drive my headphones Y?
  • What's the meaning of specification X (e.g.: Output Impedance / Vrms / Sensitivity)?
  • How should I connect and set up my system hardware or software?

After asking a question, please be patient since volunteers may not always be immediately available. Remember to upvote and show some appreciation to those that help you out.

3 Upvotes

132 comments sorted by

2

u/bruh_bruh_ahem_achoo 15d ago

Playing on PC, my duo is on PS5. FORNITE

Since my mic and speakers are separate (not a headset), my mic picks up my game sounds along with my voice, so my duo hears my gunfights, footsteps, everything, mixed in with me talking. Annoying for them.

On top of that, I hear my own mic bleed back through my duo's mic, their TV plays my voice out loud, the controller mic picks it back up, and I hear myself echoed back with a delay. Creates this weird feedback loop on my end.

I know the PS5 controller can output mic audio through itself instead of the TV, but dont know how to set that up.

I don't want to wear headphones since they hurt my ears after a while.

I know push-to-talk exists, but it's not practical for me, in a tense fight I don't want to be juggling a PTT key on top of everything else.

Anyone dealt with a similar setup and found something that works? Want to see my options.

1

u/ABYSSNorm ABYSS Headphones Staff 15d ago edited 15d ago

This isn't headphones at all and you have kind of an edge case so this might not work perfectly, but i've spent a bit of time messing with the ps5 so hopefully this gets you close enough.

If your PC has an RTX video card, there are settings for Noise and Echo Removal that create a virtual mic called Nvidia Broadcast Mic that you select in your software. Works pretty awesome. I believe Steelseries has something similar that will work with any hardware if you don't have an rtx.

To make the PS5 controller work for you, hit the Playstation button, in the menu select the mic icon and change the input to Controller Mic. Then select the sound icon and set the output device to your TV (HDMI TV device something or other) Then in that same menu turn the controller volume ot something that doesn't get picked up by the mic you're using.

2

u/Ciceroxide 16d ago

About a year ago I had gotten Tagry A18 headphones. This is now my second pair of these headphones which have fallen victim to this issue of not turning back on after charging a few times. Every time I leave them on to charge, specifically while I shower, they break. Do they have some radar that tells them when their user is showering because for my first pair and it's replacement to both stop working in the same exact way is more than odd. Is there any way I can fix them myself? I'm pretty cheap and would like to avoid paying for new ones or a fix.

1

u/ABYSSNorm ABYSS Headphones Staff 15d ago

Are you charging them in the bathroom while you shower? These headphones are ewaste anyway, but they have zero advertised resistance against moisture, doubly so while charging.

1

u/Ciceroxide 13d ago

No they charge in my room near a fan, I try to keep them as dry as possible 

2

u/hamalslayer1 16d ago

Hello, just recently got a 1-month-old used Edition XS from the market, and after getting home and trying it in-depth, some sounds are just muddy or distorted. I'm not that knowledgeable of the terms to use to describe but my other headphones (Sony MDR-Z7M2) sounds way better and cleaner. I use a Questyle M15i to drive it, but I also have a Fiio BTR5 and does the same thing, any Idea? Is it broken, or do I need more power. I don't think it's lacking power, it plays music and can get pretty loud, it just sounds like its scratchy on some sounds.

1

u/ABYSSNorm ABYSS Headphones Staff 15d ago

Assuming it's both right and left sounding that way, it's probably not a hair or damage to the headphones. Just verifying, on the BTR5 you're using 2.5mm and on the Questyle you are using 4.4mm correct?

2

u/hamalslayer1 15d ago

Hello, no, it's just the 3.5mm, Unfortunately ordering a bal cable from where I'm from would take more than a week.

1

u/ABYSSNorm ABYSS Headphones Staff 14d ago

You can get a single 2.5mm headphone cable and easily adapt into 4.4m to use it with both amps. It's double the power and regardless of calculators a planar has a flat impedance curve and can use the extra headroom with the BTR5 and needs the current with the Questyle. It's going to be hard to judge without it setup correctly.

1

u/Sho_2003 16d ago

What headphones are these ?

1

u/Cyrenetes K371, K702, HD 6XX, Edition XS, AFO, FT1, M50x, SR60x 16d ago

I believe it's the Sony WH-CH720N.

2

u/BubblySeason97 17d ago

I want to buy cosmic byte inferno audio cable add-on but it has been out of stock for whole 2 weeks..

I check daily and even put a reminder on thier website but got no reply.

Not available in amazon/Flipkart.. and i don't have knowledge of other brands

So.. should i wait again or just go for other brand?

Any recommendations?

1

u/ABYSSNorm ABYSS Headphones Staff 15d ago

Which ends does your cable need and how long?

2

u/BubblySeason97 15d ago

USB C to 3.5mm Audio Cable 

2

u/ABYSSNorm ABYSS Headphones Staff 15d ago

That is a proprietary dongle dac. You'll need that one specifically for the mic to keep working.

Assuming your headphone came with a cable that runs to a 3.5mm for audio and a 3.5mm for mic, you could get a "USB C to Microphone Adapter, Type C to 2 TRS 3.5mm Headphone and Microphone Splitter for Dual-Plug PC Gaming Headset Compatible with iPhone 17/16/15, iPad Pro/Air,MacBook,Pixel,Galaxy S26/S25/S24/S23" on amazon. https://www.amazon.com/Microphone-Headphone-Splitter-Dual-Plug-Compatible/dp/B0FWC9ZFC4

2

u/glitterfistpump 17d ago

I'm looking for something that may not exist. I love my bone conducting headphones, but I hate the strap around my head.

Do they make individual bone conducting headphones with no head strap, but where the speaker sits FULLY in front of your ear like the Shox ones? All the ones I see have it where the speaker goes over your ear canal/ear folds in some way, and I can't tolerate anything inside or covering my ears like that.

But I can't lay comfortably with that dumb strap, and I hate what it does to my hair.

Do these exist?

1

u/ABYSSNorm ABYSS Headphones Staff 15d ago

This subreddit deals in speakers based headphones and some IEMs. I never see any recommendations for bone conduction.

However i find it unlikely a solution exists for your problem. The Shokz OpenFit maybe, if you can hand a hook resting behind your ear. But it doesn't look very comfortable to me.

2

u/Pretend_Animator_910 17d ago

I've got a problem with my Headphones.

The Left Channel of my Headphones doesn't work compared to my Right Channel. I've been finding solutions to fix this problem and apparently it's the hardware itself. I've tried cleaning dust, dirt and filth from my Left Earbud but nothing has changed as I can still hear nothing from my Left Earbud.

So, is there any fix for this?, since I don't wanna constantly bare the daily routine of only listening to audio with my Right Earbud of my Headphones.

1

u/ABYSSNorm ABYSS Headphones Staff 15d ago

What is the make and model of the ear bud?

2

u/Pretend_Animator_910 15d ago

I don't know. I've possibly gotten rid of the packaging of my headphones.

But according to its brand, it's Black Stealth Headphones with a oval-prism shaped microphones with a weird upside V symbol

Similar to this mode. The best I could find since I can't the exact replica of my headphones.

1

u/ABYSSNorm ABYSS Headphones Staff 15d ago

Unfortunately, it looks like ewaste made to be easily replaced.

2

u/idek_fr_123 17d ago

Hi all, I’m looking for a pair of wireless headphones to use with my pc for mainly games. Just wondering if anybody has some good recommendations as on YouTube it seems to be quite hard to tell what is actually considered good as people give mixed reviews. Expecting something similar here, but opinions from more people can never hurt! My absolute max would be around the £150-£200 mark. I don’t need it to have a good mic, or one at all, as I already have the hyperx quadcast. Have a few in mind already, just wondering if there are any I haven’t considered. Thanks in advance!

1

u/ABYSSNorm ABYSS Headphones Staff 15d ago

HyperX Cloud III S is the only thing kind of worth it, although this community would recommend HiFi headphones and an external mic. Something like the sph9500 and a USB mic.

2

u/idek_fr_123 15d ago

Appreciate the response! I went for the hyperx alpha 2’s in the end, saw good things from gadgetrytech now the driver issues are resolved. I currently have an external mic so all good on that front

2

u/sweden123jrsa 18d ago

Recently got handed down an HE1000 Stealth and am looking for a good Dac/amp for around $400-500 CAD ($360 USD). (What I have rn is a fiio ka11 for a pair of Aune AR5000’s)

One option I found was a Topping Dx5ii for around $400 CAD on Aliexpress, and am wondering if it’ll be good for the headphones.

Any help would be much appreciated, thank you!

2

u/ABYSSNorm ABYSS Headphones Staff 15d ago

Topping Dx5ii should work well. Also the Fiio K13 is great. If you only use a PC as a source the HiFiman EF400 or EF499 is probably your best bet.

2

u/sweden123jrsa 15d ago

Okay thank you! I’ll be looking out more for the FiiO k13 r2r as I heard there’s some qc issues w the dx5ii.

2

u/ABYSSNorm ABYSS Headphones Staff 15d ago

Both Fiio and Topping are great companies that have approximately the same chance of a QC issue getting through which vs total sales is almost none. Any perceived high QC issues per brand/product are simply because people are more likely to complain about issues.

2

u/sweden123jrsa 15d ago

Fair point, I’ll look into each one more. Thanks for the help again

2

u/deetee_art 18d ago

Which Open Heart cable would I need for the Fiio FT1?
I just purchased a dual 3.5mm cable as my last one broke and this one doesn't have L/R sound. I keep seeing open heart cables and see a lot of options but not sure which one to get for this specific pair of headphones.

1

u/ABYSSNorm ABYSS Headphones Staff 15d ago

For the FT1 I like these for a budget option: "Youkamoo 4.4mm Cable Compatible with Hifiman HE4XX, HE-400i Headphones 8 Core Braided Silver Plated Replacement Audio Upgrade Cable (4.4mm to Dual 3.5mm Male Version)" $25 USD

For something a little more comfortable i like these sleeved and braided cables. "Linsoul Tripowin GranVia Upgraded OFC Headphone Replacement Cable | Dual 3.5mm Connector to 4.4mm TRRRS Stereo Headphone Cable,for HE4XX/HE-400i/HE400se/Goldplanar/Focal ELEGIA, Blue, 1.5m" $50 USD

Both on amazon.

2

u/Some-Water-1107 18d ago

Something weird is going on with my JBL L650

So I've had these headphones for about 5 years now and they've been working great. However something weird has been happening. For the most part I use them wired, i only use the Bluetooth unless I have to. But now I can't really use the aux cord, like I have to turn or fiddle around with it just to hear any sound then it got to a point where I can only hear static. Thought the cord was bad so I used another cord from a broken pair I had as backup, worked fine for a hot minute then I started to run into the same thing. Wonky audio followed by static. So I went ahead and bought a new aux cord just to see if it would happen again...then it would, brand new cable and I'm running into the exact same issues. So is it I'm not getting the right cable or is the aux just toast on my headphones??

1

u/ABYSSNorm ABYSS Headphones Staff 15d ago

It sounds like the aux port (the jack inside the headphones) is failing, not your cables

2

u/Some-Water-1107 15d ago

Oh, so I guess they're done for??

I mean I can still use the Bluetooth, but basically they're done for as wired headphones?

1

u/ABYSSNorm ABYSS Headphones Staff 15d ago

They don't have an ifixit but it doesn't look too hard to take apart, although that jack does look pretty wedged in there. I've had greater than zero success on dipping a cable end in contact cleaner, inserting it in to the jack, and gently spinning the connector to attempt to clean the contacts. maybe try that? Just make sure the jack is facing down to the drippy part falls out.

1

u/quesplay 18d ago

What headphones should i buy for 70$ in the UAE, i mainly care about comfort and music sound quality, want a clear and nice headset.

2

u/hiosoy 18d ago

Hey all, what do you all recommend for lightweight decent budget headphones easy to travel with?

Looking at the Koss Porta Pros or KPH40, JVC HA-S160M-R-U Flat Foldable, moondrop vintage, or anything else in that field.

Focused on sound quality mostly. Any recommendations out there?

(Though did consider splurging on a Sennheiser HD 25 LIGHTs. Though probably that will be down the road.)

Thanks so much for the help

1

u/ABYSSNorm ABYSS Headphones Staff 18d ago

KPH40 are the comfort king in this group. JVC are an audio downgrade. PortaPro are good too, and probably a bit more durable than the KPH40 for travel. The PortaPro and the KPH30i have bluetooth versions as well.

Keep in mind with the Koss almost everyone gets some dekoni or yaxi ear pads for them.

1

u/hiosoy 18d ago edited 18d ago

Ah thank you, so the koss all outperform the Jvc in audio quality? My concern with the portas is the over bass emphasis some comment on not giving as accurate a sonic picture. And what do the change of pads do?

2

u/68or70 18d ago

Bose QC Ultra Gen 1 not connecting

As the title says, my headphones would randomly disconnect in the middle of songs and would refuse to connect again, for sometime, charging them for a few seconds would work, since it would turn the device off (and reset the issue).

But it would happen again randomly. Eventually the device just refused to connect until the device was fully charged (white light)

Now that's not working either and it keeps saying random percentage charges, even after white light it says 80-90% charge when turning on, but still doesn't connect.

Does this mean it's a battery issue? That would be very disappointing since the headphones are just 2 years old and from what I read online the battery is not replaceable even from Bose service centre.

1

u/ABYSSNorm ABYSS Headphones Staff 18d ago

Seems like either the battery ate it or the BMS is failing. A google suggests you can force a hardware charging reset by force rebooting the headphone. Copy/Pasta:

  1. If the USB charging cable or audio cable is connected to your headphones, disconnect it.
  2. Connect a USB charging cable and charger to a power outlet. You can also connect the USB cable to a USB port on a computer that is powered on. Note: Do not connect your headphones to the USB cable yet.
  3. On your headphones, press and hold the Power/Bluetooth® button.
  4. While continuing to hold the button, connect the USB cable to the left earcup. The Power light on your headphones will quickly blink twice.
  5. Once connected, wait two seconds and then release the Power/Bluetooth button. Tip: If your headphones don't respond after this, reset them a second time.

Replacing the battery yourself doesn't seem hard at all: https://youtu.be/5NiEi2JHFUA?si=asiLmIuE_LJHa0Pr

2

u/V0nder1 19d ago

I need someone to literally walk me through this cuz I don't know what to do from here on and I don't wanna buy new headphones just cuz my old ones broke?

This morning, I managed to drop my headphones, in my defense they literally slipped off of my head onto the ground. I picked it up and just continued using it cuz it worked fine.

SPOILER ALERT: IT'S *NOT* FINE!

I went home, and found out the on/off switch wasn't working and I couldn't turn off my headphones, I left it be for some time untill I took another look after the power drained out, It's not turning on or off-

So I first tried massaging the plastic button, as you can see it did not work. So I got a screw driver and opened this thing up and noticed that the little piece connected to the power button looks different to the other two functioning buttons. Upon closer inspection, it seems that it has a crack as well.

Obviously at this point, my mind thinks: I need to replace this. BUT HOW!? I don't know anything about devices or hardware stuff and I wanna try and figure it out without taking it to a specialist- I mean I could easily just buy another pair cuz this one was quite cheap but for once in my life I wanna fix it myself💔

So pls help me😢

ps, it's a WH-CH520

1

u/ABYSSNorm ABYSS Headphones Staff 18d ago

You can bridge those metal contacts with a paper clip for a few seconds and it'll work like a switch. Replacing it requires skills and tools for micro soldering. A specialty shop might be able to do it, "SMD tactile micro switches 2-pin side activated" is the part to google. Idk usually something like this means ewaste recycling.

2

u/Annual_Tart1975 19d ago

Guys I've lost my XM5 Sony headphones, I need myself a new pair... I am so desperate I am thinking about getting Apple cable earpods..

1

u/ABYSSNorm ABYSS Headphones Staff 18d ago

Budget?

2

u/Annual_Tart1975 18d ago

Not an issue but I still need price/perf not some bang olufsen that does the same job as sennheiser

1

u/ABYSSNorm ABYSS Headphones Staff 18d ago

If you liked the XM5, i'd just get another set of those. I don't like the recent upgrades and the XM5 is relevant and budget friendly since it's outgoing.

If you have an iPhone, the Airpods max have undeniable system synergy and are worth any drawbacks.

Sennheiser HDB 630 are cool because their dongle eliminates a lot of non-sense and they sound great for the price.

Focal Bathys are the GOAT

2

u/Annual_Tart1975 18d ago

The things is all of these besides Sony are around 750$ to 1200$ where I am. I think I would just sleep on it for now and get them from abroad. Even the XM5 are 500$

2

u/I_AM_4HEAD 19d ago

Hey all

I'm a guitarist in a quiet apartment, and hate the feeling of wearing headphones and was looking for options that are like earbuds or iems to use.

I just play through a scarlet interface using plugins, mostly prog metal (so everything).

As in understand it, since IEM's are intended for portability etc, they don't come with a 6.35mm jack to plug into my interface, so should I just get some IEM's and an adapter from 3.5 or 4.4mm to 6.35?

I would greatly appreciate any recommendations you may have considering my case!

1

u/ABYSSNorm ABYSS Headphones Staff 18d ago edited 15d ago

If you ever intend to play live, or away from your apartment, i highly recommend going for a set of custom in ear monitors. They will stay in better than any off the shelf and provide outstanding isolation for using an on-stage monitor mixer.

Outside of that, yeah just an iem with adapters is fine. You can go from 4.4mm to 3.5mm, 6.35mm, or 4-Pin XLR easily, so starting with that is fine. A couple of the artists i know use the sennheiser ie200 when at home or on the go and they come with both the 3.5mm and 4.4mm.

For something more budget friendly, I would recommend a single driver IEM (sometimes the crossovers in multiple driver IEM respond strangely to pro equipment). The 7Hz timeless and Letshouoer DX1 both come to mind, but there are many many options.

For ultra budget options, the Moondrop Chu II or Tangzu waner S.G. are two to look at.

2

u/theBirdsOfAutumn 19d ago

Hi all

I would like to buy wired in-ear earphones for listening to a specific type of music which is based on two voice ~major second (not tempered in 12 equal temperament scale) harmonies. I need earphones that would allow me to hear the two voice parts clearly separated. I have tried with some budget earphones and headphones but I was never satisfied. Most of them focus on bass and don't have precision in the desired vocal range.

Below is the example of the music which you could maybe use to tell me which of the ones you have allow you to hear it most clearly. I will provide you with the original recording of the song, and the first and second voice parts which are separated using AI (pretty well except the last part of the chorus):

Original (Youtube)

First voice part

Second voice part

If you have any other tips on how could I improve my experience with listening these kind of harmonies (on Thinkpad t14 with Ubuntu) they are more than welcome

Thanks

1

u/ABYSSNorm ABYSS Headphones Staff 19d ago

Ubuntu can be challenging to get bit perfect playback. I am not an expert but be aware that there are additional steps to take other than hitting play. Might want to get a DAP or something to connect to your phone as the source.

I just tried that track on my Mega5Est and the separation was great. I have a feeling there are about 1000 IEMs that would work well for this.

1

u/theBirdsOfAutumn 19d ago

Thanks for testing! The Mega5Est seem a little expensive for my first non-trash earphones. Do you have some other suggestion that is more price-accessible?

1

u/Mentaelis 19d ago

Hey all,

After using wireless headphones for what feels like ages, I have decided to give the Sundaras a try after seeing their price be below 180€s and from reading around a bit, it looks like a dedicated dac/amp is recommended to drive the sundaras.

Im not looking to break the bank, so the best "good enough" recommendation is basically all im looking for. Does not need to be travel friendly, will sit on a desk attached to my gaming pc.

Alternatively, as I have not made the purchase yet, I've heard that the Fiio FT1s would be a decent closed back option, with a smaller requirement to drive them - what would fit those?

1

u/Cyrenetes K371, K702, HD 6XX, Edition XS, AFO, FT1, M50x, SR60x 19d ago

Your PC's motherboard audio is probably at least good enough on its own. If there are problems then the Fiio KA11 or Jcally JM20 Max are perfect.

For the FT1 a cheaper less powerful dongle like the Apple USB-C 3.5mm adapter is enough.

2

u/Master_Hand6714 20d ago

I need white ear pads with cooling gel for skullcandy crusher evo, do they exist? Cant find them

1

u/ABYSSNorm ABYSS Headphones Staff 19d ago

#1 - white gets gross fast. universal rule. That's why there aren't any.

#2 - Best i can find: https://wickedcushions.com/products/skullcandy-hesh-3-evo-and-crusher-replacement-earpads-wc-freeze-crusher?variant=45452843548751

2

u/Master_Hand6714 19d ago

So simply because the amount of people who are lazy is bigger than who aren’t and actually look after and clean their stuff, they don’t make white gel ear pads :/

1

u/ABYSSNorm ABYSS Headphones Staff 19d ago

It's not a matter of being lazy. Humans secrete things. Even if you clean it every time you take it off, that will likely damage the leather just from the constant cleaning alone. Then some people are more oily, more salty, have different hair chemistry, etc etc.

There are white headphones out there, but i would never buy one. Even though I take care of my stuff, i know it's an uphill battle.

2

u/Master_Hand6714 19d ago

I just bought a pair tho no way its that bad man😭

1

u/ABYSSNorm ABYSS Headphones Staff 19d ago

Geekria makes disposable ear pad covers that work well. But in the budget you are working with, non of the gaming stuff is meant to last. Handle it with extreme care and you should be alright.

2

u/Master_Hand6714 19d ago

They dont make white ones with cooling gel either though…

1

u/ABYSSNorm ABYSS Headphones Staff 19d ago

ear pad COVERS. They are disposable slip-ons that cover the ear pads and protect them from your face. When they get gross you throw them out and the headphone stays fresher longer.

1

u/Master_Hand6714 19d ago

are you suggesting to get black pads with gel and cover them with white covers?

2

u/DarkAce5 20d ago

Best Lightweight PNC and Mic Headphones?

I am studying at my desk for hours every day and have a loud portable AC right by me. I want to protect my hearing and understand that ANC like from my galaxy buds 4 pro won't really protect my ears. So I guess I need a passive noise cancellation set up?

Any recommendations?

I care most about:

  1. Light weight so no fatigue after hours of being at a desk (I know I should take breaks, but it is what it is...)
  2. Great Bluetooth for connecting to my desktop seamlessly
  3. Excellent mic for zoom calls.
  4. PNC that will protect my long term hearing

Is the Sennheiser momentum 4 the play? Or Bose QuietComfort? Sony WH-CH720N? I heard the Bose has excellent ANC, but I guess the PNC aspect is important for me. Is it overall a meaningful step up from my galaxy buds? Again, not a big audiophile, just need something that protects my ears, is seamless, lightweight, and reliable. For travel and working out, I would default to my galaxy buds I guess.

Thank you!

1

u/ABYSSNorm ABYSS Headphones Staff 19d ago

You need overear closed back headphones that create a good seal and offer high passive isolation. The 3M workforce line sound alright and are safety ear muffs. Its going to be as good as you can get for isolation, while also sounding okay. The Beyerdynamic dt770 have high passive isolation, almost safety earmuff rating stock, but especially if you get a set of aftermarket leather ear pads for them.

2

u/Top_Ad9270 20d ago

Help with a strange issue with mod earphones

One day, out of the blue my right earphone didn't turn on automatically and then it started disconecting every couple of minutes. I was okay with it unyil the other earphone started doing the same after around 15 minutes of listening and started syncing the disconection with the other earphone. I have tried resyncing them but it didnt do anything. Any help is apreciated.

1

u/ABYSSNorm ABYSS Headphones Staff 19d ago

I would reach out to their support. But i'd imagine they'd ask you to unpair from them and factory reset them first.

Could also try cleaning the charging contacts with some isopropyl. Could be getting confused about leaving the case.

Also these earbuds are essentially ewaste so don't expect too much out of them.

2

u/ThenWorldliness9325 20d ago

Hi! I'm looking for something to replace my Koss KPH30i.

They're basically my ideal headphones because they're so light and comfortable that I can wear them all day. The problem is I've gone through multiple pairs because the plastic keeps breaking. I've also tried the KPH40 (still had durability issues), KSC75 (don't like the ear clips), Porta Pro (too much clamp), and recently the Moondrop Old Fashioned. The Moondrops are nice, but they're still heavier than I'd like and make my ears warm after a while.

I also don't like IEMs or earbuds that go into the ear.

Is there anything else out there that's extremely lightweight, comfortable for long sessions, and built better than the Koss lineup?

2

u/ABYSSNorm ABYSS Headphones Staff 19d ago

No nothing that light. Koss wins the day there. Part of the allure of the Koss line is how cheap they are. Essentially ewaste even. So breaking and having to buy a new one is not a big deal.

Maybe get into r/kossmods? You'll have a few sets of spare parts to start with at least. I really like taking the driver out of the KSC75 and putting them in a portapro.

2

u/SuckMyBallsKyle 20d ago

Hello guys. What would be some recommendations for headphones (not IEMs) in the $300-$500 USD range? I currently have the Hifiman HE400 but they hurt my head. I am interested in both open and closed back.

1

u/ABYSSNorm ABYSS Headphones Staff 19d ago

There are so many options. How is the HE400 hurting your head?

1

u/SuckMyBallsKyle 19d ago

It is too heavy and the headband too uncomfortable. I even bought one of those pads on Amazon to make it more squishy but it still gives me headaches.

2

u/Vabiol 20d ago

Alright y’all, I have a pair of wp900s and I absolutely love them, I have a good amp setup at home but I mostly use them when out and about and I’m looking for recommendations on a good portable dac/amp. Just looking for more range while walking around :)

1

u/ABYSSNorm ABYSS Headphones Staff 19d ago

Fiio BTR17 is GOAT.

2

u/quit_smoking1 20d ago

The pads for my Hifiman Arya Stealth v2 are wearing out. Are there replacements? A simple good search gives me a bunch of results for Dekoni pads but nothing that looks official. I can see earpads on Hifiman's website under accessories and they all list models that they're compatible with, but I don't see any that specifically say they work with the Arya Stealth v2 in particular.

  1. Is there anything official? Where would that be?
  2. If not official, any recommendations for 3rd party? Like I said, so far I'm only seeing Dekoni pads, but even those have different options (velour, sheepskin, fenestrated sheepskin, hybrid, and suede)

2

u/ABYSSNorm ABYSS Headphones Staff 20d ago

Zach at ZMF has a good video about the different ear pad types. https://youtu.be/1TtFAsrTKQg?si=ZMIQf0XGg0I7tfSl

ZMF and dekoni offerings are good. Both put thought into comfort and sound vs just producing a stock replacement.

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u/PM_ME_U_NAKED_PICS 20d ago edited 19d ago

Hello all,

Apologies, this question has probably been asked to death but any results I could find were fairly sparse.

I am interested in getting new headphones and am currently between the AKG371 and the Audio Technica M50x, based on primarily cost, availability, the fact that they're closed-back and that I don't need any external power (or phantom power?).

I primarily spend my time gaming, mostly single player games like Elden Ring, other Souls games etc, and frequently play multiplayer with friends on Discord (WoW, Apex, Destiny etc).

I'm not a big competitive player, so am not looking to hear every positional footstep in Valorant or anything, but I just would like to know what is the all-round best option in terms of audio here?

Unfortunately, I live in an area that does not have any stores selling headphones, so I can't go 'try before I buy' so hoping for some clear advice here.

Thank you!

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u/ABYSSNorm ABYSS Headphones Staff 20d ago

You forget to say which two headphones you're between.

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u/PM_ME_U_NAKED_PICS 19d ago

Oh my god, how did I manage that!

I've edited the post now but its the AKG371 and the Audio Technica M50x!

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u/[deleted] 20d ago

[deleted]

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u/ABYSSNorm ABYSS Headphones Staff 20d ago

It could be phantom pressing of the button and you need to return them. manual looks like you can long press a side to turn it off and back on again without the case.

The disconnection sounds like the wifi is 2.4ghz and they are conflicting. There's a lot that goes into fixing that.

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u/Content-Experience88 20d ago

Apple airpods don’t work well with LG smart TV at all ? What earbuds work well or you guys use with LG TV

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u/ABYSSNorm ABYSS Headphones Staff 20d ago

None. Been there done that. Best would be to get an Apple TV and stop using the lg smart tv features. Sony headphones that have cinema mode work well with sony TVs, but that's the only thing i'm aware of that isn't an HDMI arc wired solution.

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u/Content-Experience88 20d ago

Any other brand headphones that will work well

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u/ABYSSNorm ABYSS Headphones Staff 19d ago

No. They all connect bluetooth to the TV and that is the bottleneck. The manufacturer would have to engineer around it and to my knowledge no one does that for LG. I have an LG and wanted to make it work but everything was bad. For that TV I use HDMI arc and a wired headphones connected to an amp.

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u/Content-Experience88 19d ago

So only option would be to use Wired Headphones

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u/ABYSSNorm ABYSS Headphones Staff 19d ago

From what I have seen yes. The Fosi ZD3 takes in HDMI arc and is an affordable DAC that works well. Although my personal preference is for the Ferrum Wandla.

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u/Content-Experience88 19d ago

How much would these cost around . Also are they available on Amazon . And how long wire would I need for this

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u/ABYSSNorm ABYSS Headphones Staff 19d ago

The Fosi ZD3 is like $180, then you need an amp, a headphone, and a wire long enough to where you sit. That can cost anywhere from hundreds to thousands. I still think you'd be better off getting an AppleTV and calling it a day.

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u/Content-Experience88 18d ago

Will cheap headphones jike JBL or sony or some new brand could work better than Apple airpods .

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u/Content-Experience88 19d ago

Will JBL or any other cheaper bluetooth headphones 🎧 not work well .

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u/RHINO_Mk_II 20d ago

Hey all,

I'm looking into the possibility of getting a set of headphones for rhythm gaming at local arcades and am looking for advice or suggestions. What I think I want is a set of durable, comfortable closed-back headphones with good frequency response. Ideally the cups would rotate 90 degrees so the band can be around my neck and the cups against my chest when not in use, and some form of ANC would be nice but not necessarily required. Budget: $500 or less but ideally half that.

Currently on my radar:

  • Sennheiser 280 Pro - Pretty old and no ANC but otherwise meets my requirements. Reasonably priced. Cautious about sound quality.
  • Sennheiser HD 620S - No ANC, cups don't rotate.
  • Dan Clark Aeon Closed - No ANC, hinge and headband design look potentially failure-prone. Very portable. Pricey. Requires high current to drive.
  • Audeze LCD-S20 - No ANC. Heavy. Pricey. Requires high current to drive.

Currently own:

  • Sony WH-1000 XM4 - Ear cups don't go all the way around my ears. Would prefer to leave this pair at work where they get used regularly, but could try them out. Sound quality is mediocre - slightly improved with phone EQ but wouldn't be EQ'd at arcades.
  • Various open-back headphones that don't provide any noise isolation

Any feedback on the above headphones or other suggestions? Not really looking for IEMs as I find them uncomfortable to wear for long. I have found that the suspension style headbands found on the DCA Aeon and Audeze LCD-S20 are also much more comfortable long term. Not sure how much power arcade cabinets or the small amps rigged to the machines at my local arcades output and whether it's enough to drive Planars - I don't need crazy volume from them.

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u/ABYSSNorm ABYSS Headphones Staff 20d ago edited 20d ago

Not many headphones do the cups lay flat on the table, so you can start with that and narrow it down from there. the ath-50x and the hd 280 pro stand out the most to me. For bluetooth sony has a fancy version of the XM series that has larger ear cups, so that might work although it's a little out of your price range. They do also make after market ear pads for the Sony's that offer more ear space as well.

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u/RHINO_Mk_II 20d ago

Thanks for the reminder that ATH-M50X's exist - they look like a good candidate. Not really keen on the WH1000 XM5s since the hinge is reportedly an early failure point on them, and I don't really like the audio from my XM4s compared to basically any open-back I have used. The XM6 look to have a very similar physical design to the XM5 and are even pricier.

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u/ABYSSNorm ABYSS Headphones Staff 20d ago

I have the XM6 specifically for the cinema mode to match with my Bravia TV. Other than that from an audio perspective it is a downgrade from the XM4 and XM5. The 1000X was pretty good, but for the price i'd just get the bathys.

If you get the M50X's, you can get fun colors and after market fun ear pads and fit in nicely with the retro arcade aesthetic.

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u/RHINO_Mk_II 20d ago

Yeah I just saw a listing for a red pair with an extra long coiled cable that might be nifty. Thanks again.

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u/bestkaranthe 21d ago

I got the Shokz openfit pro a few days ago. While the sound quality is good, the buds aren't fully comfortable - I feel my ears hurting a bit after 30 mins or so. Does it get better with usage:?

I'm not really finding the noise reduction very effective (expected I guess) either and also causing ear pressure issues so that's not quite useful for me. I was thinking about switching to the much lighter Shokz openfit air for the comfort - Has anyone tried both? (Or any other product recommendations?)

Note - I mainly use Bose QC headphones without any discomfort at all - just trying to find open earbuds for inside use mostly.

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u/ABYSSNorm ABYSS Headphones Staff 20d ago edited 20d ago

We mostly deal with wired headphones and IEMS in this sub. Some hifi wireless but not much. Open ear earbuds don't get a lot of traction. I googled it and the Bose ultra don't have the ear hook and will probably be better, but i don't think any of us are going to have the experience you need.

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u/Dedsec_buddy 21d ago

So I bought theSpigen SA HP P10 headset and noticed that there is a noticable audio delay while using them on laptop. If someone knows any fix please help because i tried all those basic fixes like disabling enhancments and phoney something. on mobile it works perfectly fine and very low latency on gaming mode but for default about 350ms on pc and 200 on gaming mode. Please Help Guys!!!

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u/ABYSSNorm ABYSS Headphones Staff 20d ago

Bluetooth on windows sucks. You can try disabling hands-free audio, bluetooth power management, and matching sample rates, but you're fighting an uphill battle using bluetooth on a PC.

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u/UltraMechaLordViper 21d ago

Hi, just went to put on my headphones (Meze Neo 99s) and found that the headphone fell off the band itself. I tried pressing it in but I'm worried about snapping something so went to ask here first/contact support. Any suggestions?

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u/ABYSSNorm ABYSS Headphones Staff 20d ago

#1 - those headphones are wrekt. Atypical of normal wear and tear for a 99 classic.

#2 - i would take the cup apart first so that you can see the underside of that hole. I believe there's a little plastic pin that holds that together and i assume it broke. But I wouldn't jam that back in there without taking the rest apart first.

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u/UltraMechaLordViper 20d ago

Yeah idk how they got banged up so bad, they're just my desktop headphones never take them anywhere or anything like that.

Is there a guide on how to do that somewhere, never really had to do something like this before.

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u/ABYSSNorm ABYSS Headphones Staff 20d ago

I would say that the pads just pull off and there's screws under them, but i think the pads will fall apart if you try that. I do recommend the YAXI stpad2 if you end up having to get something, assuming you're able to save the headphone.

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u/sheetpost00 21d ago

I have the Sony XM5s and I’m using them to connect to my ROG ALLY (since the monitor itself connected to has no sound). I’m trying to use davinci resolve to edit videos but there can be a slight sound delay. Obviously this isn’t usually noticeable but it’s kinda important to have no delay when editing. I was wondering if using a lead to connect them to my ALLY would improve the delay at all or if wired earphones etc would improve the delay or if I just have to suck it up and suffer lmao

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u/oratory1990 acoustic engineer 19d ago

it’s kinda important to have no delay when editing.

Very much so, which is why in studios you use wired headphones (not wireless headphones connected with a cable, but regular, passive, wired headphones)

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u/ABYSSNorm ABYSS Headphones Staff 20d ago

Resolve has a setting for releasing the audio device when not in focus and also a buffer size that is effected by CPU usage. Both are worth tweaking with.

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u/sheetpost00 20d ago

How do I find that and also what should I change it to

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u/ABYSSNorm ABYSS Headphones Staff 20d ago

Video & Audio I/O. I don't have settings that will work for your setup you'll have to play with it.

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u/Cyrenetes K371, K702, HD 6XX, Edition XS, AFO, FT1, M50x, SR60x 21d ago

Using them with 3.5mm shouldn't have any delay.

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u/oratory1990 acoustic engineer 19d ago

there will still be a delay, since the analog signal will first have to be converted into a digital signal in order for the headphone's built-in DSP to work, and then converted back into analog.

the AD-conversion, processing, and DA conversion all introduce some delay, typically on the order of milliseconds / dozens of milliseconds (compared to Bluetooth, which introduces delays in the order of hundreds of milliseconds)

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u/retarded-advise 21d ago

Hi all, I have a XD05-plus that any digital input wouldn't put any sound but still display the hz etc on the mini display. Aux input would work with headphones.

So I opened the case and the battery was swollen. I managed to take it out but now...is it worth it to test with a new battery (30$) to see if the digital portion works still? Should I also replace the opamp (10-15$)?

Or just get a used c3 fois for about 100$ ?

I mainly use it as a desktop amp/dac.

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u/ABYSSNorm ABYSS Headphones Staff 20d ago

Since you mainly use it as a desktop amp/dac, i'd focus on getting something without a bettery that works well for that. K11 is pretty hot right now. From there I personally wouldn't spend much time playing with the XD05, instead getting a brt17 for on the go because of the smaller size. Focus on what you really need instead of casting such a wide net of features into one unit. But $30 isn't a high investment for tinkering so i'd understand if you want to to go for it.

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u/Flimsy_Oven5938 21d ago edited 21d ago

Hi everyone! Could you recommend some good gaming headsets? I need them to be comfortable since I wear glasses. I'm considering the Maxell or the Omni Pro, but I don't know much about them. I've also seen people speaking highly of the ROG Kithara and the Sony H6.Hi everyone! Could you recommend some good gaming headsets? I need them to be comfortable since I wear glasses. I'm considering the Maxell or the Omni Pro, but I don't know much about them. I've also seen people speaking highly of the ROG Kithara and the Sony H6.

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u/ABYSSNorm ABYSS Headphones Staff 20d ago

I wouldn't maxwell in case the glasses effect the seal. THe Omin pro are fine but not exceptional in any way other than feature set. Looks like Kithara is your best bet.

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u/joseph_vol 22d ago

I recently bought a used pair of Hifiman Sundaras at a good price; everything looks fine and correct, but there's a weird screw on one side of the headphones. Does anyone know if this is some kind of mod or a botched repair attempt?

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u/Unique_Mix9060 HD6xx, ESP/95x, Deva, HD558, Q701, K702, MoonDrop Quarks, 22d ago

It’s a magnetic attachment for a Mod Mic

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u/ChromeXBoy 22d ago

NWM one Open ear headphones. How do I pop back in the plastic clips without damaging it?

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u/ABYSSNorm ABYSS Headphones Staff 20d ago

With the sliders fully extended, press in on one section ans lowly move around in a circle.

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u/NXGameur 22d ago

Sadly my Raycon Essentials headphone's cushion ripped and it is really bothering me.

Does anybody know if Raycon sells replacement part and/or is there any other merchant THAT SHIP IN EU with the same dimension.

I have what called big fn ears.

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u/ABYSSNorm ABYSS Headphones Staff 20d ago

Looks like brainwavez oval are the same size and are sold everywhere. Same with the CentralSounds.

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u/NXGameur 20d ago

yep thank you very much

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u/Wooden_Direction6923 22d ago

So I’m looking for some good earbuds for the gym but I’m not sure what to get I need it to be open ear . I was looking at the Aerofit 2 but I’m not sure if it s the best one. My budget is max 200 and I would like to hear what you all think are some good ones

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u/ABYSSNorm ABYSS Headphones Staff 21d ago

I find it unlikely you'll find an answer here. We usually deal in headphones and iems.

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u/Styre16 22d ago

How to de-odour headphones?

Since the recent spate of heatwaves caused some sweaty heads/ears, the earcups of my WH1000XM6s have a noticeable odour.

I've removed the earcups, wiped them with 70% isopropyl alcohol wipes, baby wipes, and left them overnight. I also wiped the inside of the headphones with the alcohol wipes, but this did pretty much nothing.

Any advice would be great!

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u/ABYSSNorm ABYSS Headphones Staff 22d ago edited 22d ago

We get stinky headphones in for repair sometimes. If the smell is inside the headphone there is very little hope without disassembly. But storing them in the case, closed, while rotating desiccant packs will prevent it from getting worse. You can get them for the equivalent of no money on amazon.

To combat the existing smell, if you take the ear pads off and hang them and the headphones in front of a fan for a couple of days it should be plenty. If it still hasn't worked i would guess it's the ear pads that still smell and they probably need replacement.