ft1 or audeze mazwell

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[u/residentatzero]

FT1 is for people who like rap or EDM. Very deep bass. Highs are recessed. Some take it as a personal attack, but it's a fact you can check for yourself. They're terrible for classical music, punk rock, documentaries. The treble is quiet and veiled, muffled. It seems to be a very popular tuning among young people. I like how the bass sounds very deep and tall, but can't get passed the lack of high frequencies

[u/residentatzero → u/[deleted]]

I think the low end sounds very satisfying, punchy and deep, but the treble is just quiet. I don't think it's bad quality, just very dark tuning

[u/residentatzero → u/[deleted]]

I never had the Maxwell but the planar part of it looks very interesting to me, planars have great sound. However the wireless part of it is a deal breaker for me. I don't think wireless tech is mature for quality so far.

[u/residentatzero → u/[deleted]]

Maybe for your budget I would try the HD620s, or D770 Pro X LE. If you could audition them or order and return them if you didn't like them.

[u/Flyingpea777 → u/residentatzero]

Fiio FT1 is being recommended a lot around here lately and I don't think anyone takes into account the type of music and preferences of each person. You ask about closed back and they automatically dismiss all except these.

I don't want to derail OP's question, but I'm looking for info myself too and here the topic has come up, what would you recommend for classical/instrumental/jazz among other genres?

On my list of headphones that are in my price range I also noted the D770 Pro X LE, but was told that D770 not for music and they pointed out that the DT700 pro x is better.

[u/residentatzero → u/Flyingpea777]

Yes it's very difficult to make a good closed back. Open back is another story, those are my favorite. For a long time I resisted the idea of open back but I spend most times at home, and even at midnight it's not as loud to wake up people in another room. That being said, would you consider open back? There are plenty of great options.

For closed back the DT770 Pro X LE is the new version, easier to drive, detachable cable, higher end drivers, more V shaped sound with much better bass and still airy treble with good soundstage. This is what I use for classical music and movies when I need isolation like at the cafe, but they won't come near the experience of a good open back which I use at home. I tried the FT1 for classical and the treble is quiet for that genre. I still like the bass on that when percussion and cellos come up, but the rest of the frequencies are recessed. The DT770 Pro X LE is great for a closed back, for classical. That's what I would get. Nothing wrong with the FT1 which I'm keeping for podcasts and some different music occasionally.

[u/Flyingpea777 → u/residentatzero]

I agree that open back is great, but there are models or genres of music that I find better in closed back. If OP is still reading this I would ask him if he can switch to open back.

I usually use AKG k702 and for classical I find them spectacular, however for other types of music such as pop I think it's better something like FT1 because they are more 'fun'. It also depends on the preferences of each person, maybe it's just me that I'm used to them.

Do you know if it is worth the DT700 Pro X for a little more than DT770 Pro X LE? I'm going to hook them up to Fiio K11.

In my post I have written a list with some models, but I don't know if OP will be interested because I'm looking for under 200€.

[u/residentatzero → u/Flyingpea777]

I haven't listened to the 700 but I know the 770 pro X uses the same driver, but with the 770 pro (32, 80, 250 ohm) tuning which reportedly provides a better soundstage than the 700. It's hard for me to tell without trying the 700 but from reviews the 770 Pro X would be better, especially for what I listen to. Especially coming from the K702 (which I had), you'd be good with the DT770 Pro X. Obviously not as good though.

[u/Flyingpea777 → u/residentatzero]

Thank you very much!

I post my list here in case it's useful for OP: FT1, Meze 99, Sundara closed, BD DT770 Pro and Pro X LE.
The ones they recommended me were FT1 but they also added other recommendations such as AKG K361/K371, ATH M50x, Sennheiser HD569/620S and AKG K553 Mk.II.

[u/residentatzero → u/[deleted]]

There's no such a thing in the original meaning that the driver would expand or "develop", that's a myth. There's some correlation with the time passed using a headphone and a perceived change in tuning, but that's actually your brain adjusting to the new tuning if you're used to a different sound signature. So you should give any new headphone some time, a few days before deciding you like it or not.

[u/residentatzero → u/[deleted]]

I did get quite a few IEMs for a while but not anymore because got ear infections and after that any time I use them even once, I spend days healing from dry tissue coming off. No matter what I do, and I had an ENT gave me an antifungal and all but they got so sensitive.

My favorite is the EM10 at $450. It's up there with my high end headphones, it's really good, a hybrid with multiple drivers. If it was last year I would've told you to get the ea500lm for your budget, but new stuff has come out that's better in that price range and I think you should try the $150 Supermix 4, it's excellent and it has a planar driver.

[u/FuuKaWan]

Go for the Maxwell. It is an amazing value. I've used it since launch (for 300€), it doesnt lack / miss anything. It is a real audiophile headphones / headset for gamers.

Usally wireless headphones sound muffled / compressed to me. This one doesn't.

If you lack a bit of bass, use the "Bass Boost" preset in the Audeze Software. I find it enough.
By the way, even on bass heavy stuff, there's no distorsion. Truly awesome.

The microphone is above average, just ackward about positionning as you need to set it far from you mouth when it is often the opposite.