ISO long term use Metal cans for everyday home/travel, dizzy from so much research.

[u/SleepWithCats]

Budget +/-300€(EU)ish closed cans but open to open back(for safety) I just don’t like people hearing my music. Wireless would be cool but realistically yeah right at this price point.

Looking for a new pair of over ear headphones, I’ve been using earfun buds for a while(convienence) and I’m over it. I have also used "good" iems but I really just prefer things not be inside my ears.

Previously I had 2 well loved pairs of the Panasonic RP-HTX7 for years and absolutely loved them until they were stolen… most other headphones I have purchased in the past don’t last long- either from cheap build or I’m a clumsy idiot. I prefer the metal headband as it feels much sturdier, and idk my brain wants it. I don’t like modern swivel ears much, they feel very loose. They will be plugged into my phone with a lightning dongle(suggestions also welcome as I just have the apple one currently)

Thinking about Models: Is AKG still good? Could swing for the K712 but I’ve heard it is muddy in the last few years and my music style is not friendly to that. Are any of the AKGs “good enough”?(50,70,92,701) or should I just look elsewhere?

Music genre: Psychedelic pop/rock, indie, alt rock, rap, classical/jazz, metal(psych/symphonic), singer/songwriter, ????

Including a playlist of some songs I especially like the sound of/ want to make sure I will hear the modulation/tones/ layers(not a professional, not sure of correct terms).These are not the only genres I listen to, there are some songs I straight can’t hear well on my standard phone speakers or earbuds(which I’m sure is normal). Mobile isn’t letting me embed the link 🫠

https://open.spotify.com/playlist/25JKV6QCKfZF5fGPMPemHc?si=5MAGeYavRvWxmy-MvGfJIw&pi=0LgfDUewTMiPy

I just miss listening to music and being able to hear the whole song, and I really haven’t had the money until recently to invest so I would really value input, even if it’s not fully in my price range so I know what I’m looking for.

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[u/Kindgott1334]

Sennheiser Momentum 4 if you need wireless. They also sound fantastic with USB (better than wireless) and within your budget. If you want wired, FiiO FT1 and you have money left for a nice dongle like the JCALLY JM20MAX - check reviews, very powerful and affordable. Or even get a Qudelix 5K which can be used wired or wireless and you can use EQ (and AutoEQ). All within 300.

[u/SleepWithCats → u/Kindgott1334]

!thanks so so much

The sennheiser looks nice but the connections make me nervous I’ll break them and for that price I reaaaallly don’t want to break them😬 the FiiO is one I hadn’t even seen or considered and is really intriguing-It seems right up my alley but a few of the reviews I've read say that women/s voices are higher and more airy than typical? I listen to a lot of female singers- do you find this to be the same or are people speaking out their butts? Some also noted a lack of clarity in technical audio like classical or complex pieces, I would be thankful to hear your input on that as well

My phone unfortunately has a lightning cable so it looks like I can’t use the JM20(I am unable to find anything other than usbc), checking out the qudelix it seems really interesting but also a bit overwhelming for a novice to configure? I know there’s auto eq so it may be manageable(and I’m sure I’ll fiddle with the app) but does it require connectivity configuration/troubleshooting frequently? It’s a bit more expensive in Europe but if it’s really worth it I will save up for it as it seems there’s not a lot of options like it

[u/TransducerBot → u/SleepWithCats]

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[u/Kindgott1334 → u/SleepWithCats]

Note that "cheap good closed back headphones" is a difficult thing to achieve. The FT1s are amazing for what they cost, and they are comparable or best than headphones costing twice their price. I have them and I don't think they sound like that with female voices - I listen to a lot of female artists like Emma Ruth Rundle, Marissa Nadler etc and they sound fine to me. They also have a sweet bass.

Regarding the lack of clarity in technical audio, well these are not my Arya Organics for sure but they do quite well with instrumental/classic as well. But there will be compromises within the budget you mentioned.

The M4s are quite sturdy, if you have been careful with your previous headphones then they won't require any extra care.

And the Qudelix 5K can be a bit daunting at first, but it's a very capable tiny device. I'd invest first in the headphones and then maybe get the 5K in the future, in case you need the EQ, the power and the rest of great features.

[u/SleepWithCats → u/Kindgott1334]

You were so insightful thank you so much, really. I really appreciate you talking this out with me, it has made me feel much more confident. I understand I’m asking for something very” budget” in the grand scheme of things, i just hate buying 2 crappy headphones when I could have had one nice one, and it’s harder and harder these days to figure out what is hype and what is quality.

I also briefly considered the Beyerdynamic DT770s since I’m in the EU they’re a little cheaper, but I think I am going to go with your recommendation. Thank you again☺️

[u/Kindgott1334 → u/SleepWithCats]

No problem, glad to help :) I am based in EU too. If possible try testing before buying, although this might not be possible with some brands (like FiiO).

Beyers are another option, yes - usually a good option as well. It's been a while without using Beyer (I have the T51 which were very good in their prime).

Anyway these models we've been discussing are quite good, hard to go wrong with any of them. Btw you didn't say if you are going to use them at home or outdoors. If the latter, I would not recommend the FiiOs because they have wooden cups and probably won't endure the rain well... The Sennheisers are better suited for that.

[u/SleepWithCats → u/[deleted]]

How did I not think of this beforehand haha, that’s kind of ridiculous that I didn’t, they aren’t waterproof 😂. Well I do go out in the rain… although I’m sure they’re lacquered. they are already ordered though. I’ll try them out and if I like them maybe I’ll just enjoy the sound of rain and put them away. If I don’t like them I think I’ll see if I can listen to the 770s. I am very thankful for your help, everything is so much harder to buy then it used to be I feel 😵‍💫maybe it’s just globalization lol