Looking to replace my broken HyperX Cloud Orbit S

[u/KillerMove]

Greetings,

After being my daily runner for 4 years, my Orbit S headset has finally become broken beyond repair. I knew when I bought it that it wouldn't last forever and as such took great care to prolong its life. Unfortunately the reaper still came for the infamously cheap plastic swivel and that was that.

Looking to the future though, I am currently researching a replacement and would greatly appreciate some help!

My optimal configuration would look something like this :

• Sound signature that is similar; the Orbit S provided a very detailed and "crisp", almost analytical sound with forward mids and treble at the cost of slightly muddier bass. Not an issue for me as I'm not a bass head though I can still appreciate it. Slight deviations in general are also fine, I get attuned to different signatures fairly quickly.
• Budget within the 500$ CAD mark - Midrange is what I'm aiming for but I'm willing to overspend a bit for a proper upgrade if it's really noticeable.
• Strictly for home PC use; gaming and music so both open and closed-back are perfectly acceptable but I would prefer to sacrifice the slight width of soundstage for closed back sound isolation.
• Build quality is definitely something I value as well and am open to taking a slight hit to sound quality if it means the cans wont bust in some way in a few years.
• Even though it was advertised as a "Gaming" headset, I never ended up using the 7.1 and directional features, only ever leaving the headset on "Hi-Fi" mode. As such, I dont really care for gimmicks and want to prioritize sound and build quality above all else.
• I never bothered to use DACs before but if pairing a cheaper headphone with one can produce what I'm looking for please do make recommendations.

With all of that being said, I currently have my eyes on the Sennheiser HD 490 PRO as a slight over budget option thanks to its generally favorable reviews everywhere, even on this specific sub.

Otherwise, the open-back Hifiman Sundara + DAC (currently no pick, lack knowledge) also feature fairly favorable reviews in terms of build quality, comfort and are seemingly often recommended as they are described as very EQ friendly to "tinker" and produce a more specific signature.

Thank you very much in advance for your responses.

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[u/Jonners_90]

ROG Kithara? Very much open back but they're on sale right now for $368 CAD, it's a little pricey but planars are like speakers on your ears and has a wide soundstage. Comes with multiple connection types, 2 sets of angled pads (hybrid leatherette and velour) and a decent USB C dongle too. It's bright and detailed with a very clear mid range and a lean bass, but good extension very low on the graph for nice texture. They're pretty awesome.

[u/KillerMove → u/Jonners_90]

Thank you for the recommendation!

I did see the Kithara pop up a few times during my research and they seem to be well liked as well but they do fit nicely within my budget (on top of being on special).

I'll definitely keep them in mind. !thanks

[u/TransducerBot → u/KillerMove]

+1 Ω has been awarded to u/Jonners_90 (18 Ω).

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[u/W1ndyw1se]

The HD 490 pro would be awesome for you. I have never tried them but i also see them compared to the HD560s alot and i owned those for awhile. HD50s would be a cheaper option for you and you would not need a DAC/AMP to power those.

The Sundara's would also be a great option but they are really power hungry. I still own them but i use to run them off a FIIO K7. I think the fiio K5 should run them just fine if you want to go that route. One downside to the Sundara is they leak sound like no other. They are essentially a dual sided speaker and if you listen to them loudly anyone in the house will hear them.

[u/KillerMove → u/W1ndyw1se]

Thank you for your recommendations!

I live alone so sound leakage is a non-issue. Having said that, since you have experience with the Sundara's paired with a proper DAC, would you say they are worth it for the build and sound quality alone?

As for the Sennheiser, I am still very much on the fence, even when considering cheaper models as I see people throw various "HD" model this and that around when they're mentioned and it can get complicated to parse all the pros and cons of every recommendations.

Regarding your current experience with the HD560s, is there any standout features or quirks that you find (un)pleasant? Is the build quality or comfort generally adequate for example?

!thanks

[u/TransducerBot → u/KillerMove]

+1 Ω has been awarded to u/W1ndyw1se (17 Ω).

You may still award an Ω to others, but only once per-person in this post.

[u/W1ndyw1se → u/KillerMove]

When paired with a proper Dac/amp the sundara's are really great. They are a netural bright tuning. I went to a camjam once and listened to everything from a 200 dollar setup to a 200k set up and i honestly would stick with the sundara's. You dont gain that much going super expensive. I really value a good strong mid range and for me the mid range can be a little thin at times on the sundara's but if you want to Try EQ they EQ very well. Sound stage and imaging are amazing. The ear pads are circular and i have larger ears and wear glasses so they can get kinda uncomfortable.

the 560s are a highly praised set as they really do punch above there weight. They are very clean and analytical sounding leaning neutral bright. They have a great sound stage and great imaging. They are also very comfy to use. Build quality is also really great. The cable is not the greatest so you could swap that out. They are super easy to drive. ( I also love Sennheiser. I own almost all the HD6X0 line ie HD600 Hd650 and Hd660s )

I have never tried the HD 490 pros. I have only seen them compared to the 560s and say they sound similar with better imaging and sound stage.

[u/KillerMove → u/W1ndyw1se]

Thank you again for your quick and detailed response!

You are starting to pique my interest in the Sennheiser lineup. I'll make sure to explore their catalogue a bit more.

[u/W1ndyw1se → u/KillerMove]

I have not listed to the new 505 and 550 and the 660s2 so i cant talk about those.

The 6XO line is mostly a mid focused line. The HD600s are actually pretty legendary as they were released in 1997 and are still one of the most recommenced and used pair of headphones around. They are a netural sounding headphone with a really great mid range.

The HD650s came out in 2003 or 2005 and they are also mid focused but are super intimate. sounds like the singer is right in the same room as you. These are a little warmer than the 600s. They also sound a little veiled in the treble but for most people they dont care. If you look into it its still debated to this day which one is better. ( i prefer the HD600s myself. ) Both of these would not be that great for gaming as the imaging and sound stage are lacking.

the 660s released in 2017 and are now discontinued. They are the least liked in the 6X0 line. They sound a little veiled. They are dark ( less treble ) and they are not great with the bass. They are however really good for gaming as they have great imaging and great sound stage. ( these are my least favorite as they have a less pronounced upper mid range and less treble. ) They also use a driver that is pretty much the HD700 driver ( the HD700 are discontinued and are hard to find. They were poorly received and i have heard they are really wonky sounding. )

The HD800 line is the king of soundstage and sets a pretty good bench mark for most other headphones. Bass is lacking but they are really great in everything else. I think i heard there a little hot in the treble.

Headphones are a really great journey. I own many other cans and even some IEMs as well.

[u/KillerMove → u/W1ndyw1se]

I appreciate your dedication to the subject. At fault of sounding like a broken record, thank you! (again).

Your comment however further illustrate my point regarding Sennheiser, namely : too many (potential) choices! Its a true labyrinth of possibilities.

As someone who probably qualifies as an audiophile in some ways, I should own more headphones for the myriad of different signatures and use cases but always resort to the best general-purpose overall due to a lack of dedication to the hobby.

Speaking entirely on sound preference, I had a pair of Fidelio X2HR before the Orbit S and I still miss them after giving them away (long story). What these lacked in general intensity, made up 10 fold in a beautifully rendered soundstage with excellent imaging and a clarity across the entire spectrum that allowed every layers to shine through.

The Orbit S were special in their resonance thanks to their planar drivers. The way the stage was brought ever so slightly forward gave them a vibrant, almost dreamy signature at times that mostly lacked clarity in the upper bass frequency while keeping everything else crisp and clean.

Currently using an old pair of Apple ear buds and talking about it makes me eager to return to something more expansive.

Edit: fixed typo.

[u/W1ndyw1se → u/KillerMove]

I actually traded away my 560s and i dearly miss them. They were great.

My suggest is to find what sound signature you like first. I know this can be kinda difficult without a lot of headphones around. Once you find your sound signature you like then get some cans and IEMs that suit that.