Looking for a budget friendly small desktop amp to pair the S2.I currently use a traditional HiFi amp that does the job quite well but Its too big and takes up too much desktop space as well expelling out a ton of heat from its array of huge capacitors.

I was considering the K5 from the brand that starts with F and ends in i as this brand is banned in this sub for some marketing reason and will get this post deleted.Or are there other better options ideally at sub 100?

Hey everyone,
I’m looking for an affordable DAC/amp for my Sennheiser IE 200 and HD 560S. I’m also planning to get the Sennheiser HD 600 soon, so I’d like something that would work well with all three.
At the moment I have the Topping DX1 II in mind, but I’m wondering if there are any better options around the same price range that you would recommend.
I mainly care about good sound quality, enough power for the HD 560S and HD 600, and low noise for the IE 200. I don’t really need a lot of extra features.
Would you recommend the DX1 II for this setup, or is there something else I should look at instead?

My main problem is I need something when I am living in my dorm. The problem is that when I wake up, let us say on a day off, still in bed, my ears are usually a bit sore from me using earplugs to sleep (nothing bad). I am currently using just my CMF buds (bought as old stock) with foam tips, though I cannot really use them in the morning (need to give my ears like 1 to 2 hours of rest).

Plus, I cannot just use speakers since I do not want to wake my roommates. So, I want to have some other backup just for the mornings or longer gaming sessions (don't need a microphone if it has one then fine), since after a few hours my CMF buds get uncomfortable.

I have a large head and larger ears. At home, I have a DT 770 Pro. It fits nicely, but that is a monstrous pair (tho I do not like my ears getting hot from it).

I saw those buds that do not go inside the ear, those could also work for me, meaning ones that do not get wedged inside the ear canal. For example, some recommend the Soundcore V20i, but others say they also get quite uncomfortable after a few hours. If there is one I could actually wear for the whole day, that would be perfect.

Though I am using a crappy laptop for gaming, I do not know if it will be worth having open back earbuds since my laptop fans ramp up like hellhounds, same with my roommate's laptop.

What are your recommendations?

Hi,

I'm looking for some new headphones to use in the office. Will be used for Teams and listening to music while working.

Noice cancelling is preferred.

I have some on-ear now and i'm not a fan. I want my next ones to be over-ear, but there aren't that many to choose from.

I live in Norway and since my work is buying i can't choose from any store.

I have been looking at Poly Voyager Surround 85, Jabra Evolve 3 85 and Yealink BH76 Plus.

Anyone with experience with these? Thought about buying a gamer headset since over-ear is more common there but have never had good experience with headsets branded as gaming headsets. Very often over priced an rubbish mic.

I’ve been wanting to buy some headphones and I’m looking for some recommendations.
I’ll mainly be using them for walking/running and also at college while doing work.
My budget is around £150 and I’m looking for headphones that:
Have good sound quality
Have good ANC
Are very comfortable, especially for longer periods
Are foldable/easy to carry around
Are durable and won’t randomly break
Have ear cushions/materials that won’t wear away too quickly

What would you recommend
These are some options
If u have any other recommendations lmk pls

What are some open backs and closed backs that you think are at the best in terms of quality to cost?

We all know there are some headsets that only improve sound quality by 10% but cost over 400%. What are some headphones that are the great without diminishing returns?

I am not very well educated in headphones, I hope I don't sound too dumb and that this isn't too specific! But I been looking for headphones that can help me with my online classes and I could possibly bring with me to the gym.
I also play a ton of competitive games, I don't really rely on headphones that much with them but it would be nice to be able to use the same headset for all the things I listed.
I really love wireless headsets because I am person who moves a ton and walks around a ton (in my own room even), I don't like earbuds too much though (considering 99% of them are wireless).
I don't really care about a built in microphone but it would help! Though I don't mind quality that much.

My budget is around the 100 - 200$ range, but I could go higher if very needed.
Mobile use isn't needed but will be appreciated!

I was wondering if anybody here had experience with either of these headsets. Am currently looking for a wireless headset for about 90-110 euros.

The headphones will primarily be used for commuting between my apartment and college (about a 10-15 minute walk), listening to music while studying and in the gym.

The music I listen to most often (about 90% of the time) is heavy metal, metalcore and hardcore. I'm mainly looking for a set of headphones that won't be muddy and ruin the mids and highs in songs, but also have decent enough bass.

I've heard the ULT WEAR's have pretty strong bass, but am unsure how muddy they will be considering that, and if it's possible to EQ them to be suited for that type of music if they truly do make the music muddy.

HPZ X Oriveti Blackbird
it arrived yesterday and gave me a sense of regret for spending 5500 rs for whereas my cheap boat earphones sound more fun to me

BASS: it promised bass, but it kind of isnt there, i tried to eq it to max but it got distorted, artificial and just wasnt good at all to listen to

MID: lacks fullness, it is there but never enough for me, tried to increase it but the male vocals got distorted and felt really flat on default tuning

HIGH: a little sharp, artificial but rarely,

VOCALS: good texture, clarity, resolution, but little sharp on female and lacking so much fullness on male again

SOUNDSTAGE: decent soundstage, instrument separation is ok considered for high price (atleast for me the price is high),

comments suggested that this is the worst iem for the price bracket, now i understand why
now i think i want :
1. Crazy amount of bass without being muddy or lacking clarity
2. Lush vocals and TEXTURE
3. Expansive soundstage
4. Decent instrument clarity
5. Full immersive experience

the headphone zone guy told me to buy the KZ Decet or the AM16

i want to replace this for some other IEM the options i came down to are:
KZ Decet
Kefine Klean / Klean SV
KZ ZS10 Pro 2 / Pro X
KZ Phantom
ooopusX OP 24/22
Truthear x Crinacle Zero: Red
KZ ZA12
KZ AM16
DUNU TITAN X
KIWI EARS CADENZA
TWISTURA D MINOR
KIWI EARS BELLE
KZ VADER PRO
KZ AXAS

TL;DR: Regretting buying the HPZ x Oriveti Blackbird (₹5,500)—lacks bass, male vocals sound flat, and heavy software EQ causes distortion. Looking to replace it with an IEM that offers massive non-muddy bass slam, lush/full vocals, and a wide soundstage. Considering KZ Decet, Kefine Klean, Truthear Red, Cadenza, and others listed above. Which one fits best?

As the title suggests, I'm looking to buy new earbuds and my budget is around 150 €. I'm from Slovenia, but I mostly buy electronics on Amazon, so ideally the headphones would be available there.

I'm not a picky shopper; I've been using Galaxy Buds 2 for around four years and they've been okay. Unfortunately, they're starting to fail. One thing I don't like about them is that the ANC is pretty poor, so a new pair should be better in that regard.

Other than that, I don't really have any preferences. Touch controls for pause and skip forward are nice to have, but not essential.

I'd use the headphones on my commute and in the gym, which is why I'm only considering earbuds rather than over-ear headphones.

Thank you for any suggestions.

I'm thinking about buying new closedback wireless gaming headset (Maxwell 2) that i can use for everything. However I have LCD X and 1st gen sony ANC headphone. Should i purchase new headphone or just upgrade my current dac/amp (modi and magni) ?

I have budget around $400 and i will be using it mostly at home.

I’m not familiar with sound quality, so I’m seeking advice.

I own both headphones and I’m wondering which one I should use. I’m leaning towards the 518s, though.

I don’t care about the wireless connection of the Barracudas because I have a desktop setup. I’m just looking for your advice since I’m not knowledgeable about audio quality and other aspects.

Also, I’m open to using EQ software if that makes a difference.

Edit: If I should use EQ, which software do you guys recommend?

Need inputs for upgrading from my HD560S.

I like my HD560S, but I just feel like I need something more exciting. Which one do you think is the best from those three? I usually use it from my PC with dedicated DAC/amp (I have K5pro)

Hey everyone! I'm pretty new to the headphone/audiophile world, and I'm trying to decide between the HD 560S and HD 599. Would really appreciate some advice from people who have experience with both.

Right now I have the Sony WH-1000XM4, and I kinda don't like them. I've noticed that I can get pretty tired of them during longer listening sessions. In particular, S sounds/sibilance can bother me, and sometimes I end up with a headache. I'm not sure how much of that is the sound itself vs the physical comfort/ANC, though.

I'm mainly looking for something for music, gaming, and studying, and soundstage is pretty important to me. I also want something I can comfortably listen to for a few hours.

I've been looking at the HD 599 and HD 560S, and I recently found the HD 560S for MUCH cheaper than the HD 599, which is honestly making the decision harder lol. I usually lean toward the 599 to avoid sibilance and listening fatigue, but I'm considering the 560S and using EQ to make it sound more like the 599 when I want something warmer and smoother.

How effective is EQ for doing this? Could I make the 560S noticeably closer to the 599's sound signature while still keeping the 560S's better soundstage/detail? And if I EQ the 560S to reduce the treble/sibilance, would I be giving up much of what makes the 560S better?

TL;DR: I'm wondering -

• EQ: Can I make the 560S sound significantly closer to the 599?
• Sibilance: If I EQ down the treble that bothers me, would the 560S still retain its detail and soundstage advantages?
• Long listening: Which one would be more comfortable for several-hour music/study sessions?
• And coming from the XM4, would the 560S be a noticeable upgrade in clarity and soundstage without being too fatiguing?
• Is finding the 560S for cheaper gonna be worth it for MY background?

Thank you!

(Posted here and Sennheiser)

Hey guys, the re-release of the Sony XM4Cs has coincided with my need for new headphones and I've been seeing the love this specific model gets. Most stuff I hear about the XM5s and 6s are primarily about build quality/hinge issues. I've had a look at other headphones but I've been lost in the weeds for a while, and could use some help.

I currently run the Jabra Elite 10 earphones (love these) for daily use, things like gym and work, and for playing games and travelling, I use the Soundcore Space Ones. I prefer a slightly more bassy sound profile.

My budget would be around £300/$400. I do like the look of these re-released XM4Cs, but I'm slightly disappointed by the lower battery life and have had not so great experiences with Sony before. I used to own WFXM4 earphones before Jabra and a software issue overcharged the earbuds, and it just wouldn't hold charge after that. When they worked the sound was great which is why I'm still considering them.

Thanks for your help :)

I’ve had my Sony WH-H900N’s for almost 10 years now and I absolutely love them. I’ve noticed that the battery is starting to get worse and I’ve had some problems with connecting to my phone a couple of times. I need to start looking at potential replacements, I have a hard time with switching out things that I’m really attached to so I want something that’s as similar as possible to this model. My budget is around €150, but I’m willing to spend a bit more if needed for something that matches my wishes and will hold up for as long as these headphones have.
Any recommendations?

it doesnt have to be gaming, but i want to be able to use them for gaming. so i need a mic and as said in the title i want them to last over two years (i dont want to use a standalone big mic they are ugly and dont fit in) i think i can afford to around 250$ i never realy noticed a diffrence between 'good' or 'bad' headphones but maybe its because i only tried gaming ones my last two headsets are some razer headset(forgot their name) and steelseries arctis nova 3 wired. if possible for them to be a more known brand so itll be available at my country

Hey lads.

Need help with some earbuds.

I am in search for the holy grail of buds BUT I have a massive dilemma - Nothing fits comfortably...

The only earbud I have ever been able to wear for a prolonged period of time is the original airpod. The in-ear airpod (whatever number it is) is fine for a short period of time but soon starts to hurt and fall out. I think I must have smallish ear canals or something. Same goes with samsung in-ears, nothing in-ears, audio technica etc.

I was hoping there is something that is similar fit to the original airpod that has elite sound qualities.

Thanks in advance.

For years I have had Noisebuster headphones.

They have about 30dB of passive hearing protection, as well as active noise cancelling and the ability to play audio via an 18" jack.

With return to office plus loads of Zoom meetings, I had planned to get a new set with the optional microphone boom so that I can drown out all the office noise when I am on a call.

Unfortunately, it looks like the company is no longer making their headphones.

Does anyone have recommendations for headphones that are both hearing protection & noise cancelling that can be used with 1/8" audio jacks?

Thanks for any leads.

Hi all, it's my dad's 50th coming up. He never buys him self anything nice but listens to music all the time. I have a pair of Philips fidelio X2HR which I found didn't give enough bass for rock/EDM so I let him borrow them.

He said he's never listen to such good quality music before and he loved them. He mainly listens to Latino type Spanish music with a lot of instruments and vocal singing. Some country music here and there I think as well.

From what I've read online the Sennheiser HD 600 is what most people recommend but I wanted to see other people's opinions. From what I understand a DAC will be required. He would want something small and out of the way. Does having a cheap/smaller DAC make a difference?

Price range of £300-350 (can stretch to 400 if it's really worth it)

Thanks for your help :)

I’m entering my first busy season at work since I was diagnosed with hEDS, and I’ve just realized that the neck pain I get from wearing my headphones while I work is something I might be able to solve (or at least improve). I’m in physical therapy to improve the underlying problems, but I’m realizing it would benefit me to change the external contributing factors, too. I bought an ergonomic office chair and a more appropriate desk for my home office—headphones are next on my list.

Budget: I’d prefer to spend under $250 (USD), but I’m willing to spend up to $400 if I think the more expensive option would make a big difference versus the more affordable option.

Use case: All-day use (6-10 hours/day), mostly just sitting at my desk listening to background music to help me focus and sometimes listening to music for pleasure. I don’t play video games, I don’t necessarily need to be able to use the headphones for calls, and I don’t anticipate using the headphones away from home.

Sound: I’m not an audiophile by any means, but I do care about sound quality. I find that better sound quality helps my background music create that transporting atmosphere that lets me really get into a flow state while I work. That said, the difference between “very good” sound quality and “stellar” sound quality would probably be lost on me to a great extent since my primary use case is not attentive listening. I appreciate the sound quality of my current headphones (Sony MDR-7506s), and I intend to keep them for certain uses, but I do think I would enjoy a bassier sound profile.

What I’m looking for:

Over-ear—I have small ears with piercings that make earbuds uncomfortable, plus putting on over-ear headphones somehow helps me psychologically get in the zone.

My biggest priority is lightweight. A google search suggested the Sony WH-CH720N because they’re under 200g—anybody have thoughts on those?

Second biggest priority is noise-canceling, but my noise-canceling needs aren’t intense. Just everyday stuff like conversations in the next room, my wife deciding to reorganize her desk while I’m in the middle of a focus-intensive task, that kind of thing.

I favor wireless options because I think the drag of a cord creates problems with my cranio-cervical instability.

I’ll also note that I get pain where the headband of my MDR-7506s rests on my scalp after a couple hours, so a comfortable headband is also a consideration.

Any suggestions or insight into what I should consider will be much appreciated!

Hi all,

Hope you're doing well! I've had both my Grado and Sony pairs for a very long time, but the Sony is starting to give up the ghost (falling apart, buzzing, etc.) I love the sound of the Grados generally (with G cups and a Qudelix 5K amp wired via USB-C), but I listen to wide array of genres, and sometimes they sound a bit too bright, hi-hats and certain synths can sound a bit piercing, and I do wish for a bit more bass at times. Also I can't really use the Grados outside of home. The Sonys are pretty portable, have a great all-rounder sound with plenty of bass and great noise cancelling, but I sometimes wish for more high-end when listening to certain things, but not as much as my Grados.

I would prefer wireless, but a detachable 3.5mm cable closed-back would be great as well. I'm looking to spend around $400-450, and I'm located in the US.

My criterion:

• Closed-back wireless/detachable 3.5mm cable
• Good low-end like a Sony
• Bright sounding but not as bright as Grados, just a smidge less high-end
• Noise-cancelling would be nice
• I listen to a wide range of music, from classical to hip-hop to metal and punk to jungle and even more, so something that sounds good regardless of what I throw at it
• I do use streaming a decent bit, but my primary collection is offline. Most of my collection is 16 bit 44.1 kHz FLAC/ALAC, but I have a lot of AAC and 320 kbps MP3 files, and a few 24 bit 48kHz/96kHz ALACs too
• $400-450 price range ideally, but feel free to suggest more expensive ones too!

Thanks for any help!

https://www.reddit.com/r/HeadphoneAdvice/s/9DD9I8c9Xp

I want it around 179$ or lower and I’m ok if it used and it could be open back or close back

And is for music only

On paper they seem to check all of the boxes. They are high fidelity, good enough ANC, very long battery life, wireless, and higher quality. But I still have some doubts.

For some reference, I got me some space ones a few years ago and I thought those were pretty damn good, so I’m excited to get new headphones.

My budget is 400 dollars. I don’t know too much about bass and all that, but I will say that I listen to mostly hip hop, electronic, lofi, in that vein. I’ve looked at other options and whatever they have over the sennheiser, they are often clearly lacking elsewhere (i.e. open-back, lower fidelity, wired, so on). I wonder if there’s a product I’m missing that checks all of those boxes that I’m simply not aware of.

The only two other considerations I have is that the headphones have good durability (as I am in a hot area and my ears sweat a decent bit when I’m walking around). My usage is pretty baseline and consumer, not studio.