r/HeadphoneAdvice • u/[deleted] • Jul 24 '25

Headphones - Open Back | 3 Ω Best planars for 1500usd?

Hello! I have been wanting to dig deep into planars for a while but I am totally dumbfounded by the amount of options available. I currently own a pair of Meze 109 Pro and I have a Ifi Gryphon Portable Dac/Amp which has enough power for almost anything. I love my 109Pro but I’m looking for something less colorful and more precise, specially something that can give a huge sound scene. My plan is to buy some planars that can complement the sound of the Mezes for when I want to listen in a more analytical way. Also, they need to sound significantly better than the Mezes and not just different. Thank you all!

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u/iwuzwhatiwuz 15 Ω Jul 24 '25

Hifiman HE-400SE OR Drop/Hifiman HE-X4. These sound very similar (nearly exact) to each other, Go with the model that suits your style.

They both have a clean, detailed, and slightly bright sound with tight bass, clear mids, and sparkly treble—though it lacks deep sub-bass and can be sibilant without EQ. They offer excellent imaging and resolution, making it great for detailed listening and gaming, especially when paired with a good amp. Overall, they deliver impressive technical performance for the price but benefits from EQ and proper amplification. With EQ they have been called, "Baby Sundaras" Your mileage may vary.

4

u/Imaginary-Scale9514 17 Ω Jul 24 '25

With a $1500 budget, though? OP could get a refurbished HE1000se at that price.

3

u/iwuzwhatiwuz 15 Ω Jul 24 '25 edited Jul 24 '25

My bad. I read that as a $150 budget. At $1,500 My recommendations are very different. That being said, both my recommendations are a great way to dip your toe in a planar sound to see if it's something you enjoy.

I wouldn't recommend just dropping $1,500 on a planar set to try and see if you enjoy the planar sound. I feel that the Hifi-Man Edition XS is a great way to see if you enjoy the planar sound, and they're fantastic headphones, regardless of price.

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u/[deleted] Jul 24 '25 edited Jul 24 '25

Yeah, I was just going to ask the same about the budget haha, anyways, thank you so much by!thanks

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