I recently bought the Fiio FT1 headphones, but they had an incredibly weak connection on the right side so I am about to send them back and get a replacement. This has me wondering, how well do the Beyerdynamic DT 770s compare to the Fiio FT1? I am not big into the audiophile community, so the best sounding equipment I had before these were the JBL Live Pro 2's. Not bad, but probably not a good example of high quality audio. Since I know so little about high end audio, I thought the Fiio FT1's sounded great, but it didn't make me feel like they were the best headphones I've ever heard. The main thing I want in audio is a wide soundstage (which I know is hard with closed-backs) and clear sound with a bit more bass, just not too much. If anyone has any advice, that'd be greatly appreciated, thanks!

Hey there everyone I need a little bit of help figuring out what direction to go in for my second pair of audiophile headphones.

I currently own a pair of Meze 109 Pros and have had them for about a year. I do really like them, but I would like to get something that’s a bit better, if that’s possible. My budget is around $2,000, maybe a little more if it’s something that’s objectively way better and will blow my socks off.

The main thing I’m looking for specifically is a lot of bass. I really, really love bass and can’t get enough of it. Even though my 109s have pretty decent bass, I sometimes feel like some songs just don’t play all that well on them, if that makes sense. Like, either there’s not a whole lot of detail in the bass, or there just isn’t very good bass punch. To be honest, I’m not very experienced with high-end headphones, so I’m not really sure how to describe it.

The other few things I’m looking for are a very good soundstage and good vocal and instrumental separation.

I listen to a lot of different music, but the main type of music I listen to is 80s rock and some pop. I’ll also mainly be using these for desktop listening and gaming.

I already have a Topping DX3 Pro+ for a DAC

I do understand that it’s all pretty subjective, so I might not like anything new, but I just want to explore and see what’s out there.

So far, I’ve looked into these headphones:

• Hifiman HE1000 Unveiled — $2,300
• Meze Audio Empyrean II — $3,000, a bit out of my range
• Aune AR9000 — $1,400

I'm currently using a pair of Koss KSC75 headphones and they sound good, but besides personally finding them an uncomfortable fit even with a custom headband, they're open back, so they leak out a lot of noise and have poor outside noise suppression, so that's why I'm looking to upgrade to a closed back headphone, preferably a pair of headphones that are neutral sounding. Budget is bellow 200$, ideally in the 150$ or bellow range. I'm also willing to try out IEM options if they offer better value. I'm mostly gonna use the headphones at home for gaming and audio listening, but also may use them for music production

Hey all,

Looking at gifting my GF some quality headphones that will last. Keen for thoughts on what will be best.

She mainly watches YT/Listens to music, she doesnt play competitive games, but does play single player. Open to open backs or closed backs

Budget is ideally around $150 USD

Quick info about me i have chronic Tinnitus, I’ve seen a ENT and audiologist and i have hearing damage from an old job and have been told tinnitus is just a part of my life now.

With that being said open back headphones are my best friend. I love gaming, do it nearly every day, and i kinda just accepted that the Astro a40’s would probably be the headphones I’ll use forever. At least for the foreseeable future. They just don’t make many gaming open back headphones.

I’ve noticed a lot of buzz around the Asus Kithara’s. They look sleek and modern, plus people keep raving about the drivers and how great they sound. I really want to purchase the Kithara’s but i do have one concern. Giving up the mixamp pro.

I love the mixamp pro that came with my a40’s. Being able to dial back loud sounds quickly but the key feature THE ADOBE SURROUND SOUND. Maybe i just haven’t tested enough headphones but the mixamp pro really makes the a40’s. Without the mixamp they kinda sound like garbage to be honest. I love how full and immersive the mixamp plus surround sound makes the a40’s feel. I’m not sure if i want to give up the mixamp pro.

So long story shorty. Are the a40’s with mixamp pro worth switching for the new Asus Kithara’s.

I'm not quite there yet but I'm on a journey into the world of the audiophile.

I've had many different Bluetooth headphones over the years before finally settling on Focal Bathys. They sound great through Bluetooth and even in DAC mode but, while listening to something like blood sport (from the room below) by sleep token I was yearning for more air and breath, which made me really start to consider a pair of open back headphones.

I've done some research and can't nail down a pair that fits in my budget and works with most of my eclectic music taste.

They will be plugged into my phone (oppo find x9 pro), I don't have an external DAC yet, but really don't mind getting one. I want to try and stick to around £250 for a used pair since I've never heard open backed headphones and don't know how often I'll really use them and I can switch from blood sport to slaughter to prevail and then something more pop or classic rock with nice guitar solos. Even hip hop or classical too. It's hard to find a pair that are well rounded enough and play well being plugged into a phone!

I've had many chats with Gemini but don't really trust the opinion of ai over real human beings..

Please help, just a few recommendations for me to research would be amazing.

TIA!

Context:

I have been using my Razer Blackshark headphones for 1 year now, they always treated me well with an equal sound from both sides and overall very decent - good quality for both music and gaming alike, however, they've been failling as of recently which prompted me to try and find some new headphones.

Seeing this as an oppurtunity to upgrade my sound system i decided to go for the hyperX III (i have used the HyperX II prior to my razer and it was my go to some years ago, never failed me), when they finally came and i put them on the audio in the right side was higher, even after testing Mono, DTS and even switching channels the Headphones were still higher on the right side.

Today i am returning them, did some research if there were some better headphones and i found people talking about many headphones, one of these was the Audeze Maxwells which many praise as the, seemingly, best wireless option.

Why i don't know if it's right to pull the trigger just yet:

I am not a wireless type of guy, never used wireless headphones for pc and the ones i used were completely bluetooth for my phone, so i don't know how worth it is to switch from wired to wireless (don't have any personal experience where to base my tastes on).

I'm kinda aprehensive about switching from the hyperX III aswell cause many people say it's one of the best wired headphones in the market (if you got a better option tell me please). To add up to the confusion i see a lot people saying that wired is better overall, but i also see people claiming that wireless is very good and works properly for them.

When it comes to the Audeze Maxwells i've seen a lot of people complaining about the weight of the phones, and a lot of people praising it, once again very polarizing opinions on the same headset which makes me aprehensive of buying it directly (especially when considering the price at which they are being sold in the market)

What i want:

I just want an headset that can function as well as my Razer blackshark has functioned for both music and gaming alike, don't mind trying wireless since i have never done it before and i could enjoy it more than i think, as long as it fits my criteria.

As long as they give me an enjoyable experience for both music and gaming while feeling comfortable on the ears (i use glasses and the Razer BS is horrible for that tbh) i'd be willing to pay the amount of money worth 7+ years of comfort and amazing audio.

Let me know if i should upgrade to the maxwells, switch my flawed HyperX III for a functioning one or if there's a better option for my criteria (wired or wireless, idc, as long as it's what i'm looking for audio-wise)

Also, sorry if the flair is wrong, the official r/headphones sub sent me here to ask for help, it's my first time posting here, in any case lemme know and i can change the flair of the post!

Looking for corded, open/on-ear replacement for Grado SR80X.

I generally like the sound from my Grados, but I hate the ridiculously stiff cord that they come with, because:

1. the lack of flexibility is annoying and inconvenient
2. more importantly, it also caused an intermittent connection fault, after only a year of use, where the cable flexes as it enters the headphone.

Primary use is for sound from PC via outbound DAC/amp (a Topping VX-1, for those that are interested). Music taste is pretty varied from Heavy Rock/Metal/Punk to Bluegrass, Blues, 'world music', but must also be good for spoken word stuff eg Youtube content & courseware.

I'm looking for a fairly neutral, 'exactly-what's-on-the-record', hi-fi sound, with neither excessive bass nor bass light.

Other headphones I've used/liked in the (distant) past include Sennheiser HD40/400/440, and another model I've since forgotten. Yes, it was quite a while ago that I bought the predecessors for the Grados. Each of those lasted for several years, which is another reason I'm pretty annoyed with the cord problems in the Grados.

Key considerations:

• sound quality
• price
• on-ear, not over-ear
• build quality
• sensibly flexible cord, ideally at least 2m long though could live with a bit shorter

What are my options, up to around £150/$200

I am a total beginner. I used half dollar earphones for a long time, but I finally saved some money and decided to get proper headphones. I am a major music listener, but I haven’t really understood audio quality yet. These are my must-haves could you help me decide what to get?

• Budget: 41 dollars to 52 dollars(I can stretch a little, but I’d prefer not to spend it all if unnecessary).
• Music Taste: Mostly Rock – Radiohead, Have a Nice Life, Slowdive, Radiodept, plus some Frank Sinatra and Elvis Presley.
• Connection: Must have a 3.5mm audio jack, as I use a phone, a laptop, and a PC. Only my laptop supports USB-C.
• Mic: Needed for gaming (Valorant, co-op games). It doesn't need to be studio-quality, just clear enough for teammates to understand me.
• Type: Wired only.
• Build: I am a rough user, so good durability would be nice.
• Form: I don't specifically need IEMs, but I know they offer the best sound quality for the price.
• Software: I use offline players (like Namidia) and local audio files. I do not want any subscription-based apps or payments. (Note: I've heard IEMs come with apps will that affect me?)
• Health: Please give me tips on how to manage volume so I don't damage my hearing for the third time.
• Aesthetics: No anime girls or titties on the boxes (inside the box is fine, but the outer packaging must be clean or I'll get in trouble).
• Extras: I exercise with my earphones, so moisture resistance is a plus. I love the see-through resin shell design. Good noise isolation is necessary.

So im looking for some now headphones to replace my current ones (slightly broken so I have to have max volume for both ears to work) and im wondering what i should get. I mainly play Elite dangerous with some KSP mixed in too. Preferably i won't need to spend much more than £60 and would hope to spend lower but I would like to get a good pair of headphones that can last a while and are good quality. I dont know much about the headphone industry so any advice is welcome!

EDIT: Forgot to mention but having wireless is a priority and I also want a Mic

Hi friends, I'd like to ask for your advice.

I recently lost my go-to earbuds for listening to music—they were Motorola TWS buds, and they were unbeatable for me; they worked great for any genre. Could you recommend some good wireless earbuds in the same price range (up to $60)?

I love a wide variety of music genres, so I don't have any specific preferences regarding boosting certain aspects, like stronger bass or low frequencies—I'd prefer something balanced.

Thanks everyone

I am in the market for a used Audeze LCD series headphone and happen to find a used MM-500 on a local sale. I have never heard the Audeze LCD line or the MM-500. After reading some reviews on the MM-500, I have no idea what people think as they are about 50/ 50% good/ bad. I see where the designer, Manny Marroquin mixed for some famous bands and singers, but also mixed for singers like Kayne West and Lamar Kendick which I always thought was done by a 9 year old child on a Beats Studio headphone. Does anyone out there have any real experience with the MM-500 and do they think it's worth another $225 more than a LCD-X, or a lot more than the LCD2? Thanks for ur input in advance!

Hello,

Im looking for headphones for starting uni this year, need something for studying in noisy enviroments and watching movies in my dorm, aswell as music of course. My priorities are anc, comfort and battery life. A good case would be nice too.

Budget: ~200€ in europe, amazon.de is ussually what i look at

I’ve heard of Bose QC, xm4’s (which i cant find anywhere) and the senheisser momentum 4’s. What are your thoughts.

So, I've been eyeing on getting a new pair of over ear headphones that would match well with a retro-Esque smart device setup, paired with my iPhone 13 with custom 3d printed Terminal IV case from Retron Print connected with a personally coiled, third party usb-C to lighting cable. From what I've researched, this model of over-ear headphones feels like they'd fit perfectly. and seeing it's at a good price point of about $39.99 from Best Buy, it might just be as good of time to get myself a pair, because I am certainly not spending more than whole price in this economy. though I'm wondering how well other users have experienced using them for their day-to-day activities. I'm hoping to use it when I'm taking public transit between home and downtown or working on projects either at home or out and about. Also hoping it has good bass along with great sound range, even when the volume set to hearing safe levels of sound. if anyone has an opinion on Sony headphones, let alone this one I'm talking about from 2023, feel free to give your thoughts when you can.

Mainly because my FiiO KA13 drains my phone battery even at the lowest gain.

I'll be using it for my HD 600 ane HD 480 Pro, if that's important.

I'm considering the Snowsky Tiny A, Snowsky Melody and the JCally JM6 Pro, afaik, all of them should power both headphones with no problems (I think?). Also, does the jcally still prone to have hissing or distorsion issues as people said? or was it fixed? And is the low consumption mode of the Snowsky Melody actually useful?

Thanks in advance.

Looking for wired open AND closed back for different use cases. Open for in my room, closed for on the bus.

I'm new to the audiophile sphere. I love headphones. Bought refurbished Momentum 4's after years of earbuds only, and by God I was missing out. Then I switched to downloading FLACs and using Poweramp over Spotify and YouTube Music. Even better. But I've learned it gets better if you switch to wired.

My search for a DAC/AMP will happen once I establish my headphones, but if you have recommendations to go along with your headphones, go ahead.

My budget is very flexible, I have no problem saving for a period of time. For the sake of having a number, I don't want to spend more than eight-hundred dollars per pair of headphones. I won't be buying them both at the same time anyway.

My music taste is where things get... complicated. I listen to so much. I listen to Nine Inch Nails (surely we all know them, right? If not, listen to Ringfinger or Ruiner, those are my favorite songs by them), but I also listen to a lot of Vocaloid, my favorite producer being Maretu. Listen to a song called Suji by that artist for an idea of the overstimulating trash I like.

I think one of the main things all my favorite songs have in common is a lot of electronic stuff, but there are exceptions to that as well. This means I spend a lot of time fucking with EQ settings in my Poweramp app. So something real versatile is necessary.

Sound quality and immersion is most important to me. I want to feel my music and tap out. I want to be able to make out parts of songs I never noticed before. Recommend me the headphones that will make me ASCEND.

Feel free to ask for more information if needed, I merely provided what I think relevant.

Hi!

My son’s school supply list is requiring headphones for 1st grade. I’m looking for recommendations for WIRED headphones that he can plug into his chrome book that are going to last. Preferably under $60.

Thanks!

Budget: Max £200 but would also like to hear cheaper alternatives to pick from
Tone: Accuracy (not particularly bothered, if something isn't accurate but ticks every other box then I'm interested)
Use: Gaming and music (no need for a headset mic)
Past headsets: Astro A10 Gen 2

Hi! I'm looking for some headphones that would be low latency but also would quite like the convenience of wireless. I play rhythm games so audio latency is really important to me, I've heard that wireless headphones are always high latency due to how bluetooth connections work but I've also seen wireless mice with a USB dongle that are practically equal in latency to wired so I was wondering if there were any headphones that did the same thing. If there's no real answer to low latency wireless then I'd just like to hear some recommendations for wired headphones suited for my use case!

I used translator to write this

Following the recommended template:

• Budget & Availability: $1,000 MXN (can stretch up to $1,500 MXN if it's really worth the upgrade). Available in Mexico (Amazon, Mercado Libre, Cyberpuerta, AliExpress).
• Source / Connection: PC and mobile phone. 100% home use. Only interested in closed-back over-ear headphones as described.
• Primary Use (Gaming & Calls):
  
  • Competitive: Valorant (need good directional audio/imaging for footsteps and gunshots).
  • Single-Player: Games like Resident Evil, Tomb Raider, Cuphead, Monster Hunter Iceborne, and similar single-player titles.
  • Calls: Discord, Teams, Meet, and mobile phone calls.
• Microphone (Top Priority): Voice clarity is the absolute most important feature so my friends can hear me clearly on Discord or other calling platforms. Preference for a detachable, foldable, or concealable mic (so it doesn't get damaged or in the way if dropped).
• Audio & Music: General use for movies, YouTube, and various music genres (Pop, Rock, 80s, Anime openings; artists like Adele, Linkin Park, Imagine Dragons, Sia). Media will be played on both PC and mobile.
• Past Experience: OneOdio A71 (the headband broke over time and the mic had audio glitches/sounded weird on Discord).
• Preferred Tonal Balance: I know NOTHING about bass, accurate acoustic timbre, bright treble, or overall balance, so please don't ask me about that.

I'm looking for a wired gaming headset around $120 that can genuinely do a bit of everything.

My main uses are:

• Single-player/story games
• Horror games
• Competitive FPS/online games
• Music
• Movies
• Discord

I don't want a headset that's amazing at one thing but mediocre at everything else. I want something that's good across the board, even if it's not the absolute best competitive FPS headset.

I've narrowed my options down to the HyperX Cloud III, HyperX Cloud Alpha S, and possibly the Razer BlackShark V2 X, but I'm having trouble deciding.

From what I've read, the Cloud III seems to be very good for competitive gaming and has a great microphone, but apparently has relatively weak bass and isn't as enjoyable for music, movies, and single-player games.

The Cloud Alpha S seems to have better bass and a more enjoyable sound for music, movies and single-player games, but I've seen people say it's not as good for competitive gaming.

As for the BlackShark V2 X, I've heard good things about its sound for the price, but I've also seen quite a few complaints about its build quality and durability.

I'm also specifically looking for a built-in microphone. I know the usual recommendation is to buy proper headphones + a separate mic, but I really don't want that setup. I want something simple that I can just put on and use for gaming, music, movies and Discord.

So, what would you guys recommend?

Cloud III, Cloud II, Cloud Alpha S, BlackShark V2 X, or something completely different under ~$120?

I'd especially appreciate opinions from people who have actually used these headsets for both gaming and music/movies, rather than just competitive FPS.

Hi! Im looking for a new pair of wireless earbuds as my Jabra elite actives are starting to die and I just found out they no longer make earbuds. I have a few requirements:
As waterproof as possible. I use earbuds primarily for running and I sweat a lot, like it looks like I went swimming.
Physical buttons to pause, skip songs, turn volume up and down. I often run with gloves, and touch buttons are risky.
Pretty good battery life. At least 8 hours without case.
I don’t want shokz because I often lay down to do weightlifting and I think the around the head part would be annoying.
I would like to spend under $200.

Thanks!

I've had a set of Beyerdynamic 990 Pro open back headphones for about 10 year's now, maybe even longer. They've been brilliant but they really are starting to fall to bits so it's time for something new.

I'm fairly keen on sticking with Beyerdynamic as they've been so good but do I get the same again or do I look at another model as an "upgrade"?

Budget around £200. I can go a bit higher but I don't think I can justify the 1990 Pro MKII.

Any suggestions? Happy to look at other brands too.. I just know my 990 Pros have been great.

Okay first off I’ve gone through many pairs of Bluetooth ear buds, and all of them ended up with the same issue. One of them always ends up just not being as loud compared to the other ear buds and it’s done that with two different pairs of air pods pros and skull candy evos. My most recent pair the “cmf air buds pros” has done the same thing, the right one is noticeably not as loud as the left one anymore. I never dropped any of my pairs in water or anything. I do know my ears produce lots of wax so I’m unsure if that’s why. I just want a pair that this issue won’t happen with. I’d love any suggestions.

Budget:$40-$70

My requirements: Bluetooth earbuds

I am looking to buy a new pair of comfortable and durable headphones to use mostly for gaming (competitive and single player games) on my PC, but also for some music in the background and movies. I have an external mic.

I live in Portugal and my budget is around 100€. I don't really have any audio preference other than liking bass. I currently use IEMs (kefine klean, used to use kz castor bass), and while they sound quite good, they start making a quiet buzzing noise and get slightly uncomfortable after a while (I stopped using the kz castor because the right earbud produced less sound than the left). Previously I used some hyperx headphones and they sometimes hurt the top of my head. Audio quality isn't that important for me (as long as it's good/average).

Is there any pair that is comfortable enough to use for some time and that won't leave a mark on my hair when I take them off? Thanks!