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Looking at a new pair of closed backs. I have a pair of AKG 5550s that are rotting after only a couple of years so I'm looking at hopefully better, such as the Focal Celestee. Is it really worth the extra $800 over something like the Beyerdynamic 770? I have the BD 880 which is just fine to me. The Focals look pretty nice though. No idea what I'd use to drive them at the moment.
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Another tour-de-force headphone manufacturer is Kennerton Audio. They make a number of closed-back headphones under the Kennerton, LSA, and other brands. They also have a lot of technology in their phones and great craftsmanship. I own a pair of Gjallarhorn GH50 JM Edition phones, the only ones I am aware of employing a horn to project sound from a graphene-coated polyester driver. These phones are made in St. Petersburg, Russia so they are better known overseas than in the US but are well worth looking them up.
I recently went through a similar selection. Closed back were necessary to keep peace in the family. Tried open style but they disturbed others trying to sleep - so closed back are necessary.
Settled on Audeze LC 2. They are very detailed and clear. Best sounding cans I have owned.
Give the Ultrasone Signature pros an audition if they are in your budget. Comfy and sound great. Their s-logic tech does work and its not an "in your head" experience. There is a 580 i think that is in the $500 range that might be worth a look. I have 3 ultrasone cans and love all 3. 2 are open back ($179 and $1199) and the sig pros which are $1199.
Internets say they are bright cans But the 3 i have are not and fwiw thry ate not like normal cans. If you move your ear forward in the cup it does get brighter and if you move back its less bright. Its a great feature when you have those gnarly recordings that get bright.
Sig pros are easy to drive and scale easily. At home in my $400 focusrite dac/amp system or with my borderpatrol/ hafler system.
Here is a solid review
https://youtu.be/zaPmazYCBG4
Cut to razor sounding violins
I went with Audeze LCD 2 closed back.
These are super quiet - I can listen to music fairly loud, without disturbing others nearby while they are sleeping.
The sound is excellent, powered by my 6.5 watt amp. Really the best headphones I have listened to. My only complaint is the weight, slightly heavy. Well built and nice pads.
Especially the Shure SRH840 (which I have heard) or the more expensive SRH1540 (which I have not heard). Both sets of headphones are reviewed on YouTube... I am linking one of the reviews below for the 840's. You can search his site for the other pair, which he did not like. Most of the people that replied to him though said that in their opinion he was wrong... I own a pair of IE headphones by Shure and LOVE them! IF I was to look at another pair of over-ear cans, the Shure would be at the top of my list without a doubt!
One closed-back pair of headphones that won't make your ears sweat excessively. Premium build-quality, good looks, and a nice storage box...
Oh yeah, I almost forgot:
They sound very good too, even at low volume levels !
give out on me... Here is the review that I was talking about. He doesn't like them (thinks they are boring), but most if not all people that own them and replied to him said that he was mistaken. I would tend to believe the group rather than the party of one.....
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I live by the beach and it can get noisy outside with the wind and surf sometimes.
So in my case the Focal Stellias are worth it.
Additionally I can play later at night without waking up my gf, and they sound fine with the portable Vorz amp walking around the place or on the balcony.
KP
Thanks for the comments. No beach here, although we hear the traffic from the highway to Santa Cruz and we joke it's the sound of the ocean. We have a small house and share the same LR space, wife doesn't care for my music much and since she's still working remotely my listening time is limited. Don't think I can justify the Stellias, but the Radiance or the Celestee are in my range, or the Dan Clark Aeon Noire. The new amps I'm looking at have what is supposed to be a pretty high level headphone amp built in. Posed the question to Headphones.com, so I hope to hear their recommendations.
Thanks again.
Some really good one out there.
The Fina Audio FA-BA-SS and Beyerdynamic Xelento are both comfy and sound great.
Plus ultra portable, of course.
I drive them with a Vorz amp attached to a Fiio M11, this combo also does a great job driving the Stellias.
If you want to get your feet wet on a closed, try the Drop Meze 99's.
Fun cans, also easy to drive with the Vorz, and you can send them back if they don't do it for you.
KP
Yeah, pretty much for anything serious.. I can't get comfortable in them.
I might be changing my mind over spending serious $$$ on a closed and getting another open; planar or e-stat and just getting the cheap Beyerdynamic 770 for closed use. I don't think there's that much sound coming out of an open (I have a pair of Beyerdynamic 880's) to bother the other occupant. Of course her keyboard clacking might not be blocked out for ME!
So many choices out there. Kind of frustrating that now that I have the money, all the avenues for trying gear out; shows (one of the biggest was near me for years) good dealers, just aren't available. Watched a video of the guy from Linear Tube Audio talking about all the cans they were bringing to one in VA/MD. I know headphones.com has a 365 day return period, but I don't think they'd like a serial user of that!
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