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$665 Delivered (Was $899)
Shure SRH1540 Premium Closed-Back Headphones $665 Delivered (Was $899) @ Addicted To Audio
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Ltedchan0728 on 10/06/2022 - 15:45 addictedtoaudio.com.au (157 clicks)
Last edited 10/06/2022 - 17:36 by 2 other users
Last edited 10/06/2022 - 17:36 by 2 other users
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Not really, no, but they are fantastic value at this kind of price level. They have a minor dip from 1-2kHz, and a spike at 12 kHz… bass is also lifted compared to neutral presentation for an open back.
This is a closed back headphone though, and sonically it's not really separating itself out from the AKG K371, which goes for $200 or less. The K371 also stays as a slightly warm take on Harman neutral, whereas the Shure has a big mid-bass hump.
Biggest mark against the K371 is the comparative build quality, and the extra 2dB from 700-1.3 kHz, which can add a little heat to some voices if you have a mid-forward source. But overall, this is not worth the money compared to the AKG.
which goes for $200 or less
Don't worry, I skim read too. :P
Wait for Prime Day sales, should be able to net it around $150 with cashbacks/coupons/gift cards.
You state Hufiman do NOT measure the best. Which ones do then? HEDD?
In the price range of $700? Mr Anan's Nan-6, but they're a low sensitivity planar that needs a very good amp as they are similar to the HIFIMAN HE-6. They're also a DIY-style build sold on Taobao, but that's a whole other thing.
The Edition XS are a great sounding headphone, but they are technically a little U-shaped for an open back. I own them, they're fantastic and offering great timbre, resolution and imaging for a planar under $1500, while being mostly neutral and having a wide soundstage. The Nan-6 are their only planar competitor in terms of value sub-$1300 IMO, which step up the tonal balance, dynamics, imaging and detail further, just at the expense of soundstage.
Above that, RAAL will soon have a semi-open design that might redefine the high-end segment without quite reaching summit-fi prices: the RAAL CA-1a. Typically though as you go up in price, you're trading tonal balance for the engineers trying to maximise the technical qualities of the driver while keeping it somewhat neutral. You're also beholden to the tools and ears/preferences of the headphone maker (ie. 'house sound').
The Sennheiser 6XX/650 is a very neutral headphone with a touch of warmth, and has fantastic timbre and resolution. Lacks in staging and imaging, but with an amp that drives it properly (voltage swings are required, so class A-like or tube is highly preferred), you don't get bothered by it unless you're doing competitive gaming. For those who that tonality doesn't quite sit with, you can swap to the HD 600, but I feel vocal timbre suffers too much.
I use my 6XX as a daily driver into an Asgard 3, and use the Edition XS for gaming or when I want an even greater resolution bump.
@jasswolf: Thanks for the Pro comments, I bought a GSX1000 DAC yesterday, not sure what headset should i get for gaming LOL
@tedchan0728: Send that back and spend the extra $99 on an even better headphone, but here's a guide: https://crinacle.com/guide/gaming/
To add to that, I would slot the HIFIMAN Edition XS in at the best under $500 category.
@jasswolf: I wouldn't call the hd650 or 600 neutral. 600 is rolled off on the top end and the 650 is even more so bordering veiled territory.
Natural yes, neutral - far from it.
@krisspy: The veil disappears when they're driven properly. They're not completely Harman neutral, but you don't dial up the treble once you have decent sources, and you certainly don't keep the treble dialled up when you don't have the Harman bass shelf to compensate for it.
The roll-off in the bass isn't audible until around 40Hz, and they don't dip notably in the treble until the pads wear down. Feel free to offer a better option under $1000 with less compromises.
@krisspy: I would consider it relatively neutral rather than far from it, but it depends on how you define neutral.
There is no actual definition or set target regarding what we consider neutral because of how reference frequency response and headphones on our ears work. Most manufacturers likely either have their own targets or aim to achieve Harman targets.
HD6XX, HD600 and HD650s are slightly warmer at the upper-mid to presence range but they're well within targets to be used as reference headphones, they're popular because their targets align with modern takes on neutral targets with a flatter frequency response in the bass (Not-so-Harman).
They're much more neutral and suitable for use as reference headphones compared to many of the reference headphones being sold on the market today, find another one that's cheaper and more neutral and you'll be at the top of r/headphones and r/audiophile.
Demoed 3 hifimans and 1 fostex yesterday (sundara, xs and re9) and the fostex t60 seems better built sans uses better materials and is cheaper too
I have the ear cushions from these on my Fostex T50RP's. Prob closest I'll ever get :)
If I was to buy expensive ears right now I would get hifiman edition xs, they measure the best… At least for neutural sound