Best Headset/Headphones of all time

[UltimateDave]

Give your 2 cents. Price can be taken into account but go as high as you like.

[MrBucket101]

V-Moda M-80

[TheNinjaNextDor]

Maybe these: Audio-Technica ATH-W5000 since they're not too ridiculously priced compared to other things.

[daemonowner]

Because <$200 headphones are really the best ever made.

 

The mantle probably goes to the Sennheiser Orpheus - $30000 headphones

Or Sennheiser HD800 - $1500 headphones.

[ShadowCaptain]

Yeah probably sometihng like the HD800s, they are some of the best sounding cans and not actually that expensive compared to some "audiophile" headphones

[0s4x]

I have to agree with @daemonowner and give my vote to the Orpheus.

[xyza]

The best headphones are what you think are the best headphones.

[ShearMe]

To all the people saying HD800 or Orpheus, maybe wait till you've tried them first?  :rolleyes:

[Maxibonbits]

With price in question Sennheiser HD 558s are excellent for price/performance.

 

I also picked up a pair of AKG K99 headphones for $50aud. They sounds excellent for those with a low budget. The only con with these is they really need to be amped (odd since they are only 32ohms)

 

Without considering price I have to give the best headphones to Sennheiser HD800s.

 

These are all based on personal experience, except the HD800s which I have never found a store with a demo pair and I can't afford them.

[Tech_Dreamer]

grado PS 1000 the 2000$ real red wood finish headphone

[Lauen]

I'm gonna nominate the Sony MDR-v6 and 7506. I really should get around to acquiring a pair and testing soon, but afaik they're like.. the standard for monitoring, flat sound with good detail, for only like 80$ or something.

[Bio Mujahid]

Beats Studio!

[Goldilock]

Stax Omega and LCD 3.

[RandomUsername]

the best ive heard so far are the beyerdynamics t1

[BaconComputing]

I'll just go the Beyerdynamic Tesla line to shake things up a bit.

[Lays]

According to innerfidelty / jude from headfi the stax sr-009 are their favorites, and they've heard a lot of headphones/ different setups. 

 

I really think audio is entirely to subjective to say anything is the "best". 

 

 

 

Personally I tried hd800 at a hifi store with multiple different amps/dacs and wasn't really impressed.

They were amazingly clear and accurate, but they felt like a gaming headset, very plasticy and cheap feeling.  They weren't fun to listen to either, when you listen to them it's more like you'd be trying to hear every detail rather than enjoying the music.

 

I also tried the LCD-2/ LCD-3/ LCD-X at the store and fell in love with the comfort of them, but simply can't afford 1000-2000$ on a pair of headphones

 

After buying my he-500's and giving them a go on my cheap amp+dac setup (fiio e5, fiio d3 dac), I've been quite impressed so far.  IMO they're more fun then the hd800, I notice myself head bobbing, dancing etc while im listening to my music, while the hd800 was a more... Weird experience, it's kind of like you're giving your music a test, rather than listening to it.  I believe that's what the hd800 are designed for though, and they do a great job at it.

I should be receiving my o2 + odac next week thursday/friday, will test more with those and my he-500.

 

I may trade my he-500 with @ShearMe 's hd650 for a week or something like that so we can test out each-others cans.

[Stefky]

Of those I've heard, it's a very close call between the Stax SR009 and the Sennheiser Orpheous. 

 

In terms of those I've owned, the Stax SR303 (with 507 leather pads attached) probably remains at the top. Kind of regret selling those to part-fund my Magnepan MMG speakers.

 

My current IEMs - the Sennheiser IE800 are fantastic contenders though.

 

Through the the bass and mids they are every bit the equal of the Stax, possibly even slightly better. Their treble is a little hard though. That can be modded to be improved, but never entirely cured.

 

That said - the fact that I can have proper hifi sound sitting on a bus or train, or my desk at work without a huge set up - pretty damn special.

[Thalandros]

For the price, I'm sticking with my HD 598's. Around 200$, these things are amazing and you don't necessarily need an amp to make them awesome. Just great for home usage. 

[Lays]

q

 

 

Any reason for not getting custom IEM's?

[Stefky]

Any reason for not getting custom IEM's?

 

1. Inconvenience of having moulds taken, sent to provider, shells made (often takes a second run)

2. Left with something we a drastically reduced re-sale price

3. Left with something no one else can wear

4. Our earcanal shape changes subtly over time - after 5 years they probably won't fit

 

Really there has been one and only one reason to buy CIEMS - superior sound quality.

 

There is a second reason that appeals to some (but not me) - a smug wish to be seen as "hardcore".

 

The reason custom IEMs have been so popular is that universal IEMs have topped out at mid fi historically. That is changing now with high end universal offerings from Sennheiser, Shure, AKG and even JHA have made a universal recently. 

 

If the sound quality can be as good, there is really no reason to consider CIEMs.

[Lays]

q

 

 

You spent $1,000 on IEMs and don't want "superior sound quality" ? >.>

 

 

I understand the rest of your thought process though, makes sense.

[Stefky]

You spent $1,000 on IEMs and don't want "superior sound quality" ? >.>

 

 

I understand the rest of your thought process though, makes sense.

 

No, I do want superior sound quality.

 

My point was that universal IEMs are no longer inferior to universal IEMs, so there is no longer a reason to consider CIEMs - unless you want to look "hardcore" at a huge premium.

 

There are now universals from Sennheiser, Shure, AKG and JHA that are every bit as good as CIEMs - so why bother with the extra expense, inconvenience, reduced re-sale value and inability for others to listen to them?

 

CIEMs no longer make sense, in 5 years time, no one will consider them anymore. 

 

ETA:

 

The IE800 (once a small mod is done to add a little acoustic resistance at the filter) are really incredible earphones. They sound as good as any electrostatic headphones I have heard or owned in the mids, have fantastic clean bass and surprisingly a great soundstage (for IEMs).