Best Headphones?

[JLCitadel]

What are THE best headphones, price not being an object. Mic attached or not attached doesn't matter. Bulky, overear, in ear, etc.. doesn't matter. Just THE best sound quality headphones.

[DaftBehemoth]

That's really hard to say since you'd need a ton of experience with the many different headsets to give a proper answer... that said, the Sennheiser HD800's sure seem impressive (at $1,500:P)

[JLCitadel]

That's really hard to say since you'd need a ton of experience with the many different headsets to give a proper answer... that said, the Sennheiser HD800's sure seem impressive (at $1,500:P)

 

Fostex TH900?

[DaftBehemoth]

Fostex TH900?

Well that certainly wins in terms of price at least. Who's to say for sound quality though.

 

Edit: Nevermind, I found those for $1,500 too

[ShearMe]

Doesn't exist. Everyone's preference is subjective.

[Aphexx]

I think one should aim for 2 or maybe 3 lower priced headphones that target different parts of the audio spectrum rather than putting it all on a single solution.

 

diversify your audio portfolio  

[Volbet]

Price is no problem? The Sennheiser Orpheus HE90 will probably be the best option then (if you can find any). 

 

But seriously, there is no "best headphone". Just go with a quality brand like Sennheiser, Beyerdynamic, Audio-Technica, Koss or AKG. Find a pair that suits your needs, at a price tag that fits your.

[ShearMe]

Price is no problem? The Sennheiser Orpheus HE90 will probably be the best option then (if you can find any). 

 

But seriously, there is no "best headphone". Just go with a quality brand like Sennheiser, Beyerdynamic, Audio-Technica, Koss or AKG. Find a pair that suits your needs, at a price tag that fits your.

 

Man, there's so much butt hert in the comment section of that article, just... just... just take my lulz.

[pierrelucsav]

It's pretty much like asking what is the best looking car or something. You'll get a thousand different answers (maybe not).

[iWearKiltz]

if this is for you buying, then as long as the headphones have good sound quality (not distorted at premature-ranges) then all headphones are good. you'll just be investing more money and getting a very little % better quality.

 

personally i like my razer kraken pros (headset 3.5mm jack), as i find they're a good pairing for rap/hip-hop

[MayflowerElectronics]

Like everyone has said before, it's all subjective.

My personal favorite headphone is the LCD2, but if I was insanely rich i would pick up the lcd3's.

[ItsOmnomz]

That's not an easily answered question.  You'd have to take genre and personal taste into consideration.  I like my music with slight accentuated low end (I mostly listen to EDM and Rock), whereas my friend listens to classical music more than anything else.  He tends to prefer a brighter headphone than me.

[Turkatron]

What are THE best headphones, price not being an object. Mic attached or not attached doesn't matter. Bulky, overear, in ear, etc.. doesn't matter. Just THE best sound quality headphones.

There are no best headphones (34584752305th time mentioning this, le sigh). Sound preference is purely subjective. You didn't even mention your preference on open or closed, natural or non natural, etc. Plus spending more on headphones does not always merit a huge increase in sound quality.

[Turkatron]

if this is for you buying, then as long as the headphones have good sound quality (not distorted at premature-ranges) then all headphones are good. you'll just be investing more money and getting a very little % better quality.

 

personally i like my razer kraken pros (headset 3.5mm jack), as i find they're a good pairing for rap/hip-hop

>Razer headset

lol

[deguzi]

What is your use-case scenario?

[Rhizo]

Probably these:

http://www.amazon.com/STAX-SR-009-Electrostatic-Earspeakers-Japan/dp/B004W1S0BY

requires a similarly priced if not more expensive amp.

 

But its all subjective.

[Youbetternot]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QPXiOirncTA

[LaoJr]

Mine are the hd 650's and any grado headphones, cause grado doesn't need an amp really nice they sound really good the one my uncle has the ps500's. And the HD 650s are just good. sennheiser knows what they do

[tycheleto]

Probably these:

http://www.amazon.com/STAX-SR-009-Electrostatic-Earspeakers-Japan/dp/B004W1S0BY

requires a similarly priced if not more expensive amp.

But its all subjective.

Yeah the STAX are good contenders, but I think the Sennheiser Orpheus is more well known. Though those headphones reach the point where it's so subjective, and audiophiles will just say they're meant for different types of music and situations, and decide to buy them all.

[NeoZeon]

The Legendary Audiotechnica L3000 should be on the list too.... they pop up on head-fi or ebay every once in a while and go for ~5k

[VortexBlast]

During my stay in Indonesia, I've auditioned numerous high end flagship headphones and IEMs that were available including the STAX SR-009, Abyss AB-1266, Audez'e LCD-3, HifiMan HE-6, AKG K1000 and even the mythical and extremely rare Final Audio Design Muramasa VIII and so on and so on... (but alas, haven't heard the Orpheus)

 

As everybody said, there is no "the best" headphones in the world because taste is all in all very subjective and each headphone has its own sound signature that works with one or various genre of music. There is no jack of all trades and master of all headphones. But if I was to give one headphone the "best" moniker, it would be the STAX SR-009 followed closely by the Abyss AB-1266. This is only based on sonic finesse and not on how I like the sound or not (e.g: I wasn't favourable with the Abyss sound signature but it was mighty fun to listen to).

 

Now what did I think about the STAX SR-009? I did my listening at a high end audio show and it was plugged through an SRM-727 MkII amp (hardly the ideal amp for the SR-009) and an M2Tech Vaughan Dac, that setup alone can cost north of $14000 in total, and honestly I was spoiled afterwards.

In terms of sound signature, it was extremely neutral with an amazing midrange representation and the best and smoothest treble I have ever heard. Instrument separation was excellent, I could hear every instruments as layers and separated from each other. The bass is extremely tight and very fast as well (but the Abyss was a bit faster and had a bit more impact in the bass department) but it never overpowers the music and never muddles other instruments. It was just the right amount and the right quality of bass.

 

The big question is, would I spend $15k in this system? If I was obscenely rich then absolutely but because I'm not rich I have to say no. When you go past around $1500 on an audiophile headphone rig (Headphone + Amp + DAC) the diminishing returns starts to hit very hard. I personally use an HifiMan HE-500 with a Schiit Lyr amplifier going through my Fostex HP-P1 DAC (could use a better DAC though) at home and I would say that while it is very far away from the SR-009 system, I had 65% as much pleasure as I did with the $15k rig.

I understand why it costs that much and I understand the value in it and if I had the money, I absolutely would not think twice but it really just is beyond my reach.

 

If you have the opportunity to listen to one, go ahead and don't be afraid to listen to it for a very long time (20 minutes minimum). It will spoil you and you will always try to aim higher, never looking below again but there will be a limit you will eventually reach that will make you think that the price is just too much.

[windss]

Just gotta find a good headphone shop, sit down for an afternoon and listen to your regular tunes to know what works for you

[jacobffeldman]

amongst the headphone collector community the best headphones ever, would probably be a toss up between the Sennhieser HE-80, the Stax Sr-009, and the Sony MDR-R10

[piplupgao]

Beats by dre Pro

Lol, no

[ShearMe]

 Sennhieser HE-80

 

Erm, typo?