r/HeadphoneAdvice

I've been using some old gaming headsets for years and I'm finally ready to get something decent. My budget is around $300 but I can stretch a little if it's really worth it. I play a lot of competitive shooters like CS2 and Valorant so imaging and soundstage are important. But I also listen to a ton of music across rock, electronic, and some hip hop. I've narrowed it down to the HD 560S and the Edition XS based on what I've read here. I know the Edition XS is normally more expensive but I've seen open box deals that put it close to my range. Is the jump in price actually noticeable for someone coming from cheap gaming headphones? Or should I just grab the 560S and spend the savings on a better DAC/amp setup later? Thanks for any help.

Buying my first proper set in the Edition XS. I could see myself adding a set down the road but nothing immediate. I’ve seen that the K11 should be enough to drive these efficiently, but the K7 might add some notable tightness to the bass and keep the soundstage wide during demanding phases of music.

Looking for the Reddit advice as to whether the K11 is more than enough for my current needs of if Inshould look at the K7 ( or even something else in a similar price range. )

Budget: Up to price of HD 800 S so I guess sub $2000?

Tonal balance: Prefer accurate with potentially preference for bass due to gaming/movie usage

Usage: At home at desk

I've been wanting to get a pair of higher quality wired headphones to use for a mixture of all day wear (somewhat music but also lots of Zoom calls for work), movies, and story-focused games. For music, I do listen to a lot of metal, Lo-Fi, hip-hop, and other bass heavy genres. For the calls, I have a microphone on my desk so the headphones are just for audio output and comfort is probably the main point of concern regarding that. Comfort is a big priority for me since I can be really prone to headaches. It does seem to have a lot to do with clamping force. I previously had the DT 900 Pro X and had to move away from them due to me getting a lot of headaches from the clamping on the sides of my head. I've most recently had the 490 Pro which were considerably more comfortable but I was wanting to do an upgrade.

I got the Arya Stealth to try along with a decent DAC/AMP and they do sound noticeably better in terms of soundstage compared to my 490 Pro's. Soundstage seems to be one of the things that wows me most about headphones and why I have found open back much more appealing than closed back or IEMs. I've also found these to be very comfortable too. The suspension headband seems to distribute most of the weight along the top of my head and there is pretty minimal clamping. To me, these feel even more comfortable than the 490 Pro (which I know are regarded as highly comfortable) due to the incredibly light clamping force. I also do like the responsiveness/improved bass of planar headphones. I have been reading what other people say about the brand's build quality though and that does have me a bit concerned.

I know the HD 800 S stock tuning is known for being bass light but I was thinking that could potentially be boosted using my DAC? From what I understand, it is considered to have one of the widest soundstages of any set of headphones and that does have my interest. I also know it is known for impressive build quality and comfort too and positively regarded for gaming.

The LCD-X are supposed to be really good for a warmer, bassier sound signature and that would probably be good for a lot of the content I listen to. I also figure they are better in terms of build quality than Hifiman while still having the other planar benefits I was liking so far. I also understand though that they are notably very heavy headphones and people have had issues with comfort with them. If the weight is distributed across the top of my head, that could be fine but I am not sure what they are like in-regards to clamping force or if there are other concerns with these headphones to note.

I'm also open to suggestions for other models I might not be familiar with. These are just some of the top contenders I found through my research so far but I am sure there are plenty others out there that might fit well. I appreciate any advice you all have!

Hey, I’ve been producing for a while and I finally feel like I’m at the point where I can start releasing music.

I bought a pair of ATH-M20x a while back, but I never really used them because they just don’t fit my head properly (I’ve got a lot of hair and they never sat right). Since then I’ve just been checking mixes on AirPods, cheap IEMs, and computer speakers.

Now that I’m getting ready to release stuff, I’ve realized my vocals don’t sit right in the mix, especially when I play them on JBL speakers. They didn’t sound perfect on other setups either, but I make a kinda rough/lo-fi/cloudy style, so I let some things slide.

At this point I think I need a proper pair of studio headphones.

I’m looking for something:

Under $200

Comfortable for a bigger head

Clear and reliable enough for mixing

I don’t need super “perfect” reference sound, just something that gives me a more accurate idea of how my mixes actually sound.

Any recommendations would be appreciated esp from people who deal with the same head issue as me

I have two pairs of Sennheiser headphones: the HD4.50BTNC (used for travel and when I'm moving around the house), and the HD598Cs (used for more active listening and occasional music production).

At the time I got these they were both at the top of my budget and I've been overall quite happy with them, but now that I have a more modern phone with no 3.5mm jack I find myself needing to wear the 4.50s more (can't be bothered with a USB-C dongle) and am becoming less tolerant of their slightly claustrophobic sound and how much they squeeze my head.
The HD598Cs are still great, but I do recognize that they aren't exactly top of the line and would be interested to see what improvements could be made over them.

I'd be looking for an over ear wireless headphone (preferably with the option to run wired) that will be a noticeable upgrade from the two I have currently. I'm based in Canada, my budget is around $500 CAD (but flexible), and would prefer as neutral a curve as possible.
I primarily listen to rock-adjacent music, but want something versatile enough to use for other genres and my aforementioned occasional music production (though I realize wired headphones are the usual recommendation for that).

I've also noticed brands are really marketing improvements to ANC on their wireless headphones, which isn't something I really care about for my purposes as I'm just looking for a pair to wear around the house and wouldn't want to drop extra cash just for improved noise cancellation.

I've been looking at the Sennheiser Momentum 4 and the HDB 630 (a bit out of my preliminary budget), but am open to trying out other brands and models if people think they'll be more appropriate for my use.
Real buttons would also be a plus, but not a deal breaker.

Not sure if this is the right place for this, but I’m considering downsampling my 24-bit/96–192 kHz files to CD quality to save storage space.

I travel a lot, so my audio setup is pretty limited...HD6XX, Truthear Hexa, AirPods Pro 2, Apple USB-C dongle, and an LG V30. Carrying around external drives is a hassle, and honestly I don’t think I can hear much of a difference between the higher-res files and CD quality.

Is there any realistic benefit to keeping the files as is for my use case, or should I go ahead with downsampling them?

Hello! New here, looking for advice on a headset with built-in microphone (ideally). I've had and really liked several sets of the Steelseries Arctis, but am interested in a more sophisticated set that might last a bit longer? The Arctis last me between 2-4 years before needing to be replaced.

I'd like to stay around $100-$150, but willing to go a bit higher if the sound and longevity are worth it. I don't take my headset anywhere, it lives on a stand next to my computer when not in use. I use them for gaming, listening to music, and chatting online - mic quality is equally important to me as I am in a long distance relationship and we primarily voicechat online.

Most of the headsets I've had were closed back, but I'd be willing to try open back, if there is a pair that meets all the other requirements.

I just have the headset plugged into my PC, I would prefer the traditional jack over the newer USB/USBC that my current pair has, as those seem to degrade faster. I don't know much about audiophile equipment, so my setup is pretty simple. Any advice/suggestions appreciated!

need recomendation on what headphones to get, recently broke my logitech g435 and need a new headset ive narrowed to down to wired and open backs, and i have no clue what to get. my use case is video streaming light music and gaming, will only use the headphones at home, dont mind if they are open back, i want a sturdy and realiable device that will last me a while, i cannot use earphones.

budget is about 300 usd.

I’m Looking for advice on a DAC/amp setup in the $600–$1500 range, either an AIO or a DAC + amp stack. Balanced output preferred.

I’m aware that headphones matter far more than DACs, and I’m not expecting nightandday changes. I’m mainly trying to avoid bottlenecking staging, treble texture, and overall musicality once the headphone choice is set.

Sound goals:

• Flat to slightly punchy bass

o good body and speed

o some subbass, but not basshead

• Strong timbre (acoustic instruments sound natural)

• Airy, sparkly highs with hihat shimmer

• Lower treble / sibilance (“s”) slightly recessed or very well controlled

• Holographic staging (depth and layering > width)

• Good speed, punch, clarity without sounding etched

• Overall “jazz club / small venue” presentation rather than studiodry

DAC/amp requirements

• Solidstate only

• Balanced output if possible

• Neutral to slightly warm tilt

• Onboard or manufacturersoftware EQ strongly preferred

o I’m trying to avoid running EQ through a computer (APO, etc.)

• Prefer newer designs (post2023, if possible)

Gear I’ve already considered

AIO’s

• FiiO K15 – leading option so far based on features and flexibility

• Aune S9c Pro – like the sound reputation, unsure if it has the EQ/features I want

• Luxsin X8 – looks great, mixed impressions on sound

• Topping Pro line – AIOs or stack options seem interesting

Separate DAC + amp

• Schiit Mimir caught my eye

o I don’t think it’s “magic” or mandatory, but wondering if its timbre/stage qualities are worthwhile if the rest of the chain is already solid

o Also unsure what amp pairing makes the most sense with it

Headphones I’m considering need advise on based on my SOUND GOALS ABOVE, but I NEED YOURE HELP GOOD CREATURES OF REDDIt.

(Max weight ~480g; slimmer designs preferred)

• Dan Clark Noire X / Noire XO

• Moon Audio Para 2

• FiiO FT7

• Aune AR5000

• Final Audio dx3000cl

• Final Audio dx4000cl

• ZMF Aeolus Open, Bokeh Open

• SJY Horizon

• HiFiMAN Edition XV

• Focal Clear (slightly worried about longterm reliability)

• HEDD D1 (maybe)

• Any MORE THAT FIT THIS CRITERIA (300-1K)

Brands I’m cautious about: Audeze (weight/QC history), Focal (longevity), Meze (comfort vs tuning tradeoffs).

Budget expectations (flexible if justified)

• $1500 – genuinely gamechanging

• $1200 – unreal

• $1000 – fantastic

• $800 – “goated for the money”

• $600 – strong value

Questions:

• What DAC/amp AIOs or stacks best fit this sound profile?

• At this level, how much improvement should I realistically expect from source changes vs headphones?

• Any post2023 DAC/amp releases I should prioritize?

• Is onboard EQ worth prioritizing, or am I overthinking it?

Appreciate any insight—especially from people who’ve compared multiple higherend source setups.

I just got into this hobby, and picked up some kiwi ears belle, and shp9600s.

Now looking to get one of these budget dacs, the JMAC jm6 pro is about 30 Australian dollars whereas the apple dongle I can pick up for 5 with a voucher I have laying around is the JMAC worth the extra 25 dollars?

And is the apple dongle enough for the shps?

Also additional question, I don’t have a usb C port on my pc would a usb c to A adapter hurt audio quality? And also I have a headphone jack extension cable I got from a hyper x headphone like 7 years back, would it hurt audio quality to plug that into the dac and then plug headphones into that?

Thanks so much

I normally bought this bud because it had hooks on it since almost every bud falls of from my ear. But I ended up loving it and even bought foam tips for it to make it more secure. Now I have some cash to burn and I want to retire these buds only for gym usage. I have around 100 dollar budget, I am kind of a bass-head, I love listening to Justice. I am using Tangzu Wan'er S.G II on my pc for general use and they are also great but having to deal with cables on public transport is too much work. Thank you in advance for your suggestions.

From my research and FR graph all 3 have overall similar sound signature but with some differences (correct me if I'm wrong). But JT7 have a lower pricing than the other 2. So is the jump in price worth it or I better keep that money? I also planned to EQ them if it helps to improve the headphone sound.
Other recommendation is appreciated (budget <$200)

Hey all, I've been trying to decide on a new pair to upgrade from my 7hz Zero:2s, but I just can't pick. My budget's at around ~40 USD, although I don't mind spending slightly more.

I do have access to Taobao and am able to read 90% of it. I prefer something that's close to the Harman 2025 target, or something similar to the Truthear Hexas. I'm going to be using these pretty much anywhere.

I'm currently eyeing a few IEMs, namely Truthear Gates, ooopusX op.22 and the Tripowin Vivace (I do understand that the Vivace is a bit warmer). These are all quite similar to the Hexas (especially the op.22) based on Hangout.Audio's squiglinks, and quite close to Harman 2025 targets.

I just would like to have everyone's opinions on their experiences on the IEMs mentioned, and which may or may not be a better buy. I will be planning to be pairing my new pair with a JCally AP6 and/or a JCally JM6 Pro (that I currently own), and changing the cable to a TRN T2 Pro.

(P.S., how good are the TRN BT20 Pros? I'm thinking of putting my Zero:2s with em after I change to a new pair. I understand quality may not be as good however.)

The main difference are the beryllium drivers in the mw50's and obviously the interchangeable ear pads (only in it for the over-ear). Does anyone have experience with either? is one more durable or comfortable than the other? I mainly listen to classic rock/metal, and techno.

Thanks all!!

I'm coming from a pair of Jabra Elites 85h (discontinued) that need replacing.

I'm in the Midwest US with a budget of $150-$200. I'm looking for the following, and as you can probably guess, I'm overwhelmed at the options.

• I don't care to have multiple pairs. Going to use one solid pair for plane trips, running, editing video in an office, and general tunes
• Not a quality snob. I'm not gonna cry if the mids disappear when the bass is heavy. But I edit a ton of dialogue-heavy video for work and would like tonal balance.
• Must be wireless
• Noise cancelling
• Needs a decent mic for meetings
• Can handle being dropped
• Battery life doesn't have to be 10 hours.

Basically, have you had a pair that does these things in the best way possible for the price?

Thank you I love you

My current headset (Marshall Major IV) works and sounds great but the faux leather has completely worn down, which I interpret as a sign to get a new set for audio on the go. I was thinking of getting some wireless earbuds, but I'm not sure if the sound quality differs between in-ears and on-ears.

I generally like a nice balanced sound, but I can definitely appreciate good bass when it's needed. Feel free to recommend some earbuds if you have a good experience with them.

Hey everyone, I’ve been producing Trap, RNB, and dark sample-based music for a while now and I’m finally building a proper setup. I just ordered a Focusrite Scarlett Solo 4th gen and now I’m looking for the right studio headphones to go with it.

My budget is around €100–150. After some research I keep landing on the Beyerdynamic DT 770 Pro 80 ohm, but I’m not 100% sure it’s the right choice for what I do. I work in FL Studio and Ableton, mostly focused on beat making, composition, and getting my sample chops and loops to sound clean.

Right now I’m only using AirPods Pro 2. The biggest issue I have is that I’m missing detail in the mids and highs. My sample textures, vocal chops, and atmospheric layers just don’t translate the way I want them to.

I’ve also looked at the Audio-Technica ATH-M40x and ATH-M50x. The M50x gets flagged a lot for comfort issues during long sessions, and the M40x seems very flat in the low end which worries me for Trap production where 808s and sub-kicks are everything.

So my question is. is the DT 770 Pro 80 ohm actually the best closed-back option in this price range for my use case? Or am I missing something? Any producers here who have experience with this specific combo?

Appreciate any input.

(This post is made with AI because my english is not perfect).

Hey all.

I’m in the market for a new pair of headphones after giving up on my DT 770 Pros, which I find too clinical and unforgiving.

Any good recommendations, ideally for an old vintage pair? Predominantly in use for turntable listening. Open/closed back are both fine.

My setup:

- Yamaha A-S3000

- Thorens TD 160 Super

- SME Series III

- Ortofon Black

Listening mostly to jazz, soul and funk.

Budget: $500 (ideally less for second hand)

I currently have a HD 660s2, with a fiio k7.

I dislike headphones that are described as bright or are known for their mid-highs to highs. I'm much too sensitive to sibilance.

I also have a pair of Sony MDR-MV1 that I enjoy. I'm a fan of a smooth, bassy, and intimate sound, while not sacrificing too much on the mid to highs. I'm not entirely sure on getting a closed-back or staying on an open back, but I'm open to either. I'm also open to IEMs.

Regardless, I'd like to get my moneys worth so it should hopefully feel like a notable upgrade.

Grateful for any recommendations! Basically the use case here is having a pair of headphones that are likely wear for long periods of time while working, on calls, and traveling (for work).

I suppose the budget is roughly a maximum of $200 but I’m open to going a bit higher for the right product. In terms of sound quality I guess I’m just looking for clarity. My usual go to music while working as ambient, electronic music or stuff by the band hammock for example. No too low vocals and just chill music in the background.

Since I am on calls quite a lot, having a good microphone that ensures I come through clearly is another important aspect of what I’m looking for.

It’s hard to get a sense of what is new and good out there when comparing stuff that’s on Amazon to brands that you need to dig to find. Open to suggestions and idea ideas. Also, thank you very much!