r/headphones

In my (albeit limited) experience with closed back headphones, there's always been some major sound and/ or comfort compromise. I've had Sony MDR-M1's, 7506's, Beyerdynamic DT 770's, a billion Audio-Technicas, and more. They all had a boxy sound, poor comfort, bloated bass, weird tuning, or combination of all the above.

The HD 480 Pro's are the first closed back headphone I have not regretted purchasing in anyway. I need closed backs for the office, and the compromises on these compared to my at-home open-backs are so small, I quickly forgot I'm even wearing closed backs once I put some tunes on and get working.

They are also incredibly comfortable. If you were in the same dilemma as me and needed a closed back for the office or quiet space that doesn't sound like trash, I really recommend checking these out!

Impressions & features:

• Removable XLR cable that can be moved to either earcup you prefer
• Lightweight and very comfortable, no comfort complaints whatsoever (and I have large ears)
• No bass/ sound quality loss when wearing glasses, just enough clamp to reduce outside noise but not enough to make wearing glasses uncomfortable
• EXCELLENT bass performance, they are a tad bass heavy but it's crisp, tight bass
• Despite being "professional" headphones they don't sound overly sterile and analytical to me
• Surprising amount of sound-stage for a closed back
• Treble is clean and crisp without being sibilant
• They can be driven fine by (most) modern devices, laptops, smartphones, etc.
• My only negatives; the plastics feel a bit cheap on the ear cups, they are overpriced at their full MSRP although I got mine on sale, they are generally less "warm" than HD 6 series headphones if that's the sound profile you prefer, you may not like these

One time used rather tried hifiman HE 400SE stealth magnet for 57 USD. These are pretty effin good on Hiby r4. Might try them on pc with fioo ka15. But dang...

I finally got the z1r and was surprised with how big of a box Sony shipped it in. When going to the post office, I expected it to be a small box which i will easily put in my backpack and then walk home. But I had to carry this huge box(2nd pic) in light rain for like 50 mins as the post office is 40 mins away but it took me longer to walk home due to the size of the package. When I opened the package, it had multiple airbags at the bottom but there was a lot of empty space on the sides and especially at the top so I'd say their packaging is very inefficient and they could have packed it in a much smaller box with some foam. Anyways, I'm excited to use them and they already sound good without an amp but I'm looking to pair it with an amp to get the most out of it.

What amps would you recommend? I'm thinking it would be better to get something with a 4.4mm balanced collection input since I've heard that headphones work better that way. But I've also heard that chord mojo 2 doesn't have the circuitry for a true balanced connection and their input is just an adaptor so you don't really get the benefits of a balanced connection with it. I'm looking at amps from schitt, topping, fiio and ifi. There are so many options and I'm suffering from analysis paralysis. I can't get the tazh1es because it's discontinued and used ones on eBay are 3k+ and I'm not playing this game. I'm also looking to demo multiple amps at a shop. My main use for these cans would be for watching movies and considering that do you have any advice on how to properly compare different amps? I'm worried the store owner might do something with the amps to make the more expensive one sound better so that id buy that. I'd prefer to keep the cost to less than 1k but can go much higher if there's a clear noticeable upgrade in sound quality

Don't mean to intrude. Just stopping by to show I nabbed this group in the last month. I wanted a balanced selection available. Maybe planar eventually, but not too soon. With some EQ adjusting (mostly for the HD599) these both sound quite nice and I am content with them. All I've had before are Samsung buds FE and Sennheiser Accentum Plus. Oh, and some Porta Pros like 35 years ago (shit, for all I know they could be in my dresser- it's huge).

Odd things with the Fiio BTR13... first time I tried to download the app it was flagged with a warning. Took a little while to understand I needed to update it after I got it but the updates aren't on the store- took a Google search to figure out where to get them. And if the LDAC is deemed too unstable by the dac (always), it keeps defaulting to AAC. So I'll just stick with wired. That's what this whole thing was about-- moving past bluetooth.

The second picture shows the first set of headphones I ever wore/used (with a 1964 Fisher stereo w/turntable, parents' wedding present- currently at my cottage). They were Koss, and obviously my dad's. That's probably 1980 (Christmas) when it was taken (almost 5 years old).

These came today. Yes they're fab for the price, you're all right! Crazy sound for 190 USD. Unbelievable. I just don't know who is supposed to wear them. This little trick actually works for me, but let's be honest: Not that elegant 😂. It will have to do until I find a strap. Any suggestions?

These are my modded kph30is. Geekroa comfort pads, etsy 3d printed suspension strap and reinforcements for the headband. I got the Koss USBc to 3.5 cord that is 4 bands. A 3.5 to 4.4 adapter into a 4.4 extension cord into my Fiio R2R Dac/Amp. The Kph30is sound even better with some extra juice. They sound more open and dynamic. The mid bass is cleaner.

I recently bought the Hifiman Edition XS headphones and I think they're fantastic except for one thing: the mids sound a bit delayed. I tried pressing the headphone against my ear and I much prefer the sound with the driver closer to my ear.

I was wondering if there are any thinner earpads or earpads that enhance the mids.

I don't use them anymore btw.

I have had these headphones for years now. Since a couple of years, they have started to leak out of certain places. I always wiped it away and didn't pay attention to it afterwards. After several years of noticing this issue, I have stopped using them, because I felt too uncomfortable with this issue. I put them with this hanky in my drawer and left them there for like half a year now. Since then, they have started to have more fluid on them.

Could this be some toxicated fluid or something? Or just some technical fluid many things like headphone have?

Thinking about buying a high end $4000+ headphone for Industrial Techno EDM mixing. Trying to decide between these 2 atm (and no I don't have somewhere in my city to listen to them before buying). I've seen some reviews online, but I wanted to ask someone who's tried both which you prefer, especially for EDM/bass heavy Industrial or Acid Techno, or just fast paced electronic music in general (and /or how's the audio on female vocals?)

I've seen a few reviews that basically saw Stealth's sound more "accurate", but the Focal's sound more aggressive and punchy. Such as all 3 of these reviewer's tier lists: LINK2

Holà tout le monde,

j’ai acheté il y a maintenant 5-6ans les premiers écouteurs devialet, et honnêtement ce sont des écouteurs extras,
mais comme dans toute nouvelle technologie les batteries ont une durée de vie assez limitée,

j’ai commencé par m’improviser réparateur en changeant les batteries (ou plutôt piles) à l’intérieur des deux écouteurs, ça a super bien marché,

mais maintenant c’est la batterie du boîtier qui est morte.
j’ai contacté devialet pour au moins avoir la référence de la batterie et elle aussi la remplacer,

mais ce n’est d’après eux pas possible, « bla bla bla on peut rien faire, tenez -20% sur nos nouveaux écouteurs pleins de problèmes à 500€ »

autant vous dire que je veux tenter quoi qu’il m’en coûte de trouver une fucking batterie adaptée.

si quelqu’un a des infos, un site, une référence, quelque chose, JE COUS REMERCIE :)

Hi guys I found a gorgeous headphone on someone's instagram and she replied on comments saying it's b&o's discontinued model(she said that she bought it years ago) but didn't say a specific product code.

I've tried to find the specific model but it seemed quite doubtful that it is a b&o headphone.

And then, I found one that looks similar at a online mall and it's definitely cheap Chinese product costs about 15 dollars.

So now there are only two possible conclusions.

1. She's wearing a real one and the Chinese headphone copied a original product even if it's not B&O.
2. She lied to show off, it's just cheap Chinese headphone.

What do you guys think?

This unit was kindly sent for review, though this will not affect my opinion of the product.

Thanks to MCHOSE for the opportunity.

• Box contents

1. MCHOSE V9 Turbo+.
2. Wireless magnetic charging dock.
3. USB-C 2.4 GHz dongle.
4. USB-C to USB-A adapter.
5. USB-A to USB-C cable (charging and data).
6. Detachable omnidirectional microphone.
7. Extra breathable fabric ear pads.
8. Manual / documentation.

• Design and build quality

The V9 Turbo+ has a simple, less aggressive aesthetic than most gaming headsets. It keeps a gaming look but tones it down considerably, avoiding visual excess, as it makes them suitable for both gaming and more neutral environments.

The build feels solid. It does not feel like they cut corners on the product with cheap or hollow plastics, but rather a high-quality aluminum construction, which is very impressive at this price point.

At around 320g, it sits on the lighter end for a premium wireless gaming headset. One of its most differential aspects is the clamping force, these are by far the headset where I have felt it the least. If any clamping builds up at all, it is very minor and only after many hours of continuous use, which makes them noticeably better during long sessions.

Another advantage is the inclusion of two sets of ear pads:

1. Protein leather with ice cooling effect: the default pair. Despite being synthetic leather, the finish and quality feel premium, and they are surprisingly cool for this type of material. Sound isolation is good and does its job well.
2. Breathable cotton fabric: included in the box accessories. These breathe better on warmer days, though they do sacrifice some sound isolation compared to the leather pair.

The headband extension mechanism is quite stiff, which could lead to significant wear over time if forced repeatedly.

The cups rotate 90°, allowing them to rest comfortably on your neck or desk. I consider this practically mandatory on any headset regardless of price mark, though there are other premium options out there that still do not offer it.

One notable thing is the absence of battery replaceability, which has become standard on premium headsets.

• Magnetic charging dock

The wireless magnetic charging dock really is a great quality of life improvement, it genuinely changes the daily experience. Finishing a session, setting the headset on the dock, and having it charged and ready for the next one means you rarely have to think about battery at all. After weeks of use I have not had a single battery-related issue. Once you get used to the dock, going back to conventional charging feels like a step backwards.

Pros:

1. Configurable RGB integration.
2. Functions as the 2.4 GHz dongle receiver.
3. Keeps the setup clean and cable-free.
4. Includes status indicator lights for the headset.

Cons:

1. The dock is large and takes up a fair amount of desk space.
2. Its irregular shape means there is only one correct orientation for charging.
3. The status indicator light and the 2.4 GHz dongle light cannot be turned off. A software option to disable them would be very welcome.

Despite these minor complaints, it is one of the best additions I have seen in a gaming headset at this price range recently.

• Controls and connections

All controls are on the left cup:

1. Volume wheel.
2. Power button.
3. Multifunction button.
4. Microphone mute button.
5. USB-C port.
6. Detachable microphone connector.

The layout is functional and reasonably intuitive. Unlike similar designs such as the Razer BlackShark V3 Pro, the buttons here are well differentiated by touch, which helps build muscle memory for smooth use, though there are a couple of questionable decisions.

The volume wheel works well, but it cannot be pressed to mute audio, which at this point should be the standard.

The multifunction button allows you to:

1. Play/pause.
2. Switch between connections (e.g phone and PC).
3. Cycle through sound modes.

All without needing to open the software, a clear advantage over brands like Corsair, which do not offer this functionality.

• Connectivity and compatibility

Connection options:

1. 2.4 GHz wireless.
2. Bluetooth 5.3.
3. Wired USB-C.

Compatible platforms:

1. PC.
2. PlayStation 4/5.
3. Nintendo Switch (Gen 1 and 2).
4. Mobile.
5. Steam Deck.

It's not compatible with any Xbox model, which may be a deciding factor for some.

Connectivity is one of its strongest points. The 2.4 GHz mode offers extremely low latency (15 ms), practically indistinguishable from a wired connection during real use.

Bluetooth works well for multimedia and mobile use, though as always, it remains unsuitable for competitive gaming due to its higher latency.

• Sound and experience

The 60 mm drivers promise an immersive sound with deep bass.

They are tuned for competitive gaming, and in that sense it's noticeable with:

1. Excellent positional audio.
2. Very good directional separation.
3. Very low latency.
4. Clear footstep reproduction in FPS games.

The software offers two game modes to choose from depending on your FPS preference, and the virtual 7.1 surround genuinely impressed me, it is one of the better implementations I have heard at this price range.

That said, despite the 60 mm drivers, the bass does not deliver the impact it promises. Out of the box, the V9 Turbo+ prioritizes mids and highs, pushing bass into the background. This tuning clearly targets competitive gamers, which benefits the intended audience but works against those looking for a more multimedia-oriented experience; music, films, series, or single-player games will feel a lack of bass.

Even with EQ adjustments in the software, I find it difficult to get truly impactful bass out of these headphones, so I would not recommend them to audiophiles or those who prioritize a balanced sound signature.

• Software

The MCHOSE HUB software has 6 tabs:

- Audio configurator

• Regular parameters: it has the most important audio and microphone settings in one place:
  1. Base volume adjustment.
  2. Sound notification volume.
  3. Microphone volume.
  4. AI Noise Reduction: reduces ambient interference on the microphone input.
  5. Microphone monitoring: to hear your mic input in real time.
  6. Quick access to Windows sound devices.
  7. Audio brightness: enhances high frequencies for a cleaner, more detailed sound (0-10 intensity).
  8. Dynamic low frequency: adjusts bass frequencies with selectable suppression (100-400 Hz, 0-10 intensity).
  9. Smart volume: automatically balances volume levels, there are two modes: Music (High) and Voice (Low) (0-10 intensity).
  10. Vocal clarity: optimizes the voice frequency range, reducing background noise (0-10 intensity, 0-20 dB suppression).
• Equalizer: full customization from 20 Hz to 20 kHz with a range of -20 to +20.
• Preset options:
  1. Official game profiles (CS2, Valorant, PUBG, Apex, and more) and music genre presets (rap, jazz, rock, classical, vocal, etc.)
  2. Pro player configurations for competitive games.
  3. Cloud profiles downloaded from other users (up to 20 saved profiles; requires WeChat login, a significant limitation for most people)
  4. Fully custom profiles, with no limit.
• Sound mode: toggle between Game Mode 1, Game Mode 2, and Music Mode
• Virtual 7.1 surround: activate surround and choose between Music/Game and Movie modes, with a speaker test to help you decide

- Lighting configurator

Controls the charging dock's RGB: lighting effects, brightness (1–5), and full RGB/Hex colour palette.

- Other settings

1. Power management: auto-off timer (15, 30, 45 min). An unlimited option and a more granular slider would have been appreciated.
2. Independent firmware updater for the dock, headset, and receiver.
3. Factory reset.

One major pro: all settings are saved natively on the headset, so the software does not need to run in the background.

Some cons:

1. Sound notifications are extremely intrusive, this is the worst flaw I found. A voice prompt plays every time you power on/off, change mode, mute the mic, or switch connections, completely interrupting audio. The minimum setting is 1, not 0, meaning it cannot be fully disabled. This alone could be a dealbreaker for some people.
2. The headset may arrive configured in Chinese or Japanese, requiring a firmware update to access other languages.
3. Software is PC-only, console or plug-and-play lose a significant portion of the customization features.
4. There is no independent EQ profile per sound mode, meaning switching modes requires going back into the software to adjust EQ manually. Hopefully it will be addressed in future updates.

• Microphone

The detachable omnidirectional microphone does its job for gaming and calls. Capture quality is good, and the software's AI Noise Reduction, often more marketing than anything, is genuinely well implemented here, effectively eliminating constant ambient noise like fan hum.

That said, it remains a gaming microphone. It is suitable for calls, casual streaming, and in-game communication, but for anything more demanding a dedicated microphone is always recommended.

• Battery life

The 2000 mAh battery is officially rated at 200 hours.

200 hours is only achievable exclusively via Bluetooth 5.3. Realistically, you should expect around 50–80 hours in 2.4 GHz mode, which is the most common use case. Despite the difference, for daily use this is not a real issue thanks to the magnetic dock, as the headset is essentially always charged.

• Conclusion

Overall, the MCHOSE V9 Turbo+ is one of the best headsets to come out recently in the mid-to-premium price range.

It is not aimed at audiophiles and does not offer the most balanced sound signature for multimedia, but it is an extremely solid option for gaming due to its comfort, low latency, and a competitive-focused tuning. The software allows accesss to many of its features, but only on PC, though even on console it remains competitive within its price range.