Choosing Headphones up to 1700 USD


I’ve been going back and forth between reviews of different headphones of up to 1700 USD price range.

I currently have the Beyerdynamic DT 1990 Pro and I like them a lot, both the punch and slam that they provide, and the detail they have across the range. I know that the treble of those headphones is notoriously sharp, but I just EQ it out when listening to music (and leave it un-EQed when mixing). 

I only have a USB audio interface (Focusrite Scarlett), so if the headphones require an amp that would have to be part of the budget).

I mainly listen to electronic music, but also some jazz and rock. 

I would like to upgrade to something higher end and the main headphones I checked out are Audeze LCD-X, Hifiman Arya, Ananda (which are much cheaper) and Focal clear. 

I might be wrong but from what I picked up from the reviews, there seems to be a compromise between soundstage and dynamics. 

I was mainly focused on the LCD X but encountered many complaints about serious reliability issues with Audeze headphones so I decided to drop them. 

The Arya looks awesome about everything except the dynamics, and this worries me as I like the punch and slam of my current headphones (the DT1990). 

I understand that the focal clear has very good dynamics but no soundstage at all. 

Now soundstage is something that I’m really curious about, as I never heard a really good soundstage headphones. I know that the DT 1990 are supposed to have some mid range soundstage but frankly I don’t notice it at all (perhaps it has to do more with the music I’m listening to?).


To sum up:

I’d love to hear about what other headphones I should check out in that price range, and how they compare with each other and what to expect comparing to my current DT1990.



roobi

Showing 1 response by yyzsantabarbara

I am really into headphones now.

I have the following amps for headphones:

- Benchmark HPA4 (incredible for both 2 channel and headphones)
- Topping A90 (very good overall and great for $500)
- CODA Csib integrated amp (being shipped and to be used with RAAL SR1a headphones)

I think the Topping A90 is a great amp and should drive most $1700 headphones. You may want to look at the under the UnderwoodHiFi of the rebranded Russsian headphones + Topping A90 = $1700

https://www.underwoodhifi.com/products/lsa-headphones

My other headphone is the Meze Empy. A much different sound than the RAAL SR1a. Enjoy both a lot.