Prior to retirement, I traveled a lot, so it was necessary to have noise cancelling headphones on the plane. As soon as I get seated I put them on and tune out the surrounding noise and tune in music. I started with the original Bose headphones and used them for many years. Later I wanted something better. Tried the B&O headphones, they were better. After a couple of years bought the Focal Bathys headphones. Oh my, the sound quality is very good, even via bluetooth. At home I sometimes use them via the direct connect on my computer. These approach wired sound quality.
Let's talk about headphones. Top 3?
I’ve owned a lot of headphones in the past. Looking to downsize/sell some in my collection. I’ve narrowed it down to a top-10 or so collection in my office. And these ten + headphones are the best I’ve ever heard/owned. After receiving some responses here, I’ll start listing some of the great ones. These headphones were ranked against over more than 100 others plus; and are extraordinary performers.
The best headphones (for me) start with being able to experience neutrality and a sense of realism. Next up is how well it can handle snares, transients, and complex tracks. Headphones that are truly accurate on systems that also play at the same level can sound microphonic/holographic in the midrange-treble, have tremendous detail, imaging, or even sound like speakers being played in a room. And, irrespective of when a headphone was produced, the level of technology and its design ambitions are very important considerations.
Let us also not forget headphone measurements - Which can tell us about trouble areas like bass distortion, overblown/forward treble/midrange, etc.
Please use descriptive language to help us your listening impressions with your favorite headphones. This helps because we can match your experience with others online; to see if it’s a universal opinion or a unique vantage point.
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@bipestuff sounds like we had similar experiences with headphones for travel. I don’t travel much now but I still have my Bose and Bathys but I only use when flying. The Bathys are the ones I travel with now because they sound the best. |
If you get past their fact that they are unprepossessing, elephantine, power ravenous headphones with substandard accessories (headband, ear pads, and wire), the HiFiMan HE6SE V2 is one of the most balanced, neutral, true to timbre headphones at a bargain at price of usually under $500. They compete with phones more than three times their cost. Give them 4-6 Watts into 50 Ohms and they will sing sweetly, dynamically, and linearly from sub-bass through treble. You were probably going to spend on a good aftermarket cable anyway, but here it’s a must. The supplied cable is an embarrassment. You should replace or modify the headband to provide cranial support for Dumbo. I purchased an aftermarket zip on memory foam padded headband cover on Amazon which provides the needed weight distribution and I can listen for hours now with no hotspot developing. Replace the ear pads with Dekoni and buy aftermarket grills that do not restrict the back wave to open up the sound. Imaging is dense and dimensional but staging is not as wide as some of the other top phones today. If you have the patience to modify as I stated, and can deal with the Dumbo esthetics, weight, and ravenous power diet, you will revel in still one of the most balanced and neutral phones. My favorite attributes are the excellent bass, sub-bass, detailed but sweet midrange and highs, timbre, and natural dynamics. |
I use headphones for travel so I have tried most of the wireless noise canceling cans. My favorite overall are Focal Bathys. Using the internal DAC it sounds the best. My Bose Quiet Comfort have the best noise canceling but don’t sound as good. Two pair are enough for me since I don’t fly that often now. |
One of the issues with headphones I found (see my first post) was that you don't know you don't have enough power (current) until you do. Then you realize their potential. I have owned at least a dozen head amps... and I spent a lot of time looking for high powered amps since I had a couple pair that needed high power. Then I finally got a tremendously powerful, natural sounding tube amp (Woo WA5) and experienced a huge jump in performance of all my top level (and not top level) headphones... finally realizing their capability. |
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