Josh, it might be a good idea to do a "best setups under $500" as well. You'll need an amp and DAC for a lot of these, so it would be nice to see what a full system would be for under $500.
If you're on a budget I'd go for a HD 58X if you want open back, an AKG K361 or K371 if you want closed. Then get whatever amp/dac with the leftover money
@@soraflame66 i don't like my 58x much at all -- I much prefer the m50x or sony 7506 -- maybe it's because I love highs? i don't use a DAC -- just straight from a Dell Precision 3420
@@WSlopeAggie Bubby may have been wrong, but your comment doesn't reveal that Joshua was wrong - could be that you misunderstood him to be complimenting the planar when he was actually stating a personal preference for the speed of dynamic drivers. (I personally don't think that's the case, but since your point was made with "soooo" it was too easy to pass up.)
Thanks Josh for confirming what I ended up for my Endgame, the 660's. I picked this over the Sundara, Ananda, LCD2, and the Dan Clark for the same key point...Longevity, Realibility, Unbeatable Mid range and Vocals, and the best all-arounder.
One thing to note for those who consider HD650 these are extremely mid-focused with in your face vocal presentation. That is no way a refference sound no matter how long they've been on the market. Thse are not universal type of headphone , more for a specific genres, vocal intimacy that type of deal. Not good for gaming, movies, not great at anything modern music with lots of electronic sounds. On top of that extremely amp dependent. There are much better options in this price range, for example Philips X2 has better bass, detail, huge soundstage and more natural balance. I'm really kinda bored of youtubers constantly pushing those mid-centric cans like there's nothing else on the market.
To each their own.. but yeah, I see where you are coming from. I tried all of them (apart from the drop releases, even though it's been a while since I tried them) and while the mids are really nice I just couldn't handle the claustrophobic soundstage, lack in attack and rather plain overall impression. While I agree that the Fidelio X2's have a fantastic almost three-dimensional soundstage, the bass is rather boomy and they lack overall resolution.. still a fun headphone (I own a pair, almost never wear them though since I have the K712 Pro and switch between them and the DT770 250 Ohm due to the lack of resolution). I'm looking forward to the Fidelio X3's just to give them a try..
The mids are certainly at the center of the HD650 with a warm tilt, but that is what they do. They are made to sound good without offending. They do vocals (and cello!) very well, but don't work that well with faster, complex tracks. I have a DT1990 for reference and they sound way more natural to me (except, of course, with voices, those take a little step back with the DT1990 but sound almost as good).
@al.kaloid Can you explain what resolution really is? After switching from 650, 58X, 599 to X2's I really don't feel like I'm listeing to less audiophile headphone. More like a better balanced, wider spacial experience with organic bass. If it's about detail retrieval they all are very similar in that regard, well maybe except senns feel bit more detailed in those elevated mids.
@Mango D Sky Yeah, but that's really nothing special as most headphones on the market do the same thing at the fraction of the price starting from the cheapest earbuds to my 40$ sennheiser PX100-II, 15$ Koss KSC75 and many others. What makes 650 special in that department is lush unique vocal presentation and scalability with amps thanks to bigger impedence, but it comes at the cost of congested ball of sound and mediocore experience at anything other than vocals.
I bought the Sendy Aiva's used for just under $400 based on Zeos' review and am really enjoying them. I bought a balanced XLR adapter to go along with them and find the more power you can give them the better. Excellent sounding headphones for the price, I think you would really enjoy them as well.
The sentimental value and emotional attachment to the older 600 series is hard to move for many people. That’s why emotionally they just can’t accept the fact that a successor (HD660S) has come on top of the older siblings.
using the sennheiser hd 660s for gaming and i absolutely LOVE them. the sound is so good in all types of games it blew my mind. especially in fps games, you can soundwhore so hard with them :D
@Kiwami Kami ofc. i use these headphones on a ifi dac/amp that can push 600 ohms and these headphones are 150 ohm. so they get all the power they need.
I had to spend over 5.000 on headphones just to go back for HD660s sound. I guess i have to pay to realized that for my self. Some was better on something but none of them was good on everything like HD660s are.
I admire your dedication to comment on probably each and every video that mentions 660s and on alot of 6 series sennheiser headphones… I hope you still enjoy it
@@Tripokaridos22 hahahhaha the truth is I’m looking to buy a headphone in that price bracket of 660s dt1990 etc. So I’m really thorough in my reaserch and reading comments along with watching reviews also… and your nick along with the profile pic cought my eyes on number of occacions 😄 anyways do you still have them and enjoy them 😊 I would appreciate your opinion since you have expirience with all of 6 series of Sannys 😄
My biggest problem with Hifiman is that they were extremely uncomfortable. The headband was unbearable after an hour of use. I have the HE - 4XX, they sound great, but I can't wear them for long. My go to is the Sennheiser HD 650. Which you are right, they struggle with sound stage, but they still sound clean and I can use them for hours without issue.
Currently i just bought the Sennheiser HD700 on ebay for 300. Best under 500 dollar headphones for gaming in my opinion. The HD700 have a wide sound stage but not as big as the 800s.
@@davidmason8212 Bad is a relative term. A $1000 headphone will almost certain sound worlds better than a $1000 headphone. I think it's important to show some "good" budget headphones for folks just starting their audiophile journey.
@@jessicahyde8461 under $100 I would definitely recommend earbuds/in-ear-monitors instead of headphones. There's some pretty great inexpensive in-ear-monitors nowadays from brands like KZ
One of the reasons that i watch your videos has been your occasional mention of reliability and quality control. I never hear other reviewers talk about these considerations, or- in fairness, i do not remember hearing about this from other reviewers. What materials are used to make a headphone would not necessarily get my attention, but its durability and reliability would be a consideration when vetting products, especially as they go up in price- but, really, generally. So, i appreciate this focus among all details you regularly you cover.
Hey Joshua. Your sundara review prompted me to buy them, and I’m really happy with the purchase. With that being said, i think it’s better to mention that the argons have a painstakingly long wait time to be assembled. And i know you get told this like a million times a day, but your videos are relaxing as hell. Keep growing man. Looking forward to a top 5 500$ system build guide from you.
You can always get the Fostex T50RP and mod them yourself. I did this with the Mayflower kit and I love them so much. I've bought a dozen other headphones and my Fostex T50RP continues to be my daily driver go to headphone.
@@alexaxy3328 i moved on from the sundaras a long time ago. They were okay for what they were - but they werent groundbreaking in details, atleast to me. I felt like a lot of details or meat in the bones got lost in the equation. I got a 58x and elex afterwards. Completely baffled me and i found the importance of midrange out real fast.
@@davidmason8212 thanks! So, Ive had the Sundaras for a couple days now, and I am certainly enjoying them. The only other pair I have are the hd58x. The sundsras take more power than the 150 ohm 58x's for sure. But when powered decently, they're just a level above in clarity. The treble really is something special. I did kick the bass up a tad and it helped. I wanted a close but different set to use alongside my sennheisers. I'm happy happy. Now I'm just deciding on a new amp and dac. Currently have an all-in-one, OriGen G2. Happy with it, but always knew it was a first step device for me. Anyway, thanks for the recommendation! Cheers
@@BSG_Bebop Very glad that you liked the sundaras if you intend to get an amp i recommend you to get the schit hersay very good amp for very good price or jds labs atom if you prefer jds over schit for me i prefer schit .
@@davidmason8212 I appreciate the suggestion. I do think my mind is mostly set on the monoprice thx 788 amp/dac. Trying to future proof in case I get some more power hungry cans in the future.
I am stoked with my Sundara's. Almost a year later and I have no regrets at all. I also have the roady trusted Beyerdynamics DT1990 too and I appreciate the dependability and serviceability in my travels.
@@turionb1408 It’s not the same muddy but overwhelmingly present bass as gaming headsets have, but it’s there and once you get used to it or autoEQ it’s good enough. If you’re the type that really likes strong bass something else may be what you’re looking for. It’s the soundstage and imaging that is amazing on the Sundara.
@@turionb1408 Sure, but I’d also recommend to at least get an AMP for the Sundara as it requires some power if you don’t already have a DAC AMP set up.
I tried the 1770 but i didn't tried the 177x I would recommend the 1770 because it's 250 ohm 177x is 32 ohm Btw i find the 1770 very good headphone even better the emu teak and x00
I'm slowly working my way up the headphone price range, my current outdoor set is the Audio Technica MSR7B. I've not seen many reviews of these. Sorry to say I'm in the wrong continent to lend them.
Thanks. I’ve been trying to find what to compare them to in my collection. I’m buying the akg k240df next, which are vintage, then I’m gonna be buying the sundara for my first planar. I think I’d like the sound better than lcd 2c.
Nice job! I owned versions of most of those except for the Argons, and I still use the DT1990 with recording and guitar amp. The one headphone I'd have considered for your top 5, kind of an opposite of the Argons, is the AKG + Drop AKG7XX. I had the K701 in 2006 when it was considered one of the top 3 flagships. The soundstage is outstanding. I've only heard better from the Voce and Shangri-La Jr, which makes it great for movies, which is why I use it in the living room. The 58X couldn't compete in that regard, and the clamping force was surprisingly tight, whereas the 7XX is lighter (235g vs 260) and more comfortable.
Was genuinely shocked that you included the 660S in your list, as opposed to say the 6XX. Good headphone (660S), just overpriced slightly. Some feel that it should be in the $300 range. I personally think $400 would be justifiable.
@@ChrlzMaraz not sure why you're telling me this. I am aware. However the main difference b/w the 2 is the 6XX is a collaboration with Drop, and them being the only distributors. My guess is the lack of availability is why Josh didn't include it in his list
DT1990 is the best for gaming and watching movies. I own several higher end headphones than the DT1990, but still prefer them for gaming and watching movies. The decent soundstage, accurate imaging, detailed highs, present mids, and low end bass extension really brings games and movies to life. Hope that helps!
My favorite under 500$ is the AudioQuest Nighthawk. They are the perfect blend of smooth and natural sound with precise highs and separation. They sound very different but the music is never ''pushed'' through the cans, it is just there for you to listen.
@@turionb1408 there is plenty, although it dosent slam hard. Depending on the amp, it can be a bit boomy or really well defined, smooth and fun. There is no accent put on the bass though, every frequency seems equal.
Some people had good results taming the treble of the DT1990 with Dekoni Elite Velour pads. I wonder how Joshua would feel about the DT1990's treble with those.
Many people say x00 are better than argons (metal571) Even josh said x00 are the bass kings but he didn't mention it at all in this video . Another thing is afo better than 95x ??? Really ???
You did a review comparison on the 58x with the 6xx. You said the 6xx are a little better than the 58x, so why is the 58x on the hall of fame list and not the 6xx. Can you explain why?
@@jpr96 I already had the Massdrop 6xx headphones. I was doing research to see if there were/are better ones for around the same price, but I really like them and ended up getting the Schiit Valhalla 2 amp and Modius DAC. The setup is amazing. If I do anything more I will be getting the Sundaras, maybe.
The Sundara, yes. The 6XX not close. The Dan Clark Aeon Open X, Modhouse Argon, M1060C, M570 (Sendy Aiva) and M1070 all shit on the 6xx and cost $500 or below. As does the LCD1. 6xx doesnt hang with ANY of those.
For myself to remember: Sundara: best value, cheapest, best built hifimann, great sound (slam, clarity, clean) Hd660s: Design just works, best midrange, great allrounder, no good soundstage Dt1990 pro: Super detailed, build like a tank, perfect for a studio, not so good treble, Argons: Base, fun!!
i bought the dt1770 pro 6 months ago and now the right side doesn't work, i have the warranty but if i want to ship to the company it will cost me about 450 usd so it's better to just buy another headphoone
I feel like you need to check out Vmoda M-100 Masters and M-200's. Two great headphones when on a DAC/AMP like the HEL with two very different sound experiences.
i have the Sundara and i am using a creative X4 DAC/amp would i be better suited with a different dac for the sundara? it sounds very nice but they have so little bass in my opinion. As far as quality control of them the leather headband broke within 2 days. One side ripped out of the spot it is held in by. i assume it just ripped and was only held in by friction.
How different in this league is the quality sound with the famous Sony XM3? don't care much about ANC, but the wireless option while cooking around the house or for taking out of home it's a plus to me.
AKG 702. Ok, it is bass lean, and this is still after I did the quite simple bass mod, but it is still a good all-rounder with a great sound-stage and reference sound for all applications. This is also assuming you have a proper DAC/amp to power it, but nevertheless a great headphone and very comfortable. Best used when looking for the actual sound rather than a colored one, but imo if the music you listen to has any merit, it should be "fun" enough.
The Sundara has a brighter and lively sound compared to the darker sound of the HE4XX. In my personal listening experience, I will always choose the Sundara over the HE4XX. Just to give you an idea of how good the Sundara is, I would say that it is a low budget version of the HE1000SE. I own several thousand dollar headphones and will always keep the Sundara in my collection. The sound is just satisfying and great with perfect highs, a decent mid-range and punchy bass. It does everything better than the HE4XX and totally worth the $350 price tag.
The Sundara has slightly better resolution and much bigger and well defined soundstage comparing to HE-4XX. It is also better in case of treble and bass response (midrange is quite similar). Build quality is incomparably better with the Sundaras, but they both handle very well in their own class, especially when it comes to cost/performance ratio. P.S. It doesn't mean, that HE-4XX are bad cans (they're definitely not!), but Sundaras are just significantly better ones ;)
@@IsraelCruzJr He said he prefer the 6xx over the 4xx which means he like intimate sound . The best headphone for his taste is the audeze under 500 lcd1 under 1000 lcd2fazor
Good afternoon Joshua. Have already watched several of your TH-cam videos. Very interesting. Am a music fan. Listen to all genres on high end installation. Luxman front and end amplifier Kef reference boxes. Come from a large detached house with a living room of 7 by 11 meters with an adjoining kitchen of 7 by 4 meters. So he was able to experience the dynamics in the music (eg 9th sympony by Dvorak, Cello concerts by Hayden, Time by Pink Floyd) very well. Moved to apartment due to circumstances. Can't show the dynamics I would like here because the downstairs neighbor is complaining. I usually listen to music while I cook. Already seen what your revieuws are and could find my thing there. However, my question is: Are there wireless headphones that offer a high-end quality so that I can wear the headphones while cooking? What can a bluetooth connection handle? Thanks in advance for the effort. Philippe Myny
Prices are crazy here in asia Sundara $480, 660s $600, 650 $500, 600 $440, DT1990 pro $650, aeon $780, neumann $550,) esp95x $750, blon $600. Considering those prices, which do you think is the most worthed?? Are they significant upgrade from $200ishh like dt880, 990, ath r70x, takstar hf580, hifiman he400l, or akg k612?
Which part of asia? Theres no way hifiman headphones more expensive in asia than in USA. Those are made in china, the delivery process should be much cheaper. In SEA, sundara is often sold around 320$
Any particular pair of headphones you can recommend for someone who is just starting to go down the rabbit hole? I have a modi/magni schiit stack as well.
Have you tried the shure flagship shr1840? I would be interested to have your opinion on it. I personally like them a lot. It's a very light-weight and detailed headphone. For me the only downside is that it sounds really clinical. I've been driving them straight from a focusrite interface. Maybe a certain amp would soften it up and make it more enjoyable to listen?
bought the HD 600, and now I need an AMP...I wish I saw this video yestarday...I would have pick the sundura...but for a 175 euros of HD 600 I think it was a nice deal.
You chose the right headphones. HD600/650 are simply phenomenal. The tuning is just spot on. Don't regret for the Sundara. For me the Sundara is step down (maybe two steps) from HD600.
Josh, it might be a good idea to do a "best setups under $500" as well. You'll need an amp and DAC for a lot of these, so it would be nice to see what a full system would be for under $500.
Poly Reviews totally agree. you can get L300s for like $400 😝 (no energizer). may want to change the price point though.
That is a great idea, my audio setup is just over $300. I feel like $500 is a common setup budget for audiophiles.
K 5 pro or Zen Dac and Sundara or 6xx.
I mean if you have the money to get cans of this pricepoint then I'm pretty sure you can dash out some cash for a good amp/dac
If you're on a budget I'd go for a HD 58X if you want open back, an AKG K361 or K371 if you want closed. Then get whatever amp/dac with the leftover money
can you do a "5 of the Best Headphones Under $200" ?
58x jubilee!! 😝😝❤
And 4xx😅
@@soraflame66 i don't like my 58x much at all -- I much prefer the m50x or sony 7506 -- maybe it's because I love highs? i don't use a DAC -- just straight from a Dell Precision 3420
@@boomertsfx1 yeah, wouldn't be using the headphones from that lol
he-400s, because it sounds good with any source, so all you need is $200 and your pc or phone.
"Is a planar that has the speed of a dynamic" ¿?
Basically, that headphone responds better to changes in the music than is typical for the driver technology it uses
@@amritjanardhanan uh idk if you knew this or not but Planar Magnetic drivers respond quicker than Dynamic Drivers, sooo...
@@WSlopeAggie that vary from headphones to another but not alot
@@WSlopeAggie Bubby may have been wrong, but your comment doesn't reveal that Joshua was wrong - could be that you misunderstood him to be complimenting the planar when he was actually stating a personal preference for the speed of dynamic drivers. (I personally don't think that's the case, but since your point was made with "soooo" it was too easy to pass up.)
Thanks Josh for confirming what I ended up for my Endgame, the 660's. I picked this over the Sundara, Ananda, LCD2, and the Dan Clark for the same key point...Longevity, Realibility, Unbeatable Mid range and Vocals, and the best all-arounder.
One thing to note for those who consider HD650 these are extremely mid-focused with in your face vocal presentation. That is no way a refference sound no matter how long they've been on the market. Thse are not universal type of headphone , more for a specific genres, vocal intimacy that type of deal. Not good for gaming, movies, not great at anything modern music with lots of electronic sounds. On top of that extremely amp dependent. There are much better options in this price range, for example Philips X2 has better bass, detail, huge soundstage and more natural balance. I'm really kinda bored of youtubers constantly pushing those mid-centric cans like there's nothing else on the market.
To each their own.. but yeah, I see where you are coming from. I tried all of them (apart from the drop releases, even though it's been a while since I tried them) and while the mids are really nice I just couldn't handle the claustrophobic soundstage, lack in attack and rather plain overall impression. While I agree that the Fidelio X2's have a fantastic almost three-dimensional soundstage, the bass is rather boomy and they lack overall resolution.. still a fun headphone (I own a pair, almost never wear them though since I have the K712 Pro and switch between them and the DT770 250 Ohm due to the lack of resolution). I'm looking forward to the Fidelio X3's just to give them a try..
The mids are certainly at the center of the HD650 with a warm tilt, but that is what they do. They are made to sound good without offending. They do vocals (and cello!) very well, but don't work that well with faster, complex tracks. I have a DT1990 for reference and they sound way more natural to me (except, of course, with voices, those take a little step back with the DT1990 but sound almost as good).
@al.kaloid Can you explain what resolution really is? After switching from 650, 58X, 599 to X2's I really don't feel like I'm listeing to less audiophile headphone. More like a better balanced, wider spacial experience with organic bass. If it's about detail retrieval they all are very similar in that regard, well maybe except senns feel bit more detailed in those elevated mids.
@Mango D Sky Yeah, but that's really nothing special as most headphones on the market do the same thing at the fraction of the price starting from the cheapest earbuds to my 40$ sennheiser PX100-II, 15$ Koss KSC75 and many others. What makes 650 special in that department is lush unique vocal presentation and scalability with amps thanks to bigger impedence, but it comes at the cost of congested ball of sound and mediocore experience at anything other than vocals.
This Video needs a 2022 updated version
Can you do this video again but with new headphones? Covid definitely changed many things and I would love a fresh perspective
I bought the Sendy Aiva's used for just under $400 based on Zeos' review and am really enjoying them. I bought a balanced XLR adapter to go along with them and find the more power you can give them the better. Excellent sounding headphones for the price, I think you would really enjoy them as well.
Zeis hypes every bit of gear he reviews, it's entertaining but i don't trust his opinions.
Buying the Sundara from you a couple months ago was one of the best decisions of my life, love em!
would you say that they have the same fit as the hifiman 4xx? or does it look like they have the same fit to you? cuz it's uncomfortable for me
The sentimental value and emotional attachment to the older 600 series is hard to move for many people. That’s why emotionally they just can’t accept the fact that a successor (HD660S) has come on top of the older siblings.
using the sennheiser hd 660s for gaming and i absolutely LOVE them. the sound is so good in all types of games it blew my mind. especially in fps games, you can soundwhore so hard with them :D
@Kiwami Kami ofc. i use these headphones on a ifi dac/amp that can push 600 ohms and these headphones are 150 ohm. so they get all the power they need.
@@mammedthn I think I have the same amp as you the nano idsd I really want to run my Xbox audio through it but I have no idea how
@@dietznutz1 just plug it in the xbox and see if it works =)
Saw the he-10000se in the background, can’t wait for the review
I had to spend over 5.000 on headphones just to go back for HD660s sound. I guess i have to pay to realized that for my self. Some was better on something but none of them was good on everything like HD660s are.
I admire your dedication to comment on probably each and every video that mentions 660s and on alot of 6 series sennheiser headphones… I hope you still enjoy it
@@BrZi38501 Sherlock Holmes is that u ? What a discovery after 1 year. :)
@@Tripokaridos22 hahahhaha the truth is I’m looking to buy a headphone in that price bracket of 660s dt1990 etc. So I’m really thorough in my reaserch and reading comments along with watching reviews also… and your nick along with the profile pic cought my eyes on number of occacions 😄 anyways do you still have them and enjoy them 😊 I would appreciate your opinion since you have expirience with all of 6 series of Sannys 😄
My biggest problem with Hifiman is that they were extremely uncomfortable. The headband was unbearable after an hour of use. I have the HE - 4XX, they sound great, but I can't wear them for long. My go to is the Sennheiser HD 650. Which you are right, they struggle with sound stage, but they still sound clean and I can use them for hours without issue.
Currently i just bought the Sennheiser HD700 on ebay for 300. Best under 500 dollar headphones for gaming in my opinion. The HD700 have a wide sound stage but not as big as the 800s.
Btw he should prefer the x00 ebony over the argons but the ebony is not available anymore
Can you do another one for the top 5 headphones under 1000 dollar ???
how about under 100 dollar?
@@jessicahyde8461
Nah
Most headphones under 100$ are bad
Shp 9500 is bad
Ath m40x is bad
This is my own opinion
@@davidmason8212 Bad is a relative term. A $1000 headphone will almost certain sound worlds better than a $1000 headphone. I think it's important to show some "good" budget headphones for folks just starting their audiophile journey.
@@jessicahyde8461 under $100 I would definitely recommend earbuds/in-ear-monitors instead of headphones. There's some pretty great inexpensive in-ear-monitors nowadays from brands like KZ
One of the reasons that i watch your videos has been your occasional mention of reliability and quality control. I never hear other reviewers talk about these considerations, or- in fairness, i do not remember hearing about this from other reviewers. What materials are used to make a headphone would not necessarily get my attention, but its durability and reliability would be a consideration when vetting products, especially as they go up in price- but, really, generally. So, i appreciate this focus among all details you regularly you cover.
Hey Joshua. Your sundara review prompted me to buy them, and I’m really happy with the purchase. With that being said, i think it’s better to mention that the argons have a painstakingly long wait time to be assembled.
And i know you get told this like a million times a day, but your videos are relaxing as hell.
Keep growing man. Looking forward to a top 5 500$ system build guide from you.
You can always get the Fostex T50RP and mod them yourself. I did this with the Mayflower kit and I love them so much. I've bought a dozen other headphones and my Fostex T50RP continues to be my daily driver go to headphone.
I am curious, how are Sundara after 4 years? Is the build quality as bad as I heard it is?
@@alexaxy3328 i moved on from the sundaras a long time ago. They were okay for what they were - but they werent groundbreaking in details, atleast to me. I felt like a lot of details or meat in the bones got lost in the equation.
I got a 58x and elex afterwards. Completely baffled me and i found the importance of midrange out real fast.
can you do a top 5 closed backs,
because i don't want people listening to what i listen to
also would you recommend the beyerdynamic MMX 300?
Should do "best in-ear", best closed-back, best open-back for
was expecting to see the ebony fostex headphones. would like to see a reviewers top list of open back and closed backs separately
I was too but I don't think you can buy the ebony anymore
@@StatusQuo209 yup unfortunately
The Ebonys are stellar but they are semi-open back
Would it still be the same in 2021?
I think he meant to say speed of a planar and slam of a dynamic
Exactly
I was wondering too! lol
Exactly!
2:20 Small nitpicking: that Sennheiser design actually first appeared in the HD580 back in 1993.
the back cover of those are the most beautiful in all sennheiser 600 and 500 series
I got mine in 93 so yep
@@turbomustang84 wait...do you have your HD 580 since 93?
Do DACs and amps, or AMP/DACS. Really need an updated best dacs list since its time to upgrade
ExtremeGamer what do you currently use? Im still using the on board audio from my laptop so I'd like an entry-level idea.
Save extra: Get a chord qutest. It's worth going all the way, I promise.
@@agoogleuser9025 fiio K3 ( this is the newer version of e10k) is a good starting place in my opinion.
@@dnd6379 The newer version of E10K is E10K Olympus 2. K3 is a little bit higher in the hierarchy.
@@nqmt9968 The k3 is the modern e10k, olympus 2 is a few years old now. Why it's more expensive is because it's the upgraded version.
I have tried all the headphones he mentioned except the argon and easily the sundara is the best better than any other headphone on this list
alright bud. i'm taking your word for it. Just ordered the Sundaras!
@@BSG_Bebop
congratulation I hope you gona like it
i will be waiting for your impression
@@davidmason8212 thanks! So, Ive had the Sundaras for a couple days now, and I am certainly enjoying them. The only other pair I have are the hd58x. The sundsras take more power than the 150 ohm 58x's for sure. But when powered decently, they're just a level above in clarity. The treble really is something special. I did kick the bass up a tad and it helped. I wanted a close but different set to use alongside my sennheisers. I'm happy happy. Now I'm just deciding on a new amp and dac. Currently have an all-in-one, OriGen G2. Happy with it, but always knew it was a first step device for me. Anyway, thanks for the recommendation! Cheers
@@BSG_Bebop Very glad that you liked the sundaras if you intend to get an amp i recommend you to get the schit hersay very good amp for very good price or jds labs atom if you prefer jds over schit for me i prefer schit .
@@davidmason8212 I appreciate the suggestion. I do think my mind is mostly set on the monoprice thx 788 amp/dac. Trying to future proof in case I get some more power hungry cans in the future.
I am stoked with my Sundara's. Almost a year later and I have no regrets at all. I also have the roady trusted Beyerdynamics DT1990 too and I appreciate the dependability and serviceability in my travels.
is the bass on the sundara enough? looking for something with a good bass too
@@turionb1408 It’s not the same muddy but overwhelmingly present bass as gaming headsets have, but it’s there and once you get used to it or autoEQ it’s good enough. If you’re the type that really likes strong bass something else may be what you’re looking for. It’s the soundstage and imaging that is amazing on the Sundara.
@@villager1831 great thank you very much! I will order one and maybe the 1990pro too. Hope thats a good combination. Have a good day
@@turionb1408 Sure, but I’d also recommend to at least get an AMP for the Sundara as it requires some power if you don’t already have a DAC AMP set up.
@@villager1831 yeah im looking for a shanling m6 pro for portable use.
hope you get to do a drop 177x go review or a comparison with the 1770 pro :(
I tried the 1770 but i didn't tried the 177x
I would recommend the 1770 because it's 250 ohm
177x is 32 ohm
Btw i find the 1770 very good headphone even better the emu teak and x00
I'm slowly working my way up the headphone price range, my current outdoor set is the Audio Technica MSR7B. I've not seen many reviews of these. Sorry to say I'm in the wrong continent to lend them.
I also have the MSR7b for outdoor use, fantastic headphone!!!
The Sundaras are mindblowing. If you enjoy the SHP9500s, the Sundaras are the perfect upgrade.
Thanks. I’ve been trying to find what to compare them to in my collection. I’m buying the akg k240df next, which are vintage, then I’m gonna be buying the sundara for my first planar. I think I’d like the sound better than lcd 2c.
dude your voice is so clean, how's your mic setup tho? did you use lav mic? I don't see any mic in this video
Mostly shotgun mics
Nice job! I owned versions of most of those except for the Argons, and I still use the DT1990 with recording and guitar amp. The one headphone I'd have considered for your top 5, kind of an opposite of the Argons, is the AKG + Drop AKG7XX. I had the K701 in 2006 when it was considered one of the top 3 flagships. The soundstage is outstanding. I've only heard better from the Voce and Shangri-La Jr, which makes it great for movies, which is why I use it in the living room. The 58X couldn't compete in that regard, and the clamping force was surprisingly tight, whereas the 7XX is lighter (235g vs 260) and more comfortable.
Specifically for mixing and mastering in a home studio: Sundara or HD 660s?
Which is more suitable for metal and classic rock genre?
Was genuinely shocked that you included the 660S in your list, as opposed to say the 6XX. Good headphone (660S), just overpriced slightly. Some feel that it should be in the $300 range. I personally think $400 would be justifiable.
The 650's are the 6XX
@@ChrlzMaraz not sure why you're telling me this. I am aware. However the main difference b/w the 2 is the 6XX is a collaboration with Drop, and them being the only distributors. My guess is the lack of availability is why Josh didn't include it in his list
@@SeanLiu4 you said you were shocked he included the 660 instead of the 6xx. But he did because the 6xx and 650 are the same.
@@ChrlzMaraz I dunno how I missed that part in the video. I must have been really focused at work when I was watching/listening to the vid
The 650/6xx is superior to the 660S
How close was panda to making this list?
Which Fostex Headphones are this, is there a link to them? Best wishes
Out of all the ones on the list which ones are best for gaming? I don’t really know what to look for in headphones when gaming
It depends on what type of gamer you are (competitive, casual etc.) and what type of games you play.
@@zahitemremetin606 which one would you recommend for immersive singleplayer games (Games like Rdr2, The witcher 3, Metro Exodus and cyberpunk 2077)?
@@gavinderulo12 Sorry but I'm just not experienced enough to recommend something.
DT1990 is the best for gaming and watching movies. I own several higher end headphones than the DT1990, but still prefer them for gaming and watching movies. The decent soundstage, accurate imaging, detailed highs, present mids, and low end bass extension really brings games and movies to life. Hope that helps!
Zahit Emre Metin competive and csgo fortnite and rb6
thanks, really enjoying my sundaras right now.
My favorite under 500$ is the AudioQuest Nighthawk. They are the perfect blend of smooth and natural sound with precise highs and separation. They sound very different but the music is never ''pushed'' through the cans, it is just there for you to listen.
Love the Nighthawks. I was a/b ing them tonight with 6XX and for most music I felt the Nighthawks were more pleasing.
hoe is the bass in those?
@@turionb1408 there is plenty, although it dosent slam hard. Depending on the amp, it can be a bit boomy or really well defined, smooth and fun. There is no accent put on the bass though, every frequency seems equal.
all of them are open? is it by design that they have less bass ? also CON, you need very quiet room :(
I had to return the Sundara because of its clamping force, painful after half an hour. But I loved it.
I ordered a pair of Sennheiser HD 520 (from 1985) for $60! I hear they're as good as the HD 600 series... Had to order new pads for them though.
What about ath-r70x, meze 99, and bowers wilkins p7
No Neumann?
Some people had good results taming the treble of the DT1990 with Dekoni Elite Velour pads. I wonder how Joshua would feel about the DT1990's treble with those.
So do the sundara's still have massive qc issues because I've seen tons of people saying the right driver dies
It's a travesty that the TH-X00 are not on here but a modded t50rp Mk3 is...
Many people say x00 are better than argons (metal571)
Even josh said x00 are the bass kings but he didn't mention it at all in this video .
Another thing is afo better than 95x ???
Really ???
You did a review comparison on the 58x with the 6xx. You said the 6xx are a little better than the 58x, so why is the 58x on the hall of fame list and not the 6xx. Can you explain why?
58x are best bang for buck. The 58x do 95% of what the 6XX do, all without the need of an amp.
@@jpr96 Understood. Thank you for the response.
@@claybone799 good luck bud! Have you made a decision?
@@jpr96 I already had the Massdrop 6xx headphones. I was doing research to see if there were/are better ones for around the same price, but I really like them and ended up getting the Schiit Valhalla 2 amp and Modius DAC. The setup is amazing. If I do anything more I will be getting the Sundaras, maybe.
Loved the Sundara's until the right driver went out after less than 20 days of ownership. Would rather get the DT 1990 Pro's and not worry about QC.
Buy 6xx or the Sundara, EQ them, and save yourself 200-300 bux. You will not get better performance until you go well above $500.
The Sundara, yes. The 6XX not close. The Dan Clark Aeon Open X, Modhouse Argon, M1060C, M570 (Sendy Aiva) and M1070 all shit on the 6xx and cost $500 or below. As does the LCD1. 6xx doesnt hang with ANY of those.
For myself to remember:
Sundara:
best value, cheapest, best built hifimann, great sound (slam, clarity, clean)
Hd660s:
Design just works, best midrange, great allrounder, no good soundstage
Dt1990 pro:
Super detailed, build like a tank, perfect for a studio, not so good treble,
Argons:
Base, fun!!
660s Doesn't cost 500. They Cost 340 to 380 in Europe. Also 6XX cost over 280 euros shipped. So its not only about . 🇺🇸 US .
would love to see 5 best headphones under 1000$ !
Looking for a portable fun set of cans. Is there anything that sounds like the Fostex without the extreme power requirements?
i bought the dt1770 pro 6 months ago and now the right side doesn't work, i have the warranty but if i want to ship to the company it will cost me about 450 usd so it's better to just buy another headphoone
Great review, I would like your opinion on the Audio Technica ATX R70X. Thank’s.
I feel like you need to check out Vmoda M-100 Masters and M-200's. Two great headphones when on a DAC/AMP like the HEL with two very different sound experiences.
What the fcuk did you mean, when you said that it's a planar that has a speed of a dynamic?!
I have the Sundara paired to an Atom running the Oratory1990 preset. Hell yeah its amazing.
What do you do for a mic setup if you ever want to play on console?
um would the dt990 be a better buy then the dt1990
Nice roundup, I would consider the Akg 712 for a nice and comfortable headphone with good soundstage
No captions?
I know this video is a year old but I'm a newb, do you have a comparison from oppo PM-3'S to the Beyerdynamic DT pro 1990 or HiFi man sundara ??
Josh, which one has the best female vocal representation in your opinion? Looking for balance between sweetness and detail.
i have the Sundara and i am using a creative X4 DAC/amp would i be better suited with a different dac for the sundara? it sounds very nice but they have so little bass in my opinion. As far as quality control of them the leather headband broke within 2 days. One side ripped out of the spot it is held in by. i assume it just ripped and was only held in by friction.
If you could get the LCD-2C for under $500, would you pick it over any of these? Thanks!
I know they won't be around much longer, but what about the Audioquest Nighthawk Carbons at $250? Too divisive of a headphone?
Whay about the Blue Ella or Sadie ?
How different in this league is the quality sound with the famous Sony XM3? don't care much about ANC, but the wireless option while cooking around the house or for taking out of home it's a plus to me.
All of the headphones mentioned comfortably beat the XM3's sound quality In almost every way
No love for the Beyerdynamic Dt177x Go with Dekoni Choice Pads?
AKG 702. Ok, it is bass lean, and this is still after I did the quite simple bass mod, but it is still a good all-rounder with a great sound-stage and reference sound for all applications. This is also assuming you have a proper DAC/amp to power it, but nevertheless a great headphone and very comfortable. Best used when looking for the actual sound rather than a colored one, but imo if the music you listen to has any merit, it should be "fun" enough.
Can I use sundara without amp? And the aeon x? Can I connect them to a smartphone?
why would you tell me the worn mechanisimn for headband adjustment is bad quality controll on the hifiman. literally every headphone will do that
I would like to see the comparison between 660s, dt1990 and the sundara.
Josh, would be great to see a review of the nura phones...
Might be a dumb question to ask, but are there any DAC's or headphones that support 'true' Dolby Atmos functionality?
Any thoughts on the Argons against the Sundaras? Looking to complement my hd650s [gaming, music, and general use].
Of course argons
Did you choose? I ordered the Argons about a month ago so I'm waiting.
@@LakerTriangle niiiiice waiting for your impression
There's no better demo headphone imo than the hd600. It has a very trustworthy sound. The bass may lack slightly.
i’ve got a dumb little bass switch on my dacamp and it makes my 600s sound great haha
Great video! How would you compare Sundara with HE4XX? I bought HE4XX from Drop and am not very impressed with it. For reference, I love 6XX. Thanks!
You have to EQ the HE4XX, then they are great.
The Sundara has a brighter and lively sound compared to the darker sound of the HE4XX. In my personal listening experience, I will always choose the Sundara over the HE4XX. Just to give you an idea of how good the Sundara is, I would say that it is a low budget version of the HE1000SE. I own several thousand dollar headphones and will always keep the Sundara in my collection. The sound is just satisfying and great with perfect highs, a decent mid-range and punchy bass. It does everything better than the HE4XX and totally worth the $350 price tag.
The Sundara has slightly better resolution and much bigger and well defined soundstage comparing to HE-4XX. It is also better in case of treble and bass response (midrange is quite similar). Build quality is incomparably better with the Sundaras, but they both handle very well in their own class, especially when it comes to cost/performance ratio.
P.S. It doesn't mean, that HE-4XX are bad cans (they're definitely not!), but Sundaras are just significantly better ones ;)
@@IsraelCruzJr
He said he prefer the 6xx over the 4xx which means he like intimate sound .
The best headphone for his taste is the audeze under 500 lcd1 under 1000 lcd2fazor
I listen to choral, classical and jazz. What would you recommend in the wireless category as I am rarely stationary.
Wireless is hard, but for under $500 your main two options are the Drop Panda or Grado GW100.
@@herpaderpy888 hifiman ananda bluetooth version. But friendly reminder, it's an open headphone
Good afternoon Joshua. Have already watched several of your TH-cam videos. Very interesting. Am a music fan. Listen to all genres on high end installation. Luxman front and end amplifier Kef reference boxes. Come from a large detached house with a living room of 7 by 11 meters with an adjoining kitchen of 7 by 4 meters. So he was able to experience the dynamics in the music (eg 9th sympony by Dvorak, Cello concerts by Hayden, Time by Pink Floyd) very well. Moved to apartment due to circumstances. Can't show the dynamics I would like here because the downstairs neighbor is complaining. I usually listen to music while I cook. Already seen what your revieuws are and could find my thing there. However, my question is: Are there wireless headphones that offer a high-end quality so that I can wear the headphones while cooking? What can a bluetooth connection handle?
Thanks in advance for the effort.
Philippe Myny
Prices are crazy here in asia
Sundara $480, 660s $600, 650 $500, 600 $440, DT1990 pro $650, aeon $780, neumann $550,) esp95x $750, blon $600. Considering those prices, which do you think is the most worthed?? Are they significant upgrade from $200ishh like dt880, 990, ath r70x, takstar hf580, hifiman he400l, or akg k612?
Which part of asia? Theres no way hifiman headphones more expensive in asia than in USA. Those are made in china, the delivery process should be much cheaper. In SEA, sundara is often sold around 320$
So what about Audeze LCD1? Why not one of them?
Can you do a list for under usd100 or usd200 headphones?
Howcome in the family you didn't mention the HD 6XX?
Is an update due after 3 years?
Most people only care about sound quality, not for phones but for competitive gaming AND music production. (what is the best one for me?)
Any particular pair of headphones you can recommend for someone who is just starting to go down the rabbit hole? I have a modi/magni schiit stack as well.
Could you do a Arya vs LCD-X comparison?
Three years later add the Aeon RT for $499. Is now an option to the X
Sheeeeesh where was the thx00?
Have you tried the shure flagship shr1840? I would be interested to have your opinion on it. I personally like them a lot. It's a very light-weight and detailed headphone. For me the only downside is that it sounds really clinical. I've been driving them straight from a focusrite interface. Maybe a certain amp would soften it up and make it more enjoyable to listen?
How about the HD 6XX? i thought its similar to the HD650s and 600s
6xx is same as 650. The 660s is at different level imo
bought the HD 600, and now I need an AMP...I wish I saw this video yestarday...I would have pick the sundura...but for a 175 euros of HD 600 I think it was a nice deal.
Why would you have picked the sundara? It needs an amp about the same as the 600 does
I mean if you are sure you want to spend twice the amount I'm sure the sundara is great but it's not 2x as good
@@AlanGonzalez-ev6ur oooh, I dont know maybe because they are planar...I am still a noob in the Audiophile market.
@MY BIG HUGE PP STRANGER BOI thanks for the advice, thought I made a bad choice...
You chose the right headphones. HD600/650 are simply phenomenal. The tuning is just spot on. Don't regret for the Sundara. For me the Sundara is step down (maybe two steps) from HD600.
Great review. Wondering what’s your Top 5 noise cancelling headphones.
Make 2022 video for below 300$ please.
Which one has a better bass saundara or 660s...?
Why didn’t you link the 6XX? Much better value than buying a new HD650.
He recommended 660s, not 650 or 6xx, in this video.