Agreed. I went to CanJam this year and while there are definitely better sounding headphones than the HDxx and Ananda that I already own, the jump in quality is not nearly as dramatic compared to going from like $100 to something like the Ananda. For example, the Focal Utopia and ZMF Atrium sound fantastic, but are quite expensive. If you can afford it, go for it and you will definitely enjoy it, but it's not an extreme improvement in sound compared to how much more you're paying IMO.
I'd say anything decent that can drive an Edition XS (279€ open-box) or similar is peak value. I'd put 95% on the headphone as long as you can drive them. Apple dongle and say Topping L70 sound the same and I didn't spot anything meaningful with JDS, Schiit, Fiio, Ifi etc at those price ranges.
Something like a DX3, Schitt or the Wiim or Fiio streaming amp with a pair of Hifiman, Sennheiser HD 4/5/6 series, Sony MDR, Meze 99s etc. will be hard to beat without spending hundreds more. Chuck in the £20 Chu and a £10 USB-C to 3.5mm and you have great audio anywhere
$400 for a DAC, but only $100 more for the thing that makes up 90% of your system? No, what you've demonstrated is diminishing returns are always, under all circumstances, completely subjective, I.e, cannot be used as argumentation.
My current setup past couple years and im still in love every time i put them on. Dt 1990 pros with dekoni elite velours and oratory elite velours eq settings, Kiwi Ears Orchestra Lite and topping d3x pro+. For me this is just perfection.
I still use DT 1990 PRO (because you recommended them) and RME ADI-2 DAC. A couple of years in, I see no reason to move away from this combo. And likely won't for years to come.
@Joshua Valour I would suggest you get the Dekoni Elite Velour Earpads for the 1990 pros. It not only makes the fit more comfortable for longer listening sessions but to me it makes the sound more refined in every way. Thank me later.
Recently upgraded? from my HD6XXs to an HD800s. Really enjoying them so far. They are super fast and technically impressive. Hope to explore some planars some day but my budget is a bit tapped out for the moment. Thanks for your videos and best of luck with your new family!
@@530pm I do think that they are an upgrade but maybe not as huge of one as some may think. They have slightly different strengths. As everyone says, the hd800s have huge soundstage and really good imaging and separation. Nothing blends together and you can pick out each sound individually which is a pretty cool experience. Comfort is a bit different between the two. The 6XX really hugs you and has some decent clamping force that decreases as you wear them in. The 800s by contrast quite litterally sits on your head. Very little clamp at all. they just rest over your ears and on the headband. This can become a problem if you shake your head around quickly as they will move around quite a bit. I dont have a massive head but i dont have a small head either. Your experience and head may vary. Both are very light and easy to wear, but the fitment is different. I think the 800s sound more precise. Theres a crispness to them that the 6XXs dont have I think. But the 6XX is probably better for vocals. I'm not sure they are objectively worth the $1000+ more dollars they cost but that is the nature of this hobby. They sound great, they are very comfortable, they offer something that very few other headphones can match in soundstage. I plan to keep them in my arsenal for many many years to come. Whether they make for a good value proposition? Up to the individual I suppose.
@@cosmic5789 Id say its worth having both tbh. 800s are great imo, but I couldnt have them as my only headphone, thats why I have some variety with meze Liric(also because I often cant use open backs), 109 and HD 660s.
I'm irrationally upset that there's no mention of the model of the second headphone recommendation during the initial B roll reveal. Only mentioned the downgrade old model and the upgrade. First time the 490 is mentioned by name is at 5:10
Truthear Zero Red + Moondrop Dawn Pro & Hifiman Sundara + Fiio k7 is The Two Systems All You Need. I Own Both and Trust Me You Don't Need Anything Beyond That!!
I have a schiit stack, magni,modi and loki and I had the dt1990 pros and the HD660s2 on hand and by far preferred the 660s2. For a normal everyday listening the dt1990s were way to harsh in the treble, to the point where it overpowers everything else in the music where you can barely hear the bass ( I listen to mostly electronic music so this may be why). The sennhisers seemed much more relaxed but just as detailed, more perceived bass and highs bright enough to give you that “hi fi” feel and you can hear every detail in the song without anything overpowering one another. For IEMs I chose the Kiwi Ears Orchestra Lite and I tried various others and stuck with the orchestras- they have a similar sound signature to the sennhisers.
I think this goes to show how our physical bodies can really make the experience totally different. DT1990s are easily considered out dated and way too harsh in the upper range, however to Josh's ears they're good. HD660S2 is the logical (and cheaper) replacement that brings in that mid tone warmth you reference. I both love and hate this about the hobby as if you can't try before you buy then it makes purchasing more difficult as reviews are very subjective in this space. However, knowing that a headphone could sound absolutely amazing to you, even if others don't find it agreeable is a fun experience too!
@@ImaITman I know I just wish there were more brick and mortar stores that we could go into to check out headphones in person. It’s all subjective. I have a feeling age has a play in it too with loss in higher frequencies being audible. Everything does though, preference, head shape, ear shape, music taste etc. etc. and some people prefer a specific sound signature. Which is why I try to describe headphones not by how they sound but where they sound best in the frequency response so you can get a gauge if it’s for you or not.
Hey Josh! Very cool and interesting options. I’m sure all of us are biased by what we have / love, but I would agree with some of the other comments that it is worth considering ZMF at that top end “it just has to sound awesome” range. Thanks for all the good vids! Cheers!
Am I the only one who has had some serious problems with long term use on moondrop iems? They have this issue with not venting moisture causing one side to lose volume. Same problem on starfields, Aria snow, and aria 2. I was able to reverse it by leaving them in a box with desiccant packets but I've never had other brands products do that.
Ran into the same problem with the kato's and ended up switching to the extra brass nozzles. I should try using the desiccant packets and see if that fixes it.
Yeah their lower end stuff has been suffering, May is the only release I can remember from them I even considered grabbing. After that it's been like eh
Most ZMF headphones are overpriced imo and need expensive DAC and amps to sound their best. An exception would be the new Bokeh. They sound insanely great for its price and doesn’t need expensive DAC/amps to sound awesome.
@@x32i77 Ahh yes of course. A $3,500 headphone paired with a $3,500 DAP sounds good. I know you're just bragging but do you even know how you sound to regular people?
Switched from my Interface and 770 Pro for my iPad and Pc and so on to a Sundara and a K11 (might change the cable in the future from the stock Sundara and maybe I‘ll get a different dac, but we‘ll see) and the sundara is soooooo much better, so much more natural sounding than the 770. I nearly ever touched my 770 since the switch. So I really like my sundara, but maybe I‘m gonna try something else in the future. We‘ll see, for now I‘m very satisfied wirh my combo and love the sundara (besides the stock cable as I mentioned)
Alt Amp/Dacs: Qudelix 5k (portable parametric eq), RME ADI2 (high-end desktop with some parametric eq) Alt headphones: Truth ear x Crin red ($50 and enjoyable), Sennheiser hd58xj/6xx/600 (good out of the box for enjoyment), Audeze LCD-X (highly capable and responds super well to EQ) For those a bit more wild (and willing to mod for bass if desired) - Stax L300 with 252s (entry) or Sr007mk2 with whichever high end energizer you caj get (endgame)
@@En_Joshi-Godrez I'm not sure, I've listened a few times and like the stock sound but don't own one. Based on similar headphones I would guess so, but to know for certain without having one you'd want to see how the distortion measures
@AnomieDomine it should behave fine. It has ridiculously low distortion, but they seem to play up when the bass is boosted in ways other ultra low distortion headphones like audezes do not. It's very odd, but these are just accounts, so I have no way of knowing how true it is.
How do you feel about buying used? Especially starting out, does it make more sense to buy a new pair of Edition XS and get the warranty or a pair of Ebay DT1990 pros for the same price? Should I buy a $150 Sundara? Should I stay away from used gear altogether? Is it better to buy amps & dacs used but headphones new, or vice vera? I'd appreciate advice on a $700 gently used system.
In my opinion, if you know you can find replacement parts for the headphone you're looking for like earcups or headbands, then go for it. But if not then I wouldn't. Unless it's an absolute steal I'd be too afraid at the quality of the cans being used. With that said I'd say used dac/amps are fair game.
Great video! I'm looking at getting the Bifrost 2/62 and the Midgard for my next upgrade from the magni+ and Modi... Schitt been so good hard to switch.
For 15$ the iem Qkz HBB is very good if you like bass. Fidelio X2/HR is an open headphone that has a very good value for money too (i paid it 75€ during black friday) it's V shape with bass and trebles emphasis, mediums a bit ressess, very low distortion and very good spatialisation, large and deep scene. Very good for watching movies, even better than my iem dunu sa6 ultra that miss a bit of subbass for action movies but very good for music.
Just my opinion but for a great budget friendly option, I would go with Meze 99's the Drop version 180.00 with Fiio KA17 150.00. That's a really good start for just over the 300.00 mark. Totally my opinion though. Those 2 combined will blow just about any wireless set of headphones out of the water.
@@alondite215 agree, I compared my 650 and friends 6xx back-to-back and I couldnt not find any difference...apart for the price and headband cushion. 6xx is mad value for $200
@@anaussiebloke-wz1ct It would be the most boring vid ever. TL;DR: They sound exactly the same to 50-yr old ears, across various amplifiers. Only difference is that the head band pad is covered with velour on 650, whilst bare sponge on 6xx, and the plastic is gloss on 650 vs matte on 6xx. Oh, and on 6xx you get 3.5 mm plug with an adapter while 650 comes with 4.4mm. Fit, finish, how they feel on the head - exactly the same. Hope that helps.
@@anaussiebloke-wz1ctyou completely missed the point of this comment. Josh did not tell us the name of the second headphone, he just kept referring to it as "this one".
I've been watching a few of your videos as I'm new to audio systems, I just ordered the Hifiman Ananda BT just because I wanted to experience open headphones while still having the option to use it wireless with my phone. And wired whenever I want on my PC. Is it worth it to buy a dac + amplifier? Or maybe just a dac, or just an amplifier? I have 0 experience with those.
A lot of depends on 1 factor: if cans are easy to drive. For HD 650/6XX you need a better dac/amp than anything in the range of 100-300 Euro. Why? Because with Fiio K5 Pro/K7 these cans are going to sound "good", sure... but truth is that you won't be even close of utlizing most of it's potential. Midrange should be "liquidy" and low-end should be well textured. Not mentioning better instrument seperation. You are not getting any of those (but mid-range especially) if your amp is not able to deliver a good ammount of power when it matters the most. That's why 650 works so well with many tube amplifiers, because they are designed for that and some other amps can do it too: like Jotenheim 2 or AUNE S17 Pro for example. So it's one of these cases where spending a bit more on dac/amp than headphones makes a lot of sense actually. If it was Focal or other can with lower resistance I think you would be tottaly fine with a cheaper dac/amp. For example: I hate using 650 with Topping DX3 Pro+ because it's tottaly lacking the bass and mid range is "meh" (with Fiio it's a bit better) but when I pair it with Koss KPH40 or iems it's a different story. They sound dynamic and textured just right, without any unnecessary coloration. iems sound solid and detailed with Topping. Maybe a bit too flat/boring for some but for me it's a good experience.
Believe me try kz pr2 and apple dongle (or higher performance dac/amp) and this is for 50$ and really very close to hifi setup for 1000 usd , really really recommend it
Meh. Missing HIFIMAN XS and Mojo 2. And, for current crazy low price of $899, you should be listing HIFIMAN Arya V3 Stealth. While I love my 109Pro, Arya v3 Stealth is several steps up
What's your favorite DAC / Amp in the 2-3K range? I have the newest upgraded version of the RME ADI 2/4 but it sounds like there are better options for just pure sound quality of the DAC and headphone amp. It was around $2500.00 I use LCD-5, Stellia, clear mg pros, DT1990 and 1770. Soon to add or swap for MM-500, Arya organic, and Empyrean II. What would be your choice to have the cleanest accurate sound. I produce music and a musician so I want to hear all the details of my recordings. I am going to upgrade my portable Apogee Groove to a Mojo 2 to start. Would the XDo5 be better than the MOJO 2? Then upgrade a desktop DAC/AMP and the phones I listed. Any Suggestions or thoughts?
At the moment I have seen heiser Momentum 4 and I’m interested in trying the hd490 pro and some iem’s might end up getting the first setup since it’s iem and dac combo for a reasonable price so I can find out if it is for me
Just bought some days ago Aria 2 + dawn pro combo. I′m excited to try them! But for my desktop setup I want to upgrade from my hd560s to dt1990 pro without changing my Topping L30, technically it should pilot beyerdynamics, isn't it?
I have an ARIA 2 and I'm still confused about what DAC I should buy. Is Aria 2 + DAC DAWN PRO the best combination? And what changes if you add DAWN PRO? Or do you have other DAC recommendations?
I heard the Meze Empyrean 2 with Auralic taurus MK2 and it was surreal. At the same event i also got to hear SP3000 with Empyrean 2 and it wasnt able to drive the empyrean 2. Those planars need amplification
@@peaj4812 This actually turned out to be my exact reaction! I have headphones from $50 to $1000 and I haven't heard anything more bang-for-your-buck than these. I just wish I was more of an in-ear fan. I'm sure I might be with the right tips but I have no idea where to start. Tried spinfit and a couple others and... meh.
@@Ender-dt3dk I liked it! Was surprised, felt like it was better than the price tag (got it on sale for under 70 USD) They beat a few headphones at the same price point. I ended up not using IEMs as they're not comfortable for me and I prefer headphones. The one fault I could give them is that at times they can be a little "thin" sounding, especially in the vocals, but again they're only $70. I think I also ended up just needing something a little higher end, but I didn't regret trying them.
found a demoex of the empyreans I for 1958 dollars here in sweden, about half price but i waited for to long and when i emaild them they where already gone, such a sham, ive wanted them ever since i watched the dankpod episode about them like 3 years ago! so orderd a certified refurbished HD 660s2 for a nice discount with the fiio k7 instead! im jumping from a pair of really bad logitech wireless gaming headphones so cant wait to find out to what a degree ive been destroying my ears! :D
I love my Mezes 109:s. My problem is on the dac side. I prefer to buy stuff created by small companies where I can support craftmanship and individuals doing their passion. All dac recommendations I see nowadays seems to be anonymous chinese brands. What do you recommend if you restrict yourself to small passionate brands?
Hey Josh, so I actually have a very similar system to the budget end in this video......Original Moondrop Aria's and I got the Moondrop Dawn Pro, I actually really like the sound signature of the stock tips but would you recommend going into cable rolling ? So something like upgrading to a silver iem cable ? or an SPC iem cable so I can get the clarity of the silver with the warmth of the copper. I am currently looking at the Linsoul Tripowin Zonie 16 Core. Could you make a video on recommended iem cable upgrades ?
I recently bought a pair of Meze 109 Pros at a local HiFi shop and loved the sound quality initially, but after 2 days of listening (at moderate volumes) the left speaker stopped working. The dealer checked them over and concluded that the speaker was defective. I want to try another pair, but I'm hesitant. Has anyone else had a QC problems with Meze or the 109 Pros specifically?
Hi Joshua thanks for the informative video,Im thinking about buying the Arya Organics my main usecase is %80 fps games like tarkov and %20 listening operas Idk which amp/dac to get for Arya Organics and Im not sure if theres a less expensive combo that I should go for instead of arya org and a good amp. Thanks for reading and recommending have a wonderful day!
I have a Hegel 190 with Sonus Faber Sonetto 3 and I am looking for a headphone+ DAC with a similar sound signature (very fast bass, very detailed and slightly forward mid, less detailed but smooth treble). Any idea of something I should try?
Hey Josh, I currently have the ZMF atrium with a magnius modius schiit stack. I love the headphones, but I’m looking for possible upgrades regarding dac/amp. Any possible suggestions?
You're not doing the Atrium justice on that stack. You want to look into something like an RME ADI 2, or a tube amp with a standalone dac like a Gustard R26.
@@ChaseHub I’ll have to check those out. I’m still relatively new to the hobby. Just kind of jumped the gun when it came to headphones without enough knowledge when it comes to stacks. Thanks for the info.
There is A Strange Issue With Moondrop Dawn Pro That The Voltage Required To Run This Thing is Too High. My Samsung Galaxy S23 Can't Turn On This If I Connect It First Time. It Needs 4-5 Times Recconection To Turn On. Really Dissapointing. But Works Fine With Oneplus Phone. No Other Dongle Link Fiio KA3 or Moondrop Dawn OG Has This Pecuiliar Problem.
runnin hifiman edition XS balanced on schitt modius/magnius stack. haven't found an EQ software for it yet, not sure if buying a physical EQ would even be worth it, any recommendations for software?
Do the ARIA's dust the airpod pro 2's in quality? I like the noise cancellation feature but as far as sound quality goes, im curious how Airpod Pro 2's fair.
Purely speaking of sound, basically all $50+ IEMs (truthear zero:red, truthear hexa, aria 1, aria 2, etc.) will smoke most TWS sets. WIth the amount of hardware that needs to go into wireless in-ears there's only so much tuning you can do. Although even Galaxy buds sound better than Airpods for most people.
@@wokzhongson Awesome, thanks for that response, it really helps! I'm looking into getting started with a pair of cheaper IEMs. I reckon this will turn into an expensive hobby, but it's good fun haha.
I've been super interested in schiit stuff recently in a price to performance viewpoint. You should take a look at the schiit syn. It's kind of a swiss army knife of a dac/amp.
@@aesth1cc According to them the amp is not bad, but I don't see it being used for headphones most of the time ( at least not how I plan to use it as a surround sound system). It depends on how you plan to be using it.
I just got the Sennheiser HD 660S2 and I am thinking of returning it to get DT 1990 I feel like 1990 would be best for me since I enjoy listening to playlists + voiceovers/sfx what do you think?
Try a multibit DAC next, like Modi MB, sure apple dongle is a good DAC for what it’s worth but it’s definitely the bottleneck here. It was my first upgrade from something similar to your setup (headphones were cheaper even) and it was a difference between night and day, maybe I just like the sound of Multibit but it’s so much more touching and heart warming and full. You should at least give it a try I would say.
@@aesth1cc yeah, I was going to get the modi as well but as of now it exceeds my budget so I'll get it as soon as I can (and the main reason i got that setup is to use it for my vynils so I don't really need a dac, but whenever i use my computer to stream music it comes in handy). Thanks for the advice tho, i appreciate it.
@@aesth1cc what is the main difference between the base modi and the multibit modi? (and does it justify the price difference, as to me it's very important to stay on a budget)
@@luigiheewan it being Multibit is pretty much the only reason you would buy it. But please test it somewhere first, maybe MB doesn’t float your boat. You can 100% hear a difference even if you’re not that sensitive, it’s just about whether you prefer the sound
@@hartyewh1 Aeon closed can't fold flat or collapse for travel. I already have E3 But it is too hard to drive and I can only use at home. What other options? Foldable, easy to drive and top sound quality is my priority. IEMs, BT, ANC not so much.
Question, is there any portable amp the size of the Bluetooth ones that don't need to use the USB C port to power? Pretty much an alternative to the Fiio A1's but more modern. Need one for my ipod but dont know what to get.
Finding an amp without a DAC is quite a challenge these days. Some of xduoos products like the xd05 have a line in and topping has the nx7 and nx4, but both are probably bigger and more expensive than you’d want and topping has its own set of issues for mobile devices.
@@hunterborden6891 thanks for the reply mate, unfortunately those are all too big for me. Id really love a truly portable alternative similar to the A1's but with a bit more driving power. The search continues! Cheers
aria 2 is outdated and not competitive anymore because the simgot ew200 ($40) came out. it has similar tuning and its technicalities are similar too. there is no reason to get a aria 2.
me buying empyrean 2 to play games 😂don't like taking over ear outside, it's inconvenient. use my ier z1r and n8ii if going out xd. But tbh, i don't think i need empyrean 2 because my wood ear can hardly tell the difference between my 109 pro and empyrean 2😂
![[#2024MAMA] G-DRAGON - 무제(Untitled, 2014)+POWER+HOME SWEET HOME+뱅뱅뱅+FANTASTIC BABY | Mnet 241123 방송](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/Ox29z5Nf1Uk/mqdefault.jpg)
I’d argue a 300-400 DAC and 400-500 Headphones combo should be a value plateau. After that it’s diminishing returns.
Agreed. I went to CanJam this year and while there are definitely better sounding headphones than the HDxx and Ananda that I already own, the jump in quality is not nearly as dramatic compared to going from like $100 to something like the Ananda. For example, the Focal Utopia and ZMF Atrium sound fantastic, but are quite expensive. If you can afford it, go for it and you will definitely enjoy it, but it's not an extreme improvement in sound compared to how much more you're paying IMO.
I'd say anything decent that can drive an Edition XS (279€ open-box) or similar is peak value. I'd put 95% on the headphone as long as you can drive them. Apple dongle and say Topping L70 sound the same and I didn't spot anything meaningful with JDS, Schiit, Fiio, Ifi etc at those price ranges.
Something like a DX3, Schitt or the Wiim or Fiio streaming amp with a pair of Hifiman, Sennheiser HD 4/5/6 series, Sony MDR, Meze 99s etc. will be hard to beat without spending hundreds more. Chuck in the £20 Chu and a £10 USB-C to 3.5mm and you have great audio anywhere
I’d say anything above $30 is a rip off. May as well pick up some sheet music and some instruments for anything above $100
$400 for a DAC, but only $100 more for the thing that makes up 90% of your system? No, what you've demonstrated is diminishing returns are always, under all circumstances, completely subjective, I.e, cannot be used as argumentation.
I like that lately you are giving more credit to Meze. Love from Romania. I'm a proud owner of a Hugo 2 along with Meze Elite ❤
You need to hear zmf caldera. I sold my Elite immediately
My current setup past couple years and im still in love every time i put them on. Dt 1990 pros with dekoni elite velours and oratory elite velours eq settings, Kiwi Ears Orchestra Lite and topping d3x pro+. For me this is just perfection.
I still use DT 1990 PRO (because you recommended them) and RME ADI-2 DAC. A couple of years in, I see no reason to move away from this combo. And likely won't for years to come.
@Joshua Valour I would suggest you get the Dekoni Elite Velour Earpads for the 1990 pros. It not only makes the fit more comfortable for longer listening sessions but to me it makes the sound more refined in every way. Thank me later.
A good option right now is in Amazon. I got my HD-600 for just $249 US Dollars, per with a fiio k5 pro is a good budget combo.
Recently upgraded? from my HD6XXs to an HD800s. Really enjoying them so far. They are super fast and technically impressive. Hope to explore some planars some day but my budget is a bit tapped out for the moment. Thanks for your videos and best of luck with your new family!
how much of an upgrade would you say it was, and what are the differences
@@530pm I do think that they are an upgrade but maybe not as huge of one as some may think. They have slightly different strengths. As everyone says, the hd800s have huge soundstage and really good imaging and separation. Nothing blends together and you can pick out each sound individually which is a pretty cool experience. Comfort is a bit different between the two. The 6XX really hugs you and has some decent clamping force that decreases as you wear them in. The 800s by contrast quite litterally sits on your head. Very little clamp at all. they just rest over your ears and on the headband. This can become a problem if you shake your head around quickly as they will move around quite a bit. I dont have a massive head but i dont have a small head either. Your experience and head may vary. Both are very light and easy to wear, but the fitment is different. I think the 800s sound more precise. Theres a crispness to them that the 6XXs dont have I think. But the 6XX is probably better for vocals. I'm not sure they are objectively worth the $1000+ more dollars they cost but that is the nature of this hobby. They sound great, they are very comfortable, they offer something that very few other headphones can match in soundstage. I plan to keep them in my arsenal for many many years to come. Whether they make for a good value proposition? Up to the individual I suppose.
@@cosmic5789 Id say its worth having both tbh. 800s are great imo, but I couldnt have them as my only headphone, thats why I have some variety with meze Liric(also because I often cant use open backs), 109 and HD 660s.
I'm irrationally upset that there's no mention of the model of the second headphone recommendation during the initial B roll reveal. Only mentioned the downgrade old model and the upgrade. First time the 490 is mentioned by name is at 5:10
Yeah, I was confused for quite a few minutes there…
Truthear Zero Red + Moondrop Dawn Pro & Hifiman Sundara + Fiio k7 is The Two Systems All You Need. I Own Both and Trust Me You Don't Need Anything Beyond That!!
Sure, if you don't care about timbre at all.
I have a schiit stack, magni,modi and loki and I had the dt1990 pros and the HD660s2 on hand and by far preferred the 660s2. For a normal everyday listening the dt1990s were way to harsh in the treble, to the point where it overpowers everything else in the music where you can barely hear the bass ( I listen to mostly electronic music so this may be why). The sennhisers seemed much more relaxed but just as detailed, more perceived bass and highs bright enough to give you that “hi fi” feel and you can hear every detail in the song without anything overpowering one another. For IEMs I chose the Kiwi Ears Orchestra Lite and I tried various others and stuck with the orchestras- they have a similar sound signature to the sennhisers.
I think this goes to show how our physical bodies can really make the experience totally different. DT1990s are easily considered out dated and way too harsh in the upper range, however to Josh's ears they're good. HD660S2 is the logical (and cheaper) replacement that brings in that mid tone warmth you reference. I both love and hate this about the hobby as if you can't try before you buy then it makes purchasing more difficult as reviews are very subjective in this space. However, knowing that a headphone could sound absolutely amazing to you, even if others don't find it agreeable is a fun experience too!
@@ImaITman I know I just wish there were more brick and mortar stores that we could go into to check out headphones in person. It’s all subjective. I have a feeling age has a play in it too with loss in higher frequencies being audible. Everything does though, preference, head shape, ear shape, music taste etc. etc. and some people prefer a specific sound signature. Which is why I try to describe headphones not by how they sound but where they sound best in the frequency response so you can get a gauge if it’s for you or not.
My setup is DT1990 pro with dekoni velours + monarch mk3 both driven with element 3 mk2. I love it so much.
I checked out the new HD 660 S2 and it feels cheap compared to my original 90s 600 / 650 build.
Hey Josh! Very cool and interesting options. I’m sure all of us are biased by what we have / love, but I would agree with some of the other comments that it is worth considering ZMF at that top end “it just has to sound awesome” range. Thanks for all the good vids! Cheers!
Am I the only one who has had some serious problems with long term use on moondrop iems? They have this issue with not venting moisture causing one side to lose volume. Same problem on starfields, Aria snow, and aria 2. I was able to reverse it by leaving them in a box with desiccant packets but I've never had other brands products do that.
Ran into the same problem with the kato's and ended up switching to the extra brass nozzles. I should try using the desiccant packets and see if that fixes it.
Yeah their lower end stuff has been suffering, May is the only release I can remember from them I even considered grabbing. After that it's been like eh
Yeah same experience with my Chu and Aria. Thought I was the only one
Also had this problem with Kato, ended up getting them replaced
No problems with the variations for what's worth
baby killing that video production timeline, eh ;). I'm happy for you Joshua! Take all the time you need. We'll be here!
Great video, didn’t see the tip recommendations
So the 2nd option is....??? I think you forgot to actually mention the name of the headphones (had to look them up in the links below) 😊
He was speaking like he had already said the name… maybe edited it out later by mistake. I had to rewind to make sure I hadn’t missed it lol
where is the hifiman edition XS, is there a problem with it? Thank your for your content.
That is A Very Good Headphone!!
Just buy Arya stealth at that point at 750$
That xDuoo DAC/Amp looks good and all, but I really wanted to see you manage to ABX it against a cheap dongle.
I'm looking to buy a new car based solely on its DAC and stereo. Any recommendations at different price points?
Tesla
Savagegeese is a great car channel that also does sound measurements of cars' audio systems in their reviews.
This channel needs to cover zmf caldera !
And Atrium
Most ZMF headphones are overpriced imo and need expensive DAC and amps to sound their best. An exception would be the new Bokeh. They sound insanely great for its price and doesn’t need expensive DAC/amps to sound awesome.
@@Gambit166 caldera simply sounds sooo good . Especially with Ibasso 320 max ti dap . The synergy is out of its world 😱
@@x32i77 Ahh yes of course. A $3,500 headphone paired with a $3,500 DAP sounds good. I know you're just bragging but do you even know how you sound to regular people?
@@Gambit166 I am a regular guy 😅
It's not about the price it's about the synergy ☝️😃
Yes it's 7k but you are done after that with this hobby 👌
Switched from my Interface and 770 Pro for my iPad and Pc and so on to a Sundara and a K11 (might change the cable in the future from the stock Sundara and maybe I‘ll get a different dac, but we‘ll see) and the sundara is soooooo much better, so much more natural sounding than the 770. I nearly ever touched my 770 since the switch. So I really like my sundara, but maybe I‘m gonna try something else in the future. We‘ll see, for now I‘m very satisfied wirh my combo and love the sundara (besides the stock cable as I mentioned)
Alt Amp/Dacs: Qudelix 5k (portable parametric eq), RME ADI2 (high-end desktop with some parametric eq)
Alt headphones: Truth ear x Crin red ($50 and enjoyable), Sennheiser hd58xj/6xx/600 (good out of the box for enjoyment), Audeze LCD-X (highly capable and responds super well to EQ)
For those a bit more wild (and willing to mod for bass if desired) - Stax L300 with 252s (entry) or Sr007mk2 with whichever high end energizer you caj get (endgame)
Does the 007 not respond well to bass adjustments via EQ?
@@En_Joshi-Godrez I'm not sure, I've listened a few times and like the stock sound but don't own one. Based on similar headphones I would guess so, but to know for certain without having one you'd want to see how the distortion measures
@AnomieDomine it should behave fine. It has ridiculously low distortion, but they seem to play up when the bass is boosted in ways other ultra low distortion headphones like audezes do not. It's very odd, but these are just accounts, so I have no way of knowing how true it is.
How do you feel about buying used? Especially starting out, does it make more sense to buy a new pair of Edition XS and get the warranty or a pair of Ebay DT1990 pros for the same price? Should I buy a $150 Sundara? Should I stay away from used gear altogether? Is it better to buy amps & dacs used but headphones new, or vice vera? I'd appreciate advice on a $700 gently used system.
In my opinion, if you know you can find replacement parts for the headphone you're looking for like earcups or headbands, then go for it. But if not then I wouldn't. Unless it's an absolute steal I'd be too afraid at the quality of the cans being used. With that said I'd say used dac/amps are fair game.
I'm new to this but am currently rocking the HD600's paired with Schiit Valhalla 2 & Schiit Modius stack.
are you using ESS, AKM, or ROHM with the xDuoo XD05 Pro?
I got the Meze empyrean one and a chord mojo 2 I’m satisfied.
Great video! I'm looking at getting the Bifrost 2/62 and the Midgard for my next upgrade from the magni+ and Modi... Schitt been so good hard to switch.
For 15$ the iem Qkz HBB is very good if you like bass. Fidelio X2/HR is an open headphone that has a very good value for money too (i paid it 75€ during black friday) it's V shape with bass and trebles emphasis, mediums a bit ressess, very low distortion and very good spatialisation, large and deep scene. Very good for watching movies, even better than my iem dunu sa6 ultra that miss a bit of subbass for action movies but very good for music.
Just my opinion but for a great budget friendly option, I would go with Meze 99's the Drop version 180.00 with Fiio KA17 150.00. That's a really good start for just over the 300.00 mark. Totally my opinion though. Those 2 combined will blow just about any wireless set of headphones out of the water.
you didnt name the Sens HD490, must have been some editing mistake
Because they're completely outclassed by the HD6XX and are like twice the price.
@@alondite215 agree, I compared my 650 and friends 6xx back-to-back and I couldnt not find any difference...apart for the price and headband cushion. 6xx is mad value for $200
Not to be that guy but make your own vid
@@anaussiebloke-wz1ct It would be the most boring vid ever. TL;DR: They sound exactly the same to 50-yr old ears, across various amplifiers. Only difference is that the head band pad is covered with velour on 650, whilst bare sponge on 6xx, and the plastic is gloss on 650 vs matte on 6xx. Oh, and on 6xx you get 3.5 mm plug with an adapter while 650 comes with 4.4mm. Fit, finish, how they feel on the head - exactly the same. Hope that helps.
@@anaussiebloke-wz1ctyou completely missed the point of this comment. Josh did not tell us the name of the second headphone, he just kept referring to it as "this one".
You are recommending the HD490 Pro in the video, but it is not in your headphone recommended list of headphones. I am confused.
You forgot to put IEM tip recommendations in the Description. Please post them
I wonder how Stax SR-X9000 would compare with MEZE ELITE.
I've been watching a few of your videos as I'm new to audio systems, I just ordered the Hifiman Ananda BT just because I wanted to experience open headphones while still having the option to use it wireless with my phone. And wired whenever I want on my PC. Is it worth it to buy a dac + amplifier? Or maybe just a dac, or just an amplifier? I have 0 experience with those.
A lot of depends on 1 factor: if cans are easy to drive. For HD 650/6XX you need a better dac/amp than anything in the range of 100-300 Euro. Why? Because with Fiio K5 Pro/K7 these cans are going to sound "good", sure... but truth is that you won't be even close of utlizing most of it's potential. Midrange should be "liquidy" and low-end should be well textured. Not mentioning better instrument seperation. You are not getting any of those (but mid-range especially) if your amp is not able to deliver a good ammount of power when it matters the most. That's why 650 works so well with many tube amplifiers, because they are designed for that and some other amps can do it too: like Jotenheim 2 or AUNE S17 Pro for example. So it's one of these cases where spending a bit more on dac/amp than headphones makes a lot of sense actually. If it was Focal or other can with lower resistance I think you would be tottaly fine with a cheaper dac/amp. For example: I hate using 650 with Topping DX3 Pro+ because it's tottaly lacking the bass and mid range is "meh" (with Fiio it's a bit better) but when I pair it with Koss KPH40 or iems it's a different story. They sound dynamic and textured just right, without any unnecessary coloration. iems sound solid and detailed with Topping. Maybe a bit too flat/boring for some but for me it's a good experience.
No electrostats?? For $1650 I would have to include the Stax L700
Believe me try kz pr2 and apple dongle (or higher performance dac/amp) and this is for 50$ and really very close to hifi setup for 1000 usd , really really recommend it
Meh. Missing HIFIMAN XS and Mojo 2. And, for current crazy low price of $899, you should be listing HIFIMAN Arya V3 Stealth. While I love my 109Pro, Arya v3 Stealth is several steps up
What's your favorite DAC / Amp in the 2-3K range? I have the newest upgraded version of the RME ADI 2/4 but it sounds like there are better options for just pure sound quality of the DAC and headphone amp. It was around $2500.00 I use LCD-5, Stellia, clear mg pros, DT1990 and 1770. Soon to add or swap for MM-500, Arya organic, and Empyrean II. What would be your choice to have the cleanest accurate sound. I produce music and a musician so I want to hear all the details of my recordings. I am going to upgrade my portable Apogee Groove to a Mojo 2 to start. Would the XDo5 be better than the MOJO 2? Then upgrade a desktop DAC/AMP and the phones I listed. Any Suggestions or thoughts?
At the moment I have seen heiser Momentum 4 and I’m interested in trying the hd490 pro and some iem’s might end up getting the first setup since it’s iem and dac combo for a reasonable price so I can find out if it is for me
Just bought some days ago Aria 2 + dawn pro combo. I′m excited to try them! But for my desktop setup I want to upgrade from my hd560s to dt1990 pro without changing my Topping L30, technically it should pilot beyerdynamics, isn't it?
I have an ARIA 2 and I'm still confused about what DAC I should buy.
Is Aria 2 + DAC DAWN PRO the best combination? And what changes if you add DAWN PRO? Or do you have other DAC recommendations?
Take the 1990 pro and dekoni Elite Velour with oratory1990 setup, its perfect.
I also change the headband with one from Edition headphones
Perhaps introduce the Sennheiser HD490 Pro.
Thank you, great video! Could a Moondrop amp power the Sennheizer 490 or HD600?
Etymotics.. goat of iems
I mean hey, like what you like, but rec the Aria 2 in 2024 is wild when there’s better iems in both tuning and value
Can you do a video for the best closed back headphones money can buy?
Hi josh what cameras and lenses you are using?
I heard the Meze Empyrean 2 with Auralic taurus MK2 and it was surreal. At the same event i also got to hear SP3000 with Empyrean 2 and it wasnt able to drive the empyrean 2. Those planars need amplification
Wait until you hear the zmf flagship , the caldera 😅
For me personally, it's the AKG k712 pro with Yaxi Comfort pads and removable of the dampening foams behind the stock pads. ❤
Grabbed the Aria from your link. Guess I'll finally give IEMS a shot.
I've also been looking at the DX9. Would love to see your opinion on it!
IEMs are amazing. I got into them about a year ago. Absolutely insane for the price. A $100 iem puts name brand earphones to shame.
@@peaj4812 This actually turned out to be my exact reaction! I have headphones from $50 to $1000 and I haven't heard anything more bang-for-your-buck than these.
I just wish I was more of an in-ear fan. I'm sure I might be with the right tips but I have no idea where to start. Tried spinfit and a couple others and... meh.
I'd go for planars over dds for a similar price, hidisz mp145, nicehck f1 pro come to mind
How has the Aria been working out for you? Would you recommend it?
@@Ender-dt3dk I liked it! Was surprised, felt like it was better than the price tag (got it on sale for under 70 USD) They beat a few headphones at the same price point.
I ended up not using IEMs as they're not comfortable for me and I prefer headphones.
The one fault I could give them is that at times they can be a little "thin" sounding, especially in the vocals, but again they're only $70.
I think I also ended up just needing something a little higher end, but I didn't regret trying them.
Cant wear Iem, does hurt my ears. my daily Drivers are Loxjie D40 pro balanced Dacamp, with a Audeze lcd2c, Beyer dt1770 pro and Sennheiser 6xx
found a demoex of the empyreans I for 1958 dollars here in sweden, about half price but i waited for to long and when i emaild them they where already gone, such a sham, ive wanted them ever since i watched the dankpod episode about them like 3 years ago! so orderd a certified refurbished HD 660s2 for a nice discount with the fiio k7 instead! im jumping from a pair of really bad logitech wireless gaming headphones so cant wait to find out to what a degree ive been destroying my ears! :D
I love my Mezes 109:s. My problem is on the dac side. I prefer to buy stuff created by small companies where I can support craftmanship and individuals doing their passion. All dac recommendations I see nowadays seems to be anonymous chinese brands. What do you recommend if you restrict yourself to small passionate brands?
Chord.
What's the sennheiser headphones? He never actually said the name brah
Hd490 haha sorry. Been talking about it a lot recently.
sennheiser hd 490 and cheaper little brother is sennheiser hd 560s
@@JoshuaValourCheers!
is there a good amp/dac that is batter powered?
What do you think about Focal New Utopia? If you want to downgrade in Utopia, which headphones do you recommend?
What DAC/AMP should I look for as a Plateau if I get Hype 4 IEM and HD490 pro plus?
Hey Josh, so I actually have a very similar system to the budget end in this video......Original Moondrop Aria's and I got the Moondrop Dawn Pro, I actually really like the sound signature of the stock tips but would you recommend going into cable rolling ?
So something like upgrading to a silver iem cable ? or an SPC iem cable so I can get the clarity of the silver with the warmth of the copper. I am currently looking at the Linsoul Tripowin Zonie 16 Core. Could you make a video on recommended iem cable upgrades ?
Hi Josh! Am i gaining som IF change from Arya st to 1000se?
I recently bought a pair of Meze 109 Pros at a local HiFi shop and loved the sound quality initially, but after 2 days of listening (at moderate volumes) the left speaker stopped working. The dealer checked them over and concluded that the speaker was defective. I want to try another pair, but I'm hesitant. Has anyone else had a QC problems with Meze or the 109 Pros specifically?
Does know what song plays at 6:09? I'm digging its vibes
Hi Joshua thanks for the informative video,Im thinking about buying the Arya Organics my main usecase is %80 fps games like tarkov and %20 listening operas Idk which amp/dac to get for Arya Organics and Im not sure if theres a less expensive combo that I should go for instead of arya org and a good amp. Thanks for reading and recommending have a wonderful day!
Is Fiio K11 enough for HD6XX?
Any recommendation for the Empyrean 2 dongle/portable wise?
I have a Hegel 190 with Sonus Faber Sonetto 3 and I am looking for a headphone+ DAC with a similar sound signature (very fast bass, very detailed and slightly forward mid, less detailed but smooth treble). Any idea of something I should try?
What was the headphones after IEM?
You had to read the description to find out what he was talking about.
Hello I am an owner of a meze 99 and an ifi go link would you say the go link is still good for the 490pro compared to the dawn ?
Hey Josh, I currently have the ZMF atrium with a magnius modius schiit stack. I love the headphones, but I’m looking for possible upgrades regarding dac/amp. Any possible suggestions?
You're not doing the Atrium justice on that stack. You want to look into something like an RME ADI 2, or a tube amp with a standalone dac like a Gustard R26.
@@ChaseHub I’ll have to check those out. I’m still relatively new to the hobby. Just kind of jumped the gun when it came to headphones without enough knowledge when it comes to stacks. Thanks for the info.
Aria 2 not truthear hexa?
There is A Strange Issue With Moondrop Dawn Pro That The Voltage Required To Run This Thing is Too High. My Samsung Galaxy S23 Can't Turn On This If I Connect It First Time. It Needs 4-5 Times Recconection To Turn On. Really Dissapointing. But Works Fine With Oneplus Phone. No Other Dongle Link Fiio KA3 or Moondrop Dawn OG Has This Pecuiliar Problem.
Do you think the sound quality of the Zero Red is worth the price difference with the Chu II
it is ,it is bass heavy though
Yes very much
Aria 2 quality control is bad. My Aria 2 paint fall off after 1 month and become impossible to use because it shock me.
Will you check out Mjolnir 3 ?
What about fiio jt1?
runnin hifiman edition XS balanced on schitt modius/magnius stack. haven't found an EQ software for it yet, not sure if buying a physical EQ would even be worth it, any recommendations for software?
Do the ARIA's dust the airpod pro 2's in quality? I like the noise cancellation feature but as far as sound quality goes, im curious how Airpod Pro 2's fair.
Purely speaking of sound, basically all $50+ IEMs (truthear zero:red, truthear hexa, aria 1, aria 2, etc.) will smoke most TWS sets. WIth the amount of hardware that needs to go into wireless in-ears there's only so much tuning you can do.
Although even Galaxy buds sound better than Airpods for most people.
@@wokzhongson Awesome, thanks for that response, it really helps! I'm looking into getting started with a pair of cheaper IEMs. I reckon this will turn into an expensive hobby, but it's good fun haha.
I've been super interested in schiit stuff recently in a price to performance viewpoint. You should take a look at the schiit syn. It's kind of a swiss army knife of a dac/amp.
It's been interesting to see Schitt catering to measurement tuning and their original by ear tuning
How does it compare to their stack?
@@aesth1cc syn is something different... Analog surround with headphones out and RCA outs
@@aesth1cc According to them the amp is not bad, but I don't see it being used for headphones most of the time ( at least not how I plan to use it as a surround sound system). It depends on how you plan to be using it.
I see
Thoughts on the Zen Dac V3 with the HD 490 instead of the topping?
Did you find any info
@@cryptok9185 I ended up going with the Topping DX3 pro+ because most people preferred it over the zen dac including Fresh Reviews
GREAT recommendations Josh! thanks
I just got the Sennheiser HD 660S2 and I am thinking of returning it to get DT 1990 I feel like 1990 would be best for me since I enjoy listening to playlists + voiceovers/sfx what do you think?
I've got a pair of hifiman ananda stealth's and a schiit magni 3+ (i use the apple dongle as my dac) and as budget setup it kicks ass
Try a multibit DAC next, like Modi MB, sure apple dongle is a good DAC for what it’s worth but it’s definitely the bottleneck here. It was my first upgrade from something similar to your setup (headphones were cheaper even) and it was a difference between night and day, maybe I just like the sound of Multibit but it’s so much more touching and heart warming and full. You should at least give it a try I would say.
@@aesth1cc yeah, I was going to get the modi as well but as of now it exceeds my budget so I'll get it as soon as I can (and the main reason i got that setup is to use it for my vynils so I don't really need a dac, but whenever i use my computer to stream music it comes in handy). Thanks for the advice tho, i appreciate it.
@@luigiheewan make sure it’s the Multibit variant
@@aesth1cc what is the main difference between the base modi and the multibit modi? (and does it justify the price difference, as to me it's very important to stay on a budget)
@@luigiheewan it being Multibit is pretty much the only reason you would buy it. But please test it somewhere first, maybe MB doesn’t float your boat. You can 100% hear a difference even if you’re not that sensitive, it’s just about whether you prefer the sound
What wired closed back do you recommend similar to hd 490 and meze 109 pro?
If you don't need/want a lot of extra bass and can EQ the Aeon Closed X is excellent value.
@@hartyewh1 Aeon closed can't fold flat or collapse for travel. I already have E3 But it is too hard to drive and I can only use at home. What other options? Foldable, easy to drive and top sound quality is my priority. IEMs, BT, ANC not so much.
@@liujun050612 Bathys is good even if we forget about BT etc. Most closed backs are pretty bad tbh.
The audeze Maxwell? He praised it a lot, and as a bonus it's wireless with a microphone
@@houssamalucad753 Maxwell sounds good. But it is too heavy.
I don't think you can actually buy HE-1 from Sennheiser. RAAL Immanis/Magni sounds way better, and also Warwick Aperio/Bravura, for way lower cost.
Please put timestamps
For entry level to the $500-700 range for a DAC and amp, are you liking Topping more than Schiit now?
Question, is there any portable amp the size of the Bluetooth ones that don't need to use the USB C port to power? Pretty much an alternative to the Fiio A1's but more modern. Need one for my ipod but dont know what to get.
Finding an amp without a DAC is quite a challenge these days. Some of xduoos products like the xd05 have a line in and topping has the nx7 and nx4, but both are probably bigger and more expensive than you’d want and topping has its own set of issues for mobile devices.
@@hunterborden6891 thanks for the reply mate, unfortunately those are all too big for me. Id really love a truly portable alternative similar to the A1's but with a bit more driving power. The search continues! Cheers
I'd love to see you do a review compairing the empyrean 2 and arya organic. Love your videos btw.
System 2 build for CoD?
Anyone with a perspective on how meze empyrean 2 pairs with ifi gryphon, schiit jotunhein 2, or woo wa8?
Please make chapters in the videos.
What is the camera that you are using to record your videos?
Bello/Magnifico.😮😮😮😮😮😮😢
aria 2 is outdated and not competitive anymore because the simgot ew200 ($40) came out. it has similar tuning and its technicalities are similar too. there is no reason to get a aria 2.
Me rushing to the comments to see how mad everyone is about the moondrop + 490 reccs 🏃
no one talks about electrostats ;(
Your mic isn't natural..
How can you hear the good or natural music by earphones?? 🤔
me buying empyrean 2 to play games 😂don't like taking over ear outside, it's inconvenient. use my ier z1r and n8ii if going out xd. But tbh, i don't think i need empyrean 2 because my wood ear can hardly tell the difference between my 109 pro and empyrean 2😂
. 0:01 - 0:05 "literally" missed enumerable "price points".
Acid Jazz, Funk & Brass 🔈🔉🔊
You didn't even name the first headphone ???