K361

AKG K361: incredible sound with extensive bass stage, might get treble fatiguing after a while. AKG K371: similar to the above, when those become too bright I grab these which in comparison are a bit bass heavy but smoother treble and with Dekoni Choice Suede pads are very comfortable. Beyerdynamic DT770 Pro 80 ohm: the smoothest of them all, not as impressive but subtly incredible and great for relaxing and longer sessions. Very natural and elegant. I had them modded and now they have a short detachable cable with a mic. DCA Noire X: very strange tuning, most of the time, like 80% I don't like them and right when I'm about to sell them, I give them a chance. I like them temporarily quite a bit. I don't really know why this happens, but sometimes they do open up for me, but that joy doesn't last. When I like them, it's the bass soundstage depth, and what I dislike is the recessed range from the mids and up. Definitely not the best for complex music like classical or soundtracks, or TV. But at times they are great. Beyerdynamic DT770 Pro X LE: this is nothing at all like the original, only in name and appearance; comes with detachable cable (doesn't support mic), the sound is totally different, very forward V shape, impressive when you have that high energy and excitement, otherwise can get too intense. Will get sibilant and the bass is heavier. I used to love it for a long time, not so much anymore. Don't like: Fiio FT1: my least favorite despite the hype. They do have a very impressive deep bass, but that's it; they totally disregard the treble, even the mids, totally recessed in the upper range, might appeal bass-lovers. Focal Azurys: very good dynamics but totally flat soundstage, zero depth to the sound. Disappointing. Focal Elegia: strange tuning, but the culprit is the way the bass reverbs, it ruins the whole thing. Not worth it. Audiotechnica ATH M50x: similar issue with the reverb as the Elegia, plus horrifying painful clamp on the head. They have no redeeming quality. Sennheiser HD25: these are on-ear, totally unnecessary, painful clamp, tiny congested sound. I think DJ's like it for work, otherwise nothing good about them. Sennheiser HD569: the worst cheap sound I have ever heard in my life. Sennheiser hd620s: these are interesting; they don't sound necessarily bad by themselves, but the tuning is mid-centric and might take a few days or longer to adjust to their tuning, then you might really like them. They sound very similar to the Azurys in the good technical performance, but the HD620s actually have good soundstage, however unfortunately, the clamp of the headband is a torture. Conclusion: If someone with DIY skills dares, I suggest they build a headphone with a tuning between the K361 and K371, right in the middle, and actual durable materials that don't die in a year (mine did, I re-purchased them, get the extended insurance!), and comfortable pads. This would be my end-game forever ❤️

I own several headphones, from thousand dollars to cheaper ones; been years trying and experimenting with different modifications. With your uses, the electric guitar, movies and games, I suggest my all time favorite, which is actually the least expensive option you can get at a very high end result, the AKG K361, but you need to replace the earpads to make them perfect; the earpads are the Dekoni Choice Suede for K371 (k371 and k361 have the exact same design, so the earpads fit, they differ in tuning, and I think the K361 is superior in sound quality). So get the k361 at $100 with earpads choice suede for k371 at $40, and you will get huge sound. The bass is deep and huge, the treble very defined and clear, energetic, and the mids are tuned forward with the Harman curve. It's almost infuriating to have the kilo buck sets that can't hold a candle to these.

1. Sennheiser Momentum 4 - Magical. Don't know how they pack in the sound quality there. Sometimes I trash the EQ settings just to try to make them sound bad. I baby them though, so my number 2 is 2. AKG K361 - Cheap, sounds great, and comfortable as heck to my head and ears. Never offensive, easy to drive, good durability. I'll carry and use these without a care while the M4s would stay in my work bag. When I'm at home, though, I generally use my number 3, the 3. Fiio FT1 - Does the same thing as number 2, just with a little more style, cost, and weight. I love the wood. Driving it through 4mm balanced on my Fosi K7 sounds sweet and rich. I got these to replace #4, the 4. Audio-Technica M50x - This was my go to for seven years before last year. Built like a tank, I went through a set of pads on it. For a long time this was what I thought headphones were supposed to sound like. I'm glad I mixed it up. Speaking of mixing, let's talk about number 5. 5. Sony MDR-7506 - I got these because I wanted to see what the fuss was about. I get it. If you can make your music sound great on these, you can make it sound great on anything.

From least to most favorite: Audio-Technica ATH-M50X - well-built, cohesive imaging, but some of the most unnatural-sounding headphones I've heard, having a huge hole in the lower mids, mud-fest in the bass, and harsh peaky treble Audio-Technica ATH-M60X - well-built, surprisingly spacious for how small they are, but still a hole in the lower mids and shouty ear gain, plus they're on-ear and therefore uncomfortable Audio-Technica ATH-M40X - well-built, decent all-rounder, but still lacks the lower mids and mid-bass is too boomy, plus the treble is a bit sibilant Sennheiser HD280 PRO - great isolation, large pads, cohesive imaging, but too much sub-bass giving me a headache, too dull yet grainy, plus the cable is microphonic, heavy, stiff, and non-detachable AKG K361 - the most tonally balanced overall, but not very impressive technically, having kind of a tinny timbre with metallic treble, mediocre imaging, and some of the worst build and comfort with a huge design flaw - earpads have a lot of compression with pressure affecting the FR, creating constant channel imbalance, so you have to be perfectly still while using them AKG K371 - the same but more natural timbre for the sacrifice of warmer and muddier tuning Sennheiser HD620S - nice build, comfort, and isolation, good clarity, but unpleasant, cold, harsh, focused, claustrophobic, fatiguing tuning with wonky low-end Adam H200 - nice build, comfort, and isolation, surprisingly spacious, good bass quality, but too shouty FiiO FT1 - the best all-rounder, most casual, most comfortable, solid tonal balance, spatial qualities, and bass quality, but too much bass and too peaky unrefined treble, making them sound fatiguing Beyerdynamic DT770 PRO 250Ω - the best clarity, sounding almost like an open-back, great all-rounder, great low-end and midrange, decent spatial qualities, decently comfortable, but too sibilant, making them unsuitable for a certain kind of music NOTE: I also had the 80 and 32Ω versions of the DT770 but didn't like them as much

I'd recommend stretching your budget for the AKG K361/371. 371 is more expensive than the 361 and has a more fun sound than the analytical 361. I found both to have great imaging and decent soundstage for a closed back. I don't know much about mics. I rock a 720p logi webcam and the mic works well enough.

Either my AKG K361 or KPH40. There are certainly “better sounding” things in my collection but none as versatile. Hifiman Edition XS build is dogshit and leaks sound like crazy, and IEMs irritate my ears if I start using them exclusively for multiple days at a time. If just sound specifically, my Softears Volume S would have no competition.