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Reddit Reviews
AKG 371 been great. Originally bought for travel but now using them in studio.
So my sony XM5s broke and I want another pair of blue tooth headphones So I am not big into headphones, my boyfriend is and I have been using some of his headphones sine my xm5s broke. I have been using some of his headphones his akg k371s,akg k7xxs and akg k52s(he likes akg if you can't tell). They are nice but I want something wireless preferably with multi point and anc. I want something cheap 200 is my budget since work is slow for me and money is tight. I do want the sound quality to be good but I am probably no as picky as a lot of you here. I just told you I used XM5s and I know a lot of enthusiast hate them (I eq'd mine but still) He suggested the Soundcore Space One though we don't own a pair but it seems to meet my needs well what do you think ? If you think is a bad option what are some better ones ?
Koss Porta Pro Akg 371 Fiio FT1 and FT1 pro
I've always stated studio cans are infinitely better than any shitty gaming headset. Studio cans are flat, actually sound clear etc... gaming headsets boost bass massively, have a 'smile' frequency response and are built like crap. Plus £120 gets you really really good studio cans, you can pay £300 for a gaming headset and it will sound worse. I use AKG K371s I bought a few years back, mainly because I do produce music, but they sound absolutely excellent.
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 ❤️
First thing, you should be limiting your headphone searches to only products with the keyword "monitors". Consumer grade headphones always try to enhance your sound experience by having a little computer chip in there that boots bass, or equalizes the sound in some way. Studio monitors prioritize giving you a wide range of audio frequencies and no enhancement, just the straight audio. If you're trying to improve your audio game, the key is to hear the audio exactly as it is, not enhanced. My personal go to are the AKG 371. They are super comfortable for long sessions and don't squeeze the fuck out of your head, which is a common design flaw i've found in a lot of studio monitors (especially if you have a big head.)
currently, the k371 with dekoni suede pads warm neutral with enough soundstage and detail retreival (at least to my ears), lightweight, comfy, doesn’t trap too much heat in. i can wear it for hours straight, unlike with most other closed backs. prefer the sound of noire x, but not as comfortable as these. my environment doesn’t really support open backs that well (a crap ton of noise). if they did, my perfect pair might have been an open back instead.
For flat headphones to use for what you require, I would go with the Shure 840A, AKG 371, or Beyerdynamic 1770 (or 1990 if the open back will not interfere with your producing). The 990's are great for what they do and how long they have been around, but are picky with the amp choice and the treble often needs tamed depending on the genre.
Rankings by Use Case
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