Meze Audio - 99 Neo

You've got a large budget. If you're the kind of person who tries to keep the experiences fresh (like I am), maybe consider two different pairs. One for inside use (as people mentioned, Ananda Stealth or Ananda Nano seem to be insanely good for the price planars, but are likely to require EQ, may require a headband replacement, and don't really feel that premium), and one for outside (e.g. Audio-Technica M50x or something equally portable and maybe more engaging - I use Meze 99 Neo for that use case for example)?. There's really no single answer. I was hesitant to recommend something like my ATH-R50x for indoor use when I saw your comment on r/headphones initially, but they're the king of comfort for indoor use, if you're able to get them around 150 USD. Maybe Fiio FT3-32ohm can be an interesting option on the bassier side, it seems to have a somewhat special driver that approaches planars in detail. To make things easier, based on your previous experience, what kind of sound signature do you prefer (V, U, W, M, flat, bright/warm/neutral-leaning?). For reference, Both ATH-R50x and Airpods Pro are a neutral V, Airpods's V is a little more pronounced, R50x's is a little more mild.. And what do you consider to be fun (e.g. microdetail, emotional bassline, guitars being shredded, etc.)?

You could go for a Meze headphone and add their boom mic accessory (https://mezeaudio.com/products/boom-mic) Depending on your budget you could go for a 99 Neo https://mezeaudio.com/products/99-neo for $199 99 classic walnut for $309 https://mezeaudio.com/products/meze-99-classics-walnut-silver-wood-headphones Or the open back 105 AER for $399 https://mezeaudio.com/products/105-aer In my opinion they sound really good for the price, and they look really good, at least to me. All locally crafted in Romania so you're directly supporting the European economy. The one caveat being that they're not wireless. Edit : and I think they'd look dope in meetings, no flashy lights, and the walnut is really classy if you're going for that one. No gamer design here

I had exactly the same experience, and I also read a fair amount of reviews before purchasing them. They sound muddy, like VERY muddy on busy (metal) tracks, and the low end is a mess. I tried balanced, unbalanced, Zen Dac 2, straight from the pc, but there's hardly any difference except for volume level. There's a blanket over the music, and I also think the treble sounds very thin and artificial. You hear the sizzle, but absolutely no "body" on cymbals. On some tracks it's unbearable to listen to, even with EQ. The Meze 99 Neo sounds way crisper and clearer in comparison, and people are saying they're super muddy. It does help that the pads on mine are super worn though. I'll return the FT1. The people who are saying "give them time" are either deaf or coping, or there's a chance that our pairs are faulty. I actually don't think they are, but Meze 99 Classic, Neo or Noir seem like a much better all-rounder, but hey, they're not the new kid on the block, so people of course aren't raving about them. Lastly, the build quality is decent at best, and I don't believe they'll hold up well.

Sure, I don't think they're bad, but they feel somewhat fragile, and I'm also not sure how well the wood will hold up. Bump them a few times and it might crack. I don't mind a dark tuning, but I think the FT1 lacks a lot of mids. I don't see how anyone can call these headphones "balanced", or "slightly warm". To my ears they're just extremely muffled. I tried any genre I could think of, but I didn't have a single "wow" moment and the Meze beat them in clarity in every single track, so for me these aren't worth the money. I'll look for something else, but I think I'm done with Fiio.

I really love my [Meze 99s](https://mezeaudio.com/products/99-neo). They're closed back. Personally I have the Walnut Gold ones but the silver and black ones are cheaper. Amazing sound quality, ultra comfy, and they look sick. They do have one with a built in mic but I don't think audiophile headphones should have mics in them. Just get a separate desk mic. They can also be driven on your phone. Open back isn't terrible for gaming and it allows you to control your voice volume better. This is my I use the Micco origen 3 dac amp. Can't link to amazon. Plug and play, haven't had any issues in 5 years. Easy recommendation.

Fun headphones are the way. Have owned lots of Sony headphones over the years, including the MDR-V6, but not the 7506 or M1. Loved the V6es when I owned them as they were vastly more resolving than the best loudspeakers I could afford - definitely a fun headphone with pronounced V or maybe a U-shape. Generally, I avoid anything that's too studio oriented as they tend to be brighter and more fatiguing to listen to for long periods. Haven't listened to the XM6 myself yet, but I have the XM4 and they're not terrible flat and you can EQ them with the Sony phone app. For my money, it would be hard to beat the Hifiman Edition XS at $270 or whatever for a good all-rounder. The Meze 99 is another good choice, albeit with closed cup design perhaps better suited to an office or noisy environment, if you want warm/fun without spending too much ($200 from Drop still?). Ultimately, it all comes down to personal preference. Speaking of Sennheiser, I prefer my 580X Jubilees to the Drop 6XX, though I think that may be a minority opinion. And I wasn't impressed with the 2020 Hifiman Sundaras, which along with the 6XX some really like. Sold the Sundaras and replaced them with the Edition XS which I really dig.

Meze neo for me or if I'm lazy nothing ear a

I know I keep mentioning them but the meze range are hands down the most comfortable headphones I've worn in 40 years of headphone use. I use 99 neo daily and they're so comfortable id still use them even if I didn't enjoy the sound as much as I do. As I've got older I've really started to appreciate the comfort aspect a lot more than used to. Less tolerant of something that I use for hours at a time not being comfortable.

Meze 99's if somebody is around, meze 105aer if noone is around

Meze 99 neo/classic, if comfort is main priority.

Meze headphones are often considered (almost)bifl, they also offer a replaceable cable and have recently released a cable with boom mic of which I've read good things: https://mezeaudio.eu/products/boom-mic On the product page is a list of compatible models. Personally I am very content with my 99 series and am saving up for the boom mic as well