Sony - MDR-Z1R Signature Series

Given comfort is his #1 priority, I have absolutely no idea why you're suggesting LCD-XC - they weight about 700 grams!!!! The Sony MDR Z1R are within his budget at 1600-ish & really don't take much to drive at all. They're also only 385g (I have the box next to me). The biggest issue with these is that Sony no longer make pads for them, they are not standard fit pads - the only aftermarket pads were Dekoni (who no longer make them either) & the only ones you can find anywhere are the Dekoni fenstrated lambskin which make them sound awful - I picked two pairs up & am now selling my MDR as the original pads are absolutely done, and they can't be replaced.

Look into aftermarket pads for your current pair. Dekoni and ZMF make excellent pads for many headphones. Not a practical recommendation, but the MDR-Z1R have the fattest and deepest earcups I've ever worn.

My Sony MDR Z1R is the only closed-back I've ever owned. But I'm completely obsessed with them.

Gotta be the Z1R for me

I love the mdr Z1r. And recently picked up the es amp/dac. Both pure class. Likely going to pick up the ier Z1r soon

From best to worst: Mdr-z1r - Best bass I've heard in a headphone and thebest soundstage I've heard in a closed back. Fun treble and a decent mid range. Mezes lyric 2 - absolutely beautiful, made extremely well. Sounded pretty good, decent bass, nice midrange, just the treble was a little wonky. Focal Azurys - fun punchy little headphones. They just felt a bit too cramped for me and the treble didn't sound wrong or anything I just didn't find it interesting. Hd 660s2 - could go either way between these and the Azurys tbh. These are very close to neutral for being a closed back and have the best midrange out of anything here. Sounded about as cramped as the Azurys though and the bass wasn't as fun. I liked the treble and isolation more though, for the price they're really good.

I'll write you a long reply, hopefully you read it all :) If you haven't considered it, maybe look into the Sony MDR-Z1R. I've been absolutely enamored by them. I could probably write several paragraphs about just how odd they are but also how tremendously good and fun they are. They do things I've never heard any other headphone do. Bizarrely expansive and layered soundstage, great instrument separation (so easy to pick out bass guitar!), layered, deep and impactful bass. The bass, the layering, it's so unique. You get good extension in the sub-bass, but it remains distinct from the mid-bass, and mid bass doesn't bleed over into the mids. Mids are a tad recessed, but only slightly, and the treble has good energy and sparkle. Resolution wise, they're a cut above the Meze 109s for example. For reference, on the higher-end side of things I've owned Focal Clears, and still own the HD800S, LCD-X, and Meze 109 Pros (they're my wife's now). I recently wanted a closed back headphone with a fun sound signature the Z1Rs absolutely accomplish that. I actually haven't reached for anything else in weeks. The Sennheisers both feel like they're missing so much low-end by contrast, it's fucking with my brain and I don't consider myself a basshead. Besides the sound, they're built very well and can easily be worn all day. The sheepskin pads are plush, deep, and feel great. The one letdown is the headband is pleather, most people get a fabric cover to put over it to keep it from cracking. Otherwise, it uses titanium and wood, and feels super premium in the hand. The box is also nuts, if that matters at all to you. I wanted to up the "fun" even more and recently went from a JDS Labs Atom 2 stack to a Nitsch Pietus Maximus + Mesh DAC and oh boy, the Z1Rs got even better. It's made the bass a little thicker, the mids seem a bit more forward and lush, and treble sparkle is slightly reduced which maybe reduces some fatigue there. If I had to give a brief critique to what you've been considering: Focals; I've owned the Clears and auditioned the Stelias. Gosh, for the money, Focal needs to do more to not make them feel so cheap. They creak a lot. The Stelias did sound really good though. Kind of a big let down for the money. I don't know how to the MGs compared to the OG Clears, but I sold them because the treble was too fatiguing for me and I couldn't move my head without the creaking driving me nuts. As for Hifiman, I won't recommend them until they get their QC issues under control, they seem so grossly over represented when it comes to issues, so in spite of otherwise great technical performance, its a risk I just won't take. The Audeze LCD-X are great. Their bass can be tremendous with EQ (rattle your brain), but I never found the mids or highs to be all that impressive. They were/are best suited for Hans Zimmer or EDM tracks, everything else, meh. I also can't wear them for more than an hour or two before my neck hurts though. As for the Dan Clarks, I haven't tried the E3, but have tried the Noire X. Very impressive neutral tuning and good soundstage for a closed back, but definitely very reference oriented/more analytical. I had comfort issues with them as well, kind of made a pressure point under my ear near my jaw.

I'd be inclined to agree. They kind of have a wow-factor as far as closed backs go. I might have picked them over my Z1Rs if it didn't create a kind of comfort hotspot for me under my ear. They're not just good closed backs, they're a honestly good contender at the $1k pricepoint and feel like a very tangible step up in terms of clarity, instrument separation, and solid bass over a lot of the other headphones I've owned and demo'd under $1k.

In terms of detail retrieval they're pretty similar. You aren't going to miss anything with either, they're both extremely resolving. Sound stage / staging is very good on both, kind of surprising for closed-backs. The shapes of the stage between both are considerably different though. The Noire X has kind of a medium depth and width, maybe a bit better than my memory of my 109 Pros or LCD-X, but still shy quite of my HD800s. The Z1Rs have a kind of expansive and confusing stage, like nothing I've heard before. They're so hard to describe. In terms of presentation they're polar opposites as well. I'd classify the Noire X as neutral, very Harman target tuned, almost as textbook as it gets. The Z1Rs are anything but. They're tuned to some vision Sony had/has and I don't know how I'd describe it, these things are just odd. They're fun to listen to, though most would classify them into a love it or hate it bucket, without much in between. It's kind of odd, I've sort of noticed that more of the Japanese oriented productions (JPop, JRock, etc.) I've listened to sound like a match made in heaven for the Z1Rs. Maybe it's some subconscious bias/association happening. I'd warn that sometimes certain tracks kind of accentuate an almost V shaped presentation, where mids can at times seem somewhat distant or recessed. It's not like all the time though, which lead to believe they were tuned with a certain production style in mind. Utterly confusing. In terms of build quality the Noire X felt pretty good besides the stupid gorilla glass finger print magnet. The Z1Rs similarly have just one annoying build quality trait in the genuine leather (cheap shit) headband, but most put a strap around it. In terms of overall feel in the hand and on head though, the Z1R still feel more premium and well built, they're really special in that way, as they should be for this kind of money. At the end of the day, the comfort was a big issue for me, but this is going to vary a lot person to person. After having to move on from my LCD-X for the same reason I needed to get something I could listen to all day without any pain. The Z1Rs are supremely comfortable and I kind of fell in love with their unique sound signature. They form an excellent complement to my HD800s.

Personal favorite is the Z7M2. Best musical sounding headphones I've heard. Liked it more than the z1r. 

I own them and they are not "it". They are a warmer sound for sure, but their bass slam is nowhere near the level of the Radiance or the TH900, the mids are still sligtly forward and not that scooped, and they, while being really well built, dont have that premium feeling of wood and alcantara others like the ZMF or Meze have. https://preview.redd.it/fx0f99u9ieff1.png?width=1849&format=png&auto=webp&s=8fbab5d7a984396f39424c0e56b489080b33af9e

1. The DAC/Amp. I wouldn't spend more than $300 on an DAC/Amp. The Topping Dx5 ii has everything one could need. 6.4W output (more than enough for every Headphones, measures flat, has Bluetooth and has built in peq. 2. There are so many Headphones out there, to buy the perfect one is not the easiest thing to do. My go to recommendation for a high-end pair of Headphones is the Hifiman Arya stealth (as refurb on hifiman webstore for $480 with the coupon) as it delivers a rather big soundstage, with a lot of details and overall good tuning (as long as you have no issues with a bit more treble but you've tested the Beyer's, therefore the Arya shouldn't be an issue) and with a basshelf (which you can add on the DAC/amp with the built in PEQ feature filter: lsq 130hz, 5db q 0.71) it sounds great. * Sennheiser HD 820 (Closed-Back) ($2,199.95 + $500-2,000 DAC/Amp = $4,199.95) (6-48,000 Hz) Not worth it at that price tag especially as you have to fix a couple of issues with EQ) * Sennheiser HD 800 S (Open-Back) ($1,999.95 + $500-2,000 DAC/Amp = $3,999.95) (4-51,000 Hz) Not worth it imo at that price range. There are better and cheaper options. I had the hd800. * Audio-Technica ADX5000 (Open-Back) ($2,199 + $300-1,000 DAC/Amp = $3,199) (5-50,000 Hz) No idea * Sony MDR-Z1R (Closed-Back) (~~$2,099.99~~ $1,899.99 + $200-500 DAC/Amp = ~~$2,599.99~~ $2,399.99) (4-120,000 Hz) Sounds great but the price is too high) * Beyerdynamic T1 (Open-Back) ($999.99 + $500-1,500 DAC/Amp = $2,499.99) (5-50,000 Hz) Not worth it * Audio-Technica ADX3000 (Open-Back) ($1,099 + $200-500 DAC/Amp = $1,599) (5-45,000 Hz) No idea * Beyerdynamic T5 (Closed-Back) ($999.99 + $150-300 DAC/Amp = $1,299.99) (5-50,000 Hz) No worth it * Beyerdynamic DT 1990 PRO MKII (Open-Back) ($699.99 + $200-500 DAC/Amp = $1,199.99) (5-40,000 Hz) Good Headphone, does a lot of things right but it's not a big upgrade compared to the mk1. Quite comfortable and well built. * Beyerdynamic DT 1770 PRO MKII (Closed-Back) (~~$699.99~~ $599.99 + $200-500 DAC/Amp = ~~$1,199.99~~ $1,099.99) (5-40,000 Hz) Do not like this Headphone. * Sennheiser HD 660S2 (Open-Back) (~~$679.95~~ $479.95 + $200-500 DAC/Amp = ~~$1,179.95~~ $979.95) (8-41,500 Hz) Not worth it. It's not a substantial upgrade over the og 600 series even though they ask 2-3x more. Get the 6xx over the 660s2 and add a bit of bass) * Audio-Technica ATH-R70xa (Open-Back) ($379 + $300-800 DAC/Amp = $1,179) (5-40,000 Hz) Haven't listened to it. * Sennheiser HD 650 (Open-Back) (~~$579.95~~ $349.95 + $200-500 DAC/Amp = ~~$1,079.95~~ $849.95) (10-39,500 Hz) (Artist Favorite) Warmer 6xx. * Sennheiser HD 600 (Open-Back) (~~$499.95~~ $299.95 + $200-500 DAC/Amp = ~~$999.95~~ $799.95) (12-39,500 Hz) Good Natural sounding Headphone but not exciting. Not for me. * Beyerdynamic DT 880 PRO (Semi-Open-Back) (~~$219.99~~ $209.99 + $200-500 DAC/Amp = ~~$719.99~~ $709.99) (5-35,000 Hz) The best Beyer out of the 700,800 and 900 series imo. The most balanced and still fun * Sennheiser HD 620S (Closed-Back) ($399.95 + $100-300 DAC/Amp = $699.95) (6-30,000 Hz) Decent closedback HP. In many ways better than the hd820 but not as resolving. * Audio-Technica ATH-WP900 (Closed-Back) ($699) (5-50,000 Hz) No idea * Sennheiser HD 490 PRO (Open-Back) ($399 + $100-200 DAC/Amp = $599) (5-36,000 Hz) The best Sennheiser Headphone at the moment. Great comfort and well tuned. Good Allrounder. * Sennheiser HD 560S (Open-Back) ($279.95 + $100-300 DAC/Amp = $579.95) (6-38,000 Hz) As refurbished available for $130 on their outlet. Good value. Does a lot of things right. Not the most comfortable (the 490 pro is a straight upgrade) but really good at that price tag. * Beyerdynamic DT 990 PRO X (Open-Back) ($229.99 + $100-200 DAC/Amp = $429.99) (5-40,000 Hz) Not great. I would pick the 900 pro x over the 990 pro x. * Sony MDR-MV1 (Open-Back) ($419.99) (5-80,000 Hz) Haven't listened to it. * Sennheiser HD 505 Copper (Open-Back) ($329.95) (12-38,500 Hz) Seems to be liked by a lot of people but havent listenes to it. * Audio-Technica ATH-M70x (Closed-Back) ($329) (5-40,000 Hz) No idea * Beyerdynamic DT 700 PRO X (Closed-Back) ($319.99) (5-40,000 Hz) Great comfort, not that well tuned. Better than the 770 though. * Sony MDR-M1 (Closed-Back) ($269.99) (5-80,000 Hz) Haven't listened to them * Beyerdynamic DT 900 PRO X (Open-Back) (~~$319.99~~ $239) (5-40,000 Hz) Second best 700,800,900 tuned Headphone imo. * Sennheiser HD 599 (Open-Back) ($239.95) (12-38,500 Hz) Not good at that price tag. For und 100 it's okay. * Beyerdynamic DT 770 PRO X (Closed-Back) ($229.99) (5-40,000 Hz) (Descendent of Artist Favorite DT 770) Terrible imo. Especially the og. Didn't like it. * Sennheiser HD 300 PRO (Closed-Back) ($199.95) (6-25,000 Hz) No idea * Sennheiser HD 569 (Closed-Back) ($179.95) (10-45,000 Hz) Not worth it * Audio-Technica ATH-R50x (Open-Back) ($169) (5-40,000 Hz) Haven't listened to it. * Audio-Technica ATH-M50x (Closed-Back) ($159) (15-28,000 Hz) (Artist Favorite) It's meh. * Audio-Technica ATH-M40x (Closed-Back) ($109) (15-24,000 Hz) It's meh Some other Headphones you can look in to Sub $300: Aune ar5000, fiio ft1 (pro) and Sennheiser HD6xx Sub $600: Hifiman Arya stealth, Hifiman Ananda unveiled, Hifiman XV and DCA aoen x closed, Audeze ls20 Sub $1000: Hifiman He600, Arya organic, Meze 109 Pro and Hifiman Stealth He1000Se I wouldn't recommend spending more than 1k on a Headphone. That my opinion.