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Best sub $1200 headphone as complement to 99 Classics

Just getting into headphones and looking to spend some Christmas bonus money. Love the look (I know) and the reviews for the Meze 99 Classics, so those are a given. If you had ~$1200 to spend on a second set of headphones to add to this setup, what would it be and why? 
Use will be almost exclusively in my home office, which is a separate room to the rest of the house, but does not have a door to seal it off completely. Sources include CXN v2 streamer (Tidal), CD transport via Ruby DAC module in my Creek evo100, and a VPI nomad turntable. I have a set of Campfire lyra 2 earbuds for on the go, so portability is not a concern this time around. Leaning towards open-backed just to try something I haven’t had before, but definitely open-minded. Amplification will be the one built into my creek evo100 integrated to start but hoping to pick up a Topping A90 down the line.
ethos123

Showing 2 responses by big_greg

big_greg
6,560 posts
 
Besides budget, do you have any other qualifers?  Sound signature, weight, comfort, cabling, etc.

I haven't heard the Focal Clear, so I'm not sure how much better they are, but the Focal Elex are very good and you'll have some money left over.  Fairly neutral, pretty comfortable, detailed, not too hard to drive and there are lots of aftermarket cabling options.
big_greg
6,560 posts
 
Thanks for the additional information.  I'd suggest giving the Drop Sennheiser HD6XX a try.  $220.  I think they'll tick most of your boxes.  I have a number of much more expensive headphones (Audeze LCD-4, Senn HD800, Sony MDR-Z1R, Focal Elex among others, but reach for the HD6XX more often than not.
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