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Looking for closed back headphone advice

So I haven't purchased headphones in many years. I just recently updated my home stereo and am very happy with what I have. However, I'd like to relax with some headphones and I'd like to ask about some good, quality closed back headphones. My budget is around $700. There's only one audio store in town and they don't carry very much and they tend to have poor customer service. I'd like to purchase from a dealer who has a 30-60 return policy in case I don't like them and need an exchange. Any suggestions would greatly be appreciated. Thanks!
bluorion

Showing 2 responses by big_greg

big_greg
6,560 posts
 
The LCD-XC are really nice. Too nice for traveling IMO. They are really beautiful and it would be a shame to have them get all scratched up. They are also really heavy and would be uncomfortable to travel with. I would take a look at the Sony MDR-Z1R if you can stretch your budget. Or get an inexpensive set of cans for travel and leave the LCD-XC at home. Something like the DROP + FOSTEX T-X0 II when they come out. 
big_greg
6,560 posts
 
Most headphone amps are afterthoughts, so generalizing that a dedicated headphone amp is normally going to be better than one included in a receiver, integrated, or preamp is anything but "puffery".  My Modwright LS 100 has a pretty decent headphone amp, but that's an exception, not the general rule.

With a highly efficient set of inexpensive headphones the difference may not be very noticeable, but I guarantee you that listening to a high quality source with a high quality set of hard to drive headphones like LCD-4 will be a completely different experience with a quality high power headphone amp than with the headphone amp in most integrated amps.
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