Planar headphones

Thanks for the topic, skchun...

I don't have extensive experience with headphone playback, however, I can contribute this much.  Years ago, I opted to use a headphone during "day dad" duties for my toddler.  I elected to use a pair of open backed Sennheiser 600's with the mandatory cable upgrade (inexcusable)..along with a nice Antique Audio tubed headphone amp, from the day.  This served okay.  Jumping 20 years forward...as a bedroom system for not a lot of money, I love my Little Dot MK III OTL head amp / HIFIMAN HE-5XX planar sound combination.  Tube rolling is a wonderful option:

 

Amazon.com: Little Dot MK III Headphone Tube Amplifier : Electronics

Amazon.com: DROP + HIFIMAN HE5XX Planar Magnetic Over-Ear Open-Back Headphones, Black : Electronics

 

Again, I greatly prefer "full body impact" from a sound system.  I think of headphones as maybe a meal of appetizers...immediately satisfying, hardly gratifying for the long haul.  At present, in my small studio, using the BACCH Plug-In with a nearfield loudspeaker setup, I'm vastly enjoying some of the best of both worlds.  Given a limited budget, I'll always improve the big rig first.  

More Peace,   Pin

@skchun 

If you are really lucky you can score a pair of Raal SR-1a's and a Schiit Jotunheim R Amp for $795 to $1300, according to another site that lists asking prices for gear across a number of sites.:).  There is now a SR-1b model.  Full range ribbon headphones.

https://raalrequisite.com/product/sr1a-true-ribbon-headphones/

List is ~4k.  Many, many positive reviews.  The first time I listened to mine, I though I had not turned off my ML CLX's and ARC system and the phones weren't on.  Wrong, I was listening to something that is the equal of my system that fits on one's head, and doesn't touch your ears, so the soundstage is in front of you. 

Earspeakers.  They are incredible.

-docknow

@soix is absolutely correct. The HE1000 V2 (Stealth) is the sweet spot of the HifiMan range. They originally sold for $3K and are now a steal at $1399. I loved mine so much that I stretched and got some Susvaras. It wasn't until they were fully broken in that they surpassed the HE1K's. There is a guy named Crinacle that has a well-known headphone ranking list. #1 is the $60K Sennheiser headphone "system" (can't remember the model #, it's not like I'm ever gonna buy it), #2 is the Susvara, #3 is the HE1000 V2.

I've had Audeze before (LCD-2 and LCD-X) and to me they're not in the same league. They're also really heavy. I do like several Focal models but of course those are dynamic.

Suggest you demo Audeze LCD GX.  Marketed as a gaming headphone, but had great music reviews (I'm music only).  I have owned for 2 years and thoroughly enjoying.  I recently checked out Arya Organic and HE1000 HE after recent price drops, and like the Audeze.   

Roon has custom tuning options for individual Audeze models, and I'm a happy listener.  Good luck in your search.

Thanks for the response curiousjim, your reply enforces my direction.

 

skc

@skchun 

The best headphones I’ve ever heard were planar and open back of course.  The only downside is that everyone else can hear what you’re hearing, so there might be times and places where you might not be able to use the at higher levels.

All the best.

Very interesting story!

 

I live through the same history...

But in reverse.....

I begin with speakers in a dedicated acoustic room...

All my headphones were not at all on par....

I lost my room /speakers...

I discovered after 6 months of optimization works on it  the perfect headphone for me...

The AKG K340....

 

My system is so astounding now , the last time i triued  to upgrade it, one week ago,  i returned the headphone amplifier after one hour of listening...It is supposedly one of the best in the world ...😊 My sansui alpha certainly was one of the best in the world too...

Total cost of my system : 700 bucks for amp+dac+K340

Beat me in S.Q. and price !

😉

 

 

I disliked all 9 other headphones i tried, dynamic, planar or electro-static...

The only one who win on all acoustic counts is this prehistorical hybrid, the only hybrid success in headphone history... The K340...

I dont need anything else...

I cannot upgrade anything anyway.... It will be marginal improvement at big price...

Nobody here will believe me ... 😊

 

 

«Someone asked God why the ticket to heaven cost so much ?

If it was cheap nobody will believe it is for Heaven’s sake...» Anonymus book of jokes

 

 

I think there are two ways to look a at this. 1) from the fundamental differences from headphones vs a stereo audio system, and 2) quality of the sound.

 

While I have used pretty high end headphones for most of fifty years, I got serious in pursuing a high end headphone system about twenty years and now own a very good one (see my virtual systems).

 

i would have agreed that the two are just profoundly different until the last few years when I got really serious about getting my headphone system to be the best it could be. When I achieved this two things happened. Most of the instantly obvious differences between headphones and my two channel system went to the background. The headphone system became so involving the differences just ceased being that important. The second thing was that my main system sounded dry, steril and analytical.

So, my quest for a great headphone system begat a quest to get my main system to sound as good as headphone system. An additional $70K and two years later, I succeeded. Both systems (which is what I was going for) sound the same… minus the differences in the innate differences in the media… but it is not that big a deal.. I get sucked into listening to the music… not the system.

 

Ok, so back to your question. The theoretical answer I think is yes. Doing that by purchasing a set of headphones… no. It requires the same commitment and effort in assembling a headphone system… in today’s components: streamer, DAC, headphone amp and headphones that building a great main system takes. The good news is you can do it for roughly 10% the cost of a main system.

 

I think there are two ways to look a at this. 1) from the fundamental differences from headphones vs a stereo audio system, and 2) quality of the sound.

 

While I have used pretty high end headphones for most of fifty years, I got serious in pursuing a high end headphone system about twenty years and now own a very good one (see my virtual systems).

 

i would have agreed that the two are just profoundly different until the last few years when I got really serious about getting my headphone system to be the best it could be. When I achieved this two things happened. Most of the instantly obvious differences between headphones and my two channel system went to the background. The headphone system became so involving the differences just ceased being that important. The second thing was that my main system sounded dry, steril and analytical.

So, my quest for a great headphone system begat a quest to get my main system to sound as good as headphone system. An additional $70K and two years later, I succeeded. Both systems (which is what I was going for) sound the same… minus the differences in the innate differences in the media… but it is not that big a deal.. I get sucked into listening to the music… not the system.

 

Ok, so back to your question. The theoretical answer I think is yes. Doing that by purchasing a set of headphones… no. It requires the same commitment and effort in assembling a headphone system… in today’s components: streamer, DAC, headphone amp and headphones that building a great main system takes. The good news is you can do it for roughly 10% the cost of a main system.

Thanks for the replies and clarification.

I guess I have to re evaluate my expectations.

skc

I don't think so; I've got separate systems for 2-channel and for headphones, and speakers and headphones are just not comparable - one is not 'better' than the other, just totally different experiences.. 

To your question, simple answer, no.

I think it might help to know what you consider to be the sound of planar speakers. I have both planar speakers and headphones and I don’t find that the sound of the planar speakers translates into anything that I hear on my planar headphones. The sound of the speakers is heavily dependent on your room and set up. Not so much for the headphones, if at all (but your choice of a HP amp can make a big sonic difference). FWIW, my room is not optimum for planers, or electrostatics, speakers for that reason I have (as you) forward firing boxes. I haven’t heard all of the available planer headphones so I don’t know how much of that design adds to their sonic value, but found prefer good quality 'ordinary' headphones. And I think this preference is base on, as much as anything else, synergy and the choice of the amp.

I was wondering if a pair of planar headphones comes close to the sound signature of a planar speakers, I’m looking at a pair of headphones in the $1000 range.

No.  In my experience headphones are just a totally different experience than listening to speakers regardless of the technology.  That said, I really like my Hifiman Arya Stealths that are now available right in your price range…

https://store.hifiman.com/index.php/arya.html?utm_source=storewebsite&utm_medium=landingpage&utm_campaign=BTS20230804

If you can stretch to the HE1000 Stealths at $1399 (also on sale now) I think it’d be an extra $400 well spent.  Of course you’re gonna need a good headphone amp to get the most outta either of these if you don’t already have one.  Hope this helps, and best of luck. 

HiFi Man is a good choice for a magnetic planar headset. Available for around $500. I wouldn't spend more!