Please Help Weed Them Out

The Focal Stellias were on my list, but I then read about quality issues and having to send them back to France for repair. I am directing my interests on Audeze. I was wondering which of these (LCD-2C or LCD-XC) has more bass?

Yeah, I saw those reports about Focal too. I also thought a great deal about  Audeze phones too. (As well as ZMF). All I can share with you is MY thought process, obviously. One of the most frustrating negative aspects about internet research on these sort of things that drives me crazy is the lack of transparency. How do I know where these disgruntled people bought their headphones? Is this story even true? Is this the whole story? What's are the agendas at work? That's why I eventually bought my gear from Sean-Paul at Upscale Audio, a dealer and a salesman that has done right by me in the past and has been straight with me. Upscale is a sizable (I imagine) dealer with the entire Focal line (speakers and headphones plus Naim Audio). I "presume" they will help me out in the rare possibility of problem. And...more importantly...they have some clout with the importer. For me, I was worried about the weight of the Audeze headphones. I'm not a huge fan of wearing headphones usually. I knew the Focals would be comfortable because I use a pair of Elegies for my lap top YouTube videos. Oh yeah, I bought the Elegies on close out from Upscale six moths or so ago. Since you mentioned it, I will tell you the Stellias are not bass monsters. Like Benchmark, they are faithful and accurate to the recording. That may not be what you are looking for. I listen mostly these days to classical and jazz.

For closed back try ZMF Verite, or JM Audio XTC closed

OK, I will look into these as well.

OK, so it's been over a month and this is what transpired. I purchased a Hifi-Man HE1000 Stealth. I realize they're open back, and I was looking for closed back, but WTH the price was great ($1,399) and the many reviews I read were very positive. Well I'm blown away.  l love them! The bass is excellent and the open back gives a very pleasurable open sound. I find myself playing them sometimes when it's not necessary to use headphones. The things I'm hearing on songs that I've never picked up on before is uncanny. So thanks for all who wrote in, I did do a lot of reading and research and I appreciate all who helped out.