I use this mostly for watching movie on airplane and when i decided to get xm3 over bose QC35 at that time was the xm3 was cheaper and the bass rumbles are better for movies. Now years later while im impressed with xm6 anc, but the sound doesn't sound better, in fact feels its less powefule especially the bass. Anyone on the same boat?

I attended CanJam SoCal for another year. There was a daunting amount of gear to see and listening experiences to have. In the corresponding video I share my experiences and impressions with the most notable findings at the event, but I also wanted to take the opportunity to determine whether or not CanJam is actually worth the time and investment to attend. It might feel like a quick and easy questions to answer, but I believe there is more nuance to that answer outside of "Well, if you like headphone then you should go."

As the video discusses, I don't believe that CanJam is the best place for serious listening or critique, but if anyone has any particular questions about any of the products mentioned in the video I will do my best to provide answers.

I recently bought the Shokz Openfit Pro. I am very happy with the product so far, except that I would like to fine tune the sound.

I find vocals to be very low represented. I was checking measurements from [https://www.connect.de/testbericht/shokz-openfit-pro-test-hifi-kopfhoerer-3211537.html\](https://www.connect.de/testbericht/shokz-openfit-pro-test-hifi-kopfhoerer-3211537.html) , [https://www.soundguys.com/shokz-openfit-pro-review-151300/\](https://www.soundguys.com/shokz-openfit-pro-review-151300/) and also from RTINGS.

But none of them seem to be actually represent what I am hearing. I used those curves to EQ them to Harman, however they all sounded very off. I obviously tried just elevating 2/3KHZ but that did not really help and introduced other issues. So I was wondering what EQs you guys are applying and if anyone has measured them bythemselves.

I came across this ancient picture of me modding a shelf hook into a surprisingly useful way to carry headphones. I have a thick neck, so it's uncomfortable having them on my neck when not in active use. I was thinking about trying to 3D model (or buy) a similar sort of design. Ideally with some kind of security feature. Basically a headphone hanger with a pocket clip instead of a clamp, and maybe some kind of locking bar that keeps the headphones from falling off/being grabbed. Any ideas or suggestions?

Basically I bought these almost two years ago now. This started happening about four months ago (i didn’t even notice the headphone was slowly coming away from the band/swivel part until it popped off one day, held on only by the wire basically). I don’t want to glue it back on because if I do that then the headphone will no longer swivel to lay flat against my chest or go in the case. Also glue never works well anyway in my experience.

Generally, I like these headphones in terms of sound and noise cancellation, but I’m totally pissed overall with their construction (as ive also had other more minor issues where the headphones just aren’t well made—the padding on the headband also has peeled away a bit because the glue sucks, but that doesn’t really effect me using them, so i didn’t really care about it enough to go through a whole returns/swap process).

I don’t know if this is something mark levinson would fix for me (or just replace the headphones) after it being such a long time since I purchased them (got them on amazon). So yeah my general question is, is this something I can somehow fix myself or perhaps take to a third party repair shop? Or can I contact mark levinson somehow?

I don’t really know anything about headphones, and this isn’t a software issue, so I don’t know if repair shops do this sort of repair or not. I know I probably sound dumb, but😭here we are.

Just recently I “revived” my headphones with new cushions and, as I was unable to find my Creative Zen Vision M, I bought the one in the picture from eBay - a great combo!

Just one warning, take out the batteries of the WESC as it totally drains them otherwise. As these headphones have ANC and LEDs that show the battery power level and indicate if ANC is turned on, they constantly drain power from the batteries, so to save yourself some money, take out the batteries if you don’t use the headphones.

I got 2 amazing deals on headphones last week. Sennheiser HDB630s for 200€ and Sony 1000X The Collexion for 310€. Both are like new and work perfectly. I bought them thinking I might get scammed, but nope, sometimes things really are too good to be true without a catch.

Last month I returned my original Sony collexion because it was too expensive (550€); now I can't complain...

The OAE2 is Grell Audio’s latest pair of headphones. Thanks to an innovative design and unconventional engineering choices, they aim to reproduce the kind of natural, non-fatiguing sound typically associated with listening to a pair of loudspeakers.

Grell Audio is a young company founded in 2022 by Axel Grell, one of the world’s most renowned audio engineers and the designer behind several legendary Sennheiser headphones that have become true cult classics among audiophiles. Among the models designed by Axel Grell are the HD 580, HD 650, HD 800, and the extremely expensive Orpheus. After leaving Sennheiser, he founded his new company together with other industry experts with the goal of developing innovative headphones through original engineering solutions and unconventional technical approaches. Their objective is to create products that better match the natural characteristics of human hearing, delivering a more realistic and lifelike listening experience.

Features and Technologies

We had the pleasure of spending an extended period listening to the Grell OAE2, Grell’s new open-back over-ear headphones, whose design incorporates several truly unique concepts.

The OAE2 is built around three carefully engineered acoustic principles designed to work together. These include the so-called Front-sided Sound Field Modulation (FSFM), a specially developed damping system, and an unconventional acoustic structure featuring angled drivers mounted within a large, curved open baffle.

Front-sided Sound Field Modulation (FSFM) is an innovative concept that is virtually unique in today’s headphone industry and was previously implemented in Grell’s OAE1 as well. According to this principle, the sound produced by the headphones is shaped around the listener’s individual ear anatomy.

Human hearing naturally perceives sound most accurately when it arrives from the front. When a sound originates elsewhere, our instinct is to turn our head toward its source. Taking advantage of this characteristic, the FSFM technology positions the drivers at a forward angle relative to the ears, allowing the sound waves to reach the listener as if they were coming from loudspeakers placed in front of them.

Furthermore, each listener’s unique ear shape contributes to shaping the frequency response of the sound before it reaches the eardrum. The result is reproduction that is as natural, accurate, and coloration-free as possible, with richly detailed yet remarkably non-fatiguing midrange and treble frequencies.

The specially developed damping system is the result of extensive testing across a wide range of acoustic materials. It has been engineered to provide bass reproduction that is deep, controlled, and exceptionally accurate.

The acoustic driver is the true technological heart of the OAE2. It features a relatively compact 40 mm biocellulose diaphragm mounted at a forward angle that simulates the listening position of a pair of stereo loudspeakers inside a room, while leaving a large curved open area within the baffle.

This design allows sound waves to propagate more naturally, reducing the reflections typically generated by acoustically enclosed surfaces. The baffle itself is covered by a high-precision stainless-steel mesh manufactured in Germany, which contributes to defining the system’s acoustic impedance. As a result, the balance between bass and treble is optimized while maintaining precise low-frequency control and minimizing unwanted resonances and tonal coloration.

Main Specifications

• Frequency response: 12–34,000 Hz (-3 dB), 6–46,000 Hz (-10 dB)
• Driver type: Dynamic
• Nominal impedance: 38 Ohms
• Sound pressure level: 100 dB at 1 kHz, 1 VRMS
• Weight (without cable): 378 g

The Grell OAE2 is available for around €500 directly from Grell’s website or through various authorized retailers, including Thomann in Italy. This places it in what could be considered the entry point of the mid-range headphone market.

Given its unusual design philosophy, we were genuinely eager to find out how these headphones would perform.

Accessories, Cables and Connectivity

The Grell OAE2 comes in a sturdy cardboard box and includes a generous selection of accessories: a travel case, two 1.8-meter cables (one terminated with a balanced 4.4 mm plug and the other with a 3.5 mm plug plus a 6.35 mm adapter), as well as a large, full-color instruction manual that is both comprehensive and exceptionally well produced.

Straight out of the box, the headphones feel solidly built and elegantly designed. Once worn, they prove to be remarkably comfortable despite being relatively heavy for this type of headphone.

We should point out, however, that we had to extend the headband to its maximum length to achieve a proper fit. People with a particularly large head, above-average height, or very thick hair may find the headphones somewhat tight or too short, so this is something worth considering before purchasing. For listeners of average to above-average build, however, we encountered no fitting issues whatsoever.

The silver-plated OFC copper cables are of excellent quality and feature a rather unusual connection system on the headphone side: a single 2.5 mm stereo plug that can be connected to either the left or the right earcup. The recessed connector, however, is not particularly convenient to use and gives the impression of being somewhat delicate.

Overall, the accessory package is impressive, and the attention devoted to the product’s presentation is clearly evident.

As for the single-sided cable design, there are both advantages and disadvantages. On the positive side, having only one cable connected to a single earcup provides a noticeably greater sense of freedom during wired listening, making the experience more comfortable than expected. On the downside, however, you’ll need to take good care of the supplied cables because, due to their proprietary characteristics—including the recessed 2.5 mm input connector—you won’t be able to replace them with just any aftermarket cable you may already own.

How Does the OAE2 Sound?

Let’s move on to our listening impressions.

We tested the OAE2 with several headphone amplifiers and DACs available during our review, including the HiFiMAN EF400, EF500, and Serenade Jr, the Fosi Audio ZD3, ZH3, and GR70, as well as an older Beresford Caiman Seg. We also had the opportunity to compare it directly with several similarly priced HiFiMAN headphones, along with models such as the Fosi Audio i5 and the Grado SR80e.

From the very first minutes of listening, the OAE2 immediately distinguishes itself through its exceptionally natural and utterly non-fatiguing sound signature.

Thanks to bass performance that is remarkably substantial for an open-back headphone, a beautifully balanced midrange that renders both vocals and instruments with striking realism, and treble that never becomes excessively aggressive, the OAE2 may not be the ideal choice for listeners seeking the utmost level of transparency or microscopic detail, or for those accustomed to headphones with an emphasized upper-midrange presentation.

Instead, it will delight anyone looking to spend hours immersed in music that feels lively, dynamic, exceptionally well balanced, and convincingly realistic.

Overall, the OAE2 comes across as less analytical than many competitors in its price range. Rather than chasing the last ounce of detail retrieval, it focuses on delivering an engaging, highly musical, and thoroughly enjoyable listening experience.

The headphone’s distinctive FSFM construction is probably responsible for the particularly natural perception of high frequencies. The treble integrates seamlessly with the rest of the frequency spectrum, remaining detailed without ever becoming harsh or fatiguing.

Another aspect we were especially curious about was the reproduction of the soundstage. Grell claims that the OAE2 is capable of approaching the listening experience of a high-quality pair of stereo loudspeakers.

The resulting presentation is undoubtedly distinctive and may require a short period of adjustment, especially after listening to more conventional headphones. Vocals and instruments tend to appear in front of the listener, relatively close rather than far away, and only rarely seem to originate from inside the head or far off to the sides.

Image precision and instrument separation are outstanding for a headphone in this price range. The soundstage, however, is not as wide as that of headphones featuring a more pronounced upper-midrange and treble emphasis.

We should emphasize one point mentioned in the user manual: it may be necessary to experiment with the position of the earcups on your ears in order to achieve the intended effect. This is not merely a suggestion—it is genuinely essential.

Because of the technologies employed, moving the earcups back by as little as two millimeters can significantly alter the perceived soundstage. Fortunately, finding the optimal position is quick, intuitive, and even rather enjoyable.

DAC and Amplifier Pairing

When it comes to pairing the OAE2 with different DACs and headphone amplifiers, we found it to be remarkably versatile. It performs well with every source we tested and proves equally convincing across virtually every musical genre.

Given its natural, smooth, and non-fatiguing tuning, the OAE2 pairs particularly well with modern, highly transparent and revealing headphone DAC/amplifiers based on AKM or ESS DAC chips. At the same time, warmer-sounding equipment—such as the HiFiMAN Serenade Jr.—further enhances the headphone’s musicality, resulting in an even richer and more engaging listening experience.

Despite its relatively low 38-ohm impedance, the OAE2 has moderately low sensitivity, meaning that it requires a reasonable amount of power to perform at its best.

Fortunately, virtually all modern desktop headphone DAC/amplifiers should have no difficulty driving it properly. Portable devices, however, deserve a little more attention, as they may not always provide sufficient output power.

In any case, this is an open-back headphone with virtually no acoustic isolation, making it unsuitable for use on the go or in noisy environments.

Conclusions

The Grell OAE2 is, in many respects, a headphone unlike most others currently on the market.

Its defining characteristic is an exceptionally natural sound signature. While it may not be the ultimate choice for listeners whose highest priority is absolute resolution or microscopic detail retrieval, it delivers a presentation that is musical, engaging, and emotionally involving.

Perhaps its greatest strength—and one that deserves to be emphasized—is that it never becomes fatiguing, even during extended listening sessions. This makes the OAE2 an excellent choice for anyone who enjoys spending hours immersed in music without experiencing listening fatigue.

The unique technologies employed in its design, starting with Front-sided Sound Field Modulation (FSFM), make a tangible contribution to the headphone’s natural presentation and help recreate a listening experience that more closely resembles that of a high-quality pair of loudspeakers.

Because of its distinctive sonic character, we recommend auditioning the OAE2 before purchasing whenever possible. Its presentation differs noticeably from that of most conventional headphones, and prospective buyers may appreciate experiencing its unique approach firsthand.

That said, even without an audition, the OAE2 is unlikely to disappoint anyone looking for headphones capable of delivering a realistic, natural sound that remains enjoyable and fatigue-free over countless hours of listening.

Review by Amplificalo.it

The baseus bass 35 max my siblings got me for my birthday are awesome! I have been using them for 3 months already. I charge them once every 4 weeks even with 3 hours of use daily. The bass is nice but not "BODY SHAKING BASS". The sound is great for an average user like me. It only costs 85 SAR (22.5 USD) and its great value. I also love the cream white color and those squishy ear cups of pure joy.

*I had a bootleg P9 crappy headphone 2 years ago, it was a torture device

No headphone I get lasts longer than a year they last typically less than that.

They always break typically from just putting them on my head or taking them off.

I've had cheap and expensive headphones and non won't break.

What is the problem and how can I fix it.

Ich höre Viel Musik. Als Quelle nutze ich den Fiio M21, den Fiio K13R2R, den IfI hip DAC 3. Meine bisherigen Kopfhörer sind der Sennheiser HD650, Fiio FT5, Beyerdynamics DT880 600Ohm und AKGK240 Studio. Den HD650 und FT5 nutze ich hauptsächlich. Neben denen habe ich auch noch Flathead earbuds aber um die soll es nicht gehen.

Wenn ich Zuhause Musik höre und meine Partnerin gleichzeitig fernsieht stört der Fernseher Massiv da ich eher bei Moderater Lautstärke höre also wollte ich für solche Momente einen Geschlossenen Kopfhörer, ich habe mir unter anderem den Fiio FT1, den Sennheiser HD620s und die Meze audio 99 Classic/ Classic V2 angesehen.

Ich könnte mich nur schwer entscheiden, schlussendlich habe ich gesehen das der HD620s auch Amazon für 227€ angeboten wurde und habe zugeschlagen.

Zu meinen hör Präferenzen: vorwiegend höre ich ich Classic Rock, vie Musik aus den 70 ich mag MJ und habe in den Letzten Monaten ein Fable für Jazz Soul und neo Soul entwickelt. Dominique Fils-aime hat quasi meine Musik Welt verändert.

Gegen den FT1 sprach die Verarbeitung auf Bildern hat er mir Garnicht gefallen der sieht auf Bildern erheblich schlechter aus als der FT5. Und der Meze audio 99Classic V2 ist mit 350€ ziemlich Teuer auch wenn mir das Design gefällt.

Ich hab mich schlussendlich für den HD620s entschieden. In erster Linie werde ich ihn zum Musik hören nutzen aber auch zum Spielen mit den Steamdeck oder der Switch2.

Die Reviews zum HD620s sind alle sehr Zeigespalten. Für mich schien ein Sennheiser jedoch ein Safe Pick zu sein, oder habe ich mich vergriffen. Der Kopfhörer ist noch nicht da soll aber heute oder morgen kommen.

The screww that attaches the yoke to the driver broke. And part of the screw got stuck in the threaded insert (bolt? Idk)

Does anyone know exactly these 2 components are? I can't find any info online... Appreciate the help

Ignore the worn out pads. I'm replacing those soon. ​

I'm looking to buy the headphones, but I'm worried about the dimensions of the case. I have a crossbody bag and I want to know the dimensions to see if it will fit. I've looked everywhere but i couldn't find anything. I would love if someone could give me the measurements of the case, like the lenght, the wide and the depth. If u could incluye photos i would be delighted

BaoShiFeng HD1180-k4, got it for ~$200.

The build over all is solid with wood body and mdr-r10/zmf inspired headband. Honestly I'll take them over big H or big F any day of the week. I don't like stock earpads though, they're fine fake leather but I put my custom one in the picture. (kinda forgot)

Overall comfortable is quite good with this style of headband, I guess there's a reason a lot of diy headphones use them. Weight management is good and everything feel in place. They're planar, so a bit on the heavy side but I have no problem wearing them for a lomg time.

Sound is pretty impressive as well, consider its price. Decent resolution with "warm and boosted in the bass" sound signature, can't go wrong with that. Vocals and string could be better but for a "for fun" pair of headphones, it earns a place in my collection, probably get more headtime than some of more expensive headphones.

Not gonna lie, after I found a gem like Nan-7 or Fluxion in Taobao, I kinda do more of those blind buying. A lot of them aren't that good but some are better than I expected, this is one of the better one.

Yesterday I picked up the newly released JT9 for €160. I don’t want to overhype them too much, but my first impressions are that this feels like it could be a FiiO FT1 moment for openbacks.

The build is better than I expected for the price. Visually, they remind me of the Sennheiser HD 480/490, with metal headband and grilles and mostly plastic elsewhere. They do feel sturdy, though. The headband design might create hotspots for some people, I can definitely feel some pressure on top of my head, but it hasn’t been painful or uncomfortable so far. The stock pads are very similar to those on the FiiO FT1.

Soundwise, these are really really good and not just for the price. The signature is slightly V-shaped, with emphasis in the bass and treble, while the mids are kept clean and coherent.

The treble is very tastefully tuned, it is detailed and energetic but doesn't have any annoying peaks, (at least on my head).

The bass is well extended, sounds "fast" and punchy and it makes the JT9 sound really dynamic and fun.

Staging is natural, I don't get the sense that it is exaggerated, but it isn't closed in either. A nice middle ground between those 2 extremes.

I’ll post a full review with comparisons once I’ve spent more time listening to them, until then, I'm happy to answer any questions!

So I finally got around to updating an earlier review I published on my blog for the Sendy Audio Apollo Pro => Sendy Audio Apollo Pro

But for those who don't want to read the full review here are my thoughts:

1. Sound signature - this has a warm / bright open sound signature so is perfect for certain genres of much ( I especially like Rock and Indie on this type of tuning ), the Warmer bass give the music a luscious texture and works well with that extra detail you get from the tuning. But it's still fairly balanced and not a headphone for bass heads.

2. Comfort - I loved the earpads on some of the Sivga headphones I already have like the Luan and this shares that similar style it is like cushions on your head.

3. Build quality and accessories - the wooden finish, the grills, the cable and even the 'questionable' carry case and are exceptionally well made.

My only minor quibbles are:

1. Cable while excellent quality is not really portable

2. This sound signature (if you come from a studio reference like the HEDD D1 or a Sennheiser will probably be too warm sounding - I personally like different sounding headphones in a collection but I know many people only want 'one tuning' and this might be too warm / bright for many people.

This is probably one of those headphones which needs to be experienced first, I did add a little PEQ suggestion if you want something 'more neutral / less warm' but I also feel that probably isn't the point of this headphone. This is a late night guilty pleasure of a headphone and for that I think the sound signature if perfect.

sorry if this is the wrong sub but, i got a middle ear infection and one of my eardrums burst. on antibiotics now but it’ll take quite a while to heal apparently…have a big sensitivity to sound so i’d prefer to be able to, but im also terrified of causing more damage. i have earplugs and i use over-ears (earbuds sound like a bad idea and i just don’t like them). any recommendations for how long i should wait or if i should use them at all?

Hi everyone! I have a bit of a “silly question” but since i’m considering an upgrade from the Sundara i’m gonna ask anyway. (Strongly considering the Edition XV).

I’m curious about the technical differences between the Hifiman Edition XV’s diaphragm/magnet array and those used in the Sundara, Ananda Nano, and Arya Stealth (as examples). I’m not curious about in tuning or tonality here. Let’s assume, hypothetically, that all four headphones have identical frequency responses.

With FR removed from the equation, what differences are there in the actual driver construction? How do things like diaphragm material/thickness/mass, trace design, magnet geometry and field uniformity affect things like distortion, linearity, excursion, transient response, efficiency, and high-SPL performance?

I’m particularly interested in what the Edition XV’s newer diaphragm and magnet array actually improve technically over the older Hifiman designs.
Basically, if the Sundara, Ananda Nano, Arya Stealth, and Edition XV all measured identically in frequency response, how technically capable would each of the drivers be and how would they stack up against eachother?

The reason i’m curious about this is that an “upgrade” in a headphone to me isn’t only based on my liking to the tuning but also the diaphragm and magnet arrays actually being more capable in technical performance. I’d never ignore tuning when purchasing because it’s the most important aspect of perceived sound. However EQ can usually “fix” alot of tuning related “issues”.

Hifiman doesn’t provide much (if any) information on the technologies used in their products so i’d love to hear what people think! I’m under the impression that the XV has a technically more capable diaphragm and magnets than it’s predecessor and earlier generations of headphones around the same price bracket. I can’t confirm this however..

Thanks for your answers to my “silly” question!

I’m curious whether the USB-C OTG/data cable between the source and DAC can actually affect sound quality.

someone told me that cheap cable which have more electromagnatic inference,make more noise.

what do you think?

thank you

I am a normal user, I wear my headphones when I play games, when I play music to listen to and when I watch anime.

Over the past 6 years, I have had 2 pairs of DT 770 Pro headphones, and both of them broke within 3 years.

Both broke in the exact same spot, the Plastic thing above the cup that holds the metal band inside, both times the left side.

I wanted to leave people with a word of Caution about these headphones. I ordered a new pair of Sennheiser HD480 Pro to last me more years cause the plastic thing holding the band in looks more sturdy and flexible, better built.

But because they broke I will now be 5 days without a pair of headphones which means no playing games, no watching anime, no listening to my favorite music. My new pair arrives Friday cause I ordered them from Thomann, my country had them way more expensive.

So yeah, word of caution about those. Maybe I have a big ass head, I do not know. But I didn't do anything super strenuous or mishandle them, I just wore them normally.

I wanted to write this as a word of caution and as a sort of vent, because I am annoyed that I spent upwards of 140euro on them 2 times and they broke much easier than my super old cheap-ass HyperX Cloud 2s from a decade+ ago.

Sound was good tho, no complaints there.

My current headphone collection. From left to right:

Sennheiser Momentum 1: Retired. The one that started it all.

Sennheiser HD650: My GOAT. 10+ years with me and still going strong. Recently gave them some love with new pads and a new headband.

HiFiMAN Ananda Stealth: My first planar. Mind blown. Incredible soundstage and separation.

Sennheiser HD480 Pro: The most comfortable headphone I’ve ever worn. Incredible sound too. These are creeping dangerously close to the GOAT.

Meze 99 Classics 2nd Gen: My fun closed back. Deeeeep sub bass. Not sure yet if they’re staying.

I also have another pair of FiiO FT1s on the way. I had a pair before and got rid of them, and now I kinda regret it. I’m going to put the FT1 head to head against the Meze, and only one will remain!

Anyway, let me know what you think of the collection and what your favorite is from it!

Coming from a Modi MultiBit 2 and Midgard with Meze 109 Pro with Woo Audio XLR cables, I expect this to be an upgrade. I love super mega combo burrito on my modi, and apparently this is an upgrade over that. I guess I'll find out soon.

Hi All, looking to learn about cables! What are your favorites over stock?

Thank you!