I get that different headphones are geared toward different types of music or tastes. But I don’t understand why there isn’t a generic set of headphones with “normal” everything that is just all around realistic, has enough base, has sound stage. I feel every headphone I read about is good but has significant drawbacks that you have to look past? Like why can’t the HD 800s have a version that isn’t cripplingly low on bass? That’s just one example but it seems every time I get excited about a pair of headphones there is some massive red flag whether it’s wierd trebel, bass, tone, being unrealistic, etc.

    • PutPineappleOnPizza@alien.topBEnglish
      1·
      10 months ago

      Only drawback is that they’re much more expensive it you live in Europe :(

      Customs fees, man. These import laws are nothing more than theft.

      Might get a ZMF pair once I’m done with uni.

        • PutPineappleOnPizza@alien.topBEnglish
          1·
          10 months ago

          Rip… I will get a pair as soon as I’m done with university… Maybe even while still at it, I don’t know. Pretty rough to save up for something that costs as much as a pretty good vacation trip.

          The Auteur classic costs about 1700-1800€ here and the Atrium goes for 2500€ minimum. ZMF November is probably always the best option, but eh, my gf would probably kill me if I’d blow my tax return from when I was still working full-time on a pair of high end headphones lol.

  • hatlad43@alien.topBEnglish
    1·
    10 months ago

    So you want something extremely flat? Like arrow straight straight on the FR graph? Idk if there’s any, but good luck finding it.

  • hurtyewh@alien.topBEnglish
    1·
    10 months ago

    Make the acoustics of your room perfect and then make it 1:100 000 the size. Good luck.

  • Expensive_Bluejay_30@alien.topBEnglish
    1·
    10 months ago

    I think it’s a very subjective thing. Reference headphones are approaching perfect for some but also sound flat for others. Beats headphones are fun and perfect for some but are useless for others.

    Maybe headphone companies are just chasing what segment of the market is currently spending the most money.

  • DidiHD@alien.topBEnglish
    1·
    10 months ago

    I have no idea but I assume because of physics? Let’s say we have a flat sound curve. Now you want more base, more mids and more highs. All in equal amounts, this not just result in a flat curve that’s boosted? aka more volume

  • PizzaTacoCat312@alien.topBEnglish
    1·
    10 months ago

    Everything is a trade off, you want me detail in the treble, sure but that may make some music or audio too bright. You want more low end, sure but it may take away from the sound in another region. It’s a delicate balance of offering the most possible without going over that threshold. I bought the Meze Empyreans because they were way more detailed and clear than what I was previously using, had great build/comfort quality, sound great on everything, and nothing sounded harsh or bright. their new V2 that just came out is supposed to offer even more detail while also staying under that peaky treble. Sure they are expensive but it’s just an example. You could always get a boring, generic sounding headphone. But I’d rather have something that emphasizes certain instruments or vocals because that’s fun and exciting. It’s like discovering music all over again and hearing sounds you didn’t know that were there. There are tons of headphones out there you just need to find one that fits your use case.

  • neliste@alien.topBEnglish
    1·
    10 months ago

    Because it’s impossible.
    People have preferences.
    Your “normal” is not everyone’s “normal”.

  • Haddedam@alien.topBEnglish
    1·
    10 months ago

    They do.
    Audio is an solved technology meaning even cheap headphones are hifi quality capable of reproducing recordings accurately. Otherwise people wouldn’t be happy with cheap headphones and tws they have, that compose 99% of the entire headphone market.

    The differences between cans are relatively minor and you get used to them over time, making it even less of an issue.
    Audiophilia is pretending the differences are huge and A is unlisetanble while B is greatest while in reality both perform close to eachohter.

  • INeedSomeFire@alien.topBEnglish
    1·
    10 months ago

    Taste… People have different tastes in soundstage, bass, treble, overall tonality (and imaging). You cannot possibly satisfy everyone. What you may call “perfect” may be “horrible” for someone else.

  • Ryankujoestar@alien.topBEnglish
    1·
    10 months ago

    Agreed, I gave up on headphones and went for speakers for that reason.

    FWIW, the HD800(s) are one of the least problematic flagships sonically. You could do far worse.