So I just began my head-fi journey and I have the HD600. I like them a lot but I wanted to have something with more punch/impact/bass for my pop/rap/hip-hop/k-pop/EDM guilty pleasures.
I have heard the Focal Clear MG (OG no longer available locally), which I think is pretty good but didn’t wow me (although it’s US950 locally so not a bad deal). My research on this forum and others indicates that the Audeze LCD-X is what I am looking for. There’s only one shop in my town that offers it and I made a hike out there to audition them.
For whatever reason, it underwhelmed me. It’s good but it I had to try to like them. Maybe I expecting a more powerful bass but it honestly did not impress me more than Clear MGs and Clear MGs have better vocals.
I happened saw the Fostex th900mk2 signature edition at the Audeze dealer. I decided to give them a go. First, it was more comfortable than the LCD-X. (LCD-X was like–I can bear this for the sound if i like the sound enough). The Fostex had some of the best bass I have heard from a headphones. Kanye/Jay Z/Nas etc. all sounded great. Maybe it’s the signature edition tuning, I didn’t the mid range was as bad as people make it out to be – l listen to a few Asian love-ballads --the vocals were clear while complimented by the instrumentations, which were clearly separated. The treble was bright but it didn’t bother me, but maybe I am getting older (close to 40).
The down side is that the Fostex is like 1500 locally, so i need to go back to another shop and compare to the Clear MG – to see if I like it for 500 more. Also, the Fostex doesn’t seem as well reviewed as the other two mentioned – and I wonder why. Also at 1500, HIFIMAN Arya Organic is also in play.
Anyone have any thoughts?
Based on your impression, you like dynamic and weighty bass, I don’t think planar can satisfy that crave, except abyss 1266 or Empyrean to a certain extent.
You can try Denon D9200 also. Focal is good for the above 2 along with those Denons, but soundstage wise is meh.
Usually, you can’t have the best of both world, that is why some people have both susvara and utopia for complimentary set depending on mood.
Sounds like super awesome.
I have the D9200 and it’s an amazing headphone. I’m a bass lover like you but I don’t like any part of my sound overrepresented. I want fullness of range down to the depths and up to the highs.
As its planar counterpart I landed on the Arya Stealth. I feel they are on equal footing quality wise but each have their strengths.
The Arya is nuts for timbre in strings and does sub bass extremely well. Its detail is superb.
The D9200 is just so musical, smooth and accurate with lovely rich bass. It’s a joy to listen to and the isolation it provides really draws you in.
If you told me I could only keep one I’d have a really tough time. I use the Arya just a bit more than the D9200, but mostly because it’s cooler for extended wearing.
Sound wise they are a great pair that compliment each other. They both are great for any genre.
I just tried the D9200 today. It had the extension but too smooth for what I am looking for. I need a pair for angry expressive hard hitting (be it bass or vocals).