Resolve slowly becoming an objectivist /s. But seriously, as I hear more and more headphones, the more the subjective qualities define it for me, more than anything we can see from the fr. Don’t get me wrong, I get that “resolution” and such is only a description and isn’t something scientific, and that should be clearly stated.

But when I eq everything to a target, and yet the headphones still sound completely different, the less tonality matters to me. Then sometimes, I forget I have the wrong eq loaded, and I don’t even notice for a while, because the headphone still has those core “subjective” traits. For me, the fr only tells me if there’s anything wrong.

TLDR imo the subjective experience is much more important than measurements for a review. If a review only includes the subjective, I’ll still watch it. If a review is only measurements, I’m not watching that review.

I don’t have many headphones, but the utopia will unconsciously make me nod my head. From what I’ve heard, focal headphones all seem to have that trait.

Yeah I’ve given up on using my dx3 pro, never buying topping products again.

Broke: No headphone is perfect.

Woke: Every headphone is good enough.

Thank god there isn’t any lcd-4. My wallet would not have survived.

Do you believe this for both iems and headphones or just for iems?

So tired of people hearing differences and then blaming anything and everything except placebo. If you’re going to say that you hear a difference for something that scientifically has no basis, especially cables, at least do a blind test first. I personally hear differences between DACs and amps, very obvious ones to my ears. But I’m not going to sit here and claim its anything except placebo until I do a blind test at the very minimum.

Genuinely asking, why don’t people just go for a TWS if at the $200 mark? I get TWS will die in a few years, but I also don’t expect cheap iems to last long either.

Strong opinions about stuff in general.

Why do you prefer IEMs to headphones? I’ve been unimpressed by most iems I’ve tried, and the only good thing I can say about IEM sound is that the intimate vocals can be more engaging at times. Everything else, especially stage and resolution, seems so much worse compared to headphones.

No. I have the lcd-5, utopia, and recently susvara, and they all sound very different to each other. There is no perfect headphone, only a perfect headphone for you. And if you don’t know your tastes, you’re basically gambling. The secret is that true endgame is an hd600 or similar imo. If only I knew to stop there.

Expensive headphones are like crack. Once you know what you’re missing, it’s hard to go back, and the saddest part is, your enjoyment doesn’t even go up the same proportion. At least crack gets you above orgasm-level pleasure. Best to stay at around the $300 level.

Not trying to start anything here, but how is DMS’s link not an affiliate link? Sure looks like one. As for josh, took one look at the title, saw the affiliate link, and clicked off. Hopefully these get into nonreviewers’ hands soon for some real impressions.

Depends on what you mean by satisfy: “endgame”, no more buying headphones (doesn’t exist) or “i could live with just this headphone forever”.

Exactly this. Literally just use common sense. Obviously people are biased, they spent big money on gear. Obviously sound is subjective. Certain reviewers are more biased than others.

Ironically it seems you yourself (talking to OP) are biased against this sub. Look in the right places and you’ll find legitmate discussion. Far more than on other sites like headfi tbh. And the debate of how headphones sound is part of the fun. I mean, what do you even want? For there to be a one-size fits all headphone? That doesn’t exist. For reviewers that don’t shill? They exist, use common sense and look around. I don’t get how anybody can get so worked up over this.