Truthear Red was my only purchase this year and therefore automatically qualifies as the best purchase.

Stax L500 with vesper lambskin pads

I use a slightly tweaked version of Resolve’s B&K 5128 EQ:

Preamp: -4 dB

Filter 2: ON PK Fc 21 Hz Gain 4 dB Q 1.6

Filter 5: ON PK Fc 1000 Hz Gain -1 dB Q 2

Filter 6: ON PK Fc 1164 Hz Gain -1.5 dB Q 1.41

Filter 7: ON PK Fc 3000 Hz Gain 0.5 dB Q 1.41

Filter 8: ON PK Fc 4300 Hz Gain -1.5 dB Q 3.5

Filter 9: ON PK Fc 5640 Hz Gain -2 dB Q 1.41

Filter 10: ON PK Fc 9440 Hz Gain -2.5 dB Q 5

Filter 11: ON PK Fc 5850 Hz Gain -1.5 dB Q 4

Filter 12: ON PK Fc 8420 Hz Gain -2.5 dB Q 3

HD560S + EQ.

Once EQ is factored in, I find the biggest differentiators are comfort, soundstage, imaging and bass extension. The HD560S does really well on all those and that’s why I love it. My LCD-X does well too, except on comfort. So I often prefer to use the 560S.