It’s only subjective because people use it wrong to suit their own preferred narrative. People will say something like “diminishing returns kick in after $500.” But that’s not really true. Returns start to diminish immediately. It’s a curve. $10 are infinitely better than not having headphones. $50 headphones are much better than the $10. $100 headphones are better than the $50. $250 headphones are better than $50. This continues on all the way up the ladder. It’s up to you to decide where the price premium for the next step up is no longer worth it to you.

For me, AirPods Pro 2 + good full size headphones is the best combo. I have very very convenient and quite good sounding headphones when I’m out. And extremely good headphones at home.

You can’t just read a spec sheet though. You need measurements if you’re going the objectivist route and there are definitely objectively bad products at all price points.

The 660s roughly follows the more common Harman curve, while the 800 s follows the diffuse curve. Switching between the two will be jarring and it will take listening to the 800 s exclusively for a few days will give you a better idea how you like it.

Both curves are meant to simulate the experience of real speakers in a real room, but the room and setup are different.

It affects the sound if the DAC and/or amp are not good. But good can be had for less than $200.

It seems like they configured the percentages though. They aren’t typical numbers.

Holst: The Planets, Mars, The Bringer of War, London symphony orchestra with Andre Previn.

https://music.apple.com/us/album/the-planets-op-32-i-mars-the-bringer-of-war/1460688708?i=1460688709

Dan Clarke audio aeon 2 noire