Comments on Profile Post by Torq

Is there *anything* that comes close to CIEMs for isolation with good sound?

All of the ones I can think of are dj-type.

Doubtful, but I don't need that level of isolation (and already have IEMs). Just not a semi-closed can that leaks sound (e.g. a TH-X00 would not be "closed" enough).

Not sure about leakage - I can check when I get home later, but the Oppo PM-3 has good isolation.

I'm thinking something higher up the performance ladder. Essentially a TOTL closed-back.

I can only really think of 4 sort-of-neutral closed backs of that kind, Aeon Flow Closed, Paradox/Slant, Eikon, and PMx2.

Probably the PMx2 would have the best isolation? The PM-1/2 are already pretty good, and then it gets damped to hell and back to tune it.

My Atticus doesn't let much sound leak out, but it's not amazeballs at blocking sounds coming in, and I would bet the Eikon is the same.

ZMF Eikon. I found it to be leagues better than both it's rivals in that price range (Ether C and LCD-XC). Didn't care for the Aeon Flow closed either. The Atticus is good too, but not an all rounder like the Eikon so probably not a good candidate to evaluate the HD820 against.

@Taverius The Oppo PM1/2/x2 are classed as open back, or am I missing something?

PMx2 is still an open-back headphone. And Eikon is semi-open. I find that both of those leak quite a fair amount the other way, or at least more so than TH-X00, though admittedly they do sound better. If you think TH-X00 is not "closed" enough then seriously, your best bet is still a CIEM or some IEM. Incidentally, have you given the EMU Purpleheart a try?

So the answer is ... there is no such thing a "neutral" "closed" totl with good isolation?

I don't notice the Atticus leaking much on the burn-in stand; It doesn't block that well though.

We're renting on a 1st floor while we renovate on the 4th and a neighbor renovates on the third. Atticus helps, but I can definitely still tell there Men At Work™.

Yeah. Manufacturers just don't care enough. That's why Sennheiser can get away with charging whatever they want for HD820.

If there was such a thing as a TOTL closed-back headphone that's even half-way decent, then a number of us would probably have that rather than TH-X00, Andromeda and the likes, I'd think.

@Bill-P Your Eikon, was it leaking in or out? I found both the Eikon and Atticus isolated pretty well after adjusting it to have more clamp.

I meant outward, actually. I haven't had much problem with things leaking in since I typically listen at relatively high volume.

At normal listening levels I can hang my Eikon from it's stand, and when the earpads press against each other I cannot hear the music playing. I also cannot hear my dog barking, whining or what have you while playing music.

During Canjam Europe in Berlin, last november I gave several headphones a listen. Only the Meze 99 Classic and Brainwavz HM5 gave me the urge to think: "I might buy this" I bought the HM5...

Thanks, all, for the suggestions/thoughts and commentary. Guess there's nothing for it but to actually audition the stuff that masquerades as "TOTL" while being closed-back.