Best headphones to use unamplified?

They apply some undercover DSP with the cable, plus adding the ability to save EQ settings. So yeah, there's definitely low-key voodoo making it sound different.

 

I have a co-worker who uses the V-Moda M-100's. We traded for a few days. I discovered that the fit over my ears on the DT-1350's made a big difference in the quality of the bass. Just a small change in position on my ears made a big difference in in the amount and quality of the bass frequencies. I have average sized ears. But as Marv will confirm a fat, uh large cranium. The V-Modas are definitely mor bassy. Good quality, but music mixed with extra bass was too much for my tastes. 60's and 70's rock was a good match. Newer music not so much. Smooth sounding fun headphone. But as with everything it's a personal preference. I also like the folding feature of the V-Modas. And they are a comfortable headphone, at least for me. If you can EQ the bass, they make for a good value work headphone for computer use.

 

Yep, there's a few db's more bass with the Cipher for starters. That EQ app works great for removing some 125hz boom and add a bit of highs sparkle. I only use it for 1 or 2 db cuts / boosts, so nothing major is needed.

About the M-100... The build is excellently sturdy and smart. They really put effort into the design. Comfort isn't the best, but ok for most. Pretty much on par with the Sines. This is something that still needs work on lots of portables. An expensive set of headphones should feel like a lovely cushion you caress your head with - putting enough padding is the first step. Momentum V2 are probably the best at this.

 

I vote Meze 99 classics.

 

What's that with the quality control? I have the pre-facelift DT1350 and I used them for a whole year as only driver. I still put 'em on occasionally. One of my personal favorite headphones. But I do think that they're only semi-portable due to the huge termination (I fear to break the iPhone headphone jack due to leverage). But Hugo (with added minimum crossfeed) and DT1350 is one of my favorite combos, yet still not often recommended by me because many people complain about Beyer's hard to achieve seal.

 

Marv, back on CS, measured massive 10dB differences in frequency response measurements between like 6 samples of DT1350's, which is just plain unacceptable.

 

I think the DT1350 and K550 share the podium for greatest product variances heard.

 

I'm almost sure that must be because of faulty measuring. The seal of the DT1350 takes a lot of practice and many people complain about an improper fit or tinny vocals. I also keep re-adjusting the pads, even after 3 years. I couldn't do it on a dummy head.

I have been to Beyerdynamic's factory and their quality control is pretty high. They test every Tesla driver separately and match them hand-picked.

 

Idk... I've heard a wide range. I have two friends with 1350's and they're decently different. Ones warmish and ones tinnyish.

You might just have found a particular unit that worked out for your tastes.

 

I've owned two pairs of DT1350's and they were quite different from each other. At some point Beyer also changed the pads used on them, which could account for further differences.

 

Not sure about that. The DT1350 is a bitch to wear and measure, because it changes tonality like crazy even with smallest positioning changes. A perfect seal is mandatory, so usually they sound like crap until you've broke in the pads. Same with measuring them, break the seal and all of the bass goes bye bye.

Over ear M2's are good, but all of the pairs I've seen suffered from channel imbalance. Overall they're much friendlier to use than DT1350's.

 

@Hrodulf I came to known this balance problem rather late and I must say that I don't pay attention that much to it. Thank you mentioning it, I am going to dig a little bit deeper with the pair that I have. Do you know whether this also occurred with the M1's ?

 

i also recommend the pm2 as well as best possible portable's. i really enjoyed them, when i heard them.

other headphones with somewhat same tonal balance would be the akg 601's i think. the 601's are more flat than the 701/702's and well balanced sounding. they work great unamplified. people say you need beastly amps for them and so forth but, you don't. i ran them off perfectly fine with my crappy samsung phone and kindle fire hd when i had it. had no issues personally. only other headphone good for portable but, modded be fostex t50rp of course, or something like a yamaha hp-1. besides the pm2, a slightly modded yamaha hp-1's are my favorite of the ortho's/planers and work great out of portable devices i thought when i had one on loan before for a good while.

 

I don't know... I met the product designer in person (the same as DT 1770 Pro) and I explicitly asked him about differences between the original and facelift variant. He said absolutely none except for cosmetic and ear pads. I think he would have mentioned if they changed the tuning.
The claimed 10 dB difference seem a bit hard to swallow. Maybe you meant 1 dB?

BTW, I have all ear pads of the DT 1350. The original ones, the facelift ones, the T51 pads and the velvet.

 

Well you can't deny that pads change the sound of a headphone.

And I don't think anyone said they changed the tuning; it was more that their driver matching/variance is lousy. Perhaps the full sized Tesla drivers go through actual matching, but the smaller stuff not as much.

 

I meant what I said.
http://www.changstar.com/www.changstar.com/index.php/topic,367.0.html

Also, Marv uses a flat plate coupler, not a dummy head

 

Wow, that looks... interesting.

Probably.

 

HD25 ear pads remedy the problem. Quite ironic as the DT1350 was a HD25/Amperior competitor...

Beyerdynamic was so close to a (mostly) flawless headphone.

 

@Deep Funk Thank you for sharing.. Not pointing out and just want to learn... How does HD25 ear pad remedy the problem? HD25 earpad size is 7cm dia and DT1350 is 6cm if I measured them correctly.. Does HD25 larger earpad makes easier to seal and better comfort on DT1350? And how do you put HD25 earpad onto DT1350? Just glue them onto earcup?

 

The stock ear pads on the DT1350 make putting on the DT1350 a hassle, too fiddly for comfort. (Reason for me to sell mine back then.)

By taking the H25 ear pads and putting them over the stock DT1350 ear pads putting on the DT1350 becomes easier, the sound stays mostly the same.

Glue is not required. I had a good DT1350 and loved it. Putting on that thing though was an exercise in finding the right placement for the right sound.