A Step Above Sennheiser HD 600?
Hi, hope the day is treating you well. I am curious what headphones are considered a considerable and worthy step above Sennheiser HD 600? HD 600 are my favorite headphones ever so far (I tried most of the popular options within 500$ USD price range). Something with a neutral signature, considerably more resolving. Would it be Focal Clear? Sennheiser HD 800S?
Jun 2, 2023
This time, we’re talking to Audiophile Buyer Matt T. First, we’ll let you read a little about his background and passions. Then, we’ll turn the mic over for a community Q&A. Submit your questions in the comment section, and he’ll answer them as soon as he can.
I’m a Buyer in the Audiophile and Pro Audio Communities.
What got you interested in the audiophile community?
Initially, it was just an interest in listening to music. I was involved with college radio throughout my undergrad years, and after listening to a lot of recordings on sufficiently powered setups, I started to realize how much detail and impact I was missing by simply plugging cheap headphones into my computer. I started climbing audiophile mountain then, and now I’m here.
Pavement’s reunion shows.
Tell us about your audio setup. At work? At home?
My main setup at home is a balanced Audio-Technica ATH-AD2000 powered by an Oppo HA-1. At work, it's the Violectric V800, Violectric V181, and Vibro MK II Rusted Zebra by ZMF Headphones . For the sake of convenience in my home setup, I prefer to have my DAC and amp integrated into one unit. I have them as discrete in the office and use closed-back headphones so I don’t blast everyone around me with my music.
The album’s I’ve been listening to the most lately include: Joanna Newsom’s Divers, Sun Ra’s The Antique Blacks, Fugazi’s The Argument, Can’s Future Days, Judee Sill’s Judee Sill, and Wire’s 154.
Definitely the Oppa HA-1. I bought it used from a Head-Fi member. At first, I was planning to just borrow it for a trial period, but then I couldn’t make myself return it.
What did you do before working at Massdrop?
Tax preparation and street photography.
What’s your favorite thing about working here?
Trying out all of the great audio equipment! There are so many different sound signatures to explore in the audio world, so it never gets old.
Airist Audio, Cayin, Oppo, Audeze, and ZMF Headphones, to name a few.
Now the hardest-hitting question: Favorite pizza topping?
Capers.
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