dishinpies

dishinpies t1_je6a440 wrote

Reply to Best closed back headphones in your opinion? by iMagZz

Audioquest Nightowls are the most comfortable headphones I’ve ever worn - period, not even close. Weird, hate-it-or-love-it tonality, but takes EQ extremely well. Perfect marriage with the Qudelix 5K.

Blue Ella are some of the most unique planar headphones you can experience. They come with a built-in rechargeable amp, which means you can drive them on anything. They’re fairly comfortable to me, but the unorthodox design means YMMV. Pretty neutral, warmer with the on-board amp.

Neither of these are made anymore, as both Audioquest and Blue left the headphone game. If you can pick these up for $200-300 on the used market, I’d recommend them. Both retailed for $700 on initial release. I’d say they’re both about equal to the Elex/Ananda-tier of headphones in terms of technicalities, maybe slightly behind.

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dishinpies t1_ivvgtb4 wrote

Reply to How many of you are satisfied with your Headphones/IEM set up? by wiggan1989

Headphones: HiFiMan Arya (V2), Audioquest Nightowl, Koss Porta Pro w/ Yaxi Pads, MDR-ZX110, Bose 700s

DAC: Topping E50

Amps: Cambridge Audio 851A, Loxjie P20, Schiit Magni (OG), Topping L50, Apple Dongle

Portables: Qudelix 5K, iPod Classic 160GB

I would say I’m happy-ish. The most commonly used combo here is the Nightowl/Qudelix, would honestly be happy just with that for most portable usage. Bose 700s are for work, budget headphones are my beaters, and E50 is in my stereo setup with the 851A.

I sometimes think about selling the Aryas and the P20/Magni/L50 amps because I seem to vastly prefer stereo listening, and so I almost never use them. Still, they’re my favorite headphone of all time, so it would be tough to part with them. Their use case for me is just so limited.

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