I’m envious of your $2 score! While the MDR V6 isn’t my main headphone, it’s a great chillin’ anywhere can. An Apple dongle and my iPhone drives this ultra-efficient gem beautifully. I’ve had it for umpteen years, numerous earpad changes and it’s still sounding wonderful. Get an amp for the V6 if you want, but it’s unnecessary.

With all due respect, there’s no such thing as too much classical music.

I have nothing to add regarding your experiment that hasn’t been commented on by other posters except there’s a total absence of classical music on your list. I assume it’s not your cuppa tea, but my most critical evaluations of headphones & streaming services are based on my personal taste for classical. Having tried all 4 lossless streamers, Qobuz is the gold standard in sheer sound quality. Interface and other considerations are another matter for other discussions

Just think of all that harmonic distortion you’ll be missing.

Now you’re making more sense than your previous generalizations. Almost everyone in the hobby gets a lemon, but to generalize that a brand is “going downhill” is like me saying that Sennheisers are poorly built because my previous HD800 headphone had a cracked headband (true occurrence) is the same thing. Cheers!

I have a K701 (China), two K702s (one China, one Austria) and Q701 (Austria). The build quality on all of them is identical. Only issue I ever had was the Austrian K702 went dead in the left channel that was easily remedied in 10 minutes with a little phillips screwdriver & soldering pencil.

I just love it when people make anecdotal pronouncements or dubious ‘facts’ with no actual or extended experience. Take this for what it’s worth, but for me the AKGs have been audio nirvana for over six years…in spite of having tried countless other headphones.

PS: I tried the K712 twice and found it an awful disappointment — a dumbed down AKG with a bass boost that bleeds into the lower mids for a murky experience. A waste of K7 progress that was probably intended to appeal to the hip hop/metalheads.

Absolutely not!

https://www.head-fi.org/threads/sony-mdr-v6-vs-mdr-7506-there-is-a-difference-in-sound-pictures-too.539506

https://www.kenrockwell.com/audio/sony/mdr-v6.htm

Any love for the MDR-6?

Just curious, have you ever really had one, or just passing along anecdotal nonsense?

I have two K701s and two K702s. One of each is made in Austria and one in China. They’re all indistinguishable in build and sound quality. Only issue I had was the Q701 from Austria developed a short in the left channel which was easily remedied with a small Philips screwdriver & soldering pencil. Do I love the K70x sound signature or what? Lol!

Heeere come the fanboy downvotes!! Lol

8 out of 10 of my total downvotes are from Sennheiser HD6 series comments. It’s futile but often humorous swimming against a brainwashed tide of lemmings.

How different we all are here and how times change. The HD600 was my beginner can until I discovered more open, less veiled sound quality. But I enjoyed it for a long time before the newer revelations.

I disagree. Subjecting him to the infamous Sennheiser Veil early on will prepare him for even better appreciation of a truly open and resolving audio experience later in life.

I’ve had dozens of headphones over the past 14 years but the K702 still stands out as a special vista to my music — almost exclusively classical and some acoustic jazz. Coupled with a good amp (Marantz DAC1 dac/amp) I listen for hours without fatigue. An exceptional headphone!

Ever listen to music during your collecting?

Different owners, different mentality, no longer dedicated to quality…it’s all about the bottom line.

Sorry, I was talking about classical concerts. That’s my reference.

It’s not either/or. Each listening venue has its advantages. Nothing tops a live concert in total listening experience, but while the very best and expensive speaker systems can come somewhat close, most mid to upper end ones offer enjoyable experiences while good and really accurate cans are capable of putting you in the recording studio. Whatever, it’s all about the love of music.