TOP full-size on-ear headphones for lovers of sophisticated sound

The HiFiMan HE-400SE headphones are an updated version of the 400i with a redesigned design and a sturdy headband that many owners of the original model dreamed of. Now the arms and grille are made of metal, and the headband is made of spring steel, covered with faux leather with foam filling. At the same time, the rotary bowls are made of plastic, so as not to further burden the structure. The picture is completed by a rather convenient detachable cable and an adapter from 3.5 to 6.3 mm. In general, the quality of materials, equipment and design of the HE-400SE is reminiscent of the more expensive Deva Pro model from HiFiMan.

Let's move on to the most interesting part: in some ratings of audiophile and studio headphones, the HiFiMan HE-400SE are rated higher than the legendary Sennheiser HD 650. This is due to the fact that the HE-400SE use planar magnetic drivers, which include a larger number of magnets evenly distributed across the diaphragm, which minimizes distortion and promotes more natural, realistic and spacious sound. In terms of price/quality ratio, these headphones offer very clear, neutral, balanced and pleasant sound, with detail on par with the Sennheiser HD 600/650 and a detailed soundstage in the spirit of the AKG K712.

Despite the low sensitivity and impedance (98 dB, 22 ohms), the HE400SE requires high-quality amplification. When used with a portable amplifier from FiiO, low-end processing and high-frequency detail are noticeably improved. Combined with the Creek Destiny 2 desktop amplifier, the sound is very reminiscent of HiFiMan Sundara planar headphones that cost 3 times more. It looks like HiFiMan has finally come up with an affordable planar headphone with a natural sound and character that doesn't feel too sterile. And here it’s hard not to agree with Billy Butcher that this is worthy of admiration.

The AKG K612 PRO headphones are full-size, open-back design monitor headphones designed primarily for professional studio use, including recording, mixing, mastering and high-resolution music listening. Even though the K612 Pro are less popular compared to their more premium siblings in the AKG K712 Pro series, they deserve more attention as they offer almost everything you could want in a mixing headphone while remaining in a more affordable price range.

The AKG K612 PRO is ideal for hi-fi audio connoisseurs looking for high-quality headphones with a neutral and unadulterated sound. Through the use of proprietary two-layer Varimotion membranes, they provide precise analytical sound with a smooth amplitude-frequency response over a wide frequency range (from 12 to 39500 Hz). The sound of the headphones is honest and relaxed, with a particular emphasis on the mids and highs, while the sub-bass is not as pronounced, which may not satisfy fans of music genres such as techno, drum and bass and hip-hop, in which The bass is responsible for pressure and energy.

The design is practical and well suited for active use, and the design with a graceful arched headband, self-adjusting band and fabric ear pads is largely the same as other monitor models of the brand. True, the headband here is a little stiffer, and the ear pads are not as soft as those of the older K712 Pro model, but the overall level of comfort is still extremely high. Overall, the low weight (238 grams), comfortable headband, natural sound and low distortion make the K612 Pro one of the most interesting options among all studio headphones under 200 Euros.

Usually, when it comes to the “signature” sound of Sennheiser, then most often epithets in the spirit of “honest”, “neutral” and “analytical” are used. Many of the brand's models strive for high-fidelity sound, allowing audio engineers and audiophiles to hear music in its purest and most undistorted form. For example, the Sennheiser HD 560S model is often recommended as a more affordable alternative to the Sennheiser HD 650 headphones, beloved by many music lovers and musicians.

Just like their bigger siblings, the HD 560S feature an open design that promotes a natural and expanded sound field. But unlike the HD 650's 300 ohm impedance, the HD 560S's impedance is only 120 ohms, making them much easier to drive. As for the character of the sound, the bass in the headphones is clear and controlled, without overpowering the mids, which are presented especially clearly and in detail, and the highs sound bright and clear, without signs of sibilance or excessive harshness. In general, the character of the sound is really honest and neutral, but at the same time it is not boring or tiring. And the sound localization here is a solid five. It is no wonder that this series is equally highly valued by professional musicians and music lovers.

The quality of materials, level of assembly and level of comfort from the fit on the head approximately corresponds to the level of Sennheiser HD 599. That is, very, very solid. With soft velor ear pads and plenty of padding on the headband, they really fit your head comfortably, providing a secure fit without undue pressure. Well, despite the open design, they provide fairly effective passive noise insulation, letting in much less external sounds than competitors such as Philips Fidelio X3, AKG K702 and HiFiMan HE-400SE.

Philips Fidelio X3 headphones represent a worthy continuation of the legendary Fidelio series, begun by the X2 model. These premium headphones not only maintain the high standards of their predecessor, but also introduce a number of key improvements that make the new model even more attractive to audiophiles and professionals. Philips has focused on improving comfort: the ear pads are covered with velor, the comfortable self-adjusting headband is covered with Kvadrat fabric, and the outer fabric trim of the ear cups gives the impression of audiophile headphones costing several thousand dollars. It's no wonder that the X3 won the Best Design Award at the RedDodAwards.

The audio performance of the Philips Fidelio X3 stands out for its neutral and detailed sound. The bass in the headphones is deep, but not overloaded, the mid frequencies sound especially clear and clean, and the highs do not suffer from unnecessary harshness. They are ideal for those users who value relatively smooth, not overly colored sound with high audio detail across the entire frequency spectrum and the ability to reproduce a wide soundstage. When listening to live recorded jazz or orchestrations, it sometimes seems that you can determine the location of the instrument in space almost to the nearest meter. In general, the sound character and detail are at the level of the Sennheiser HD 599 model, that is, it is a solid five plus.

Alas, there were some downsides. Compared to the previous model Philips Fidelio X2, the X3 has lost sub-bass, which adds weight to dance music. In the X2, the low frequencies sounded less assertive and more relaxed, but the bass was clearly defined. In the X3, frequencies below 40 - 50 Hz are weakly expressed, which is why a two-hour techno session from the so-called Berghain sounds as if the DJ had been eating vegetable salads on low-fat yogurt all week. For aggressive genres, we would recommend looking for the previous generation Fidelio X2 model on sale, which reproduced bass more accurately and with emphasis. The X3 also requires a high-quality audio source and amplification to reach its full potential, which may be inconvenient for those users who plan to listen to the headphones on the go. Otherwise, these are spectacular, damn comfortable headphones with honest sound, thoughtful ergonomics and a convenient detachable cable.

The Beyerdynamic DT 700 Pro X can be called a sequel to the famous Beyerdynamic DT 770 studio headphones. In designing the update, German engineers sought to preserve the crisp, authentic sound of the original model, while at the same time increasing the quality of the sound design and maintaining the convenience of the original design. Looking ahead, it should be noted that the work turned out to be a solid five and the new Beyerdynamic DT 700 Pro X are obliged to repeat the success of their predecessor.

The headphones are equipped with proprietary Stellar 45 drivers with neodymium magnets, three-layer cones and lightweight voice coils that are sensitive to any changes in dynamics. The headphone impedance is 48 ohms, and the frequency range covers from 5 to 40,000 Hz. Despite the studio focus and balanced amplitude-frequency response, the headphones sound bright and slightly hi-fi. Compared to the DT 770 PRO, the sound has become more neutral, the sound stage is better developed, and the entire lower spectrum and especially the sub-bass sounds more noticeable and developed (note: especially when paired with an amplifier a la FiiO Q11). In general, the sound detail across the entire spectrum is quite solid, but sibilance and sibilance are, in our opinion, too pronounced and can become tiring after prolonged listening. For some people, such a ringing high end may be a bug, for others it is more of a feature and one of the reasons to love the sound of Beyerdynamic.

Like the DT 770 PRO, the new model is also a closed-back headphone type and has the same high quality workmanship and comfortable design. Like previous DT products, the materials and assembly of the headphones are almost flawless: the earcups fit perfectly, the velor ear pads gently hug your ears for effective noise isolation, and the soft memory foam padding adds comfort to use. And the headphones come with an additional replacement cable and an adapter from 6.3 to 3.5 mm for smartphones, tablets and mobile players. The only negative is that the design is quite tight and some owners complain that after an hour and a half of wearing the frame can cause slight discomfort just above the temples.