Headphone comparison

Glad you found what you were looking for. You did exactly the right thing: draw up a list of candidates and then go and try them out. There is more than just a bit of personal taste involved that is not covered by measuring response curves. The 'oh so comfy' factor of the DT-990s is something I can absolutely confirm, however (after a few minutes I can almost forget I am wearing them).

The best way to find out if you like to buy any audio video technology is to experience it first hand. The problem I've always had in regards being able to listen to headphones is the limited choice in the stores and they would rarely have the ones that gets the best reviews.

I use from
http://www.audeze.com/
LCD-2 Headphone
If you have free higher money, try it.

It's a brilliant choice for piano music. This headphone has low distortion within the important sub and medium frequency range and a high dynamic range from pp to fff for every signal in undistorted quality. Compared and tested to other good headphones, this was my first choice because the sound was listen most natural and not so extremly bright and sharp like on other top headphones "HD"..... etc.

Headphones driven by a quality sound card Asus xonar Essence STX with included headphone driver amp, low distortion DACs, 192kHz running under PT Pro 5 ==> it's really a pleasure for the ears. (Kawai VCP-1, Win7, i7, 4-5ms latency depending on used piano model).

I am used now for headphones, this type of headphone I can hear it now for hours without feeling uncomfortable for the ears or getting tired witin the head. This headp. type is a little more heavy than others, but it is a matter of being used for it.

I play also an year 1907 Grand Blüthner Aliquot (appr. 234cm), in restaurated condition, it is a fine beautiful piano, but believe me when I say playing PT together with good sound hardware it is a great pleasure too. Many times I don't know "shall I play today real piano or shall I use PT"? A real Piano of course has it's own life and the real contact to the strings, but PT sweet to play and easily to change the model you feel today for. Alone, at night ==> PT, with others ==> piano, for training ==> PT, for playing my best ==> piano and sometimes PT.

The model JB Streicher sounds sweet and very beautiful, excellent for fast played pieces. I wished I could hear it onetimes in real.
Blüthner Model One V4.5 to V5 has improved, the Aliquot V5 Model sounds now more realistic. The new Erad with its missing dampers in the high tones sounds like small bells in the high tones, for some pieces wonderful, my old Blüthner has a similar characteristic in the high tones and the Aliquot is similar to Blüthner V5.

With PT you can explore the interesting world and history of pianos, people who always play since years only their common used StWa's they don't know what they miss and their ears getting fixed to one style of sound only - for me I see this is an disadvantage of developing the ears.

With good hardware PT makes much fun. Buy the headphone you can afford, but consider always the headphone is the most important part in the signal chain!

A less money, good-medium quality headphone is the AKG K701 (used this before the LCD), but never reach the LCD quality. I would spent at least 300 USD for a headphone.

One of the most important thing is the sound characteristic of the headphone, it should be a warm sound and hearable for a long time - with some types I can do, with others never - there sound get painful and the playing skills falling down.

A headphone which is sounding spectacular with Pop Music and percussion music within the first ten minutes, this could be the wrong one for the piano when using it for > one hour, choose one with a warm characteric and test it with piano music or soft natural instruments and voices. You must feel comfortable in your ears for long time! not spectacular when you are in the shop.

This is my experience with headphones.

Congratulations! I have the Sennheiser HD-650 headphones. I got them on a sale for $300.

There are SOOO many brands out there, it is confusing. I wish I could have compared mine with some of the brands mentioned. I tried several Audio Technica headphones and the Sennheiser HD-598 and some cheap Koss'.

I think that once you get a decent pair of headphones, it's best not to look back. Instead of enjoying your Pianoteq, you should refrain from nagging yourself if it would sound even better if you spent another $200, or $2000.

How are you liking the open design in comparison to the closed? (having more time to experience it)

Open design headphones are way much better than closed design IMHO.

Adding to Mr. Dragon's comments about microphone bleed in a recording studio:

I have owned and enjoyed AKG-702 (studio version of the -701) headphones since 2009.  Another complaint about open 'phones comes from my wife, who "hears" them whenever I use them ... and complains that I am playing them too loudly, and am going to ruin my ears.  She is used to the concept that headphones are supposed to silence the the sound from other people in the room.  I have been unable to convince her that open type headphones happen to bleed sound into the surrounding room.

Cheers,

Joe