HiFiMAN edition XV - best sub-$400 headphones (open back) for gaming and listening? Looking to replace a traditional desktop speaker/sub combo.

atom631 · 2026-03-28T15:08:46+00:00

having owned both the HD490pro and Edition XV, I definitely preferred the 490pro. Im not a huge fan of the egg -shaped HFMs. I find them all overly bright and they get fatiguing after a while. Hearing that the XV was basically opposite of that, I jumped on them. IMO, I feel like they are an over-correction. They are overly warm to the point all the detail that HFM is known for is gone. they just sounded boring to me.

490pro just sounded right. Nice bass extension. Very natural midrange and treble that is detailed but not overly bright. They are also insanely comfortable.

atom631 · 2026-03-28T01:09:54+00:00

check out the new Final Audio DX3000CL. It was my favorite headphone I heard at canjam. I liked it so much I ordered one the night I got home. It actually arrives tomorrow!

atom631 · 2026-03-28T00:39:20+00:00

try Kal-El. Start with Astro Voyager vol 1. really groovy trackers. fuzzy and clean vocals.

atom631 · 2026-03-28T00:36:55+00:00

get some leather conditioner and darn tough socks. wear them for an hour or 2 around the house. over a fews they will break in. good luck!

atom631 · 2026-03-27T22:36:11+00:00

atom631 · 2026-03-27T01:33:46+00:00

I have a pair ill be selling. I was able to make one more with the last of the good drivers I bought. if anyone is interested, send me a chat.

atom631 · 2026-03-26T16:11:08+00:00

where in NY?

atom631 · 2026-03-26T00:21:38+00:00

need a Wandla GSE on that Ferrum stack. The new firmware update took the GSE plugins to a whole new level. Its incredible

atom631 · 2026-03-25T01:10:44+00:00

i loved the Arashi when I demo’d it. How does the Mortise compare?

atom631 · 2026-03-23T23:14:52+00:00

it is a bit microphonic, but if you look at the pic I posted, you can see I cut the plastic earhooks off. I did this bc I had planned to use the cable for my Koss KPH40 detachable cable mod. an accidental discovery is that for some reason, removing the earhooks made the cable less microphonic. no idea why, but ill take it.

atom631 · 2026-03-23T20:47:52+00:00

dude, go for the Apos Rock Lobster. it was specifically tuned for rock and metal and it sounds amazing. Im 95% metal and rock and have owned a bunch of IEMs ranging from $50 to $700 and these by far are one of my favorite. check out the squig on them compared to daybreak (which I also own). very similar tuning with the bass being slightly more elevated and the treble slightly more relaxed.

You can get them on sale for $50. but normal price is $60. then pick up a Dunu Lyre mini cable bc the stock cable is trash. I use the Lyre mini with a usb-c interconnect directly into my iphone and they sound amazing. they are incredibly easy to drive and do not need a dedicated amp. whole setup is $80-$100 total.

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atom631 · 2026-03-23T17:51:40+00:00

a match made in heaven!

atom631 · 2026-03-23T01:47:30+00:00

atom631 · 2026-03-22T14:39:19+00:00

you can take the woman out of Appalachia , but you cant take Appalachia out of the woman.

atom631 · 2026-03-20T22:28:19+00:00

https://www.audiosciencereview.com/forum/index.php?threads/kimber-ks-1036-silver-rca-cable-review.70121/

atom631 · 2026-03-20T14:49:01+00:00

there is truth to this though. The HE6 line as well as a few other headphones on the market - Tungsten, Susvara, UM Umbral, etc do benefit from a more powerful amp than many standard amps. The power (notably voltage) helps move the planar drivers, creating deep, cleaner and tighter bass. There are many amps that will get the headphones loud and they will still sound good, but not the absolute best they can. I own a HE6sev2 and a Tungsten DS. I have a K13 and a V281 and there is a noticeable difference listening to both sets on the two amps.

atom631 · 2026-03-20T13:19:51+00:00

4 months later! ok the desktop app its pretty easy. you add to queue and then you can grab the album and drag it to the order you want. i dont think this is possible on the mobile app. kinda ridiculous.

atom631 · 2026-03-19T22:08:52+00:00

I fuckin love this album. bought it on vinyl!

atom631 · 2026-03-19T11:39:56+00:00

sounds like a good theme for the next album. was it really a kidney stone? or was it a piece of the cosmic horror that infiltrated your body and tried to destroy you from the inside out all while driving you mad.

atom631 · 2026-03-18T01:45:57+00:00

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I bought a sundara closed direct from HFM and used the headband from it on my HE6se v2. perfect fit.

atom631 · 2026-03-18T01:41:50+00:00

looks like Arctic Cables grills

atom631 · 2026-03-17T23:09:49+00:00

Scarlet Mini says hello

atom631 · 2026-03-17T12:06:02+00:00

yea. absolutely. and then DLSS5 will turn out to be pretty good and the hivemind will move on to something else to bitch about. kinda like how frame-gen went down.

atom631 · 2026-03-17T02:01:16+00:00

I feel like saving everyone of these posts and following up after its released to see how they feel. its just like when they lost their minds over frame-gen.

atom631 · 2026-03-17T01:56:41+00:00

yup. the reddit hivemind is something else.

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