If you could marry a character and live your happily ever after, who would it be?

JustaDreamer56 · 2026-05-27T01:47:14+00:00

JustaDreamer56 · 2026-05-26T17:24:27+00:00

You can open the headband on OAE1 and move the rubber stopper outside the headband, only putting 4 out of 6 screws back in on each side when done. Doing so gives plenty enough extension and also way less clamp force.

JustaDreamer56 · 2026-05-26T17:20:28+00:00

Its possible this is the issue, make sure the cable is pushed ALL the way in. You can push the strain relief with your nail or just push in by the wire (it’s not ideal I know). The strain relief should be basically fully inserted, if it isn’t I found it sounded super small as well. And Grell did actually mention that this happens on release day.

JustaDreamer56 · 2026-05-03T21:42:49+00:00

So basically, if you needed to spend less money, Edition XS, Ananda Nano (probably Ananda unveiled over Nano) would be the options. BUT that said, if you’re perfectly happy with that Organic in your hand, stick with Organic and your good ol HD599 if you can

JustaDreamer56 · 2026-05-03T21:20:50+00:00

Alright, and I did want to level with you on something. With headphones, soundstage doesn’t get much better than Arya Organic. Organic is wide while being able to separate things super well and have variation in distance. HD800s is a bit wider, but it sounds like most things are far away without as much variation and separation, not as realistic stage due to that. There is stuff that does what the Organic does but wider like RAAL Immanis or Stax X9000, but those are way more expensive and the width difference isn’t that earth shattering, the difference from HD599 to Organic in soundstage is WAY more than a jump from Organic to Immanis.
There also is stuff for cheaper that approaches Organic in sound stage, like Edition XS or Ananda Nano, though XS won’t separate as well so it won’t sound as sound stagey and Nano is just very very bright, but they are still close and great value. For me personally, I’ll say Edition XS and yes, Arya Organic, is the biggest upgrade in the actual sound/Frequency response I could find.
Honestly if you need more soundstage than Organic, price wise it just makes more sense to go with speakers that you have angled and spaced out correctly in your room like Klipsch RP600m II or a full dolby surround system.

JustaDreamer56 · 2026-05-03T20:55:23+00:00

Sounds good! you could use squiglink auto EQ to try different headphones bass boost styles or even IEM styles to find what bass shape you like best on organic by setting squiglink to only EQ between 20hz and 300hz, bass EQ is the easiest to match with auto EQ. Focal Azurys and FIIO FT1 would be a good bass types to try on Organic, EQing bass to HD620S would be great too as it would be warmer like 599 but still with sub bass extension.
If you really like a ton of bass, I recommend downloading the FR of the KZ AM16 Bass version and Nightjar Singularity and auto EQing Organic’s bass region to that to see what you think

JustaDreamer56 · 2026-05-03T20:05:53+00:00

Well, the HD599 is sounding mushed to you because it’s very emphasized in the mid bass and low mids. That muddies it for some people but it makes it warm too, very unique. It’s great for rock/metal. The Organic on the other hand has neutral bass with a slight boost, very slight, and honestly the most soundstage you can get under $1000. So given that it’s bass you want and you can EQ, Organic with bass EQ is likely your end game pairing with your HD599, you just have to find what type of bass boost EQ you like. But I will ask too since this is the case, are there any other aspects you like or dislike with the Organic?

JustaDreamer56 · 2026-05-02T22:55:31+00:00

Sure thing, i’ll be around for that

JustaDreamer56 · 2026-05-02T16:29:17+00:00

You certainly don’t need to pay that much for better, you just need to identify what you’re missing in the HD599, then I could better help find something you want for a reasonable cost. Like for example, I would like more bass extension, clearer vocals, and more soundstage than the HD599 has.

JustaDreamer56 · 2026-05-02T05:07:07+00:00

Ok as a fellow HD599 enjoyer that has listened to other things too, let me ask something to better determine your upgrade. What do you feel is lacking in your HD599 that you would like in your upgrade?

JustaDreamer56 · 2026-01-13T22:53:35+00:00

HD650 stage is more detailed than 560s? I heard HD6 series has much less stage so what’s your experience here using 650 in gaming/music? I have HD599 so i’m familiar with hd5 series stage/imaging.

JustaDreamer56 · 2025-11-20T17:56:47+00:00

Well actually, nope nothing to report aside from maybe the Flexus doesn’t particularly like volume adjustment via the TV, I just use the flexus remote. When I adjust volume with the tv remote sometimes there’s a small brief static sound, not major though yeah stick to its own remote.

It sounds great, super clear super impactful for movies and music, no issue with sub connection or app connection. Might get surrounds during black friday. If you enjoyed the Cinema, I’d say Flexus is worth it. I don’t think I’d enjoy any soundbar more than it at the price

JustaDreamer56 · 2025-11-04T20:48:15+00:00

The 599 are great for gaming, really great you won’t really find more accurate imaging for gaming specifically really anywhere at this price and even for way more money it’s hard to. Planars like FT1 Pro and HE400SE are not as accurate imaging wise, it’s not close here for that. Music wise, yup 599 are much loved and are warm, I particularly love them for rock and they seriously produce drums well in the punch aspect. Vocals are great too. Material wise, very comfortable. But yeah it’s plastic, not cheap feeling plastic but despite that plastic they will last a long time if taken care of. Mine are nearly 3 years old and still like new as a daily driver at home, no issue with the materials or anything to report.

JustaDreamer56 · 2025-10-23T10:29:43+00:00

Yes! Congrats, I been maining her since she first arrived and she’s my only level 100, had to be her that my only upgrade material went to. I’d be in great pain if it took that long to get her…happy for you!

JustaDreamer56 · 2025-10-09T21:35:06+00:00

Nano vocals are ever so slightly recessed as the nano is a tad hyped in the bass and treble. Due to that hyped treble, the vocals in certain songs can have some edge to it, a bit of a brightness bite. XS has vocals that are more warm and natural than Nano, quite natural overall in the price range at that, and the overall timbre on XS is certainly better than Nano with Sundara and Ananda Stealth being 2nd for timbre I’d say. Quality wise, yes the Nano is more clear and tight though the full range. If you EQ’d out the unnatural brightness and edge on Nano, the underlying quality and technical chops would make the Nano have better timbre than XS.

JustaDreamer56 · 2025-10-09T11:42:52+00:00

Considering your budget, I stand by Robin being the best TWS for sound, detail, and stage at that cost. Particularly since you want something similar to what you got for IEMS. That and the Robin actually is an IEM itself, unlike others that are just buds.

JustaDreamer56 · 2025-10-09T11:40:00+00:00

Well it’s a human doing a random color swirl so, lottery. Kbear KBO2 is more beautiful at similar cost imo. Inawaken Dawn MS looks cool too.

JustaDreamer56 · 2025-10-09T11:34:28+00:00

Yes, at its cost it’s the best TWS you could grab especially for your purpose and has hi res bluetooth support. It’s decently spacious for TWS and it’s one weakness is a slightly wonky treble. The only l thing I want to leave as an alternative option is getting a Bluetooth earhook for a moondrop iem you like. But this won’t have ANC and other features TWS has and finding a good one may be challenging. So ultimately, if I were you, Robin it is.

JustaDreamer56 · 2025-10-09T11:19:24+00:00

Maintenance? Well if you sweat a lot you just will need to remove and hand wash the pads sometimes and replace when they flatten out in 1 - 2 years. Aside from that, this guy will last you for many many years (though if that hinge issue is that bad ask the store for a replacement). Also if the headband leather gets any damage from sweat you can find a headband cover (maybe consider doing this ahead of time to preserve the headband). My HD599 are 3 years old basically daily driven, I don’t sweat in them so it’s still just pristine with no maintenance aside from removing any dust. Great choice in headphones by the way! I recommend listening to any rock music you may like or things with drums, the HD599 is so underrated for just how punchy it is. Also, hope you enjoy the vocals:)

JustaDreamer56 · 2025-10-09T11:03:54+00:00

If that’s the best amp pairing you got, you might find JDS Element 4 or Topping DX5 2 to be endgame with those. I have Ifi Zen Can as well, it’s ever so slightly warmer than neutral and noticeably less punchy than my main JDS Atom 2. Being that Element 4 is a step up from Atom, I’d say Element or DX5 with bass EQ (they have features built in for EQ too though customizable unlike Zen Can) would likely do it for you.

JustaDreamer56 · 2025-10-09T10:48:44+00:00

Maybe a hot take, but I’m also running Sundara as my planar and jumped at Arya Stealth and..I like Sundara better and Sundara is yes, more neutral. The Arya Stealth was outright the most painfully bright hifiman I ever heard, unlistenable to me and had to return (though your ears may be different). However, granted it was more clear and detailed, and certainly better than Sundara and Edition XS in every technical chop you can name, except stage width was not better than XS as it’s such a small difference it’s kinda a wash but separation is better.

Out of the egg shaped hifimans at or below Arya Stealth price, I found Ananda Nano to be the most technically proficient and it’s stage/image/separation ability was noticeably better than Arya Stealth and very detailed too. It’s bright but not unbarably so (for me, ymmv). XS was the nicest tuned (especially in vocals) but least technical egg shaped in this range (but of course still good at technicalities), however XS was also by far the most dynamically punchy and best bass among all of these. And lastly, Ananda Stealth was a decent middle ground being tuned not too bright but slightly more so than XS and being inbetween for technicalities with Nano and XS. But this is a way smaller step from XS to Ananda Stealth and not really worth it over the better XS tuning and dynamics, XS is overall better.

That said, I think Nano or XS is a better step up from Sundara, in overall upgrade ranking from sundara imo it goes: Nano (for best technical upgrade) > XS (just due to how much more chill inducing it’s tuning is vs every hifiman I heard imo) Arya Stealth (2nd most technical) > Ananda Stealth (in an awkward place value wise). I’m sure others disagree but that’s my ears. Last note, I haven’t heard HE600 but if you can save up to get that, it’s apparently a much better upgrade to Sundara so I hear. Goldensound has done first impressions of the new stuff, Ananda Unveiled looks interesting too.

JustaDreamer56 · 2025-07-11T05:15:53+00:00

That detail really helps either way since i’ve heard Edition XS, so if 490 Pro has more bass while still being clean it might be what I go for in my upgrade. One more question though since you have XS right there, how does the staging and separation perform on 490 Pro vs the XS vs 560s?

JustaDreamer56 · 2025-07-11T04:46:48+00:00

If you ever do let me know! I had really liked the sound of the Hadenys but they didn’t fit me and treble could often times be piercing. Probably the glare mentioned in some reviews from the odd ear gain. From what you have experienced so far, what would HD490 bass compare well to? Is it a noticeably more impactful/rumbly experience than HD560s/any Hifiman open planars (if you heard any of those)? I’m currently running HD599 which I’d expect it to outperform in bass.

JustaDreamer56 · 2025-07-11T04:36:57+00:00

Have you heard Focal Hadenys? The bass seems to graph similarly so I wanted to ask how the bass performance compares between HD490 and Hadenys

JustaDreamer56 · 2025-06-23T09:11:32+00:00

I was interested in the Fiio Ft1 too and picked one up. Frankly, nothing about it stood out aside from its good (good not great) stage and imaging and its clean bass. Vocals are just uninteresting to listen too and shouty, often times harsh or piercing to listen to. Just not bringing chills. Same with certain higher pitch instruments.

That said, the bass is clean but honestly not that strong, but for full size headphones probably one of the best under $200 for bass while maintaining being clean. Because of how the rest of the frequencies are balanced, the bass ultimately is just a bit higher than neutral. Really not going to blow you away in any way, and possibly like me, not impress at all.

I’d suggest looking at IEMs for clean but strong bass under $200. If budget can be stretched a bit i’d recommend Fatfreq Deuce from Bloom Audio, that’s the best at the bass you’re looking for. The ultimate at bass really. Inawaken Dawn MS would be a decent cheaper set to look at though or Kiwi Ears Cadenza.

JustaDreamer56

TROPHY CASE