I currently have 3 sets I use at home. Hifiman Sundara, Sennheiser HD58X Jubilee and a Grado SR80X. Used with separate HP amplifier/DAC.
I would say the Grado sounds closest to the little Naim 50. Fast, a hint of warmth through the midband, very slightly mid centric, adequate (fun) bouncy bass, very involving in a ‘live’ sort of way with nicely resolving but not exposed treble. All in a nice, coherent way. What it lacks is the solid foundation something like the Hifiman or a bigger amplifier can add. Neither does it quite have the resolution of a planar. The Grado perhaps having slightly better dynamics than the Sundara and a tad more punch than the 58X.
The mids are not quite as beguiling or tonally saturated as those of the Sennheiser but it is faster and more out of the head just like the Naim projecting nicely outside the speaker boundaries.
Are any of your headphones sounding similar to your system?
Indirectly answering your question I am not sure I want them to sound like my system as headphone listening is a different experience.
I have 3 pairs plus some good IEMs. I like their different characters and pick and choose between them.
I have two pairs of ZMF that tend towards warm/lush. I think I want those headphones to be like this so they are easy to listen to. I wouldn’t want the same tonal warmth in my main speaker system.
I also have a pair of Grado HP100SE that are fast, fresh and lively. I would describe them as a ‘bit SBL’. Maybe not the most technically perfect, unlike the ZMF they are designed to be a bit bright if anything, but they really carry a tune. Not ideal for thrashier rock though.
I only have the Focal Utopia into the jack of my 332. No issues but rarely listen on headphones. I agree that Grado comes closer to my system but I cannot tolerate the fit. I use headphones when my husband requests quiet. They are a social accommodation. Otherwise I find the experience unnatural.
@BruceW Thanks I had the GS 1000 in a former system. More comfortable than the RS1. But they made me sweat. I liked the sonic signature. I am very happy with my focal Utopia into the amp of my 332. I am sure there are better but given how infrequently I use headphones, anything would do. I thought if I purchased great headphones, I would use them
more . Has not been the case. I am also sure there are better headphone amps than the one in the 332, but given my frequency of use, any more spent on headphone related stuff is not wise. I am using a Cardas Beyond Clear cable and like it a lot.
The headphone I turn to most of the time is the Headphone 2GT. The tuning is almost perfect in my opinion and the AMT drivers are fast and detailed. It needs a goof HP amp.
My Sennheiser Hd850 is the wide stage king. Almost as good as the Hedd, but lacks that deep bass.
IIUC many headphones have a ‘Harman curve’ frequency response, with strongly emphasised bass and treble, as opposed to the ostensibly flattish response more common to speakers (ignoring the varied peaks and troughs from room resonances and cancellations). If this is the case then the two would never be similar?
I have owned several Grado models over the years, at various levels of outlay. They all had ‘something’ about them and although I struggle to put it into words there is a definite ‘Grado sound’. I think where they fit with my Naim kit is that both companies emphasis musicality and engagement over purely technical excellence and the sterility that can be associated with that.
That is my take anyway!
Grado’s persistence with those awful pads and associated comfort issues put a lot of users off. As I said they seem to be sorting that now. If I went down to one pair then the HP100 SE would probably be the one I kept, although the S950 wood cup version (which I haven’t heard) might be a better choice for a jack of all trades.
Focal Clear MG and my favourite ZMF Vérité closed back with Atom HE. But in each case the sound is very different from my speakers. It is a different experience.
To answer this you would need to include your HPA. Foe example, I find the 1/4” on the Nait 50 lack lustre, others will think its fantastic, but I dont find it anything special. My downstairs rig for example has a Mcintosh HPA200 ( with “ uprated” valves. This is clearly going to drive any cans better than the HPA from my Nait 50.
I have the original SR80 and they work very well with the N50, quite rich and punchy with slightly rolled off treble, although I listen through speakers mainly. I demo’d the SR325X and didn’t like them at all with the N50, too bright and uncomfortable for me.
Indeed my finding too. The 325 has ‘better resolution’ (it is brighter in simple terms). It also uses different ear pads, probably mostly responsible for the difference in sound. To me the lower range ear pads do not pose a comfort problem at all unlike the Hifiman which gets hot and slightly uncomfortable after perhaps a couple of hours. Luckily I don’t usually listen that long.
Listening to Sony WH 1000X via a NT 50. Sounds like a fish tank. Is it the headphones, the use of a crossover or the headphone amp? Suspect it is a mix of the first two.
I have the Grado RS-IX with the larger ear pads, a must!. I’ve purchased from my dealer for over thirty years and they warned me. I agree with the others who have commented on their sound as being Naim like in character. The problem is they have caused a bit of a problem. Most of my system was just around thirty years old. Still sounds very good as I have a dedicated/treated room. Three years ago I went from CD to the Core server. I had a bunch of vinyl ripped to wav files, ripped all my cd’s and purchased some high-res. I drive the Grado’s with a Questyle 15 DAC and it’s an entirely different world in there than though my ProAc’s. Now I’m headed back for a new interconnect, amp, and maybe speakers. But at least they will have some reference. Make my system sound like my Grado’s.
In-Ear Fidelity, Crinacle’s headphone listing give these cans a pretty low score. Headphones start to very get good mainly above the €800 price point. Closed headphones often have poor sound compared to open headphones.
The underrated Shure 1540, are quite good, if you want closed headphones and do not want to spend a fortune.
