As a devoted RME ADI-2 DAC FS owner, the ADI-2/4 Pro SE is the upgrade path I’ve been eyeing with a mixture of desire and dread — desire for the improved specifications, dread for what it would do to my wallet. This is RME’s flagship: a combined AD/DA converter that’s equally at home in a mastering studio and a high-end listening room.
Walk into any recording studio in the world and you’ll find a pair of DT 770 Pros hanging on a hook somewhere. They’ve been the go-to tracking headphone for decades, and for good reason. The 770 Pro is the definition of “just works” — reliable, comfortable, and sonically honest enough for professional use.
Indestructible is the word that comes to mind. The coiled cable (on the 80-ohm version), the sturdy headband, the replaceable velour earpads — everything about the DT 770 says “built to survive studio life.” At 270g it’s comfortable for all-day wear, and the closed-back design provides useful isolation for tracking and recording.
The MM-500 is Audeze’s love letter to mixing and mastering engineers. Developed in consultation with Grammy-winning producer Manny Marroquin, this is a headphone designed specifically for professional work — and it happens to sound absolutely wonderful for music enjoyment too.
Lighter than the LCD-X at 510g, which is still substantial but manageable. The magnesium housing is a step up from Audeze’s usual aluminium, and the overall construction feels purposeful and professional. Comfort is improved over the LCD-X with redesigned earpads and better weight distribution. The suspension headband works well.
Austrian Audio rose from the ashes of the original AKG Vienna team when Samsung moved AKG operations to South Korea. The engineers who designed classic AKG headphones started fresh, and the Hi-X65 is their open-back studio flagship. It carries decades of Viennese acoustic engineering heritage in a thoroughly modern design.
Clean, professional, and well-made. The Hi-X65 features memory foam earpads, a comfortable headband, and an understated design that says “studio tool” rather than “lifestyle product.” At 310g it’s light enough for extended sessions. The folding mechanism is practical for storage, and the build feels solid without being heavy.
Sony’s MDR-7506 has been a studio staple for decades, so when they announced an open-back studio monitor headphone, the professional audio world paid attention. The MDR-MV1 is Sony’s first serious open-back in years, designed specifically for spatial audio mixing and critical listening.
Lightweight at 223g — remarkably light for a full-size open-back. The build is professional and understated: matte black finish, comfortable headband, and breathable mesh earpads. It’s designed to be worn for entire mixing sessions, and it succeeds completely. Not as visually striking as a Meze or ZMF, but that’s not the brief here.
Beyerdynamic have been at this game since 1924, and their DT series is as iconic in studios as any headphone ever made. The DT 900 Pro X represents the modern evolution — keeping that Beyer reliability and comfort whilst finally addressing the treble peaks that have divided listeners for decades.
Classic Beyerdynamic. The spring steel headband, the velour earpads, the industrial-yet-functional aesthetic — it’s all here and it’s all reassuringly solid. At 345g it’s lighter than most planar competitors, and the comfort is genuinely excellent. These are headphones you can wear for an entire mixing session without noticing they’re there.
The LCD-X has been on my radar since it became the go-to headphone for producers and mixing engineers who want planar detail without the analytical coldness. The 2021 revision addressed the tuning complaints of the original, and what Audeze delivered is, frankly, one of the most capable all-rounders in the planar world.
Let’s address weight first: 612g. Yes, it’s heavy. If you’re coming from a Sennheiser or a Koss PortaPro, the first time you put these on your head you’ll wonder if someone left a brick inside. That said, the suspension headband does a reasonable job of distributing the weight, and after twenty minutes you mostly forget about it. Mostly.
Warning….I Love these budget retro style headphones :-)
Introduction: A Walk Through History In the fast-evolving world of audio technology, few headphones have stood the test of time as remarkably as the Koss PortaPro. Launched in 1984, these iconic headphones have become a symbol of enduring quality and retro appeal. Designed by John C. Koss, the PortaPro was a revolution in portable audio, promising high-fidelity sound in a compact, foldable design that was quite ahead of its time. Even today, they remain a beloved choice among audiophiles who appreciate their mix of vintage style and excellent sound performance.
I Discovered my love of listening to music on headphones in 1997 when i moved into an apartment/ Flat. For the sake of the neighbourly goodwill, i started moving my listening to high quality headphones.
I discovered quickly that for modest outlay compared to my full size hifi components a high quality reproduction could be acheived. I have upgraded my orinal setup immesurably, however the ehadphones i purchased back then, the HD600 just improves as the source and amplification does. The best investment i have made in a headphone.
The Benchmark of DACs: A Review of the RME ADI-2 FS
In the world of high-fidelity digital audio, few components have garnered as much acclaim as the RME ADI-2 FS DAC. This flagship device from the renowned German manufacturer has been lauded for its unparalleled sound quality, versatility, and robust feature set, making it a coveted centerpiece in home studios and professional recording environments alike.