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RE: Comfort first closed over the ear

88.97.21.18

PAR

In Reply to: RE: Comfort first closed over the ear posted by G Squared on August 27, 2021 at 16:40:55

This is a difficult question and I think that a couple of considerations other than just comfort need to be accounted for.

You want closed headphones. May I ask what circumstances they will be used in, particularly whether they are for domestic use in a room with people doing other things whom you don't want to disturb (or have them disturb you) and/or is it for travel? How good does the sound isolation need to be? Note many closed headphones provide hardly any additional isolation compared to open cans. In fact quite a few headphones touted as closed are only partially closed as they have ports. Would it be better for you to consider noise cancelling headphones?

Another important thing to consider is how you intend to drive them. Would choosing a pair that need a proper headphone amplifier be OK or would you be using them driven from, say, the headphone socket on a laptop or phone? If so have you considered adding a dongle DAC/amp?

Finally there is that question of comfort. Unfortunately there is no guarantee that a headphone providing great comfort for one person would be suitable for another. It all depends upon the size of your head and pinnae.So only a generalised expectation of comfort can be given. Unfortunately closed 'phones can be less comfortable then open ones due to the additional weight and bulk of the earcups.

I would be grateful if you could expand a bit at least on the first two points above. Given your response I have one contender in mind.

"We need less, but better" - Dieter Rams

Follow Ups:

RE: Comfort first closed over the ear - G Squared 17:23:19 08/29/21 (2)
They will be driven by a Dragonfly Red.
I use them for sleeping in the same bed as my wife. I need good sound isolation. My Momentums are very quiet on the outside. I have used them for travel extensively.
I have tried and found many active noise canceling headphones blah.
Hope this info is helpful.
Gsquared

Edits: 08/29/21
- RE: Comfort first closed over the ear - PAR 00:24:24 08/30/21 (1)
  Thanks for your response. The headphones that I had in mind are likely to fit your needs very well. These are the Austrian Audio Hi-X55.
  Austrian Audio? A new(ish) company formed by the engineers from AKG when the new owners Samsung closed the facility in Vienna.
  As they are made for professional use and therefore for wearing for hours in a studio setting these cans have a reputation for being very comfortable. They also have a decent seal against the ingress or escape of sound ( not 100% but better than many).
  They come with a 3.5 to 6.3mm adaptor jack so they will plug straight into your Dragonfly. They are also easy to drive. However they come with a 3m cable so for portable use you may wish to purchase the optional shorter cable (HXC-1M2). It is inexpensive. Not many home use audio dealers stock them and you may need to look to purchase them from a pro gear shop.
  
  "We need less, but better" - Dieter Rams
  - https://austrian.audio/hi-x55/ (Open in New Window)
  Edits: 08/30/21
  - They look beautiful and not tragically out of my price range. Thanks. nt - G Squared 12:45:41 08/30/21 (0)
    .
    Gsquared

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