Sound leak doesn't mean the headphone sound quality is not good. In fact, most of the high end headphones are open cans. Usually open cans has wider sound stage and more natural sound. Close back headphones has better bass surrounding. Open cans are not suitable for portable usage and mean for home use. They are sound leak, so it will create noise to others and affected by noise at outside. After all, you may not pay too much attention on music appreciation while on the move. So why bother so much? If you need something portable, just grab a portable headphone.

If you can tell us more about your set up, it will be easier to give you better advise.

Ex.
What's your budget?
Which headphone are you using now or used before?
What kind of music genre do you normally listen to?
What kind of sound signature do you prefer?
What's weakest point of your headfi/hifi system that you want to improve?

If you have an amp or planning to add an amp in the future, can consider AKG K240s, K271 mk2. They are good headphone that being underestimated. Have very good potential but need an amp to drive.
Without amp, can consider ATH M50, ES700, Creative Aurvana Live 2.

Lest than RM100 - Superlux HD381 series
RM100~150 - Vsonic VSD1 or VSD1S
(If prefer more neutral/transparent sound and wider sound stage, can go for VSD1s.
VSD1 has thicker bass and wamer sound signature, but clarity is not as good as VSD1s)

Below RM100 can try Superlux HD381B or HD381F.

If your budget is up to RM100+, can consider Vsonic VSD1 or VSD1s. They are very good at this price range. Good details, beautiful timbre, Body of music is smooth and solid. VSD1 has more punchy bass. VSD1S has sparkling treble and wider sound stage.

We do have Vsonic IEM demo unit for audition.

You can also consider Sades SA-907. I auditioned SA-902 before, exceeded my expectation. Never expect a gaming headset at this price can be so balance sounding and yet with build in sound card. Except it sounds like normal headphone add in with lots of reverb. Not sure if this is the surround sound effect that gamer seeking for.

If you have budget of RM1k and looking to upgrade your DAC and amp in the future, you can actually increase your budget a little bit and get the following headphones:

Sennheiser HD600/ 650: If you like thick, warm and rich sound headphone, you definitely have to consider these. HD600 has thicker mid and sparkling treble, good for vocals, orchestra, Jazz and so on. HD650 is with stronger bass, mid thinner, treble is darker and expansion is not as much as HD600. It's good for rock music and music with stronger punch)

AKG K701/Q701/K612 Pro/K712 Pro: If you can appreciate AKG traditional sound then go for K701, the later is more pop sound (slightly more forward, smaller sound stage and punchier bass). K701 is very refined sounding, much thinner than HD600/650, soft with adequate amount of bass. Suitable for piano, guitar, Indie, New Age and so on.

Beyerdynamic DT990/ DT880: It's closer to AKG, with good dynamic. DT990 is focus on bass and treble, good for big production music, EDM and orchestra. DT880 focus on mid, suitable for vocal and other kind of music.

I did not recommend low impedance headphones considering more headphone amp in the market is designed for higher impedance headphones. But of course, if you do like the particular headphone and sound signature, is still up to you to decide.

Grado has its own signature, lively and bright. ATH has unique sound signature, suitable for jpop and female vocal (M50 is exception, quite balance sound). Shure is not bad, clean and thinner sound with lesser bass.

Best is you can audition the headphone yourself.


Whether there is a need to stretch more, is depends on your requirement for good sound. If you don't have plan to upgrade much further, RM300+ you can consider Creative Aurvana Live. Higher range, can go for ATH M50. These 2 are quite balance sound, suitable for all genre.

"ATH-M50x Professional Monitor Headphones:
The original ATH-M50 has been praised by leading audio engineers and journalists worldwide, and now the ATH-M50x features the exact same coveted sonic signature as the original, with the addition of refined earpads and three detachable cables (a 1.2m-3m coiled cable, 3m straight cable and 1.2m straight cable). From the large aperture drivers to sound isolating earcups and robust construction, the M50x provides an unmatched experience for the most critical audio applications, including recording, broadcast, DJ, live sound and personal listening. The ATH-M50x is available in black, white (ATH-M50xWH) and limited-edition blue (ATH-M50xBL). "
http://www.audio-technica.com/cms/news/539...88cf/index.html

Actually the sound signature of M50 and M50x are slightly different. The latter has more bass and warmer sound.

Can try Creative aurvana live 2. Quite suitable for pop music.

Can also considr Vsonic VSD1 or VSD1s. Sound signature is quite balance.
The former has more punchy bass. The latter has more neutral and cleaner sound, wider sound stage.

You can consider Vsonic GR07 classic. It's quite neutral sound with adequate bass.
It's same range and similar sound to GR07 mkii that has stop production but with cheaper price. Mkii was being priced at RM600+ last time. So it's quite worth to get the classic version. If you prefer heavier bass, can also consider GR07 bass.

For headphone, if you can accept stereo, can consider Superlux series. HD681 evo is warmer, and thicker sound. If you prefer better details and cleaner sound then can consider other model such as HD330, 669, 668b and so on.

If you want a gaming 7.1 headset, can check out Sades SA902. Cheap with usb sound card and mic. Audition it before. SQ is quite good

Vsonic VSD1/1S. It's said to have 80% of the SQ of GR07. This IEM has good details, expansion and separation. Sound signature is quite neutral. For me the bass is adequete but it's not for bass head i guess. You can always audition it first.

Just want to clarify, it's definitely genuine set as you can register at V-moda website. But you always have the rights to decide who to purchase from.

1. Superlux HD531 is no longer available at Superlux website if you check the headphone list. For DJ headphone series, can consider HD631. Its treble is quite beautiful, sparkling and with good expansion. Similar to the treble of HD661. For the lower mid and bass part, it sounds like has been EQ to increase the quantity. Compare to normal headphone, more reverb at the lower mid and bass. A little bit not so natural and balance to me but still acceptable for a DJ headphone at this price range. The bigger problem is the clapping problem and quite heavy. changing the ear pad should help to give more comfort.

2. Haven't tried ATH S300 before. But in terms of price and SQ, I would recommend to go for at least M50 and above if you were to choose ATH headphones. Base on my personal opinion as a owner of M30.

3. HD681 Evo is semi open. I would say not suitable for outdoor especially in a library
It's thicker and warmer sound compare to the rest. Details slightly muddy as compare to the rest in RM100+ range but the most comfortable one.

4. HD661 is quite decent to my ear. It's focus more on the mid and treble. It has very outstanding treble just like HD631 and very good details, lesser bass. It may sound sharp depending on your set up and how you burn in.

Superlux produces very decent budget headphones. It doesn't sound good when out of the box. After burn in, it brings you surprise. You will have more surprise adding an amp to it.
For close back headphone, you probably can consider HD669. It has stronger bass than HD668b. Focus more on treble and bass. Mid is a little empty for vocal.
JVC is not bad also if you can up your budget a little bit.

This post has been edited by liquidgal: May 10 2014, 04:08 AM

If can accept wire headphones, can consider Edifier H850 or JVC HA-S500.
I'm a H850 user. The sound quality is very amazing in this price range. Smooth and pleasure sound.

This post has been edited by liquidgal: May 10 2014, 08:36 PM

Can try to audition Vsonic VSD1 / VSD1S.
The former has more bass and wamer sound. The latter is clearer and soundstage is wider.

Haven't auditioned HD660 before. It's the balance sound series like HD330. To me HD330 is quite neutral and with the sound signature sounds like few hundred headphone. Suitable for all music genre. It's 150ohms, if you have an amp would be better. If I would to pick a weakness I would say the treble expansion can be better. The headband if not adjustable and quite small. If you have a big head, you might have a problem.

This post has been edited by liquidgal: May 12 2014, 12:11 AM

For sound monitoring, I would say M30 & M35 are not balance enough. I used to own a M30. Focus more on the mid and not so much on treble and bass. So, what I mix tend to be louder on the mid part.

If you can't stretch more on your budget, probably can consider Superlux headphone for that purpose. HD330 is a quite balance one. HD681B is cheap but yet done the job that I want, though it may not sounds too good for music appreciation.

For higher budget, you can go for ATH M50. It's not so ATH sound to me, quite balance and easy to drive.
But if you have audio interface, can consider AKG K240S. It's one of the best selling sound monitoring headphone. A lot of foreign studios are using it as well.
With amp or AI, it has more potential.

Or can also consider AKG K271 MKII & AKG K612 pro, for higher range.
K612 pro is harder to drive but with good SQ and balance. Its previous version K601 is same range with K701 that cost more than RM1k, but harder to drive well.

This post has been edited by liquidgal: May 12 2014, 12:08 AM

Can consider Noontec Zoro wireless, to be used with bluetooth device. With nice outlook and sound quality not bad.

Can try Noontec Zoro HD. with enhancement on bass, suitable for strong beats and groovy music. Good build quality and nice outlooking, also it comes with mic.


【Review from Inner Fidelity】
http://www.innerfidelity.com/content/inexp...tec-zoro-page-2
"The Zoro slays the Solo! So, I had to break out a few headphones that compete well at around the $100 mark to see how good they really are. I compared the Zoro with the Skullcandy Aviator, Philips Citiscape Downtown, Creative Aurvana Live!, and Koss TBSE (DJ100). The Zoro held it's own in this crowd of $100 over-performers, I came away feeling it had the best balanced sound of the group. I detected a slight muffling in it's character relative to some of the other cans, but it pretty handily delivered the tightest bass, and seemed to deliver a heft and substantiality to voices the other cans couldn't quite pull off. The Creative Aurvana Live! hung in there close, but the Aviators poorer bass performance, and the poorer balance of the Koss and Philips had me preferring the Noontec Zoro as best of the bunch."

They looks like beats, but the sound is totally different.
Noontec Hammo limited edition with matt colours looks really nice and not so beats look. But I personally prefer Zoro HD more for the sound signature, brighter sound. Hammo is more bassy.


This post has been edited by liquidgal: May 14 2014, 11:09 AM

If can top up to RM300+, can consider Noontec Zoro HD.
http://www.innerfidelity.com/content/inexp...tec-zoro-page-2

Sound stage is not only depends on the wideness, also measure in depth and height. And yes, it's more like listening the music in a room or in a hall.
But a headphone, DAC or amp that has wide sound stage, doesn't mean it has good depth too. This is probably something that you can try to feel and find out when you audition the gadgets.

I'm more to headphones. So I would answer base on headphones.
"wide soundstage headphone normally is big ear cup? big driver? close can? " I would say usually open back headphone has more natural sound stage compare to close back. Close back usually has better impact on the bass but this assumption doesn't apply to all.
Compare to headphones like DT880, HD650, K701, German maestro GMP450 is a rare species that is close back and yet has very huge & comfortable sound stage.

But if you have felt the impact of a real speaker before, you will know that there is no way for a headphone to achieve the sound stage of a speaker.

This post has been edited by liquidgal: May 22 2014, 10:30 AM