[littlej0e]

Howdy!

Does anyone know if there is a closed-back planar magnetic equivalent of the Sennheiser HD820? I'm specifically looking for a similarly wide soundstage and equally great imaging. The HD820s sound great (to my ears at least), but I'm wondering if I could get a bit more clarity/separation and a slightly warmer sound from a planar without sacrificing closed-back, soundstage, or imaging. Am I better off EQing the HD820s and being done with it?

I would be driving them with the iFi Pro iCAN (WE396A tubes), so I should be able to squeeze a bit more bass and 3D/soundstage out of a set of planars if they fall (very slightly) short in one area or another. Budget is approx. $1500 USD. I was looking at the Audeze LCD-XCs, but I've been pouring over countless reviews and it doesn't seem like there is a closed-back planar on planet earth that can come anywhere close to the HD820's soundstage and imaging.

 

[GREQ]

Doesn't exist.
Planars typically have smaller soundstage than dynamics.
LCD-XC doesn't come even close to the HD820.

On a side note...
I understand why some people might hate the HD820, but I'll never understand how anyone can like the LCD-XC.

 

[littlej0e]

Doesn't exist.
Planars typically have smaller soundstage than dynamics.
LCD-XC doesn't come even close to the HD820.

On a side note...
I understand why some people might hate the HD820, but I'll never understand how anyone can like the LCD-XC.

Thanks, man! I figured as much.

Good to know about the LCD-XCs. Upon further Googling, I hard passed on them anyway (and pretty much every other headphone from Audeze) because of the weight. Holy crap are they all heavy. I also looked at the Dan Clark Ether C Flow w/1.1 mod, but I think I'll stick with HD820s and run the iCAN in tube mode and/or apply some good EQ to warm them up a little (RME ADI-2-DAC V1). Sincerely appreciate the feedback!

 

[iFi audio]

I would be driving them with the iFi Pro iCAN (WE396A tubes), so I should be able to squeeze a bit more bass and 3D/soundstage out of a set of planars if they fall (very slightly) short in one area or another. Budget is approx. $1500 USD. I was looking at the Audeze LCD-XCs, but I've been pouring over countless reviews and it doesn't seem like there is a closed-back planar on planet earth that can come anywhere close to the HD820's soundstage and imaging.

You surely have an amp that's not bottlenecking your cans

This aside, HD820 are very spacious, so it won't be easy to beat them via planar and closed means

 

[littlej0e]

You surely have an amp that's not bottlenecking your cans

This aside, HD820 are very spacious, so it won't be easy to beat them via planar and closed means

Indeed

Seems like the closest, yet still incredibly far away, option would be the DC Ether C Flows 1.1. That said, I think i'll stick with the HD820s and run them in tube mode and/or EQ a bit to warm them up.

Lastly...I must tell you, and anyone else that comes across this thread, the iCAN is an absolutely amazing pairing with HD820s. The Xbass and 3D functions in particular, augment these cans so incredibly well it borders on ridiculous. With both enabled, they bring a bit more bass to the front while providing additional sharpness, detail, and clarity. This is especially true when listening to classical or string-based music. I just listened to Apocalyptica "Fade To Black" and "Nothing Else Matters" and I can't forget what I just heard. It felt like the cello players were lined up in a horseshoe around my head. Mind blown...

Well done, iFi (and Sennheiser).

 

[iFi audio]

Indeed

Seems like the closest, yet still incredibly far away, option would be the DC Ether C Flows 1.1. That said, I think i'll stick with the HD820s and run them in tube mode and/or EQ a bit to warm them up.

Lastly...I must tell you, and anyone else that comes across this thread, the iCAN is an absolutely amazing pairing with HD820s. The Xbass and 3D functions in particular, augment these cans so incredibly well it borders on ridiculous. With both enabled, they bring a bit more bass to the front while providing additional sharpness, detail, and clarity. This is especially true when listening to classical or string-based music. I just listened to Apocalyptica "Fade To Black" and "Nothing Else Matters" and I can't forget what I just heard. It felt like the cello players were lined up in a horseshoe around my head. Mind blown...

Well done, iFi (and Sennheiser).

Hey, thanks a lot. I like our Pro iCAN, but it's something way different to read about other people into this amp as well. Thanks again and I'll forward your feedback to our crew to make them happy before weekend

 

[HBen]

as others have mentioned: what you're looking for doesn't seem to exist.
I've been on a similar quest as well ... best I've found yet are the closed ZMF's .. like the Eikon or Verite closed - no planars though.

 

[littlej0e]

as others have mentioned: what you're looking for doesn't seem to exist.
I've been on a similar quest as well ... best I've found yet are the closed ZMF's .. like the Eikon or Verite closed - no planars though.

I definitely feel your pain. A really good and versatile set of planars is seemingly a unicorn. I decided to try out the Ether C Flows anyway. I'll almost certainly be disappointed in the soundstage, but hopefully not in clarity, quality, or imaging. Appreciate the input!

 

[iFi audio]

A really good and versatile set of planars is seemingly a unicorn

...or a very expensive race horse

Susvaras are excellent in pretty much everything, but they're open, very costly and need a powerful amp on top of that.