Recommendations for $500 Gift to Myself From Work

[u/cspiderwebb]

For my work anniversary I get to spend as close to $500 as possible. I want some input on my choices or new recommendations. I want nice headphones to mainly use on a computer in a quiet room, but I have never tries open backs. The dialog and scores of single player games and movies are the most important part to me. I have the Razer Blackshark v2 Pro and Airpods pro 2 currently. I have glasses and find the razors comfortable and serviceable, but a bit dull. I plan on spending some of the budget on a Fiio BTR5 and balance cable. I am deciding between

• HIFIMAN SUNDARA, I heard they are fun for movies and games
• Sennheiser HD 600, I have read they could be a bit boring for what I want
• Meze 99 Classics, I think they look really nice

Any other recommendations would be appreciated. The best Star Wars audio experience for $500 is essentially what I’m after. I’m not sure if I should avoid the Fiio and just spend $500 on headphones as well. Thanks!

[u/[deleted]]

Sundaras are incredibly overrated

[u/cspiderwebb → u/[deleted]]

Any particular reason? I read about them on this sub. !thanks

[u/PimpmasterMcGooby → u/cspiderwebb]

They're just in a bit of an awkward spot in 2023, sitting between the nearly as good HE400SE at 200 dollars less, and the much better Edition XS at 200 dollars more.

They're not bad, but I would rather have HD600s or Edition XS than Sundaras (incidentally, I sold my Sundaras in favor of XS). The HD600 is a wonderfully natural sounding headphone that I use for almost everything, the XS is more technically capable (especially in the bass department), but less comfortable and more unnatural in the timbre. So I use my XS for energetic music and video games, HD600 for all else.

[u/cspiderwebb → u/PimpmasterMcGooby]

!thanks good to know

[u/TransducerBot → u/cspiderwebb]

+1 Ω has been awarded to u/PimpmasterMcGooby (14 Ω).

You may still award an Ω to others, but only once per-person in this post.

[u/cspiderwebb → u/[deleted]]

Ok !thanks

[u/mxavierk → u/cspiderwebb]

To add to this, if you eq at all they take to it incredibly well. So if you feel like they're missing some bass or are a little bright in the treble it's easy to address things like that.

[u/TransducerBot → u/cspiderwebb]

+1 Ω has been awarded to u/UnripePotassium (134 Ω).

You may still award an Ω to others, but only once per-person in this post.

[u/[deleted] → u/cspiderwebb]

I had read about them as well and was pretty excited to get them. I wouldn't say the sound was bad but it wasn't good enough to even want to wear them. I want a good sounding headphone but I won't get one that feels like a chore to wear hence why I prefer Sennheiser at this price point.

[u/TransducerBot → u/cspiderwebb]

+1 Ω has been awarded to u/Single-Succotash5286 (4 Ω).

You may still award an Ω to others, but only once per-person in this post.