Cheap Closed Back Headphone Challenge! Blon B60 v AKG K361 v Sivga SV021

[@cheapaudioman]

Blon B60 (Linsoul) amzn.to/35KsJER --WIIM Mini Streamer amzn.to/3pNy3OC ----Sivga SV021 amzn.to/3hOkWrY ----AKG K361 amzn.to/35HOODZ -----Tidal Deal bit.ly/3siuqSF ------Crutchfield shop-links.co/cguPK8XEGmt ------Best Buy Deals shop-links.co/cf9yDZeYtUH ------amzn.to/3GkNaop ----CAM Store (New Products!) bit.ly/30Lgu4K -------apos.audio?sca_ref=552340.TY98BPcZ6P ---------massdrop.7eer.net/qnOye5 -----------Amazon Unlimited Music and Disney Plus Free Trial amzn.to/3DRAVj9 -------------www.patreon.com/cheapaudioman

[@PhoggHawk]

It's Jim "Croachie". My favorite AKG closed backs are the K52. They are just $50. They are not the best built, but they sound really wide open for closed backs, have great bass and have a fun resonance to them that I personally very much enjoy. I found them by accident at a Guitar Center when testing several other AKGs, including the K361. I picked them up and said, "Oh man, these are the ones!" I had no budget, I didn't even see the price at the time, they were just my favorite cans in the store. So I took them home and they are a fun addition to my headphone collection. Almost no one is reviewing them but if you get a chance to hear them, then you might be just as surprised about them as I was.

[@bikdav]

@Tim W: I have the AKG K52. I like what they do with pipe organ. To me, they really get the pedal notes without be too emphasizing in the mid bass.

[@norajiyu]

I have them too! Bought them for the self adjusting headband because I have a sensitive head and I feel pain/pressure from most headphones I've tried before. I tried the Meze Classics and loved how comfortable they were, but not the price tag or how much bass there was, so the K52s were an amazing find

[@russnco]

Quality of your videos keeps going up. The picture, the sound, you are doing great. I clicked on this one and said wow, camera looks great. Thanks for the videos. I use the information that you bring us. I also recommend your channel to people just getting interested in good sounding systems.

[@MitchApley]

Agreed! Love the blue back light.

[@morior3027]

Im so glad AKG K361 get to be in ANOTHER video... I got them by your recomendetion. Its my 1st true headphones and I paired them with the Ikko Zerda ITM01 DAC/AMP... it sounds fantastic. Idk how much bass the sivgas got but when I squeeze my K361 towards my head a little bit more, I get LOTS of bass... they're comfortable, light.... everything I needed! For 150 euros I paid for these two devices... I dont think you can get closer to hifi...

[@vincepablo6095]

Another great review/comparison. Useful and relatable info and respect to your man, Steve for the Jim Cro-chee and Graham Parker reference!

[@geezer5236]

Try Leo Kottke

[@mikeday62]

A friend of mine recently sent me a brand new pair of (cheap) totally closed back headphones. The Audio Technica ATH-M20x, $49. Normally I wear super cheap (but decent sounding) Skullcandy open back headphones. I wear them while on my computer (most all day) since I need to hear my phone. I'm generally not into headphones, prefering speakers much more. Can't believe how dead quiet it is with the ATH-M20x on my ears. With music blasting from these units, I wouldn't hear anything if a nuke went off right outside my window (dramatization). These are the finest sounding most comfortable headphones I've ever used or owned. The loud tight thumping bass is just awesome. Reviews of them on youtube are the best, above all others at this price.

[@AudioExplorer]

Crow • chee : Jim Croce, he was very well known in his time, on the radio with the other singer songwriter acoustic guitarist types. And now I feel really, really old. Definitely the right music for bass free headphones. 👍

[@carlsitler9071]

I want it all. From sub base to sparkles, all balanced. Without strong sub base, music like Lorn is ruined. That is why I love speakers with 15 inch woofers as well a sub.

[@whuzup3]

Are there any headphones that has that kind of bass that's under 3 or 4 hundred?

[@billy120745]

Good acoustic tracks: Macedonia & Slope, both by Strength in Numbers Prog bluegrass I came to via Bela Fleck… my God the musicianship…

[@fiddlix]

Great review. I went for the K371. Very happy to say the least.

[@texasbassranger]

So. wasn't too long ago. I caught up on all your videos. TBH, I'm a headphone guy, so I focused on those mostly but watched the speaker ones because I just enjoy your presentation and sense of humor. I haven't figured out how to find the exact dates when each video was published. Aside from 1 year ago, 5 months ago, etc. I had already bought the Blons and returned them by the time I saw this video. And I just didn't feel encouraged by anything Sivga since I experienced The Phoenix Fiasco. Long story man. So I am still happy with my he r7dx closed backs. I was and still remain astounded by the spatial presentation of the R7DX. Especially when the engineers have done a lot of channel shaping in their recordings. On certain songs. I gotta stop it and say, "Woah, where the frick did THAT come from?: So I am sure there are other closed backs that are better than these cereal bowls I wear over my ears, But having gotten them via the Drop website at seventy nine dollars, I think I am good with these. I now have headphones from the R7DX price range up to a set of five hundred dollar headphones and I remain happy with those. Love your work brother. Let's keep doing this.

[@freejazz666]

I would love to have seen the HE-R7DX thrown in the mix on this one.

[@thetrumanshow4791]

I'm a speaker guy, not a headphone guy. Always have been. That said, no proper audiophile goes without having a pair decent headphones stored safely away somewhere. So I went with the $500 Sennheiser HD650 (open-back headphones), but on sale I only paid $299. Could not be happier. Extremely high quality. A very very "musical" sound. Perfect if you listen to big epic trailer music (Like Audiomachine), movie soundtracks, smooth contemporary jazz (like SXM Watercolors), seventies, pop and even some rock. I love them! If BMW is "the ultimate driving machine", then the Sennheiser HD650 is pretty close to being "the ultimate headphone", at least for what little money they cost.

[@ZenAndPsychedelicHealingCenter]

That's not really how it works but, since these headphones work for you, that's the important thing. Ultimate headphones are a myth.

[@thetrumanshow4791]

@@ZenAndPsychedelicHealingCenter That is exactly how they work. $400 headphones that sound like $1,500. headphones. Pure bliss, at least when it comes to headphones.

[@joelcarson4602]

These might appeal to Grado owners looking for a closed back set of cans. Also, a good multi-band equalizer might get some of those low frequencies back without muddying up the rest of the bandwidth.

[@aworminmybook8234]

i bought the akg k361s based on your review and i'm quite happy with them. i'm an omnivore but jazz is my main thing. one nice thing about the akg's is that for $40 extra, there is a version with bluetooth.

[@cornerstone3287]

Hey. I am confused between akg k361 and ath m40x . I saw many people 's akgs broke with in few months . Did yours have any problems

[@aworminmybook8234]

@@cornerstone3287 actually, i did end up sending them back. it was several months later and amazon had trouble coordinating the warranty replacement so they just refunded my money. i had the bluetooth k361. there was a problem with the hinge and one of the earcups just fell off. i failed at figuring out how to reattach it and couldn't find instructions online. i also wasn't able to get the to connect via aptx only sbc. they also never felt as solid or comfortable as my akg k240s. however, i did like the sound on the k361s. much better bass than the k240s with a subtle harman curve type of sound. i would consider getting another pair, this time wired and getting the extended warranty.

[@thedarkknight1971]

Another acoustic guitar based offering - Nick Drake - "River Man", "One Of These Things First" (and more)... 🤔👍 😎🇬🇧

[@gabrielecarelli4332]

You are right and completely wrong Just got them, and I completely agreed with you….but…..put them on a tube DAC and wow, Also in a iFI-Audio xDSD Gryphon and again wow Also changed the pads. Not for straight connections to iPhone or android phones, needs a half decent DAC

[@chrisodillman3355]

Own the k361 and a second hand audeze lcd 2 and i love both of them!

[@jeffwhiteaker7033]

Would love to see you do a comparison of the K361 vs. the K371.

[@jerryjazzbo2845]

361 more balanced.

[@paulleggett9735]

Thanks for this. On back of your review I bought pair of used akg 361 for £45! Superb the new Snarky Pupy live album is just ina different league with these over my old iem's

[@miagi1337]

Very nice comparison of 3 very interesting closed backs!

[@carlsitler9071]

I'm entertained with gear reviews. Luckily the upgrade bug never bit me too much. I am VERY happy with my four systems. Everything is new except main system speakers so someday I may get some THX speakers.

[@Bee_Hive_10134]

Do you think the B60's would be good for voice over?

[@towsifshahriarshovo]

Great review man, always enjoy your budget headphone review. Please review sennheiser hd58x under $200 I heard good things about it.

[@sinister_knife]

Have you played with the Soundcore by Anker Life Q30? I adore mine for working at the race track. The customizable eq is also handy for my selective hearing loss.

[@NathanPallas]

I have those too for out and about. They are fantastic once you've set up the equaliser.

[@Feliciano12v]

This video prompted me to ask you a question for a potential future topical video. Have you considered making a video comparing different pads on various headphones? It would be nice to hear your thoughts on different brand/types of headphone pads and the sound characteristic changes they can make to a headphone.

[@ctumbles74]

What do you think are the best headphones to listen to Grateful Dead live recordings?

[@daniwalmsley611]

You sbould check out the shure srh440 and 880. They are both incredible value closed backs

[@maciejburchardt7927]

And new versions of them SRH 440A & SRH840A

[@daniwalmsley611]

@@maciejburchardt7927 Mm I haven't seen any reviews for them but I a, very curious about the differences now

[@palerider6749]

Finally....a "Catfish Free Headphone"...it's about time...

[@da3726]

How do these compare with the Hifiman HE-r7dx? Reviews for them seem to be terrible. Love your taste in music. 90s grunge is still my go to sound.

[@baronvonlichtenstein]

OK, but have you ever heard the Shure SRH 840 or 440? Awesome headphones. And the 361s come a close second out of about 12 headphones. But the 361 could use a tad more treble.

[@nikolaygramchev]

Hm... what about the CAL! SE and Takstar Pro 82 with bass adjust!?

[@mangs9940]

What's interesting is one other review called this one slammy kicky bass. Other reviews did not mention lack of bass. One other review said this headphone was good for EDM. Many different opinions. It seems.

[@mattallica76]

Randy, how do the Sivgas compare to the Emotiva GR1? Are the Sivgas better for rock, grunge, and metal?

[@davdidit6]

Would love to see you do a review of the Drop/1More Triple Driver Over Ears headphones. I have them and love them. Definitely fun?

[@wrusst]

I'm blown away I like my cheap Kph30i and kph 40 more than my k371 . Really want to try the k361 as the k371 was very boomey and missed a few beats If you have advice on a better kph40 or 30 be great to know

[@wrusst]

@@muahaha5929 I own a Kato and an aria iem it's just head sets seems a bit harder to find stuff I like

[@jin12345678]

the ksc75 is better than the kph30i or kph40 in midrange and treble IMO, if you don't mind the lack of subbass. I do consider the k361 an upgrade on something like the kph30i, I think the next step up might be something like the hd560s or hifiman edition xs?

[@wrusst]

@@jin12345678 I don't really have a Budjet so I'll take a look at the 560 . I don't care long as it works off my phone

[@jin12345678]

​@@wrusst sorry I confused the kph30i and the ksc75 earlier, still early in the morning haha so yeah if you don't have the ksc75 yet that is a good one too and much cheaper. but it does lack subbass.

[@wrusst]

@@jin12345678 I own the ksc75 , kph30 and kph40

[@iopsyc15]

What are your thoughts on the Sony 7506?

[@imral3]

@cheapaudioman You had me at "catfish thrown on a pic-nic table"!

[@AledoEagle]

I would imagine Clapton’s The Lady in the Balcony album would be excellent for acoustic listening through headphones.

[@stevendavis8734]

Love the bear guitar t-shirt! Where would someone purchase one?

[@msalt19]

I thought you said the hifiman he-r7dx we're a great buy, I thought they'd be on this list too?

[@cheapaudioman]

They are good. I didn’t have them here for direct comparison though

[@warmlycalculated390]

@@cheapaudioman How do you think the R7DX would place next to these 3?

[@MrRondonmon]

The Square trim is probably Walnut imported lol, "walnut colored plastic".

[@zachmanntai4321]

@cheapaudioman What was your reccomendation for an alt for the KEF LS50's?I Can't find it in the comments or elsewhere.

[@cheapaudioman]

Ascend acoustics

[@NosEL34]

Beryllium cord was pretty cool...nice work CAM 👍

[@Ben-bs4od]

Fostex T50rp?

[@rwalton6096]

Jim Crow-chay

[@ilianstoimenov6619]

Nice video as always!I will allow myself to suggest that you try to provide affiliate links to the products for buyers in Europe, if available, as importing stuff from US is not a convenient nor cheap option. In this case Linsoul is fine, I bought my Hidizs S3 PRO and some IEMs from them, but Amazon US and Crutchfield are not worth it here.

[@JohnScheppler]

Great review, Randy. Personally I've been punched by a toddler, it's always a little lower than you really want and gives you more of a soprano tone than I can for.

[@cheapaudioman]

ha!

[@francescotenti193]

Another nice video, you were sort of funny trying to pronounce "Croce", too young for him. Unplugged by Clapton would have been an excellent choice to listen to acoustic guitars, great singing and playing.

[@brochg]

Great review, Randy! These would definitely not be the headphone for me!

[@dowjones5981]

It's pronounce "Jim Crotch"!! HAHAHA!!!

[@DBB57]

Jim Crow-chee

[@1104kdd]

Always thought Crow-chay

[@mattbyrnes4171]

Yep! Came here to say just this!

[@odwatchguy]

Thanks Randy I really enjoyed the review. I am going to be thinking of slapping that big old catfish on the picnic table all day.

[@2wrdr]

Big fan of Sony MDR-7506 Studio as they reach gut low yet balanced (for my ears). In the world of value, what more would one one want at any price?

[@shrt64]

just a quick tip, place the mic elsewhere. :) Love your videos!

[@cheapaudioman]

thanks. you can come over and be my boom operator if you'd like. Unpaid internship... then you could give me more tips.

[@shrt64]

@@cheapaudioman I might consider. Just give me some time until war ends.

[@inquiringmind3306]

Why no reviews on Koss headphones? "Cheap"audioman needs to be cheaper than $100, but I guess it's all relative as far as what cheap is for people.

[@beranmuden6155]

Nice category to review. My next purchase will probably a good quality closed back headphone, so the misses won't be bothered with me leaking audio. If these will ship to Europe, they might be very interesting...

[@thisisnev]

Apart from the current fad for bits of dead trees, Randy, it seems to me that (IEMs apart) we really haven't made any great progress in headphone design in decades. Your description of the Blons' detailed but bass-shy sound reminds me of early 80s headphones like the Audio Technica ATH-3, while veterans like the AKG K240 and Sennheiser HD25 are still competitive in the marketplace today. We wouldn't tolerate an amp or DAC that was grossly deficient in bass, say, or muddy in the mids - why are we more forgiving of headphones with such glaring weaknesses, I wonder? Anyway, thanks for another informative review!

[@rsN90000]

Try the DT 770 or if you want it open the DT990 (Beyerdynamic) awesome headphones :)

[@kohnfutner9637]

Sennheiser HD 600 are light but they are very good. I kinda wish these were wireless and noise cancelling or open back. I sold my audio Technica m50x because I don't need closed back corded non noise cancelling when I got my Sennheisers.

[@heavychevy4616]

Advice Request Please- it sounds like u & i share some very similar taste in styles of music... with that in mind, im interested in a good, but of coarse affordable, set of blue tooth "over the ear" (?) headphones that will handle a sufficient dose of heavy "rock-style" bass & still do a decent job when i wanna listen to one of my old albert king recordings? just fyi for sake of a starting point, my current "beater" headphones are a set of jbl 600's that i wear working in my garage or mowing the yard, & their bass reproduction is not overwhelmingly great, but its sufficent for me for how i use them, but im not crazy about the "on the ear" design... but for some serious listening to my big bad yamaha unit, i think (open to suggestions) id like a more "over the ear" set up as opposed to the jbl's "on ear" design...?? always enjoy ur videos, & thank in advance for any advice u or the community here can share. thank u sir

[@Hi_Im_Dominik]

i found a video !! of headphones i wanted to compare

[@sidesup8286]

What's with it with all these guys that have A WALL OF HEADPHONES? How many headphones can you listen to at one time? You can listen to more than one pair of speakers at once, (preferably the same music), but headphones? How many headphones do you really need? By the way, in this comment I am really going to try to stick to the subject and not veer off into other things out of left field and go off on tangents. I heard that a lot of people, those that can afford it, are buying the very expensive Sennheiser 800 headphones. They are supposed to be about the biggest most open sounding headphones. Then they are buying these even more expensive tube headphone amplifiers, that sometimes cost thousands, in an attempt I guess, to get the ultimate in openness and large sound staging. Doesn't any decent set of loudspeakers have a much bigger soundstage and way more air between instruments than listening to even the finest set of headphones? If they wanted to get a breath of fresh air would they dig out an old box fan, put away since summer, instead of opening the door and stepping outside for some real fresh air? Talking about stepping outside, Jim Croce's most memorable big radio hit was Bad Bad Leroy Brown, "The baddest man in the whole damn town". "Bigger than old King Kong." Meaner than a junkyard dog." Croce's last name is pronounced like the word "encroach" without the "en" prefix, and then how your would pronounce an E. Like "Croach E". "Jim" is pronounced like "Gym", the class you would take in high school and skip out all year and still somehow get a B grade. His name is not pronounced "crochet" as in sewing. There was some kind of deep story behind the man Jim Croce, that no one can remember since we were teenagers. After going to Catholic school for 8 years, where there wasn't any gym class, the first day of gym class in "public school" was a real shocker for some. Especially the after class "shower". It reminded me of the scene in the Burl Ives talking snowman "Rudolph The Red Nosed Reindeer" scene where they were all at the reindeer games. The young reindeer were all gathered together to see just how they all stacked up. The shower after the first gym class reminded me of that. All of a sudden everything was exposed. Looking around you couldn't help but notice how you really stacked up! The ones that were not so well endowed, slowly but surely started to realize something somewhat disturbing. Some skipped out & went home after that and tried to deeply engross themselves in reading; and then read some more. While others went to the bargain afternoon movie matinee. I overheard one guy consoling a lesser endowed friend, "Don't worry about it." A lot of those guys are older." "They failed a few times; like that guy right over there". "After he was in the 5th grade, the next year they put him all the way back to the 3rd grade." "Keep your head up; way up." Others later in life became determined to be a Mercedes automobile owner or a sports car owner. If your ever wonder why as pedestrians, so many people get hit by someone in a Mercedes, maybe now you can understand. Don't trust them it cross walks! Especially if you're bony looking! And remember the gym teacher? He was often the health class teacher. I think we'd all be rich if we had just one dollar for every time he mentioned the word spirochit. Pronounced "Spiro", rhyming with Gyro, not the way the vice presidents name under Nixon was pronounced, and then "chit" rhyming with Keat. Pronounced "Spiro keat" You don't hear about spirochit organisms anymore, for some reason. People still do get social diseases, I know. I remember the many times the health teacher warned us to get treatment if we ever contracted anything, as soon as possibld. How with advanced syphilis your hair starts falling out all of a sudden, and then it attacks the brain, & then you start having all kind of strange irrelevant weird thoughts, and difficulty staying on the same subject when you're thinking. Another even greater acoustic guitar singer/songwriter is Gordon Lightfoot. If your hear Carefree Highway, and start singing it to yourself, you can't stop singing it. His most famous song is probably The Wreck Of The Edmund Fitzgerald. Today they had on the news how they discovered a long lost ship on the ocean floor that sank in 1915. They say there are thousands of tons of gold on the ocean floor from sunk ships of old. Way older than that. The sharks could be even worse than guards though. They'll eat just about anything.

[@rjzlwop3153]

Good morning rockstar thank you for a fantastic video

[@rjzlwop3153]

@@JohnJohn-lk4lq u r so sweet! God loves you!

[@rjzlwop3153]

@@JohnJohn-lk4lq I thought it was you?

[@Cousins08]

No bass? No thanks!

[@ginom407]

Ohhhh this should a good one!!!

[@ginom407]

This Was Good!!! I have a few headphones that lean towards being Bass heavy. These would add some variety to my collection. I'd rather have a collection that compliments each other not duplicates what I already have! 👍👍👍

[@ed_cetera]

The AKG K361 make my ears sweat

[@JohnDoe-np3zk]

More catfish!

[@svilenp]

👍😊

[@christophergaus3996]

Wait, before you got punched by a farmer... what did you say to a longshoreman?

[@tailgator5483]

Catfish free? Immediate deal breaker.

[@fiddlix]

Jim Kroshee…proper pronunciation.

[@ericpiazzi3444]

can't pronounce Jim Croce? lol, Great review kiddo!

[@illsubmarine]

Here is your angry comment about not knowing who Jim Croce is. I’m not mad I’m just disappointed 😢

[@russodazonasul]

I hate headphone sound, no matter how expensive it is.

[@gklinger]

Crow-chee.

[@boardeasy259]

crow chi or crow chee

[@markh3088]

Think I would rather have the Sennheiser HD 569 closed back for $130 than any of these junky third party products. Uggh.

[@Nordraw]

Those are good

[@CRAZYCRADER]

I had the HD 569 the Sivga Robin is a much better headphones in my opinion

[@Ray-bn7hr]

I bought a sivga sv-02 and here it’s what i noticed: Luxury build All the fake leather starts peeling of sooner than you expect. Great thumpy bass. Over-emphasised Sub bass Laid back sound signature. Led zeppelin, imagine dragons, and pop sound lot more engaging and impactfull than normal. You feel like wow and it makes you get up and dance. Pink Floyd sound horrible. I mean, there is good amount of detail retrieval but you immediately notice this is not what the artist meant you to hear. Cigarettes after s3x sound like trash and you would not listen to it four a full song. The sub bass is always there and it protrudes more than any elements in song. Psy-trance also horrible. The over emphasised bass won’t put you in the enjoyment state. Treble- Less sibliant than Beyerdynamic dt770 pro and ath m40x still having good detail retrieval and you won’t feel anything is lacking in treble department. Excellent and lovable treble response. Mids-always a bit laid back, good or bad depends on how bassy your song is. I still prefer my chinese iem or beyerdynamic for any vocal listening (didn’t mention my sennheisers because they are on other leage😂) Bass- as already said, you enjoy the over emphasis on it on some tracks but some tracks your mouse clicks on ‘next’ button because you don’t want to listen to the song because it is not as it used to be. (I like a bit of extra bass but not this bass which distract me) So, is it good or bad? Well, it purely depends on the type of music you listen to. It’s not at all neutral. There is a luxury feel on its build and sound. That’s my take on sivga sv-02. Thanks for reading.