The ultimate closed isolating headphones (reduce)

So a new crop of closed headphones have been released. What in your honest opinion is the very best currently manufacturered closed headphone? By closed I specifically mean those that isolate to a good degree so TH900s and ilk are out of the running.

EDIT: Title should say redux but oh well.

 

I've always wondered about the Beyerdynamic T5p. But I never got it because I heard it's painfully sybilant.There really isn't much out there in the closed can world. Audeze LCD XC? But that's too big and looks funny.

Damn it I really should have gotten that fostex TH00X on massdrop. Only $400.

 

I stand by the Mad Dog for a sealed headphone. I use it in the office and it blocks out EVERYTHING and doesn't even come close to leaking (I'm using Dog Pads, not Alpha Pads...I would assume Alpha Pads have more of a seal. I'm guessing similar mods would yield similar results.

 

Focal Spirit Pro. The tuning is absolutely spot on perfect. The comfort and build reliability is one of the worst ...

 

The NAD VISO HP50 is probably the best isolating closed back I have experienced. Has a pleasant, slightly warm sound signature and I find it quite comfortable. Aesthetically, they are...bizarre

 

I think they're discontinued now, but if you can find Beyerdynamic gel pads they are possibly the most isolating earpads you can have for whatever headphone they'll fit. No guarantees on what they'll do for sound though.

 

Hated the fit of both the HP50 and FSP. The former would quickly cause pain on either the top of my head or my ears. The latter's pad is simply too small for normal ears.

 

The Omni isolates surprisingly well. They're my plane headphones and evidently they don't leak enough to bother people.

 

Although some closed phones isolate better than others, I haven't found any that isolate so well as some IEMs.

I like Paradox and Blackwood. They sound quite different, and Paradox isolates more than Blackwood did with Alpha pads (I need to visit Zach and hear his new pads already).

 

For me, using the angled HM5 pads on the HP50 alleviated the pressure on top of the head by distributing more pressure around, but not on, the ears. Still not perfect but greatly improved comfort. The stock pads were a no-go for me.

 

Interesting, the comfort isn't too bad for me but I may have to try this. Did you notice any significant changes to the sound signature? I really don't like how the HM5 pads altered my MSR7's

 

Just to clarify, I have a pair of Blackwoods coming soon. Meant this to more be a discussion on closed headphones in general rather than recommendations for me.

 

Engimas, Paradoxes, Slants, X00 or UERMs. Almost everything else is questionable.

 

I didn't notice any significant changes but I'm quite the novice at describing such comparisons. What I will say is that with the original pads and both the regular pleather and angled pleather HM5 pads, I could eventually dial in the right sound with the right positioning and seal. With the additional (but comfortable) clamping force of the thicker pads around the ear, finding the right position and getting a good seal is so much easier. The shape of my noggin probably play a roll in that.

 

The best closed cans I've heard are the T5p and the K553. Both sound almost open because of their wide soundstage...and both isolate extremely well.

 

JVC HP-DX1000 is my top pick.

Looking forward to the AudioQuest NightOwl as well.

Fostex TH-X00 isn't closed enough to call it closed. It might isolate slightly better than the TH-600/900, but that's only with the stock pads and it's only by a couple dB. It's still semi-closed.

 

M50x deserves a nod

 

IMHE with closed cans, K550 isolate well. Enough to completely tune-out my wife.

;-)

 

Have you ever tried the Blackwood or Alphadog?