had both the KZ ZSX Pro and TFZ No.3 around the same time and the No.3 are so much better, and the price difference back then was only about x2, which made me less likely to try another KZ set

haven't used my No.3s in a while now but they're definitely great - really easy to drive, fit my ears really well, V-shaped sound with a strong DD bass but clean and not bloated, highs can get a bit piercing.

honestly my s12 pro and no.3 sound very very similar, with the no.3 fit being a bit better, so I'd say they're still a great set in today's market

yup that's a valid reason, my HD800 don't really leave my desktop setup

Apparently you can get the same effect with EQ so I don't really see a point in taking the risk to mod them

I wasn't wowed by them when I first got them, but going back to something else after using them for a while taught me how good they really are.

The "veil" is definitely noticeable and they require EQ to really show their potential.

Kevin's other OSTs are amazing as well, like the Rising of the Shield Hero's OST, definitely recommend.

mushoku tensei has great music but horribly mastered :( overblown low end that sadly blankets everything and ruins the masterpieces they could've been.

The Audioquest Dragonflies are a bit outdated and overpriced considering what you can buy nowadays, and not much of an upgrade over some onboard solutions (guessing he has a decent mobo since you mentioned he plays competitively).

Put it on hold until you can afford something a bit nicer if he ends up not satisfied with onboard, but also no need to exaggerate with how good entry level dac/amps are nowadays.

Like you've said, while the HD800s etc' really do everything better, they did make me appreciate how stupidly good the HD6xx line is especially with EQ, they're definitely not $1300 apart (bought my HD800 used, just needed earpads replacement).

You're awesome and wish you both a long, happy and healthy life together.

Sadly they won't sound as good as they can unless they're paired with a Samsung device as well due to the Samsung Scalable Codec, their proprietary bluetooth codec.

but some will consider him less credible if he's invested in the competition, potentially giving his reviews lower scores than he normally would have

it's your brain that adjusts over time, not the drivers - these don't change over the life of the headphones