Originally Posted by jpelg
"....I originally planned to do more listening this time than usual, but that really didn't happen. Here's a few tidbits from my mental notes though:
Sony R10 - It's been a while since I've had some listening time with these. This pair was a late-production (high serial number) with plenty of lush bass. The MicroZotl amp powering it kept it from getting out of hand. Not always the last word in high-frequency extension (and sometimes I crave more), the R10's excel at creating one of the most (of not the most) 3-dimensional soundstage of any headphone. I don't know how Sony did it with a close headphone *shrug*!
Sony CD3000 - After hearing some wonderful things out of the R10's, I tried these again hoping for the best. Other than the similiar plush physical comfort, I'm afraid these share nothing with its wooden sibling sonically. Boomy undefined bass, peaky highs, scooped out midrange - and this out of a Meitner source and Zana Deux amp. Next!
Sony 010 - The TOTL headphone of the how defunct Qualia brand, these provide a crystal clear view of the music. The total opposite of the R10 in form and function, yet both are stellar. They would be terrific compliments to each other (albeit with differently tuned associated gear).
Beyerdynamic DT880('03) vs. Sennheiser HD600 vs. Ultrasone 2500 - These were compared using a Merdian G08 and Rudistor NX-33 amp ran in a balanced configuration. The Senns, cabled as balanced, were polite but a tad warm for my taste. The Ultrasones were extremely muddy & basically unlistenable, not to mention uncomfortable. The Beyers were spot-on and the winner by a longshot. The Rudistor amp was pretty nice, btw!
I'm bringing this post here, as it is more or less what you said above about the PROLines, but also include another opinions that I would like to use as an example on how different opinions could be in a given topic, and nothing wrong on that. One more time, I always tell the new guys, that we need to hear by ourselves to arrive to our own conclusions, and try to find our holy grail....from some time on, I never trust any others ears, just this pair of rusty, clothy...and old ones...
After reading these (and others from another members as well) in the NYC meeting impressions thread, we couldn't disagree more, and it shows how diferent we hear...
Just to give the OP an idea of how different opinions in a given topic could be, I do feel that the CD3K is IMO the closest headphone to the R-10 in sound, and presentation among the ones I have heard, having the R-10 a better bass, but I feel the rest pretty close, and I'm not alone on that, and I have heard a few headphones, and that is the main reason I keep two pairs around, as I can not afford the R-10, even if I find one.
OTOH the HD600 and DT880 sound like a joke IMO, in comparison to the PRolines, at least in single ended mode (I have not compared all of them balanced configuration side by side)
But if you heard that difference, maybe the PROLines do not benefit at all from the balanced topology, maybe due to the particular design they have...Also are you sure that the PROLINES were wired as balanced, i mean wires from both cups down??? I'm asking as the NX-33 sounds different in Balanced, and in SE mode...if you heard the HD600 and DT880 in balanced mode, and later the PROLines in the SE jack, even at the same time, you are not hearing them in the same setup, the sound is different in both jacks, (but in the worst scenario it should never be as you described it with the PROLines)
My sugestion ot the OP, is to listen them by yourself, specially the Ultrasones, also consider that they need time to get used to them...
BTW at least we agree on the comfort part (they are not comfortable headphones as the CD3K/R-10 are)....
