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Today's Featured Head-Fi Blog: A Japanese headfier's monologue (Sasaki)
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WOW!!!! Just got my socks knocked off for the first time with a pair of headphones --> ESW9 !!!!!
I received my ESW9s yesterday and fell in love with them instantly (well actually after a quick 2 hour burn-in). I have to say, these headphones knocked my socks off like nothing else has ever done (amps, IEMs, DAPs - well maybe the Sony A818, but thats for another thread)!!!!
The first pair of headphones I tried were the HFI-780s. After 1 day of burn-in, I sold them the very next day and almost wrote off all headphones. I know more burn-in was supposed to improve them greatly, but I could not get past the analytical sound and harsh highs. I don't care how much burn-in was supposed to improve the highs, they were simply not what I was looking for. Neither was their bass. I wanted something warmer and lusher, and the ESW9s are exactly what I wanted.
I can not believe how good they sound for a portable headphone. Everyone that owns them is absolutely right, once you hear them, you will not want to take them off. They have a sound signature that gets me lost in the music like nothing else. The bass is amazing, the mids are great, and most importantly, the highs are perfect (not harsh, but smooth, just the way I like). I must have listened to them for 6 hours straight last night, listening to songs I haven't heard in a while and enjoying them like I have never before.
There are only 2 gripes I have about them :
1. Comfort - I don't have a problem with them pressing on my ear, but I don't like the headband on top of my head after about 4 hours. Maybe I'm just not use to wearing headphones since I have been strictly an IEM user. This is only my second headphone purchase and I heard they get more comfortable after 2 weeks of use.
2. Wife likes them so much that she did not want to take them off. (This is were the Only Child Syndrome kicks in and I don't want to share. )
She said she never knew music could sound like this. She was singing out loud and told me she couldn't help it.
Main point here is that the ESW9s have a warm lush sound signature that gets me completely lost in the music, and that's the whole point of listening to music, isn't it?
Previous ESW9 owners, what's the recommended burn-in time for these?
EDIT : Forgot to mention - they look great, and they sound great (to me) with all types of music I listen to (rock, hip-hop, pop, some techno).
Enjoy them...I did...Now I am enjoying the ones you rid yourself of...Isn't it great to have options! What amp and source are you using. The amp can have a major impact on the sound that you will hear.
__________________ Headphones: Stax: SR-007 MkII, SR-404, SR-003: Ultrasone: Edition 9:AT:ATH-ESW9/ESW10JPN Amps: Stax: SRM-T1S, SRM-252a, Headamp: KGSS(bg) Yamamoto: HA-02 Sources: Lavry DA10 (2), Oppo 981HD, Squeezebox V3, iMod, WD Passport HD 320 with FLAC files Misc: M-Audio USB Audiophile, HagUSB-XLR, Auricap Dock, IeGO and VD cables Feedback: http://www.head-fi.org/forums/f12/slwiser-129086/ <><
IC: Willing to sell Stax SR-404 and/or SRM-T1S and the Stax SRS-005II system
Using the iBasso D2 amp/dac. Now I have the itch to go by a decent home amp to see how much of a difference it can make.
Yes, having many options is very nice. I can't believe the difference between the 780 sound sig. and the ESW9s. They are polar opposites. After trying both of these, I know now that I prefer the warmer sound to the analytical sound.
I've had my ESW9's for a couple weeks now and burned them in about 75 hrs. They sound great and seem very stable in sound at 100 hrs...do not know if it needed it tho.
Yes a Fun /warm headphone and despite what some have said, plays all genre of music well...And they look so GOOD!
__________________
Tako
Headphone Amps: Pico, Stax SRM1Mk2pro series A and B, Stax SRD7pro/SRD 7mk2 to vintage 80's carver receiver/ TEAC A-H500 int amp, SRM-717 ...wishing for a KGST
Headphones: Ultrasone proline 2500, AT athESW9, Stax SR Lambda Pro X2, SR 303, SR Sigma, SR 007
Sources: Pico amp/dac, Lavry Da10, Beresford TC7510, Sony sacd555ES
Portable: Ipod video 30 gig> xenos X1HA EPC> AT anc7
I know the treble took a little longer to get to me as well and it was to much. I actually liked the sound of the 780's but physically got fatigued. Anyway the alo mod smooths it out (but the alo mod aint cheap either) and I just made a minor discovery.
I put some paper towels in the cups, Cut them to size and put them over the drivers. I was just comparing them to my alo mod and my Denon 2000 and it's way smoother then both with still a lot of oompth to the bass and still detailed. Shows how powerful the treble is to cut through hehehe...I want to find something better then paper towels though hahaha
But yea I been reading how gpod those ESW9's are and I kind of wish I had one hehehe but heck for the money they better sound good!
Ah, now I'm beginning to think I should have just went with the ESW9 instead of wandering around. I currently have the HFI-780, it's been good, but I haven't been amazed by it yet (listen to mostly classical), seems to lack "body" in the strings (at least at 120 hours burn-in).
I'm guessing you have an A818? How does it sound with it?
No, sold my A818 to get a Classic b4 I got the ESW9s, but now I miss that Sony bass (so addicting), and will be returning the Classic to Amazon to get the new 16GB Sony's coming out next week.
Ah, now I'm beginning to think I should have just went with the ESW9 instead of wandering around. I currently have the HFI-780, it's been good, but I haven't been amazed by it yet (listen to mostly classical), seems to lack "body" in the strings (at least at 120 hours burn-in).
I'm guessing you have an A818? How does it sound with it?
you definitely need more burn in and yeah these need more then most for burn in. You need like 400 hours with stock but taking out the diodes and re cable make it better for sure.
Try a cheap free mod, you can easily rip out the paper towels if you dont like it. Just cut to a little bigger then cup and insert them over the drivers. It's surprisingly smooth and I am enjoying my stock right now.
Using the iBasso D2 amp/dac. Now I have the itch to go by a decent home amp to see how much of a difference it can make.
Yes, having many options is very nice. I can't believe the difference between the 780 sound sig. and the ESW9s. They are polar opposites. After trying both of these, I know now that I prefer the warmer sound to the analytical sound.
How long did you burn yours in for?
I think the ESW9 actually needed very little burn-in but I would give it 50 hours anyway.
__________________ Headphones: Stax: SR-007 MkII, SR-404, SR-003: Ultrasone: Edition 9:AT:ATH-ESW9/ESW10JPN Amps: Stax: SRM-T1S, SRM-252a, Headamp: KGSS(bg) Yamamoto: HA-02 Sources: Lavry DA10 (2), Oppo 981HD, Squeezebox V3, iMod, WD Passport HD 320 with FLAC files Misc: M-Audio USB Audiophile, HagUSB-XLR, Auricap Dock, IeGO and VD cables Feedback: http://www.head-fi.org/forums/f12/slwiser-129086/ <><
IC: Willing to sell Stax SR-404 and/or SRM-T1S and the Stax SRS-005II system
you definitely need more burn in and yeah these need more then most for burn in. You need like 400 hours with stock but taking out the diodes and re cable make it better for sure.
Try a cheap free mod, you can easily rip out the paper towels if you dont like it. Just cut to a little bigger then cup and insert them over the drivers. It's surprisingly smooth and I am enjoying my stock right now.
Can we please not turn ESW9 thread into another HFI-780 one?
WOW!!!! Just got my socks knocked off for the first time with a pair of headphones --> ESW9 !!!!!
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