This will be more of my impressions/comparisons and less of a review. I will be comparing them to the HD800 & K712 Pro ran over USB to the Cayin Spark C5 DAC/Amp (HD800 - Low Gain, K12 - Low Gain, R70x - High Gain between 3-4 on the volume pot). I picked the songs i picked because they're what I listen to. Why not introduce people to new music?
A bit about my tastes:
What are my musical preferences? I now mostly listen to Acoustic Folk Pop Americana (yes, this is what music has come to), Country, Pop, Indie/Alternative, Jazz/Blues/Bluegrass. Much different from what i grew up on, Hip Hop, R&B, Screamo, Pop Punk, and Musicals (weird right) which i still appreciate and enjoy. I enjoy a wide variety of music because of my influences around me growing up and I was actually in a symphonic band for 7 years and was very passionate about it and a Green Day/Yellowcard cover band for 3 years. I'm all over the place...
As others have commented about the neutral signature (flatness), don’t think of it as nothing standing out over the other or hearing peaks or even the lack of anything else in the FR. Think of it as a great balance and harmony of the tonality of the phones.
+Pros - Neutral, Lightweight, Transparent, Separation, Soundstage, Engaging, Comfort
-Cons - Hard to Drive, Needs Good Amp, Cord Build Quality, Detail and Imagery with Heavily Layered Music, Cord Build Quality
Plastic interlock seems questionable as well as the longevity of the base.
Sound:
Tonal Balance - I would say mids are best presented, I would compare them to UE 7’s to my knowledge. But that doesn’t necessarily mean it’s ahead of anything else. Everytime I think to myself, “oh this has really good bass, but wait, it doesn’t overpower the mids” i say the same for the highs, “the drums and strings sound full and extended, but don’t hurt my ears and aren't really in the background”.
Soundstage - Above average. K712’s reach is just a smidge further than the R70x. The big thing I would like to note is the Soundstage Signature of each is presented differently. R70x brings a different approach IMO to how it’s presented, as most may be used to the feeling of the sound like being in a room and the sound is being imaged in front of you, you notice the distance between you and the music. I try explain a little later about what listening to these sound like. To give another image, HD800s you are in the conductor's position, with the R70x it’s like you’re in the middle of the band.
Transparency - These are where they excel. All instruments/vocals sound the most natural of the 3.
Isolation - The most open of all 3 compared in this impressions post.
Comfort - The most comfortable of any I've worn. I used to think HD800 we're top in comfort, but that was after rotating through a few planars. Put these on and they be like the sunglasses you forgot you put up on top of your head.
Bass - I think bass is a preference, if you’re expecting it and it’s not there, you must be used to signatures with more bass. When you’re presented with “flat” headphones what do you expect? These do have nice rich, well presented bass. It’s not “booming” and definitely not overpowering, fatiguing or really feint. For my tastes, it’s just right.
Mids - Full bodied, thick, seemingly forward.
Highs - Full bodied natural tone. Nice extension.
Here are a few selection of categories, just to give an idea, what I heard listening to the 3. YMMV.
Jazz
John Coltrane - Locomotion
HD 800 - Great airiness, that Soundstage! That Ride is a tad harsh. The Bass Guitar is really lacking almost hidden and has an emphasis on the upper mid tones. Piano has a great transparency, but again getting to those higher notes becomes harsh. The response and sound of the drums during solo is best, except for the kick drum sounding like an empty 5 gal bucket.
K712 - Ride sounds a little thin, Brass a little lacking. Better sepration of instrumentation. Piano near end of track sounds unnatural (tinny like). Drum solo sounded like listening to a recording of the drums.
R70x - High hats are nice and tight, Ride is natural and has nice extension. Sax and Trumpets have nice punch to them and quickness in trills. Snare has a nice distance from the the symbols. Bass is well present and just behind and not overpowering, energetic. Mids are pronounced. Piano has nice tone and fullness during the solo. Favorite of the 3.
Classical
Frederic Hymen Cowen - Indian Rhapsody
HD 800 - Best soundstage and detail. Liveliest of the 3, most energetic and speed. Tight and the best extension of the 3.
K712 - Nice airiness, soundstage, whimsical and engaging woodwinds. Lacking in Bass presence. Nice punch to brass and quickness all around. Favorite of the 3, but still lacking that fullness.
R70x - Worst depth and separation performance on this heavily orchestrated recording. Least engaging. Least transparent. Nice fullness, tonality and extension to singled out instruments. The soundstage signature of the R70x was not suitable for this song. The imagery was muddied and not comparable to the other 2.
Acoustic
Beta Radio - First Began - I chose this song because it’s from one of my favorite records of 2014 and has a good mix of stringed instruments.
HD 800 - Lacking in fullness and warmth in the strings. Weakest in kick drum presence.
K712 - Favorite of the 3. No uneasiness in the FR. Good separation, airiness and space. Most engaging on this song. Nice fullness to vocals.
R70x - Most natural tonality of the strings of the 3. Not as spacious between instruments. Almost “veiled” too warm sounding (could be my amp though). Best Bass presence. Mid focused.
Live
Ben Howard - Small Things (Spotify Sessions): I picked this song for the really intense hammering and spacious reverb and tenor range vocals. Actually, I could listen to all the Spotify Sessions on the R70x, all day!
HD 800: Most spacious stage of the 3, more distance between the music and listener. Hammering and vocals in the higher registers become a little harsh. Better tonality and clarity.
K712: Slightly colder than the R70x. Flatter signature, less engaging. More distant that the R70x, but something about R70x being a little more forward gives you a greater sense of space within the music.
In a diagram sense: more of an out of your head experience.
K712: .(....o....).
R70x: ….(.o.)....
R70x: Hammering and vocal harshness is balanced out by slightly rounded warmer signature. Most balanced of the 3. No increase in sensitivity within the FRs. Most engaging of the 3. Favorite of the 3.
Rock
Boston - Foreplay / Long Time
HD 800 - Crashes sound slushy, best soundstage, but weaker lows don’t give a great image. Thin highs. Best control and tightness.
K712 - Favorite of the 3, best performance of soundstage, great imagery. very flat balanced signature.
R70x - Weakest in sense of imagery, smaller soundstage, excels in transparency, but once guitars jump in, things gets muddy. Best Mids performer. Takes control of the song after the blaring jam session during the intro and into Long Time, but when the guitar goes into distortion it loses the separation. 2nd favorite.
Pop
Kygo w/ Parson James - Stole The Show
HD 800 - Massive Soundstage, Bass not tight, Vocals thin, symbols thin
K712 - Bass doesn’t go that low (muffled), good airiness, nice soundstage, vocals just a bit behind the bass. Synth sounds lacking in engagement.
R70x - Excellent Soundstage, Excellent Controlled Bass, good vocal presence. Favorite of the 3
My Usual Initial Test Tracks:
These are my go-tos to test soundstage and some bass. My usual test track for imagery is Amber Rubarth's - Don't You. The first time i listened to HD800 out of a Schitt Stack was on this track and i literally turned to the left cause i thought someone turned a speaker on next to me, the R70x represents this very well. My usual bass and sub bass track is Metronomy - The Look (Two Inch Punch's Shook Shook Refix) because the synth bass is hard to produce well, and again, the R70x replicates a very deep full bass.
Final Notes:
Listening to the R70xs doesn’t feel like i’m listening to headphones or speakers at that. It feels like the sound is just there, that kind of natural sound presentation. It may also partly have to do with how lightweight the headphones are. When zoned into the music you really can’t tell you’re wearing them. Listening to the K712 i can tell that the sound is coming out of each speaker, i am aware of it. The HD800, beside having the more open staging and their front angle signature design. It sounds as if you’re listening to really fantastic speakers, but still, i am aware of the presence of the sound coming from the drivers. The R70x soundstage is certainly not as expansive as the HD800s, but it gives you a unique out of your head experience in it’s own way. Listening on the R70x is really an enjoyable experience. It’s a joyride for the ears. It’s like walking the the stage of movie set rather than watching an IMAX experience of the HD800s. It excels more than it disappoints and can be thrown at most genres. I recommend them for Acoustic, Pop, Jazz/Blues, and especially well recorded Live Music. I recommend staying away from heavily layered music and crunchy guitars. Get yourself a pair and enjoy!
A bit about my tastes:
What are my musical preferences? I now mostly listen to Acoustic Folk Pop Americana (yes, this is what music has come to), Country, Pop, Indie/Alternative, Jazz/Blues/Bluegrass. Much different from what i grew up on, Hip Hop, R&B, Screamo, Pop Punk, and Musicals (weird right) which i still appreciate and enjoy. I enjoy a wide variety of music because of my influences around me growing up and I was actually in a symphonic band for 7 years and was very passionate about it and a Green Day/Yellowcard cover band for 3 years. I'm all over the place...
As others have commented about the neutral signature (flatness), don’t think of it as nothing standing out over the other or hearing peaks or even the lack of anything else in the FR. Think of it as a great balance and harmony of the tonality of the phones.
+Pros - Neutral, Lightweight, Transparent, Separation, Soundstage, Engaging, Comfort
-Cons - Hard to Drive, Needs Good Amp, Cord Build Quality, Detail and Imagery with Heavily Layered Music, Cord Build Quality
Plastic interlock seems questionable as well as the longevity of the base.
Sound:
Tonal Balance - I would say mids are best presented, I would compare them to UE 7’s to my knowledge. But that doesn’t necessarily mean it’s ahead of anything else. Everytime I think to myself, “oh this has really good bass, but wait, it doesn’t overpower the mids” i say the same for the highs, “the drums and strings sound full and extended, but don’t hurt my ears and aren't really in the background”.
Soundstage - Above average. K712’s reach is just a smidge further than the R70x. The big thing I would like to note is the Soundstage Signature of each is presented differently. R70x brings a different approach IMO to how it’s presented, as most may be used to the feeling of the sound like being in a room and the sound is being imaged in front of you, you notice the distance between you and the music. I try explain a little later about what listening to these sound like. To give another image, HD800s you are in the conductor's position, with the R70x it’s like you’re in the middle of the band.
Transparency - These are where they excel. All instruments/vocals sound the most natural of the 3.
Isolation - The most open of all 3 compared in this impressions post.
Comfort - The most comfortable of any I've worn. I used to think HD800 we're top in comfort, but that was after rotating through a few planars. Put these on and they be like the sunglasses you forgot you put up on top of your head.
Bass - I think bass is a preference, if you’re expecting it and it’s not there, you must be used to signatures with more bass. When you’re presented with “flat” headphones what do you expect? These do have nice rich, well presented bass. It’s not “booming” and definitely not overpowering, fatiguing or really feint. For my tastes, it’s just right.
Mids - Full bodied, thick, seemingly forward.
Highs - Full bodied natural tone. Nice extension.
Here are a few selection of categories, just to give an idea, what I heard listening to the 3. YMMV.
Jazz
John Coltrane - Locomotion
HD 800 - Great airiness, that Soundstage! That Ride is a tad harsh. The Bass Guitar is really lacking almost hidden and has an emphasis on the upper mid tones. Piano has a great transparency, but again getting to those higher notes becomes harsh. The response and sound of the drums during solo is best, except for the kick drum sounding like an empty 5 gal bucket.
K712 - Ride sounds a little thin, Brass a little lacking. Better sepration of instrumentation. Piano near end of track sounds unnatural (tinny like). Drum solo sounded like listening to a recording of the drums.
R70x - High hats are nice and tight, Ride is natural and has nice extension. Sax and Trumpets have nice punch to them and quickness in trills. Snare has a nice distance from the the symbols. Bass is well present and just behind and not overpowering, energetic. Mids are pronounced. Piano has nice tone and fullness during the solo. Favorite of the 3.
Classical
Frederic Hymen Cowen - Indian Rhapsody
HD 800 - Best soundstage and detail. Liveliest of the 3, most energetic and speed. Tight and the best extension of the 3.
K712 - Nice airiness, soundstage, whimsical and engaging woodwinds. Lacking in Bass presence. Nice punch to brass and quickness all around. Favorite of the 3, but still lacking that fullness.
R70x - Worst depth and separation performance on this heavily orchestrated recording. Least engaging. Least transparent. Nice fullness, tonality and extension to singled out instruments. The soundstage signature of the R70x was not suitable for this song. The imagery was muddied and not comparable to the other 2.
Acoustic
Beta Radio - First Began - I chose this song because it’s from one of my favorite records of 2014 and has a good mix of stringed instruments.
HD 800 - Lacking in fullness and warmth in the strings. Weakest in kick drum presence.
K712 - Favorite of the 3. No uneasiness in the FR. Good separation, airiness and space. Most engaging on this song. Nice fullness to vocals.
R70x - Most natural tonality of the strings of the 3. Not as spacious between instruments. Almost “veiled” too warm sounding (could be my amp though). Best Bass presence. Mid focused.
Live
Ben Howard - Small Things (Spotify Sessions): I picked this song for the really intense hammering and spacious reverb and tenor range vocals. Actually, I could listen to all the Spotify Sessions on the R70x, all day!
HD 800: Most spacious stage of the 3, more distance between the music and listener. Hammering and vocals in the higher registers become a little harsh. Better tonality and clarity.
K712: Slightly colder than the R70x. Flatter signature, less engaging. More distant that the R70x, but something about R70x being a little more forward gives you a greater sense of space within the music.
In a diagram sense: more of an out of your head experience.
K712: .(....o....).
R70x: ….(.o.)....
R70x: Hammering and vocal harshness is balanced out by slightly rounded warmer signature. Most balanced of the 3. No increase in sensitivity within the FRs. Most engaging of the 3. Favorite of the 3.
Rock
Boston - Foreplay / Long Time
HD 800 - Crashes sound slushy, best soundstage, but weaker lows don’t give a great image. Thin highs. Best control and tightness.
K712 - Favorite of the 3, best performance of soundstage, great imagery. very flat balanced signature.
R70x - Weakest in sense of imagery, smaller soundstage, excels in transparency, but once guitars jump in, things gets muddy. Best Mids performer. Takes control of the song after the blaring jam session during the intro and into Long Time, but when the guitar goes into distortion it loses the separation. 2nd favorite.
Pop
Kygo w/ Parson James - Stole The Show
HD 800 - Massive Soundstage, Bass not tight, Vocals thin, symbols thin
K712 - Bass doesn’t go that low (muffled), good airiness, nice soundstage, vocals just a bit behind the bass. Synth sounds lacking in engagement.
R70x - Excellent Soundstage, Excellent Controlled Bass, good vocal presence. Favorite of the 3
My Usual Initial Test Tracks:
These are my go-tos to test soundstage and some bass. My usual test track for imagery is Amber Rubarth's - Don't You. The first time i listened to HD800 out of a Schitt Stack was on this track and i literally turned to the left cause i thought someone turned a speaker on next to me, the R70x represents this very well. My usual bass and sub bass track is Metronomy - The Look (Two Inch Punch's Shook Shook Refix) because the synth bass is hard to produce well, and again, the R70x replicates a very deep full bass.
Final Notes:
Listening to the R70xs doesn’t feel like i’m listening to headphones or speakers at that. It feels like the sound is just there, that kind of natural sound presentation. It may also partly have to do with how lightweight the headphones are. When zoned into the music you really can’t tell you’re wearing them. Listening to the K712 i can tell that the sound is coming out of each speaker, i am aware of it. The HD800, beside having the more open staging and their front angle signature design. It sounds as if you’re listening to really fantastic speakers, but still, i am aware of the presence of the sound coming from the drivers. The R70x soundstage is certainly not as expansive as the HD800s, but it gives you a unique out of your head experience in it’s own way. Listening on the R70x is really an enjoyable experience. It’s a joyride for the ears. It’s like walking the the stage of movie set rather than watching an IMAX experience of the HD800s. It excels more than it disappoints and can be thrown at most genres. I recommend them for Acoustic, Pop, Jazz/Blues, and especially well recorded Live Music. I recommend staying away from heavily layered music and crunchy guitars. Get yourself a pair and enjoy!
