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The Last of the Qualias - Page 3

post #31 of 65
4/10/06 at 7:10pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Mercuttio
I probably wouldn't be such a staunch Grado activist if it wasn't for the fact that I could literally walk 10 blocks and throw stones at their windows though...
I'd be careful with that move. Last time I was there, John had a rather serious looking bouncer (who went by the name of Bluto) gaurding the door!
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post #32 of 65
4/10/06 at 8:14pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Wmcmanus
I'd be careful with that move. Last time I was there, John had a rather serious looking bouncer (who went by the name of Bluto) gaurding the door!
Eeep! Well, maybe I'd hurl insults from a distance!

"Some people find the quality of your lower end headphones suspect!"

"Why don't you get off your lazy behind and make a closed can!"

Yes... yes those should cut him to the bone!
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post #33 of 65
4/10/06 at 10:46pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Wmcmanus
I think the Qualia headbands break because the majority of people who own them can't get them to fit properly and thus are always fidgeting with them, trying everything possible to get them to seal in a meaningful way. Enough twisting and turning over time and eventually they will break.
They break because there's an internal support with a coating over it that goes most of the way around the headband. However, the internal support stops just before the earpiece, leaving unsupported plastic, CF or whatever where the earpiece is attached to the headband. Guess where the most torque would be applied if someone were to hold the headphone by the earpiece? Yep, the break in the internal support of the headband is located right at the point where the most force will be applied to the headband, should the earpiece twist in any way. Hence, the headbands break. It's simply bad engineering.
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post #34 of 65
4/10/06 at 11:02pm
Thread Starter 
Here is a picture of what Hirsch is talking about:

http://members.shaw.ca/gmtmaster/Hi-Fi/000107953.jpg

The earpads looks like they completely wrap around your outer ear, but they really don't. The inner rim of the pads is what completely circles your ear, and the rest of the padding is not flush against the side of your head. I'm probably not getting a perfect seal right now though.

Surroundcity.com, which sold the cans to me says that they will personally honor the warranty, but they obviously won't be able to obtain a replacement should repairs be necessary. I'm not sure how this would work and hope never to find out.

I didn't know that the headband was carbon fibre. Sony describes the materials as magnesium. Anyway, carbon fibre on F1 cars are extremely durable but have one major weakness: their weave pattern will determine a fairly vulnerable point of impact that if hit, twisted, strained will shatter.
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post #35 of 65
4/10/06 at 11:29pm
So this is it for Qualia for real then, huh? What does that leave us with for flagship headphones that you can actually buy new?
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post #36 of 65
4/10/06 at 11:47pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by applebook
Here is a picture of what Hirsch is talking about:

http://members.shaw.ca/gmtmaster/Hi-Fi/000107953.jpg

The earpads looks like they completely wrap around your outer ear, but they really don't. The inner rim of the pads is what completely circles your ear, and the rest of the padding is not flush against the side of your head. I'm probably not getting a perfect seal right now though.
if they were fitted correctly, the rest of the padding should rest flush against your head. i've noticed that i get a better seal with the headphones further back on my head. if they're too far forward, the curvature of the pads pushes the cups away from my head and i start to get a hollow sound.
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post #37 of 65
4/11/06 at 12:14am


When I sent mine back to Sony in Tokyo, they wanted me to pay for the repair. I told them that I was fine paying for the repair, but it was disappointing given the headphones were under 1 year old and that they had broken completely randomly and that I had taken good care of the headphones. After that reply they said that they'd fix it without charging me as it appeared I hadn't done anything to break it.

I must admit being somewhat surprised that I had to push back like this. It was not what I expected from the Qualia staff.

Well, enough of that. Congrats applebook! Hope you enjoy your Qualia as much as I like mine.



















































Oh heck, I can't resist. Qualia pr*n!




















(heh, man ought to dust the cans before taking photos...)

Best,

-Jason
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post #38 of 65
4/11/06 at 12:40am
sweet headphones. What camera are you using?
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post #39 of 65
4/11/06 at 12:50am
Thread Starter 
Nice shots, JJ. I'm using a Sony digicam!

Sony as a company is quite innovative, but some of their policies are ethically criminal. I still resent them for not licensing the MD to more companies and for not making a serious push for that format over here in NA.

fureshi, I thought that might be the case. The contoured shape of the pads made me think that it was possibly not meant to sit flush. I guess that I'll have to adjust the headband's height for a better fit. Right now it's a bit loose.
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post #40 of 65
4/11/06 at 1:02am
Quote:
Originally Posted by applebook
Right now it's a bit loose.
Be very careful with those screws, apparently they strip easily. Congrats again!

Best,

-Jason
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post #41 of 65
4/11/06 at 1:19am
wow!

How do they compare to SA5000s?
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post #42 of 65
4/11/06 at 1:45am
Quote:
Originally Posted by jvbb2005
wow!

How do they compare to SA5000s?
Previous page. He goes:

Quote:
Originally Posted by applebook
After 2 1/2 CDs, I can say that its sound signature is not too far from the SA5000 but isn't as bright. So far, the Qualia is very neutral, perhaps too balanced for some tastes.
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post #43 of 65
4/11/06 at 2:35am
The qualia has a similar sonic signature as the SA5000 but IMO it is far superior in every aspect and SA5000 is already very good.
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post #44 of 65
4/11/06 at 2:42am
SA5k is punchier and more macho sounding. It's more upfront, has a touch of Grado tossed into it. Also has more seperation/definition around the instruments.

But soundstage isn't as wide and doesn't image anywhere nearly as well. 010 sounds more refined and can be described as relatively more laid-back. Texturally, SA5k brings it a bit more forward which lets you feel it more. But 010 sounds more real as it's more natural in this regard.

010 the drivers have the ability to disappear due to its imaging/soundstage. SA5k doesn't.

Sonically, the 010 is like you're sitting in the front row of the audience. SA5k sounds more like you're in the recording booth listening to the live feeds the recording engineer is getting.

I can understand why people say the SA5k is the brighter can, as its treble is more upfront. But when the 010 doesn't want to play nice, it is the brightest can I own. But the 010 isn't about when it doesn't want to play nice. Unfortunately, seems like that's what 90% of the folk out there have heard on brief auditions. I find even now, if I spend too much time with other cans, it takes me a few minutes to get readjusted to the 010.

Many sonic characteristics, such as those described above, make the SA5k the better headphone for my music (JPop). But the superiority of the 010 as a headphone keeps it on my head 9 times out of 10.

I really ought to write up that full comparison review one of these days...

Best,

-Jason
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post #45 of 65
4/11/06 at 2:47am
Quote:
Originally Posted by jjcha
SA5k is punchier and more macho sounding. It's more upfront, has a touch of Grado tossed into it. Also has more separation/definition around the instruments. But soundstage isn't as wide and doesn't image anywhere nearly as well. 010 sounds more refined and can be described as relatively more laid-back. Texturally, SA5k brings it a bit more forward which lets you feel it more. But 010 sounds more real as it's more natural in this regard.

010 the drivers have the ability to disappear due to its imaging/soundstage. SA5k doesn't.

I can understand why people say the SA5k is the brighter can, it's treble is more upfront. But when the 010 doesn't want to play nice, it is the brightest can I own. But the 010 isn't about when it doesn't want to play nice. Unfortunately, seems like that's what 90% of the folk out there have heard on brief auditions.

Many sonic characteristics, such as those described above, make the SA5k the better headphone for my music (JPop). But the superiority of the 010 as a headphone keeps it on my head 9 times out of 10.

I really ought to write up that full comparison review one of these days...

Best,

-Jason
Hi Jason,

Are you saying that the SA5000s has more details than 010 while the 010s have better soundstage and are relatively more laid back?

Can't wait for your full comparsion review
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