Any GS1000/E9/JVC1000 impressions?

Originally Posted by arnaud

I had the opportunity today to listen to the Edition 9, JVC DX1000, Denon D2000 and compare them against my reference headphones (Senns HD650 and AKG K701) driven by a RSA Tomahawk (high gain) and iPod nano/lossless.

Quick comparisons against the Edition 9:
- AKG K701 lack major body which is ok when you listen to them exclusively but when switching to the Ultrasone, there's no going back.
- Senns 650 are really comfortable soundwise. I actually feel they're "close" tonally to the ultrasone but just very mellow. Nice in itself (especially for bad recordings) but quite boring relative to the ultrasone. It just does not move me. Also bass is good but neither as tight or "realistic" as the Ultrasone.
- JVC DX1000 have a nice bass, rather warm sound. But I had a problem with the midrange: it sounds cavernous, hollow. The same feeling I got with many closed headphones (AKG K271 for example). I thus quickly skipped this one. The JVC and Ultrasone are in two different leagues IMO.
- Denon D2000: I did not like them so much because the bass wasn't too firm and the soundstage was quite poor (left / center / right). Overall, the tonal balance is a bit hi-fi I feel (boosted bass and treble, recessed midrange). But they had that kick (you guys call it prat I guess?) that made them more lively than the Senns, sort of reminiscent of the Ultrasone in fact.

arnaud.

Originally Posted by arnaud

I have noticed I can crank up the music to dangerously high levels with my Ultrasone Edition 9 (c.f. rig in signature). It's almost irresistable for some rock music, borderline unsafe I would say! Absolutely no sign of compression, hardness , pure dynamics...

I did spend 5 minutes with the GS-1000 at the store where I purchased the Edition 9, I did not like them (too bright) out of a tomahawk / iPod nano. I wasn't too excited with the comfort so did not really give them a fair try I would say. Still, if you're after a rock headphone that's not afraid of being loud, the Ed9 is a good - albeit expensive - contender!

Originally Posted by arnaud

It's a bit early for me to make comments since I barely listened to my newly acquired UE9 in my rig (Opera) but I am not sure why those cans are categorized as rock headphones? Is it because the bass is one of the best out there (possibly the best in production headphones)?

I personally listen to more jazz or acoustic instruments music than amplified rock or electronic music. And of all the headphones I have owned (and heard at meets), the UE9 does feel like a great all rounder. Actually, it's a classical piece of music that made this can win me over at the store (while doing A-B with the K701 and HD650)!!

It's got all I need for jazz and classical: soundstage, detail, body. For rock, requirements are a bit more limited I feel: solid bottom end, bright but not harsh treble, dynamics. But I don't think it's fair to say the UE9 really just excel for rock.

Also, I am particularly sensitive to irrealistic midrange. The cans I have owned (except Grado RS2) or own illustrate what I need (AKG 240S, HD650, AKG K701). And here again, I do not see a problem with UE9's midrange.

Each of us hears differently, that's probably the only solid evidence here!!

Arnaud.

Originally Posted by arnaud

I agree the listening test is mendatory. You obsviously favor wide / airy soundstage over a precise one, hence you're disqualifying the Ed9 as speaker like in their presentation. It's the total opposite for me, I do feel the Ed9 have the most speaker like presentation in their effortless ability to reproduce the true depth of the soundstage, which is something I have sort of given up on with the HD650 and K701...

Originally Posted by arnaud

It's good you mention "IMO" and the paragraph about wide range of tastes among head-fi listeners.

In your case, I am surprised you judge the bass of Ed 9 to be overblown, while at the same time praising the SR-007 which are most definitely bassy compared to the Ed 9.

It must have to do with the size of the ears for how widely people respond to Edition 9. They're not that demanding of amp / source quality, although they do scale. So, I assume you really could not get the right fit (or just did not bother fitting them right, which I am afraid many people who judge these phones as mid-fi have done).

I have tiny ears and can move the Ed9 cup by at least 1 inch up-down,front-back. And oh boy, does that affect the sound. It goes from boomy / tinny / flat soundstage to tight, smooth and speaker like imaging (especially depth).

S-Logic does wonders but I am guessing it is indeed not for all head types...

For my 2cents opinion: the Ed9 are far more enjoyable, realistic sounding (speaker like) than any other cans I own, have owned, or listened to at numerous occasions (in particular the Omega 2). I also do not consider them overpriced when I compare them to the Stax, high-end Grados (GS-1000), Qualia.

Contrary to most headphones, the Ed9 have qualities that really make them an alternative to speaker listening: solid and extended bass, deep layered soundstage, explosive dynamics. Then, $1500 isn't much as most speakers several times this price could only dream of presenting the kind of fun sound the Ed9 portray.

Oppositely, Stax headphones really take some getting used to their presentation, especially the bass and apparent lack of dynamics. No way I could consider the Stax as an alternative to speaker rig like I do for the Ed9. The Stax do some things really well (like presenting music with finesse) that no dynamic type speaker can match, but there certainly are drawbacks which far out-weight the benefits in my book.

Well, probably did not need 1 page to conclude like this but: the OP will have to find a way to listen for himself.........

arnaud.