SkinnyPuppy
500+ Head-Fier
- Joined
- Mar 9, 2011
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Quote:
Some thoughts on the CottonDryers..
Their voicing reminds me of the the RE262 in a few ways.. but the similarities are very general though. Aside from a slightly mid-forward sound and some tonal characteristics in places, they occupy different places, sonically.
What the CD is though.. is a cross between the RE262 & HD650.. on steroids.. the finest steroids Barry Bonds could buy. It's not as liquid, colored, or warm as the RE262.. it's (relatively) more accurate from end to end. Bass is faster, goes deeper, has more impact, and has much better presence. Mids are crisper, more detailed (), cleaner, and neutral. The CD's soundstage isn't as wide as it is on the RE262, but it's every bit as deep, and the CD's enjoy a little better imaging, front-to-back. I haven't had an extensive amount of time with the HD650s but the CDs have that kind of immersive, hypnotic, well balanced, bass presence.. albeit several times more technically superior & effortless.![]()
I'm hearing a slight spike somewhere in the RE262's midrange that causes (male) some vocals to sound slightly honky at times.. not so with the CDs. The CDs are certainly colored, mainly in the bass area, but not to the extent the RE262s are. I've always been impressed with the incredibly articulate nature of the RE262's midrange coloration though I find them too smooth & liquid for some heavier, grittier genres (rock, metal). The CDs on the other hand, while maintaining an impeccable smoothness to them, don't suffer from the same problem.. Listening to Tool's Lateralus is an aural experience with the CDs. Incredibly immersive. Adam Jones' guitars just punch you in the face with their crispness, but the CDs take some of that edge off with a touch of smoothness & the T50RPs inherently gorgeous mids never allow them to get harsh or uncontrolled. Just how effortless these sound is something else
The treble on the CDs really impressed me too.. it's smooth, but not as smooth or rolled off as on the RE262 or the HD650.. it has much more sparkle and detail retrieval is easier while sitting a quarter step behind the mids.
I think the CottonDryers are a fantastic alternative to those who want to hear LFF's tweak the pinnacle-of-neutrality Paradox into a slightly colored, fun (but very controlled) phone that's every bit as versatile as the Paradox. It isn't as accurate or analytical as the Paradox.. but it's not tuned to be so.. but you'll still get to enjoy all the technical muscle of the T50RP.
How do I build CottonDryers?