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SHOWDOWN! Goldrings DR150 vs Superlux HD-668B

post #1 of 46
4/17/10 at 6:18pm
Thread Starter 
I can pick up a pair of Goldrings DR150's for $100AUS or a pair of Superlux HD-668B for $83AUS.

Has anyone had experience of these heads, how do they compare? Seeing as there is only a $17 price difference which performs better overall?

Input PLEASE!!
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post #2 of 46
4/17/10 at 7:40pm
I can wholeheartedly recommend the Superlux.
Even though their price might indicate otherwise HD-668B are great performers.
The level of transparency and instrument separation they're capable of challenge much pricier models. To my ears they sound very similar to Sennheiser HD590.

In terms of sound signature they are quite neutral, natural and rather relaxed and laid back in presentation.
They're not perfect - I can notice a slight overemphasis in the high end of the spectrum (a bump around 6-8 KHz). This helps bringing out details and air, but it can be too much of a good thing.
On some recordings high pitched instruments get a slight hissy quality.

HD-668B will benefit when fed by warmer sources & amps. They're easy to drive, but will improve once driven by quality ancillaries.
There is an official review.

As for Goldring headphones I have a very limited knowledge and experience with them. The little that I know tells me that they're a more modest headphone compared to HD668B.

PS: The price I've paid for mine was 35 euro. I'd have expected a similar (or lower) price in Australia.
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post #3 of 46
4/17/10 at 7:49pm
i have had the goldrings. very nice sound, superior to a senn hd555 i had at the same time in everything but comfort. very lively sound, no amp needed. havent heard that superlux, but have read nothing but good about them so far. i have the superlux 681, which is nice for the price
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post #4 of 46
4/17/10 at 7:52pm
You should definitely try them. HD668 is a very nice step up from 681 (in a more transparent, neutral and airy kind of way).
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post #5 of 46
4/17/10 at 7:57pm
I'm just gonna quote what I said in your other thread, BruceBanner:
Quote:
Originally Posted by zephyr90 View Post
Goldring DR150s.
I have heard neither of them personally but I have heard good things about both.
The best I have heard about the 668b is that they beat MS1. The worst I've heard is that they are a bit weak in the mids when compared to the cheaper superlux.
The best I heard about the Goldrings is that they come really close to Senn HD600/580s.

BUT what I heard about both of these phones is that they are well worth their money. Fun fact, the 150 in Goldring DR-150 stands for the price they used to retail for (in pounds). They now sell @ 60 pounds.
If you pay 83$ for the 668b, you're being ripped off. They might sound 83$ good but I just ordered them for 30€ shipped which is 43aus.
At thomann.de, you can get them for 43$+36$ shipping to Australia which isn't a lot cheaper but certainly safer than ebay. The problem is that shipping to Australia is expensive if the product is in Europe.

I'd say you'd be on the safer side by ordering DR-150s because they are more widely known and have been reviewed more times than the Superlux.
I just bought the Superlux because the Goldrings would be twice as much for me, but for you the 150s would be the better deal.
Keep us up to date and post yr impressions!

PS: If you are patient I could order the Superlux ones for you and ship them to you for 20aus$ shipping instead of 36. But that would be without insurance etc. I don't know whether things get lost when they check the package at the customs in Australia, but I could mark it as a gift.

PS: I just noticed, Audiofil, you are also on RockGrotto, right? You should've posted your impressions there, because the talk about Superlux has already ceased in the grotto. By the way, someone in a german forum (hifi-forum.de) told me that the mids of the 681 are more present and better than those of the 668b. In an A-B comparison, can you confirm this?
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post #6 of 46
4/17/10 at 8:06pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by zephyr90 View Post
I'm just gonna quote what I said in your other thread, BruceBanner:
PS: I just noticed, Audiofil, you are also on RockGrotto, right? You should've posted your impressions there, because the talk about Superlux has already ceased in the grotto.
Yes I am and already did (posted impressions).
Since they went unnoticed, I guess I'm a low profile kind of guy
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post #7 of 46
4/17/10 at 8:19pm
fwir, the 668b is a more neutral, studio monitor type sound. the 681 -which i have- is a fun, enhanced bass and highs eq shape type. the 681 has a lot of posts on rockgrotto, the 668b not so much.
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post #8 of 46
4/17/10 at 8:33pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by audiofil View Post
Yes I am and already did (posted impressions).
Since they went unnoticed, I guess I'm a low profile kind of guy
Yes, you're right. I just searched for your post and found your impressions.


Quote:
Originally Posted by ourfpshero View Post
the 681 -which i have- is a fun, enhanced bass and highs eq shape type.
Funny, I heard exactly the opposite, that the 668b deliver the "fun" sound with more bass and highs and that the 681 have more "sweet mids". I definitely hate recessed mids.

Either way, both the 681 and 668b are on their way to my lair , should be here on monday and then I'll start posting impressions. I'm eventually going to keep only one of them. As they are not just for music but also for gaming, I might just keep the one that is more comfy, even if I have to sacrifice sound quality for that.
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post #9 of 46
4/17/10 at 9:08pm
Thread Starter 
Man i am SO impatient, i just ordered the superlux for $83! lol... sigh FML. But i will def post my findings. I am wanting to attach my sansaclip+ housing a 16gb microsdcard to the side of them (and possibly a fiio5 ) hhaha i'll let u know how it goes.
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post #10 of 46
4/17/10 at 9:16pm
Poor you! (for paying so much)
Can't wait to see pics of you wearing the headphones with a Sansa taped to them
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post #11 of 46
4/17/10 at 9:37pm
Yes pics of that please!
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post #12 of 46
4/17/10 at 10:19pm
Thread Starter 
haha yeh, what i'd really like is a mod with them embedded into the casing hahah we'll see how it goes
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post #13 of 46
4/18/10 at 6:08am
Enjoy your new cans Bruce!

Quote:
Originally Posted by zephyr90 View Post
PS: (.....)
By the way, someone in a german forum (hifi-forum.de) told me that the mids of the 681 are more present and better than those of the 668b. In an A-B comparison, can you confirm this?
I've missed this question - probably from the later edit.

The findings from the German forums are not really consistent with mine.
The mids on both cans are slightly recessed in absolute terms, but with a twist.

HD668 are rather flat from bass to mid-highs, but the highs themselves are a bit raised in level. There is a not-so-steep bump centered around 10 Khz (from around 6-7 khz up to 12-14Khz to be more precise).

HD681 on the other hand have a very pronounced loudness type of response (with emphasized bass and highs). The mids are definitely more recessed than HD668, but here is the twist: the bump in the highs starts with the mid highs at 2-4Khz (quite a bit lower than HD668) and then with a very steep increase from cca. 5 to 10Khz.
Coupled with a robust low end and lower mids this accounts for a very punchy, upfront and present type of sound signature.
I can understand where the HD681's "more present and better mids" is coming from, but compared to the more neutral HD668B I can hardly call it an advantage.
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post #14 of 46
4/18/10 at 8:26am
Thank you for the thorough analysis. What you wrote down is much more understandable than single statements from different people. I'll see for myself and post results when they get here (should be tomorrow!).
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post #15 of 46
4/18/10 at 12:46pm
zephyr- where did u order the 668 from?
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