Radius HP-TWF11r Review and Impressions thread

NICE follow-up review @ a_recording. Man, I have the worst luck with shipping usually. At this rate everyone will have the DDM and I might see it next year....lol. Even someone I told about where I ordered mine from, ordered his after me and has received it already. But hey that's life. Really, I'm hoping I see it by next Monday at least. We'll see. But great impressions buddy. Thanks again. 

Oh, someone said the DDMs doesn't sound good with classical and jazz. Are you finding that to be true too?

nice writeup there :) I do have a good amount of acoustic and piano..these are quite tempting indeed :P

@eric: well good thing you got enough phones to hold you over :P

Quote:

Originally Posted by rawrster 

nice writeup there :) I do have a good amount of acoustic and piano..these are quite tempting indeed :P

 

@eric: well good thing you got enough phones to hold you over :P

LOL @ rawster buddy. This is true.. Really enjoying the FX700...

To help you along when you get your Radius I'll be willing to take the FX700 off your hands so you can devote all your time to these earphones..lol jk

Some post by a_recording earlier comparing the bass to the CK90PRO really makes me want them even though a newer model is coming out :T damn my inability to have patience here...knowing my luck I'll probably buy these the day before the newer ones go on sale ;p

Quote:

Originally Posted by ericp10 
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Oh, someone said the DDMs doesn't sound good with classical and jazz. Are you finding that to be true too?

Unfortunately jazz is one genre of music I don't really listen to (don't know why, but I just haven't really explored it.) In terms of classical, I think the radius is great for orchestral classical - full orchestra recordings where there is a big dynamic range in the instrumentation, and the microphones are passive mics designed to gather that full dynamic range rather than active ones for pin drop sensitivity.

Because they don't have incredibly biting treble energy though, they aren't great for recordings of small groups or single instruments of strings for example. You don't get that kind of shimmering hanging in the air energy with strings that you might get with an amature phone. That said, they sound incredible with pianos and great with cellos.
 

Quote:

Originally Posted by rawrster 
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Some post by a_recording earlier comparing the bass to the CK90PRO really makes me want them even though a newer model is coming out :T damn my inability to have patience here...knowing my luck I'll probably buy these the day before the newer ones go on sale ;p

Don't get me wrong, the CK90Pro and the Radius sound similar in terms of overall proportion of bass to treble (at least with my modded CK90Pros) but the devil is in the details. The CK90 Pro is several orders more convenient in terms of fit, isolation, and also for having a L-plug as opposed to the infuriating J plug and horrific cable of the Radius.

In terms of sound, the CK90Pro sounds better with any modern synthesized or electronic instruments, from electronic drums to sine wave effects, just because there is more energy and speed for the treble. For recordings of real instruments though, the DDM seems to do better just because it has a wider frequency response, and seems to replicate all the harmonics up and down the range better. The Radius also have a more diffuse and 'polite' sound, and because they are ported have a wider soundstage. Imaging is better on the CK90 Pros, instrument layering is better on the Radius.

The CK90Pro actually has a fair bit more mid-bass to be perfectly honest, which I consider to be a tick against them, since there is a potential for them to sound bloated at times with the wrong tracks.

So as a general rule, for instruments that are meant to sound natural, the CK90Pro sounds a bit more plasticky, while the DDM sounds really transparent and natural - a really beautiful effect. For un-natural instruments, the CK90 Pro seems to do better. So I think it depends on what you listen to most of. I would hesitate to say for sure which one is better - I listen to enough of both types of music to be torn between the two. It's a good kind of indecision though. :)

Some random thoughts after spending time enough with the Radius...

- I believe they are a high end earphone. They can perform with the best on overall sound and do certain things at/near best of class.

- I think the build quality is more in the middle. Not the best but not on the bad side. The choice of cable could have been better. Though I have no fear of it breaking, it does tend to tangle. It does not kink though like the Klipsch cable which gets bends that won't straighten. All the strain reliefs are solid as well are the housing.

- The design works for me just fine. There is a learning curve for fit and a more gradual comfort improvement( similar to breaking in new dress shoes). Patience is recommended but should pay off. I now fit them quite easily. Having had the UM2 and currently having the FX67, a loaner pair of CK90 Pro, and others, it is saying something that these can become quite easy to fit and fairly comfortable. If you think you have the ears for them don't let the design deter you. They just take more getting used to than other earphones.

- I hear an earphone with a large soundstage which doesn't use it all the time. It keeps things in the center but, when called for, pushes things back or brings them up closer well. Also it is very well layered but the separation is also in the middle as far as amount goes. It is not separated out as much as a CK10 is. So, it is big but not very open or airy most times. When the recording calls for it can be quite open. It doesn't do it all the time like some phones.   

- The dual drivers seem to let them do things single driver dynamics can't do near as well. Such as conveying harmonics, texture, emotion. Varying decay is so well done with the DDM. Holding the decay on low notes or high notes independently is done like few earphones. Armatures don't usually hold the decay as long. Many dynamics can't hold it on the highs and can't vary it as well on the lows.

- The dual drivers layer out very well and make things so easily perceptible. Like all the recording mics are there and equal in amount. So, you hear things with this phone that you don't hear with others. Secondary vocals are more evident with the DDM and inflection and emotion are quite evident. Little noises and sounds are picked up well esp. those in quiet moments in the beginning or ends of certain tracks that many of us are familiar with.

-  I agree with Shigzeo  that the Radius are some of the best for guitar. I agree with a_recording that they are up there for piano. I put forth that they are some of the best for mids. They don't do thick. They don't do creamy/lush. They are fairly unaltered yet present all the emotion, inflection, intelligibility there for the hearing. Bass is also very well done. It goes very low. It is tight. It is really well layered. It has presence and power while still being balanced. One of the better balances of articulation and power with no humps or ill side effects.

- I think the radius sound natural and realistic. They are surprisingly clear. So, in comparing it to another phone they might make it sound thicker or muddier which comes as a surprise since the radius don't throw clarity or crispness at you. On occasion they can be very transparent but overall they are not going to disappear. they always throw a little bit of color/warmth down low(more or less depending on source signature). You can go with less seal which will make them thinner sounding and more transparent.

- The price is right. The nice case, the looks(which have grown on me), the fit and comfort, and the sound quality which is quite good. I feel they earn their price tag.

  While I'll question others like the RE252 being worth $199 or feel the Turbine Pro Gold should be $179 instead of $279, I'll say I feel my $165 is justified with the Radius DDM.

Those are great comments Jant71 :) I think its weird how much they vary between recordings, but it may just be a kind of accuracy. It's a really interesting mix of qualities - like you I wouldn't describe them as crisp or extremely clear, yet at the same time there is a lot of delicate detail. You are spot on when you mention how they convey emotion and nuance - I was listening to Johnny Cash's cover of Hurt yesterday, and it was basically a transcendant experience on the DDM's. 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=clq01TXQR0s

This is an absolute must listen. It almost brought tears to my eyes. :D

Damn!! Thank you again @ a_recording and jant71. Well, two weeks have passed and still no Radius in sight (sigh). HK Post  show they shipped out Wednesday, but that's it. No signs of landing yet. But I keep hope alive. Hopefully early next week. So I live through you guys. Thanks again buddies. I'm very excited.

Quote:

Originally Posted by ericp10 

Damn!! Thank you again @ a_recording and jant71. Well, two weeks have passed and still no Radius in sight (sigh). HK Post  show they shipped out Wednesday, but that's it. No signs of landing yet. But I keep hope alive. Hopefully early next week. So I live through you guys. Thanks again buddies. I'm very excited.

I don't know how it is in the US, but in Australia my local post didn't even state it it had arrived in Australia until the morning it was delivered. Treat it as a surprise : )

Hey, Still have not gotten your long awaiting Radius DDMs? Headfiers, looking to order Radius in the USA, I believe Ken from ALO audio has them, at least I heard from some one who lives in Portland saw them in his shop.

be waiting for your first impressions...

Quote:

Originally Posted by ericp10 

Damn!! Thank you again @ a_recording and jant71. Well, two weeks have passed and still no Radius in sight (sigh). HK Post  show they shipped out Wednesday, but that's it. No signs of landing yet. But I keep hope alive. Hopefully early next week. So I live through you guys. Thanks again buddies. I'm very excited.