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Mad Lust Envy's Headphone Gaming Guide: (8/18/2022: iFi GO Blu Review Added)
Feb 10, 2014 at 4:21 PM Post #20,806 of 48,566
Good thing I went for pants, as I decided that putting the box on the floor and my camera on a chair for an overhead view would be good.

Unboxing First impressions:

  • Tons of effort into cool box design and product reveal. Fun unboxing!
  • Seems to be some fine sawdust in my package... Didn't think any of the package contents were responsible, but a non-issue.
  • HOLY CABLES MOTHERLOAD, BATMAN!
  • Aw crap, AAA batteries... I've got tons of rechargeable AA's, guess I'll get Astro's pack next paycheck. Interesting to note, the included AAA batteries have an expiration date of 08/2016... Might be able to guess how long this box has been in storage if I can see what the average expiration time is on new off-the-shelf batteries.
  • I'm having trouble figuring out how to open the Rx to put batteries in...
  • Seems like MY A30's might be defective too. Haven't listened to them yet, but if I shake them, the driver inside the right earcup rattles around. Not a good first impression, especially for an intitially + $220 product! I would be disappointed if I hadn't gotten mine on sale and hadn't intended to use other headphones anyway...
  • Otherwise, the A30's are cool. Velour earpads, nice design, glossy and matte finishes, design "tags" are cool and attach securely, good headband padding, and I like how they fold the earcups. If I wasn't concerned about the loose driver, these would be outwardly "cool."
  • Played a test song (John Legend's "Made To Love") from my iPhone 5S... First thought was "this feels closed in." Now, I'm pretty used to open headphones, so this can't compete on soundstage, but it's also a bit dark and a reminder about what "average" detail and separation sounds like. That said, it was only about half the song and a bit of turning up the volume before I got used to this chocolaty sound... It fails to impress, but it pleases. As long as I have my head tilted left...
  • Bass drops off significantly in the right earcup if I keep my head straight, and destroys the imaging, because the driver tilts away. It's funny, because it doesn't always come loose... But by the same token, sometimes it gets stuck in the "wrong" position. I'm actually sad, because though they lack soundstage, they are fun and non-fatiguing to listen to.


So Mad, I'm going to contact Astro now about servicing the A30's, how about you?
 
Feb 10, 2014 at 4:47 PM Post #20,807 of 48,566
I'm going to return my Astro a30's + 5.8 mixamp for a refund. It annoys me that the PS3/PC chat cable works but the voice chat volume is too low for my tastes. A workaround is to use the Turtle Beach PS4 chat cable which makes chat louder but then I have to walk around my place with the PS4 controller and 2 cables hanging from the 5.8 RX unit. I've gone ahead and pre-ordered the Gold PS4 headset from Amazon since I had $22 credit. The Astro 5.8 has better sound than the Gold PS4 headset but for me, I'd rather have a completely wireless and hassle free experience. I can also sell the Gold PS4 headset a lot easier than the Astro's once Sony releases their yet to be announced Platinum headset.
 
Feb 10, 2014 at 5:17 PM Post #20,808 of 48,566
evshrug said:
Good thing I went for pants, as I decided that putting the box on the floor and my camera on a chair for an overhead view would be good.

Unboxing First impressions:
  1. Seems like MY A30's might be defective too. Haven't listened to them yet, but if I shake them, the driver inside the right earcup rattles around. Not a good first impression, especially for an intitially + $220 product! I would be disappointed if I hadn't gotten mine on sale and hadn't intended to use other headphones anyway...
Click to expand...

 
I feel for you, man! I recently received an impulse buy on Saturday, myself... and had to ship it back, today, due to a left driver issue 
frown.gif

 
Feb 10, 2014 at 8:03 PM Post #20,811 of 48,566
So, I'm still looking for a portable over-ear/on-ear. This was my impulse buy...
 
 
The sound from the left driver was noticeably low (when compared to the right)... and there was a bad crinkling from inside both drivers during adjustment. It really is a shame because after researching I knew these were it. I did, however, love what was coming from the working right driver... so I arranged for a replacement.
 
Feb 10, 2014 at 8:28 PM Post #20,812 of 48,566
change is good said:
  So, I'm still looking for a portable over-ear/on-ear. This was my impulse buy...
 
The sound from the left driver was noticeably low (when compared to the right)... and there was a bad crinkling from inside both drivers during adjustment. It really is a shame because after researching I knew these were it. I did, however, love what was coming from the working right driver... so I arranged for a replacement.
Click to expand...

Interesting choice. I'm sure we'll all be interested in hearing your thoughts when you get yourself a good working pair.
 
Feb 10, 2014 at 9:42 PM Post #20,813 of 48,566
change is good said:
  So, I'm still looking for a portable over-ear/on-ear. This was my impulse buy...
 
 
The sound from the left driver was noticeably low (when compared to the right)... and there was a bad crinkling from inside both drivers during adjustment. It really is a shame because after researching I knew these were it. I did, however, love what was coming from the working right driver... so I arranged for a replacement.
Click to expand...

 
Interesting. I dislike the K550 but I await your impressions when you have a working pair.
 
Feb 10, 2014 at 9:53 PM Post #20,814 of 48,566
Feb 10, 2014 at 10:22 PM Post #20,815 of 48,566
There were a handful of reasons I didn't like the K550, but sonics were definitely not one of them. Bad seal on my medium sized head was the biggest. Let's see how these do.
 
Feb 10, 2014 at 10:23 PM Post #20,816 of 48,566
change is good said:
So, I'm still looking for a portable over-ear/on-ear. This was my impulse buy...


The sound from the left driver was noticeably low (when compared to the right)... and there was a bad crinkling from inside both drivers during adjustment. It really is a shame because after researching I knew these were it. I did, however, love what was coming from the working right driver... so I arranged for a replacement.
Click to expand...

It's such an attractive headphone, and certainly a capable one... But the community is divided about liking the signature or not. I've met people from both camps, but not heard it myself yet.

Getting on the Xbox again, this time with the 5.8 amped via FiiO E12 and my K712... Should be pretty ultimate! The noise has a pretty soft/rounded/even sound with little texture, so it's not offensive. Just reminds me of my noise-canceling headphone, but a little quieter.

Any volume setting suggestions for power-amping?
 
Feb 10, 2014 at 10:39 PM Post #20,817 of 48,566
evshrug said:
It's such an attractive headphone, and certainly a capable one... But the community is divided about liking the signature or not. I've met people from both camps, but not heard it myself yet.

Getting on the Xbox again, this time with the 5.8 amped via FiiO E12 and my K712... Should be pretty ultimate! The noise has a pretty soft/rounded/even sound with little texture, so it's not offensive. Just reminds me of my noise-canceling headphone, but a little quieter.

Any volume setting suggestions for power-amping?
Click to expand...

 
Divided over the K550? or the new K545?
 
Feb 10, 2014 at 10:40 PM Post #20,818 of 48,566
What an odd choice, Change. I thought you were settling with a lot less? Why another headphone?

AND OMG, I LOST MY KSC35. My backup Sportapro was ran over by my mother when I visited her, and now I'm Kossless. :'(

I still have the custom PX100 with KSC75 clips, but tbey arent the most comfy.... looks like I'll have to buy some KSC75s... again.
 
Feb 10, 2014 at 10:47 PM Post #20,819 of 48,566
mad lust envy said:
What an odd choice, Change. I thought you were settling with a lot less? Why another headphone?

AND OMG, I LOST MY KSC35. My backup Sportapro was ran over by my mother when I visited her, and now I'm Kossless. :'(

I still have the custom PX100 with KSC75 clips, but tbey arent the most comfy.... looks like I'll have to buy some KSC75s... again.
Click to expand...

 
New, sexy, portable, and seems like my kind of sound for my taste (warm, slightly bassy, well extended and accurate). You do know that is the new K545, right? Razordog gave me a special offer when I inquired about it (sorry, can't share the price).
 
Its smaller than the K550... with a detachable cable. Plus, like I mentioned before, I'm still in search of my portable over-ear/on-ear. It gets annoying removing my IEMs all the time when someone is trying to get my attention at school/work.
 
I can only hope I'm right with this one when my replacement arrives. I already shipped out the defective ones, today.
 
And, damn, sorry to hear about you being Kossless. Luckily, it was your Kosses and not you're MA900s or DNA Pro! 
wink_face.gif
 
 
Feb 10, 2014 at 11:23 PM Post #20,820 of 48,566
OOOH, i thought it was the K550. My mistake. Hmm... warm? Nice.


As soon as I opened my door to leave for work, I practically tripped over this:



Keep in mind, I didn't know if they were sending these to me... and it's 11pm...

They could've easily been stolen right front my front door.
 
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