[roma101]

What exactly do you mean by cloudy? And how's the imaging in your opinion? Thanks for the input btw.

 

[kiteki]

The seperation and layering is pretty excellent, the imaging isn't laser-like or anything, especially not compared to IEM's.
 
The tonality is excellent, perhaps it's the Titanium and fibre-glass versus the plastic in my T5p etc.?
 
Cloudy as in they don't sound crystal clear, there is a certain haze over everything, so the first 10 seconds I heard them I was concerned it could be a fake, then I noticed that rock music just sounded really really special, and I handed over the money.
 
The A2000X is more crystal clear and natural, however the ES10 has enough bass to physically vibrate the entire headphone, plus it has more depth / energy (like the T5p) while the A2000X sounds thin, and the MDR-V6 even thinner, in contrast.
 
So, I have the depth of the T5p and the tonality of the A2000X in a portable headphone, with the bass of an Ultrasone, plus hints of the CK10 coldness.
 
I compared my (second-hand) pair to a mint / new pair, and I noticed a difference in the leather pads, then I noticed a difference in sound and became concerned a second time that one of them was a very very high quality fake.
 
Then after further listening I noticed they were both definitely real, and identical in construction, the difference is the leather pads are much stiffer on the new pair, which actually results in a slightly different sound.  I like my used pair better, like a vintage leather jacket.
 
The clamping force is more than the AD700, and less than the PRO700MK2ANV, so it's actually perfect for me.
 
There's another user (he doesn't post here) which uses the Tesla T1 and the ES10 as his favorites I think, at home, so I don't think I'm fairytailing.
 
I'm not sure about their source transparency or purity, I'm not very concerned since I have IEM's for that like the Sony EX700.
 
Any more specifics you'd like info on?

 

[Szadzik]

Hahaha, funniest review ever. ES10s have just become the best headphones in the world. 

 

[kiteki]

In kiteki world.

 

[roma101]

Nope, thank you that was plenty of useful info!

 

[Rayzilla]

Quote:

 
Initial excitement, here we come. Will go away after a week or two.

 
Quote:

 
Let's wait and see. 
 
 
Yes. As much as I would like to believe every user saying how great a pair of headpones is after a week of owning them, I prefer to wait for a few months and see what they say when they get used to them.

I guess it was more the "tonality" of your post that I thought was unnecessary.  If he is on cloud nine with his new purchase, so be it.  Let him come down on his own, no need to pull him down.  Your post already assumes that his excitement for the HPs "will" go away after a week or two.  I'm not sure if you are surrounded by many positive thinkers or not but I am one and there are many things that remain exciting to me even after some time.  I get pretty excited when a certain song with some deep bass gets played when I am listening with my ES10, just as I do when a certain song with nice highs as I am listening with my Pro 900.

 

[Szadzik]

Quote:

 
I guess it was more the "tonality" of your post that I thought was unnecessary.  If he is on cloud nine with his new purchase, so be it.  Let him come down on his own, no need to pull him down.  Your post already assumes that his excitement for the HPs "will" go away after a week or two.  I'm not sure if you are surrounded by many positive thinkers or not but I am one and there are many things that remain exciting to me even after some time.  I get pretty excited when a certain song with some deep bass gets played when I am listening with my ES10, just as I do when a certain song with nice highs as I am listening with my Pro 900.

 
My comment was simply made to show that the excitement introduces subjective feelings. Those who do not know about it will believe ES10s have just become the best HPs of the universe.

 

[Danneq]

Well, at least the best portable HP in that price range...

 

[kiteki]

No, the best headphone IN THE UNIVERSE.
 
Look I even get excited about media players - http://www.head-fi.org/t/340451/lilith-audio-player/375#post_8444566

 

[OK-Guy]

Quote:

No, the best headphone IN THE UNIVERSE.

 
Kiteki.... been enjoying your comments so hopefully you can offer me a little advice... I have a Walkman Z-Series which is turning into a nightmare to pair with headphones... I don't really want to go the 'customs' route but a good IEM might appeal, I am interested in the ES10's but decided to try out others before I committed... headphones I've owned/tested so far are:-
 
ATH-ES7 - headband hurt like hell after 30mins, I enjoyed the sound but was a bit gutless on power.
V-Moda M80 - nice design & packaging, absolute crap sounding
Sennheiser Amperior - great headphone for the WM-X.. completely lacking for the WM-Z's impressive soundstage
DT1350  (tested with a dealer for 2hrs, A/B'ing with the Amperior)... same result as Amperior
 
I've just bought the Philips Fidelio M1 which should be with me on Friday.
 
I only need a headphone/IEM on the go 'cause I have a decent home set-up (I'm into hi-fi in truth) but I am looking for quality of sound across the soundstage and the SQ must be good.... your thoughts (or from other head-fi'ers) would be appreciated.

 

[kiteki]

The Sony Walkmans have low output power to save battery life, you really need an external amplifier with them to get the high fidelity voltage for full-size HP.
 
You can either buy a quality IEM for your Walkman Z, or buy the ES10 and iBasso D-Zero.
 
I'd recommend the Sony EX800ST, Audio Technica CK10, or wait for my reviews on the Vsonic GR07 MK2 / JVC FXD80.

 

[timeyuu]

You can cover plastic films over the titanium shell to protect it from being scratched
I can't imagine the scratches can be removed...

 

[OK-Guy]

this will remove any scratches...
 
http://www.t-cut.co.uk/index.cfm?page=1
 
thanks for the recommendations Kiteki, appreciated

 

[dallan]

Quote:

You can cover plastic films over the titanium shell to protect it from being scratched

 
I was looking for plastic film when mine were on order.  Then they arrived in a slightly crushed box and the plastic window that had caved in on one of the cups had scratched it.  So mine came scratched.  They were from Amazon marketplace, an outside dealer-international.  I contacted him and was told to make a claim at my post office.......What!   You had to get a reflection to see the scratches but brand new $400. + phones you don't want to arrive scratched.  I can imagine at the postal worker turning them and saying, see right there.  I felt burnt, dealer should have sent me a new pair packaged well instead of the thin cardboard protector and he should have taken the lose and sold them damaged for cheaper.  No real recourse though except in my review.  There are picts a few pages back.  Needless to say i didn't get protectors.

 

[kiteki]

I have to admit I am happy I have a second-hand pair, for two reasons.
 
1.  The leather is much better on a used pair, and it sounds better than the mint ES10 I compared to.
 
2.  Mine already has scratches, so I can throw it around, and not care.