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[Review] Battle of the Entry-Level Rivals: Ultrasone HFI-580 vs Audio Technica M50 (vs Pro700 MK2) - Page 9

post #121 of 140
8/20/12 at 1:16pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Weirdblastoise View Post

Came across this set of review and it's been a great help! I'm currently looking between the HFi-780s and the ATH M50s for a more travel-oriented usage.

Similar to the review, I don't expect an amp, but comfort is much more important to me. I don't care as much for bass, but all of the raving I have heard surrounding the 780's treble makes me very interested.

Considering this would be my entry into headphones outside of crummy $10 pairs, would the difference in sound make enough of a difference in the HFi 780s over the M50, or are the Ultrasones really so uncomfortable that I wouldn't be able to enjoy them during travel as much as I would the M50s? I may even use the minor sock mod to add a little comfort for the Audio Technicas. I can find them both right now for $155 new.

Hfi 780 and m50 are very different headphones. I find 780 to be a bit harsh and grating in the treble. It's too much detail IMO lol. M50s are much warmer than hfi 780. Hfi 580, though, are warmer than the 780 and have more bass, but a bit less detail overall. Hfi 580
are better than m50 IMO, but a bit less comfortable. You're choice smily_headphones1.gif
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post #122 of 140
9/22/12 at 4:52pm

This review thread has a repeating theme with other M-50 posts I've read...

 

1> Person buys the M-50 and finds it to to be well-made, fairly comfortable and sounds good across a wide variety of musical genres.

2> Person*  wants more of a good thing and ends up searching for a headphone to "better" the M-50

3> Person finds out new headphone offers "differences", but sum total experience does not generally equate to "improvement"

4> Person** says new headphone is "better"  wink.gif

 

* Fidgety with upgradeitis

** In state of buyers remorse

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post #123 of 140
9/26/12 at 7:44am
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Sandman65 View Post

This review thread has a repeating theme with other M-50 posts I've read...

1> Person buys the M-50 and finds it to to be well-made, fairly comfortable and sounds good across a wide variety of musical genres.
2> Person*  wants more of a good thing and ends up searching for a headphone to "better" the M-50
3> Person finds out new headphone offers "differences", but sum total experience does not generally equate to "improvement"
4> Person** says new headphone is "better"  wink.gif

* Fidgety with upgradeitis
** In state of buyers remorse

I still think that the M50 does a lot of things better than the HFI-580. Vocals for example; the Ultrasone's specialty at electronics doesn't really let human sounds have their soul and emotion. On the other hand, the HFI-580 has much tighter and detailed bass than the M50. On the other *other* hand, the M50 is more well balanced and versatile in its genre choices. And over at my fourth hand *arm bursts out from chest*, the Ultrasone's treble is more consistent than the M50.

So really, I find no way how one headphone is objectively better than the other. Unless you're referring to base technicals (in which detail and imaging are concerned), then the Ultrasone has the slight edge.
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post #124 of 140
2/10/13 at 1:15pm

How do the 3 headphones compare to the XB500's? I saw in your sig. that you have a pair, and I do as well and I'm looking at the Pro 700 and 580.

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post #125 of 140
4/2/13 at 6:49am

getting a pair of 580s.  i'll post up my thoughts in comparison to the m50

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post #126 of 140
4/3/13 at 3:02am
I wouldn't buy any of these three, i listened to all of them today. The 780's are a bit brittle and distant sounding in the treble and upper mids and he 580's sound better overall IMO. The MK II 700's just sound kind of OK but clumsy overall, and the M50's, well, although they have well balanced and clear sound, they do sound boxy and closed-in, plus they have sibilance issues, and they don't have much soundstage, they sound up front and claustrophobic. But if i had no choice but to pick between the three, then the M50's would be it, but ONLY if i had no other choice.
Edited by zardak - 4/3/13 at 3:04am
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post #127 of 140
4/3/13 at 2:46pm

I would say these 3 headphones could be considered top 5 for under $200... Maybe with the exception of the pro700mk2.  They all get recommended pretty often, at least.

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post #128 of 140
4/3/13 at 3:30pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by smoovemoves View Post

getting a pair of 580s.  i'll post up my thoughts in comparison to the m50

 

Hey smoothmoves, if you're down under and want to save a few bucks, zardak is selling his HFI-580.  smile.gif  They're like new and in mint condition so there's nothing wrong with them.  He's just moving on so something he likes better (see below).

 

Quote:
Originally Posted by zardak View Post

I have some 'as new' Ultrasone HFI 580's for sale. The only reason i am selling them is because i have bought a new pair of headphones and i don't like hanging on to my older ones, there's no point hanging on to my older headphones if my tastes have changed and i've superseded them with a new pair. That's the only reason i'm selling them.

There are no scratches on them and they are in mint condition ( I look after my headphones).

I want $70 plus whatever it will cost to ship. If you are far away from my country ( Australia), then i'll consider reducing them to $60 plus shipping if the shipping is a bit more than usual.
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post #129 of 140
4/3/13 at 3:36pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by zardak View Post

I wouldn't buy any of these three, i listened to all of them today. The 780's are a bit brittle and distant sounding in the treble and upper mids and he 580's sound better overall IMO. The MK II 700's just sound kind of OK but clumsy overall, and the M50's, well, although they have well balanced and clear sound, they do sound boxy and closed-in, plus they have sibilance issues, and they don't have much soundstage, they sound up front and claustrophobic. But if i had no choice but to pick between the three, then the M50's would be it, but ONLY if i had no other choice.

That's weird. About 3 weeks ago, you said this about the M50s and the HFI-580s:
Quote:
Originally Posted by zardak View Post

The skull-candy 'Aviators' are definitely better than the Audio Technicas, and one that is a no-brainer is the Shure SRH550DJ, the Shures are nigh on perfect. And the Ultrasone HFI-580 simply kick ass with accuracy all-round. All three of these are immensely better than the Audio Technica ATH-M50.
That Audio Technica ATH-M50 is old-hat man, let it go, take it back, and grab one of these ones i mentioned; just give them 30 hours burn-in and your pumping; all three headphones i have mentioned give perfect bass, not too much, not too little, and the rest of the audio spectrum in all three headphones is clear and present and balanced.

That's quite an about face in recommendations. What changed your mind?
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post #130 of 140
4/3/13 at 3:38pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by zardak View Post

I wouldn't buy any of these three, i listened to all of them today. The 780's are a bit brittle and distant sounding in the treble and upper mids and he 580's sound better overall IMO. The MK II 700's just sound kind of OK but clumsy overall, and the M50's, well, although they have well balanced and clear sound, they do sound boxy and closed-in, plus they have sibilance issues, and they don't have much soundstage, they sound up front and claustrophobic. But if i had no choice but to pick between the three, then the M50's would be it, but ONLY if i had no other choice.

You really should spend a great deal more time listening to lots of headphones from different sources, before making recommendations and sweeping generalizations about different models. You change your mind almost weekly, and that's just a sign that you're still feeling out your own tastes.
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post #131 of 140
4/3/13 at 4:02pm
Quote:

Originally Posted by cel4145 View Post

That's weird. About 3 weeks ago, you said this about the M50s and the HFI-580s:

 

Quote:
Originally Posted by zardak View Post

The skull-candy 'Aviators' are definitely better than the Audio Technicas, and one that is a no-brainer is the Shure SRH550DJ, the Shures are nigh on perfect. And the Ultrasone HFI-580 simply kick ass with accuracy all-round. All three of these are immensely better than the Audio Technica ATH-M50.
That Audio Technica ATH-M50 is old-hat man, let it go, take it back, and grab one of these ones i mentioned; just give them 30 hours burn-in and your pumping; all three headphones i have mentioned give perfect bass, not too much, not too little, and the rest of the audio spectrum in all three headphones is clear and present and balanced.

 

Oh, that's right!  smile.gif  And it must've been must have been something that happened recently... because less than two weeks ago zardak said:

 

Quote:

Originally Posted by zardak View Post

Man, you're way off the mark, and there's some old-fashioned fanboys in here who just won't let go of the past, they stick with classics that are not really classics, the Audio technica ATH-M50 is crap ... If you want an alternative, which is also top-notch, the Ultrasone HFI-580, i'm not playing games here man, i have both of these because i kept upgrading my headphones inching ever closer to perfection, these two are as close as you'll get, believe me, not Sennheiser not Grado not nothing can match these two, they are the Bomb.

Quote:
Originally Posted by zardak View Post

I wouldn't buy any of these three, i listened to all of them today. The 780's are a bit brittle and distant sounding in the treble and upper mids and he 580's sound better overall IMO. The MK II 700's just sound kind of OK but clumsy overall, and the M50's, well, although they have well balanced and clear sound, they do sound boxy and closed-in, plus they have sibilance issues, and they don't have much soundstage, they sound up front and claustrophobic. But if i had no choice but to pick between the three, then the M50's would be it, but ONLY if i had no other choice.

 

So lemme get this straight... less than two weeks ago, the M50 was crap, and the HFI-580 was one of the best headphones in the world.  But today, you'd choose the M50 over other headphones?  confused.gif

 

Quote:
Originally Posted by Magick Man View Post

You really should spend a great deal more time listening to lots of headphones from different sources, before making recommendations and sweeping generalizations about different models. You change your mind almost weekly, and that's just a sign that you're still feeling out your own tastes.


Ever the optimist eh Magick?  smile.gif


Edited by warrenpchi - 4/3/13 at 10:38pm
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post #132 of 140
4/3/13 at 4:52pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Magick Man View Post

You really should spend a great deal more time listening to lots of headphones from different sources, before making recommendations and sweeping generalizations about different models. You change your mind almost weekly, and that's just a sign that you're still feeling out your own tastes.

+1

Not good to do that to other people seeking advice. It's a reasonable expectation that someone's opinion be well-informed, not newly minted and subject to radical change.
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post #133 of 140
4/3/13 at 6:54pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by cel4145 View Post

Not good to do that to other people seeking advice. It's a reasonable expectation that someone's opinion be well-informed, not newly minted and subject to radical change.

 

ESMOOTH ES821EB, Sennheiser HD 449, Sennheiser HD 439, Kicker HP541, Denon AH-D1100, Ultrasone HFI-580, Shure SRH550DJ, Ultrasone DJ1!

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post #134 of 140
4/3/13 at 7:00pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by warrenpchi View Post

ESMOOTH ES821EB, Sennheiser HD 449, Sennheiser HD 439, Kicker HP541, Denon AH-D1100, Ultrasone HFI-580, Shure SRH550DJ, Ultrasone DJ1!

Until next week, or tomorrow, or later tonight. Whatever! biggrin.gif
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post #135 of 140
4/3/13 at 7:12pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Magick Man View Post

Quote:
Originally Posted by warrenpchi View Post

ESMOOTH ES821EB, Sennheiser HD 449, Sennheiser HD 439, Kicker HP541, Denon AH-D1100, Ultrasone HFI-580, Shure SRH550DJ, Ultrasone DJ1!

Until next week, or tomorrow, or later tonight. Whatever! biggrin.gif

 

Oh shoot, you're right!  After all, both the ESMOOTH ES821EB and the Sennheiser HD 449 alternated for the #1 best headphones in the world on the exact same day.

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Head-Fi.org › Forums › Equipment Forums › Headphones (full-size) › [Review] Battle of the Entry-Level Rivals: Ultrasone HFI-580 vs Audio Technica M50 (vs Pro700 MK2)