Luckily most of my $400> purchases I've been able to try before buying, either by demo or loan. I consider $300> purchases without hearing a product a recipe for suicide. Because I've heard some real shockers, even to the point questioning if they were faulty. Heir 3Ai was one of them the orginal ASG-1 V1.2 another Luckily they were only demos. if I however I paid full price and put them in my ears I'd be absolutely gutted. That's the beauty of mid-tier, you can try products (some very capable) without feeling like someone just sliced your testicles off if it doesn't work out.
I think my expectations are rather high though, I bought a pair of Beyer DT1350 which arrived today which haven't won me over yet although the Beyers are decent, theres some real crappy over priced gear out there.
Everything else you said it true though. There is no way I would pay >$300 for something without auditioning it first (unless I thought I could return it or for sure sell it without a major loss).
Luckily most of my $400> purchases I've been able to try before buying, either by demo or loan. I consider $300> purchases without hearing a product a recipe for suicide. Because I've heard some real shockers, even to the point questioning if they were faulty. Heir 3Ai was one of them the orginal ASG-1 V1.2. Luckily they were only demos, I was able to hear them, if I however I paid full price and put them in my ears, I'd be absolutely gutted. That's the beauty of mid-tier you can try products (some that are very capable) without feeling like someone just sliced your testicles off if it doesn't work out.
I think my expectations are rather high though, I bought a pair of Beyer DT1350 which arrived today which haven't won me over yet.
Well, I have to be honest and admit that I slightly cracked the other day and ordered a Noble 4. I might have been a little affected by joker's review of the 4s.
Congrats on the TH900 Danny..I was listening to those the most out of all the high end cans at CanJam. I am certain you will find them to your liking..I will eventually own a pair myself but for now I will be happy with the SRH1540 and I hope I was correct in hearing the L2s the way I did at the show..Philips is taking their sweet time in bringing those out already..
Everything else you said it true though. There is no way I would pay >$300 for something without auditioning it first (unless I thought I could return it or for sure sell it without a major loss).
The Beyers only arrived today, I must allow another day or so before letting them loose. it's just....I'm really a balanced armature/IEM kind of guy for mids and highs over dynamic based stuff, this has proven itself over and over again with past purchases. Hybrids are where it's at, like Dunu DN-1000, H-200, 1Plus2 or RDB+ v1 Mini etc.
I can honestly say though while on the topic the last portable headphone I was impressed with is what's being vamped in this thread right now HPH-200, that was really really natural fun, detailed portable for the money, far better then Vmoda M-80 and Sony MDR-1R to my ears. I even question them next to the Beyer DT1350.
Well, I have to be honest that I slightly cracked the other day and ordered a Noble 4. I might have been a little affected by joker's review of the 4s.
I trust ijokerl's reviews, he hasn't let me done yet, (maybe a little bit with R-50
), but most of his other reviews I've been able to relate to. Goodluck with them Kova my experience with 3Ai was not to good, excellent build though, great finish.
I trust ijokerl's reviews, he hasn't let me done yet, (maybe a little bit with R-50
), but most of his other reviews I've been able to relate to. Goodluck with them Kova my experience with 3Ai was not to good, excellent build though, great finish.
Well, thanks. I haven't heard the 3ai only the 4ai and though it had issues I thought it had potential and it seems that Noble have worked on fixing these issues, so to be honest I'm not that worried - well, maybe a little bit but I just didn't want to miss that 20% discount. I hope it will turn out to be an upgrade to the er4s.
There is no Dana, there is only ZOTL! Reviewer for The Headphone List
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Yeah, I didn't know how long that price would last, I guess it has gone up as you noted, sorry.
I go back and forth on the idea of getting a few good pieces and stopping, rather than many mid tier headphones. I don't really have any way to audition them, though, and I remember being in the high end world, hearing $3000 preamps and not loving them, and I saw high-enders do similar stuff with expensive equipment, selling stuff to replace it with something else, not being happy with the replacement...being expensive doesn't guarantee satisfaction. If you can listen, you definitely have a better chance of being happy with the purchase, but even then, the "new girlfriend" syndrome I wrote about earlier, getting that crush on something you hear initially, only to find the warts when you live with it. Have to say, the discovery/purchase/listening/analysis/posting has been fun! Not going anywhere yet (sorry).
Glad to hear my favorite people in headfi are still enjoying the discovery thread. I for one have thought of retiring from this hobby... And I haven't even stepped into the >$300 tier yet! I'm just lucky that I have a wife that keeps me grounded. Thank god she's not into this hobby!
Hearing them Sf had some girly sized M9 tips on them which I tried, but no seal and they were basically dangling. Tried the larger M9 tips that Sf also supplied, and now the M200's are locked, loaded and putting a big smile on my face!
Hopefully you'll get those other tips soon Wayne. Can't wait for you guys to start chiming in after you have had some good time with them. I went crazy lately with high end stuff lately and will be receiving the TH-900 this week. I'm done and done and done with this hobby now.
Thank you fellas. I think it's this thread that has me spending and spending to satisfy my curiosity on sound. I've spent so much on gear that I really need to slow down. I don't believe that the most expensive stuff really is better than low to mid-tier gears but I've had enough experience now with the low to mid-tier gears that I have decided to go all out with a few high end gears to stop spending and enjoy the few things I've decided to keep. Time has come that I want to just listen and enjoy a handful of equipment instead of having so many that most just sit there and collect dust. For me, I'll save more money by spending for the TH900 then grabbing the next more affordable gears that come out all too often these days. It sure is fun though and the people on this thread are the best on head-fi and it all starts with the thread starter Dsnuts who sets the tone and welcomes all to share their impressions without any judgement. It's been a great 2013 with such awesome sounding stuff at good prices so let's hope 2014 outdoes 2014 and so on. Happy listening dudes!
Nah, going all out will only kill your wallet faster - it doesn't guarantee that you'll get what you're looking for just and stop spending more money on this sickness hobby. I have to admit though that for a second I was also tempted to go all out the other day because of the sweet deals but my willpower prevailed - self-control is the only way to keep you wallet full.
Well, I have to be honest and admit that I slightly cracked the other day and ordered a Noble 4. I might have been a little affected by joker's review of the 4s.
Glad to hear my favorite people in headfi are still enjoying the discovery thread. I for one have thought of retiring from this hobby... And I haven't even stepped into the >$300 tier yet! I'm just lucky that I have a wife that keeps me grounded. Thank god she's not into this hobby!
^ Welp better late to the TOWEL THROWING PARTY then never. THE GOD OF TOWELS!!! .... ya'll can't be serious right???
Cuz after listening to those ASG 2s for the past week non-stop and now listening to my GODLY VSD1 LEs makes them sound like schiit!!! But which one????.....
The party has just started and ya'll are ready to hang it up. I MUST PUT A STOP TO THIS NONSENSE ONCE AND FOR ALL!!! .... NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!
Even the TOWEL THROWING GOD needs practice meng, you ain't gonna get it right the 1st try.
Nah, you can't blame me - no one knows when the VSD9 will be released and whether any of these limited 100 units will be available outside of China and if there are any, how much overpriced will they be? Of course, I'm still waiting for that ancient alien technology and haven't given up on the VSD9 but I just can't hold out indefinitely for such an elusive product that I may or may not be able to get my hands on.
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