Bass Question... Audio-Technica ATHM50S vs Ultrasone HFI-780

Hey all,

I was just wondering what everyone thought about the bass in these 2 headphones. I bought both of them and have them right here in front of me. 

I really am loving both of them. Trying to figure out which one to keep. The thing that has struck me is that I have done a lot of reading to say the 780's have more bass than the M50's do... However that is not what I am noticing at all.

I am wondering if that is maybe due to burn in period on the 780's that are only a few hours old or what? 

For me that seems that is the one thing that is lacking on the 780's is the bass. I am really loving them otherwise. I have an E10 and have turned on the boost on that and that makes them sound pretty great from a bass perspective. I just kind of want that bass without having to have the boost and I feel like that is what I am getting from the M50's. 

Any thoughts on this at all? Any help / insight would be much appreciated.

Thanks.

Quote:

Originally Posted by zazex 

OP: The 780's have more bass - deep bass - than the M50's.

 

What's your source material? 

And what electronics are you using?

 

 

I am using CD's ripped to FLAC along with a PC equipped with an E10.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nepenthe 

I've never heard either Ultrasone. But here are some charts.

 

Here's a nice comparison of frequency response, using 1000 Hz as the reference frequency:

 

 

The 580 vs. 780 comparison (red vs. green) shows that the 780 tends to place more emphasis on the 300 Hz to 2000 Hz range, while the 580 definitely has some strength in the 40 Hz to 70 Hz bass range. The M50, compared to the 580, has a hump in the 100 Hz to 200 Hz range and then has a little more low bass energy, and then has less energy in the 2000 Hz to 3000 Hz range.

 

Here's a nice comparison of ability to correctly resolve a 50 Hz signal (which is a different concept than comparative loudness at different frequencies):

 

 

The 780 appears to be just a bit lacking compared to the M50 and 580.

 

Off topic, but here's a nice comparison of ability to correctly reproduce a 500 Hz signal:

 

 

The M50 and 780 look noticeably smoother than the 580.

These are definitely the impressions that I am getting. My burn in time right now is very low however.

Quote:

Originally Posted by DVDRey 

 

 

Not really,HFi780 has better quality bass, not quantity and not as punchy.

 

HFi580 has generally better quantity and more punchy bass than M50, but its especially mids and treble which are different. HFi580 is more lively and fun than M50 imo.

Quote:

Originally Posted by mutabor 

From what I've read on this forum pretty accurately relates to your impressions. There is one guy ( DVDRey) who owns several Ultrasones and he says that 780's don't have strong bass while 580's have punchy bass. 

 

Also there are some complaints that M50's lacking in mids and highs quality because of bass boost.

 

Edit: Oops. DVDRey has answered the question faster than me.

Quote:

Originally Posted by DVDRey 

 

 

Well, HFi780 is still a bassy headphone (from an audiophile view,lol), but a quality bassy headphone,lol. Yes HFi580 and M50 are much more punchy than 780.

 

 

 

Its exceptional this time, 'cause i'm slow in english,lol.

Gotcha. Yes that is what it seems to me. Maybe I should try out the 580 next. Not sure though...as I will be mentioning, bass definitely isn't even thing to me.

Yeah that is what I kind of notice as well with the M50's. When I hear the guitar in the rock music (311) that I am listening to... and different elements in the electronic (Glitch Mob) and other hybrid types (Breathe Carolina)... It just seems that I miss the miss and highs coming out more lively and in the case of the guitar I can really hear the guitar ripping it when compared to the 780's. Then the 780's I am getting all that good stuff but lacking in the bass department JUST SLIGHTLY. I am not a huge bass head which I have realized. I just want it to be there in the music that it should be there. Where the parts that really should hit with some force, they do, but I don't want it to be an artificial thing.

Like I said mentioned with the bass boost function on the E10 turned on, the 780's are just mint. It doesn't do a ton for the bass but it does more than enough. I just wish that I could see this from them without the bass boost so they would perform similar in situations without the E10.

I honestly after I listened to the M50's for a long period of time and then the 780's that the M50's were for me. But the second time around doing the same thing, I started thinking differently. Its a mixed bag.

With burn in time do you think there will be any increase in the bass? What would be the best method of burn in. Just normal listening as I would and let it happen over time? Or forcing it with letting music play even when I am not listening? Also what volume level is acceptable for this.

Thanks again or everyones responses and time including nepenthe, dvdrey, matador.

Well I received the 580's today in the mail. This decision is extremely difficult. I feel like they all have something to offer.