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**Help me with ATH-m50's**

post #1 of 14
2/3/12 at 5:44pm
Thread Starter 

Just wrote a review of these earlier...

 

 

Just wanted to share my thoughts on the vaunted m50's...not that more reviews are needed. First off, I couldn't be happier with them except for the comfort level. I need a break from them after about an hour and it's a tough concession as I really don't want to take them off!! I plan to stretch them out a little and see if it makes a difference. 

 

The best way that I can describe the m50's is that they seem to be able to play just about any genre well...effortlessly. The sound is rich, articulate, a bit heavy on the bass (which I like) and inviting. The sound signature is perfect for me. I just like the way that they sound in nearly every category. The other headphones that I owned have been put through the artificial burn in period. When I put these on my head, I just didn't feel the need to give them a burn in period. I just wanted to listen, and listen and listen. I will let them burn in naturally as I use them. I just don't feel the need to get better sound from them out of the box. They are that good to me.

 

These are not what I would budget/bang for the buck phones. They feel expensive, look expensive and sound expensive IMO. The fact that they can be had for around $100 may change that equation though. Maybe the best compliment that I can pay the m50's is that when I put them on I stop listening to the audio quality and just get lost in my music. The second best compliment is that they curbed my desire to go and buy "a better" pair of headphones. How long will that last? Don't know. wink_face.gif

 

The cable is nice and thick and metal coiled at the terminated end...nice touch. They are drive nicely without any amp. They have a heft to them that suggest the quality of the build. What would I change about them? I wish that they had more comfortable pads. That's it really. 

 

If anyone is on the fence about these, don't be just buy them and enjoy!!

 

 

As you can see, I am having a serious love affair with this set. The comfort problem though is where I need help. I just can't wear them for more than an hour without wanting to take them off. What is really causing the discomfort? Is it the pads themselves or is it the tightness of the band? I will stretch them out over some books or something overnight. I'm hoping that it is the tightness of the band. The pads become a bigger problem. I don't want to mess with sound sig any. I really do love they way these sound in just about everything that I listen to. If it comes down to the pads, can I change them without effecting the sound signature? If so what pads are suggested?

 

thanks...


Edited by MattTCG - 2/3/12 at 5:56pm
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post #2 of 14
2/3/12 at 5:56pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by MattTCG View Post

Just wrote a review of these earlier...

 

 

Just wanted to share my thoughts on the vaunted m50's...not that more reviews are needed. First off, I couldn't be happier with them except for the comfort level. I need a break from them after about an hour and it's a tough concession as I really don't want to take them off!! I plan to stretch them out a little and see if it makes a difference. 

 

The best way that I can describe the m50's is that they seem to be able to play just about any genre well...effortlessly. The sound is rich, articulate, a bit heavy on the bass (which I like) and inviting. The sound signature is perfect for me. I just like the way that they sound in nearly every category. The other headphones that I owned have been put through the artificial burn in period. When I put these on my head, I just didn't feel the need to give them a burn in period. I just wanted to listen, and listen and listen. I will let them burn in naturally as I use them. I just don't feel the need to get better sound from them out of the box. They are that good to me.

 

These are not what I would budget/bang for the buck phones. They feel expensive, look expensive and sound expensive IMO. The fact that they can be had for around $100 may change that equation though. Maybe the best compliment that I can pay the m50's is that when I put them on I stop listening to the audio quality and just get lost in my music. The second best compliment is that they curbed my desire to go and buy "a better" pair of headphones. How long will that last? Don't know. wink_face.gif

 

The cable is nice and thick and metal coiled at the terminated end...nice touch. They are drive nicely without any amp. They have a heft to them that suggest the quality of the build. What would I change about them? I wish that they had more comfortable pads. That's it really. 

 

If anyone is on the fence about these, don't be just buy them and enjoy!!

 

 

As you can see, I am having a serious love affair with this set. The comfort problem though is where I need help. I just can wear them for more than an hour without wanting to take them off. What is really causing the discomfort? Is it the pads themselves or is it the tightness of the band? I will stretch them out over some books or something overnight. I'm hoping that it is the tightness of the band. The pads become a bigger problem. I don't want to mess with sound sig any. I really do love they way these sound in just about everything that I listen to. If it comes down to the pads, can I change them without effecting the sound signature? If so what pads are suggested?

 

thanks...


by the time i got to the bolded sentence up there. i was wondering why you needed help again(forgot) and thought about suggesting you to cahnge your thread title to ATH M50S impression. you had quite a bit of noise in your post..but none the less i still know what you mean. Yes I have heard that you can change the ATH M50's pads'. if i remember correctly. Beyer pads work. there are soo many threads on head fi on this topic

http://www.head-fi.org/t/414574/velour-felt-pads-for-ath-m50

http://www.overclock.net/t/890399/solved-velour-pads-for-ath-m50

 

the first post requires a bit of reading but you should get an answer out of that.

 

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post #3 of 14
2/3/12 at 6:09pm

Actually, stretching the headband with some books between the cups helped greatly for me. I did it for like 3 nights when I went to sleep and by the 4th day it was all snug and nice.

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post #4 of 14
2/3/12 at 6:18pm
Thread Starter 

I've read through those and others. Ultimately it seems to come down to responses like this...

 

"the velours tame the M50 by first, making it sound darker, muffled and the vocals I tell you literally gets pushed back. If there were 5 levels from front to back and the stock vocals was in level 5 front, it pushed it all the way to level 2 back. Literally. Loss on details and roll-offs in the highs are drastic. Bass is even more bloated - not depth, not impact but just more bloated in that the bass even pushed the mids up. But this in no way help the recessed mids of the stock M50. "

 

blink.gif

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post #5 of 14
2/3/12 at 6:25pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by MattTCG View Post

I've read through those and others. Ultimately it seems to come down to responses like this...

 

"the velours tame the M50 by first, making it sound darker, muffled and the vocals I tell you literally gets pushed back. If there were 5 levels from front to back and the stock vocals was in level 5 front, it pushed it all the way to level 2 back. Literally. Loss on details and roll-offs in the highs are drastic. Bass is even more bloated - not depth, not impact but just more bloated in that the bass even pushed the mids up. But this in no way help the recessed mids of the stock M50. "

 

blink.gif

i guess there are trade offs. if the clamping is making it uncomfortable, the guys suggestion and first hand experience up top would be best  i guess. i actually prefer clamping. use with E17 provides bass levels that  are off the charts and require clamping to tame the beast and bring out the gods of bass.
 

 

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post #6 of 14
2/3/12 at 7:13pm
Thread Starter 

I am going to try the book treatment for the next few nights. I hate to even ask the question, but here is comes...

 

What set of phones has the most similar sound signature to the m50's but boast much improved comfort?

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post #7 of 14
2/3/12 at 7:16pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by MattTCG View Post

I am going to try the book treatment for the next few nights. I hate to even ask the question, but here is comes...

 

What set of phones has the most similar sound signature to the m50's but boast much improved comfort?



the first part and most would say are superior would be the HFI 580's. i was between the HFI 580's and M50's a long time ago. after doing considerable thread reading and research. the HFI 580 came out on top...but improved comfort. I think Beyerdynamics are very comfortable. just putting that out there. just throwing out a comfortable brand. not that i know it's sound signature. if you can go down to an audio store, like guitar center and try some out would be the best. that is always the best recommendatoin. it's a litle bit less for newbies as they haven't grasped audiophile sound yet, but as you have grasped the M50's already, it should be easy.

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post #8 of 14
2/3/12 at 7:35pm
Thread Starter 

I definitely see a trip to guitar center in my future this weekend!! I guess I should take my own portable source? My m50's and just listen? Do they mind people coming in for that if I'm not ready to buy and honestly would probably buy on line anyway?

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post #9 of 14
2/3/12 at 7:37pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by MattTCG View Post

I definitely see a trip to guitar center in my future this weekend!! I guess I should take my own portable source? My m50's and just listen? Do they mind people coming in for that if I'm not ready to buy and honestly would probably buy on line anyway?



it really depends on the store. but most people are able to ask and get a demo, and most do bring their own source and what not. bringing your ATH M50's in also helps as you can A/B. try some Beyer's and Ultrasone's and whatever suits your fancy. just ask them

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post #10 of 14
2/3/12 at 7:49pm
Thread Starter 

Great!! Thanks for all the replies and help guys...

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post #11 of 14
2/5/12 at 7:01pm
Thread Starter 

Okay, so now I'm down to the Denon d2000 and the HFI 580's. I have heard a lot about the sound signature of the d2000. It seems like a good fit for me. I think that it's an improvement across the board, base included with added comfort. My only reservation whatsoever is the questions about the build quality. Can anyone comment on this?

 

Then comes the HFI 580's. I don't know much about them tbh. Just checked them out on amazon and they one sweet pair of cans!! I'll do my readying on these but would appreciate comments if anyone has owned them...

 

 

thanks

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post #12 of 14
2/5/12 at 11:41pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by MattTCG View Post

Okay, so now I'm down to the Denon d2000 and the HFI 580's. I have heard a lot about the sound signature of the d2000. It seems like a good fit for me. I think that it's an improvement across the board, base included with added comfort. My only reservation whatsoever is the questions about the build quality. Can anyone comment on this?

 

Then comes the HFI 580's. I don't know much about them tbh. Just checked them out on amazon and they one sweet pair of cans!! I'll do my readying on these but would appreciate comments if anyone has owned them...

 

 

thanks



D2000s have good build quality.. They had some problems with screws before but that seems to be fixed with the new models these days. 

 

Just keep good care of them and they will last you a long time. 

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post #13 of 14
2/6/12 at 12:45am
Circumaural headphones are by nature going to be like that. They will all make your ears warm, and even the comfiest will get mildly annoying sometimes. But if you want quality, then you kinda deal. I say this as an owner of the XB700 which are probably one of the more comfortable headphones out there.
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post #14 of 14
2/6/12 at 5:25am
Thread Starter 

Can someone comment on the HFI 580's? (comfort and sound signature)

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