"Mad Dog" by MrSpeakers, modified Fostex T50RP review - Page 227  

I originally posted this in the recommendation thread, and got the suggestion of SRH940. I then posted it in the Q701 thread and the people there made the Q701 sound like the right choice. I like the idea of the Mad Dogs, and would like to have a pair eventually, but would their laid back-ness be exactly what I am looking for? Keep in mind that accuracy is the main goal.

 

Source: 24-96 flac and 320mp3 (for the less available stuff) via foobar2000

              Fiio E17

Genres: Metal- mainly melodeath, stuff like Opeth (kind of melodeath), Be'lakor, Insomnium, but also technical death metal like The Faceless, as well as various metal bands like Anaal Nathrakh. Rap- Almost solely Eminem and Hopsin. Classical- Beethoven, Beethoven, Beethoven

Can preference: Circumaural, preferably closed but open if fine too, comfort is a plus, but not a serious consideration. I have a pretty big head, long hair, and facial hair, which can make a difference with seals. I where glasses, but can compromise (I made due for the longest time with my current/previous headphones).

Preferred sound signature: I love the sound signature of my Ety hf3 and Superlux HD662f, so I would say reproductively accurate with a flat curve. I don't mind somewhat harsh highs, and love detail, but overall accuracy to the way things really sound is the biggest thing.

Price range: Cheaper the better. I don't like buying used, and would be willing to save for a while if it is worth it. Preferably under $200, but like I said, I can flex quite a bit if the pay off is present.

Current headphones: Superlux HD662f which developed a crackling in the right ear. I have put thousands of hours through them, and Superlux is not know for build quality, so it is what it is, as well as Ety hf3. Love them both.

some of the guys here think that the E07K or the E17 drives it to decent levels. I haven't tried this though. Maybe someone can share their experiences? 

The Mad Dogs are fairly flat, but I'm not sure if I would call them completely accurate, as accurate might imply analytical/cold, which the Mad Dogs are not. I'm not sure what would constitute accurate since my headphone knowledge is limited, so there you go.

BUT, I do listen to all the metal bands that you've listed, and the Mad Dogs sound wonderful on them. Particularly, the album of your avatar, the MD's sing on "Of Petrichor Weaves Black Noise"; the guitars and drums are weighty and sonorous, everything is well separated, and they can certainly keep up with all the layers that the song presents. The new alpha pads have brought the midrange of the cans forward; I was worried too that the laid-backness would've been an issue but either I don't know what laid-back means, or it hasn't really made an impact on my listening experience.

Detail is certainly not a problem on these cans at all; they're pretty revealing, as on many other albums I can actually hear ugly distortion on electric guitar tracks that I haven't heard on any other headphones (in particular, Alcest)

Here's a picture of their frequency response:

https://www.mrspeakers.com/image/data/mrspeakers/LCD2_DP_AP.png

The green are the LCD-2's,

The red are the old dog padded Mad Dogs

and the blue are the new alpha pads they come with.

^^ 14 day return policy. 

Do you prefer their sound over that of your B2? I typically like colder sounding cans, but that might be becausethose are the only decent ones that I am familiar with. Maybe a really good laid back can such as this would do me well. If only I had the money to buy one of everything and try it out for myself. *sigh* If only.

I would hesitate to call the Alpha Dogs "laid back".  They sit somewhere between my HE-6 and LCD-3 on the tonality spectrum with the LCD-3 being only slightly "laid back" (depending upon your definition) and the HE-6 being decidedly not laid back.  They're bright when the music calls for it but not when it doesn't.

Do you prefer their sound over that of your B2? I typically like colder sounding cans, but that might be becausethose are the only decent ones that I am familiar with. Maybe a really good laid back can such as this would do me well. If only I had the money to buy one of everything and try it out for myself. *sigh* If only.

Yes, I do prefer the sound to that over my B2, but that is not to say that one is "better", just I prefer one signature over the other. However detail-wise, I believe these full-sized cans beat them out nonetheless (disclaimer: I haven't 1v1'd them) and even present them more naturally; this is coming from someone who fell in love with his B2 at first hearing (Haha, it's still my avatar even!). As others have said, the alpha pads have brought the midrange forward and made the treble a little more sparkly, so perhaps laid-back isn't what I would call them.

Noble-fi notes this change as well in their updated review of the alpha pads.

It really does come down to you hearing them for yourself, and no one can fault you if you don't like it; that's exactly why mr. speakers offers the policy. Being mad or frustrated with people returning your product indicates an insecurity you have with the quality of your product; Dan is fully confident in his Mad Dogs, and if you return it because you don't like it, you won't hurt his feelings. 

some of the guys here think that the E07K or the E17 drives it to decent levels. I haven't tried this though. Maybe someone can share their experiences? 

It isn't that. I just like to be sure of my purchase first, otherwise I might end up with something that doesn't fit what I want and I have no one to blame but myself. Then sending them back would just make more work for Mr. Speakers. Hopefully, by the time I can rake together that much money, I will have a better idea of what I should get (poor college student :/).