So...the hm5's (aka FA-003?) - Page 2

The FA-003/HM5 is the greater value when compared with the K550, but the AKG has a bit of an edge when it comes to detail. However, the FA-003/HM5 is more spacious in sound, acting nearly like an open headphone. 

As for graphing discrepancies you may have heard of earlier, it's not entirely true that the Brainwavz HM5, Fischer Audio FA-003, LINDY Premium Hi-Fi, and Digitech Pro Monitor are all exactly the same. In their second revision of the FA-003 (distinguished from its companions visually be its faceplate design), Fischer Audio added their own mini-mod acoustic film to the Yoga-OEM headphone. I have owned three out of the four models listed above (I've not bought the LINDY), and even though I test my ears on TOTL equipment all the time I can almost never tell any sort of difference even after the FA-003 revision. For all intents and purposes, they're still the same.

I'd go with the Jaycar if I were you, and load up on a good amp, DAC, or combo. You'd be surprised how much a DAC can clean up your computer's sound, and how much an amp can make you love your portable source.

Quote:

Originally Posted by ssrock64 

The FA-003/HM5 is the greater value when compared with the K550, but the AKG has a bit of an edge when it comes to detail. However, the FA-003/HM5 is more spacious in sound, acting nearly like an open headphone. 

 

I'd go with the Jaycar if I were you, and load up on a good amp, DAC, or combo. You'd be surprised how much a DAC can clean up your computer's sound, and how much an amp can make you love your portable source.

The FA-003/HM5 is perhaps spacious in the sense that it has a reasonably large soundstage for a closed headphone, but compared to an actual open headphone it does indeed sound closed in the sense that there is very strong "cup effect" if you know what I mean.

My personal experience has been that better headphones straight out of a decent source like an iPod/DAP (assuming they don't require extra power) will outclass lesser headphones out of a nice DAC/amp setup. If it were me, I would forget about the DAC/amp and spend my entire budget on headphones, unless of course like I said the headphones I wanted required more power than a DAP could give or if my source was a noisy computer jack.

Quote:

Originally Posted by clairyvic 

Well, ok now i'm willing to spend up to 300 dollars. Some reccomendedLFF's Paradox-modded T50RP as well as MrSpeakers modded T50RPs. Which, out of all the options we're talking about, is the best? I only listen to music when i'm out and about as i'm always buisy with work and such, so no clunky amps please.

 

Sorry double post

Modded T50RPs are supposed to have extremely high price/performance ratio (~$75 + materials). Don't know how much that translates up to $300, but some people claim the T50RP mods can be as good as LCD-2s, so. They would most likely need an amp though.

Quote:

Originally Posted by clairyvic 

Aren't the lcd2s like 1000 bucks?

Indeed, they are. I'd take that statement with a grain of salt, but people have said that before. I don't remember which mod that was said about either.

Quote:

Originally Posted by clairyvic 

Now, i've searched for reviews and such of the lff paradox. Where exactley can I find lots of discussion on it?

Well, here's the main T50RP thread:

http://www.head-fi.org/t/452404/just-listened-to-some-fostex-t50rps-today-wow

Although it's super long so finding info in there will be pretty hard. Here is a link to the modification summary links wiki:

http://www.head-fi.org/a/fostex-t50rp-modification-summary-links-wiki

I don't know if you can even get a hold of or do the Paradox though. Last time I checked, LFF was holding their design secret. That was a few months ago though, so maybe the situation has changed and I just haven't heard about it.

Quote:

Originally Posted by clairyvic 

Thanks, anyone want to compare to AKG 500 or other mids/highs sort of headphones?

 

Hm5 https://docs.google.com/viewer?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.innerfidelity.com%2Fimages%2FFischerAudioFA003.pdf

 

AKG550 http://www.headphone.com/headphones/akg-k-550.php

 

Looking at the graph, does that mean it's quieter? How's the volume on the hm5s?

Is the FA-003/cloned models really lacking in bass or are they just lacking compared to unbalanced headphones that boost bass? Will an amp squeeze any extra bass out of them?

Also, does anyone know if the hm5 pads are real leather?

Another thing. I have read from owners of the hm5 that these get muddy at lower bass levels. Is there truth to this?