Quote:
Originally Posted by
xnor 
This seems to be the problem. If someone doesn't like the sound of a headphone with a flat, low distortion amp the person doesn't like the headphone. Saying it's the amp's fault is absurd.
Yes, it really does help to have a clue as to what neutrality sounds like. It was one of my motivations for getting the etymotics. All the headphones that I've heard (including my orthos) warble in volume all over the frequency range.
Putting an increasing frequency sine wave tone through etymotics and what you hear is a outrageous flatness. The frequency graphs don't do them justice: they are as flat as pancakes except at their very limits. A technological tour de force.
And they are cold and thin (until you get used to them). Personally, I prefer a bit of bass boost, and since etymotics have almost no distortion even at high volume, they equalise marvellously, 7db at 50Hz. Banging bass.
Warmth? Just boost the mid bass a bit.
Until you have heard a genuinely flat headphone out of a transparent/neutral source then one's opinion is meaningless and uninformed.