Story of a New Reviewer: kimvictor
Jul 28, 2013 at 9:09 AM Thread Starter Post #1 of 584

kimvictor

Headphoneus Supremus
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I'm not a new head-fier, but relatively new reviewer. As I have been writing reviews, eke2k6 mentioned that every reviewer has his/her preference, and knowing that preference might help the readers understand the review better.
 
I'll start with a brief intro about myself.
My name is Victor Kim, and you can call me Victor or Kim. I'm a Korean student that studies in MA. I've been into this hobby for slightly over a year now, and owned multiple headphones and iems. My first audiophile iem was SE215.
 
Source/Amp: AK100, UHA-6S.MKII, Modi, Clip Zip, GS3.
 
Here is a list of headphones/iems I've bought over the last year.
SE215 - SE535 - SRH940 - M-50 - AD700 - HD598 - X20 - DT1350 - UERM - V6 - H-200 - MDR7550
I was first a bass/mid head, than a mid/treble head, and now a neutral head.
 
So here is what I value in order of importance:
1. Smoothness
2. Clarity
3. Soundstage and Imaging
4. Detail
5. Extension
Honestly, I value all five of these a lot.
 
Overall sound sig that I enjoy is neutralish sound without big emphasis on any frequency. I really like sub bass and mids, as well as airy highs. Not so interested in quantity mid bass, but I'm interested in punchy mid bass.
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Here is a list of reviews I've done. Feel free to ask me questions about any reviews I've done on this tread.
 
Ultimate Ears In-Ear Reference Monitors: http://www.head-fi.org/products/ultimate-ears-in-ear-reference-monitors/reviews/8928
 
Beyerdynamic DT1350: http://www.head-fi.org/products/beyerdynamic-tesla-dt-1350/reviews/8968
 
T PEOS B-100: http://www.head-fi.org/products/t-peos-b-100/reviews/9212
 
T PEOS H-200: http://www.head-fi.org/products/t-peos-h-200/reviews/9267
 
Multi Headphone Review($100-$300 range): http://www.head-fi.org/t/665919/100-300-headphones-review-ath-m50-vs-ath-ad700-vs-hd598-vs-srh940-vs-dt1350-vs-v6-vs-modded-v6-vs-bose-oe-updated-6-19-13
 
Sony MDR-7550: http://www.head-fi.org/t/679045/review-sony-mdr-7550
 
Voxoa HD Wireless: http://www.head-fi.org/t/686221/new-voxoa-hd-wireless-headphones-thread-bluetooth-4-0-nfc-16-hours-of-battery
 
Sansa Fuze v2: http://www.head-fi.org/products/sandisk-sansa-fuze-v2/reviews/9691
 
Macbook Air(11,13)/Samsung Series 5: http://www.head-fi.org/t/684181/review-mac-vs-windows-laptop
 
Aug 13, 2013 at 10:36 PM Post #2 of 584
First! j/k
 
How've you been Victor? I'm sure you've read all about the AD4627, but you should give them a try! I like them more than the OPA209 for my uha-6s.
 
Oh and I see that you bought the fiio cable. What do you think about it? I read Clieos' review on it and it seems like it's probably not better than the stock UE cable. Though it does look prettier...
 
Aug 14, 2013 at 1:44 AM Post #3 of 584
Hello!

[When reviewer meet reviewer xD]
First off, AWESOME! Nice set up you have! And am really happy to see more reviewers here! Reading people's review although you are not buying the products gives you a lot of benefits to me!

Anyway, just to do some sharing, here's my propriety in sound quality;
1) Transparancy
2) Mids
2) Detailed
3) Sub-bass, tight bass and neutral bass xD
4) Imaging
5) Instrumental Separation
6) Soundstage
7) Highs

I do not mind the highs being rolled off/dark actually xD

Billson :)
 
Aug 14, 2013 at 10:01 AM Post #4 of 584
Quote:
First! j/k
 
How've you been Victor? I'm sure you've read all about the AD4627, but you should give them a try! I like them more than the OPA209 for my uha-6s.
 
Oh and I see that you bought the fiio cable. What do you think about it? I read Clieos' review on it and it seems like it's probably not better than the stock UE cable. Though it does look prettier...

I've been doing fine. How's your summer going?
 
I am interested in rolling op-amps, but since shipping to Korea costs a lot, I'm waiting til I'm back in MA to order few op-amps from Nick.
What fiio cable are you talking about? I have a mini-mini cable from Fiio, but I didn't buy a ciem cable from them. I was thinking about buying them. Anyways, thanks for the heads up! I think I'll hold off buying a fiio cable.
 
Aug 14, 2013 at 10:04 AM Post #5 of 584
Quote:
Hello!

[When reviewer meet reviewer xD]
First off, AWESOME! Nice set up you have! And am really happy to see more reviewers here! Reading people's review although you are not buying the products gives you a lot of benefits to me!

Anyway, just to do some sharing, here's my propriety in sound quality;
1) Transparancy
2) Mids
2) Detailed
3) Sub-bass, tight bass and neutral bass xD
4) Imaging
5) Instrumental Separation
6) Soundstage
7) Highs

I do not mind the highs being rolled off/dark actually xD

Billson
smily_headphones1.gif

Thanks! It really does help to know what the reviewer's preference is. I simply cannot bear dark sounding headphones, but many reviewers(including you) are fine with them. Anyways, let's keep more reviews coming!
 
Aug 14, 2013 at 10:21 AM Post #6 of 584
Thanks! It really does help to know what the reviewer's preference is. I simply cannot bear dark sounding headphones, but many reviewers(including you) are fine with them. Anyways, let's keep more reviews coming!


Haha that's mainly because I find better overall clarity to be better with darker headphones although sometimes lacking details xD

Billson :)
 
Aug 14, 2013 at 11:10 AM Post #7 of 584
Quote:
I've been doing fine. How's your summer going?
 
I am interested in rolling op-amps, but since shipping to Korea costs a lot, I'm waiting til I'm back in MA to order few op-amps from Nick.
What fiio cable are you talking about? I have a mini-mini cable from Fiio, but I didn't buy a ciem cable from them. I was thinking about buying them. Anyways, thanks for the heads up! I think I'll hold off buying a fiio cable.

Today is the last day of my summer class! I'll be going to the art museum to do a mini-presentation on my art history paper on the Reliquary of Mary Magdalene
 
I thought you had the fiio ciem cable, since you posted pictues in the "Make the change—with one tiny wire.FiiO Headphone cable- RC-X will be in the market" album.  
 
HD650 is the limit for me, as far as dark sounding headphones are concerned. Anything darker than that sounds too mellow to me. For example, ASG IEMs; lots of people like them, but they're wayyy to dark for me.
 
Aug 14, 2013 at 11:14 AM Post #8 of 584
Quote:
Today is the last day of my summer class! I'll be going to the art museum to do a mini-presentation on my art history paper on the Reliquary of Mary Magdalene
 
I thought you had the fiio ciem cable, since you posted pictues in the "Make the change—with one tiny wire.FiiO Headphone cable- RC-X will be in the market" album.  
 
HD650 is the limit for me, as far as dark sounding headphones are concerned. Anything darker than that sounds too mellow to me. For example, ASG IEMs; lots of people like them, but they're wayyy to dark for me.

Good luck!
 
Rin's measurements got me interested in ASG iems. I want to hear if they are as bad as Rin suggested.
 
Aug 14, 2013 at 11:23 AM Post #10 of 584
Quote:
Good luck!
 
Rin's measurements got me interested in ASG iems. I want to hear if they are as bad as Rin suggested.

Yep, no treble at all... everything sounds kinda muffled or deadened(?) to me. Oh, and first time I actually saw measurements for the ASGs, wow!
 
Aug 14, 2013 at 1:45 PM Post #12 of 584
Oh hey, I'm a new reviewer my self as well ^^ just doing the finishing touches to my 9 Testing songs now!
 
I also started out as a bass head ^^ 
 
Things I Value are
 
Decay- the change from high to low, a sound that lingers too long has bad decay and will be smoother but not as punchy or detailed [or clear] imo 
 
Highs- Smoothness, air and detail/decay
Mids- Punch, Push and Detail decay
Bass- Tightness and placement [I like deeper less forward bass]
Sound Stage /Imaging -2D and more importantly 3D placement
Dynamics- Changes in high to low [part of decay in a sense]
BUILD QUALITY
Utility- Fit Comfort and Ease of Use 
 
feel free to check out my blog [it links back to my Head Fi reviews] BUT I love reading reviews and I'd love some feed back on my own :D 
 
And I agree Darker headphones are usally warm and smooth, but lack decay and air in the treble 
 
As for the songs I test with [they are just as important]
 
 
 
I have
Lisa Edkhal- Female Vocals, Mids and Sound Stage 
Move 恋し(Love) -Male Vocals, Mids Dynamics [I really like the Gusto in the Singers Voice]
 Modern Jazz Quartet- Reunion Blues (W)- Mids, Bass, Treble- 3D imaging, Sound Stage [this has a very cool bass and Cymbal riff. Bass in your right ear treble in your left. Warm Xylophone right in the middle. Drums and bass sound farther away than Xylophone [it's not forward in terms of Frequancy response but rather imaging!] 
HAYA Band [Mongolian Singer] Missing You- 2D sound stage, Mids and Dynamics- a really nice warm guitar in the right, and a equally warm Cello [interestingly enough my dt 990 really kills this song, as the Bass in the Guitar is WAY to strong... it's really overpowering the Punch of the mids]
Nu Tone- Mission Control- BASS and BASS? And MORE BASS and some treble Detail <3- Classic DnB Tune Keep it tight and it'll sound alright!
Anne Gastinel, Francois-Fredic Guy- [Beethoven: Cello & Piano Sonatas #2,4 & 5 in G Minor]- Treble, Dynamics, Mid Punch- Sound Stage 2D seperation.
3nd-Algorythm- fun rock tune, needs a balance of bass, mids and highs. Once again the Dt 990 is too bassy, and the mids lack punch. While the upper mids are drowned out[still a very fun song]
Seven [Binaural] Purple Bass Tighness and 3D Imaging, a really cool Binaural recording! Great for 3D placement, 
Benga- Evolution [Mids, and BASS] The wobble really needs a mix of good PUNCHY mids and DEEP bass, not to mention the song opens with a sweet mid heavy intro! Highs here are important as in PURE AGGRESSION, This Dub Step tune needs to b edgy, aggressive and TIGHT [things the DT 990 does like a dream] 
 
In addition I use my Modded w1000x out of my oDac- Matrix M Stage [LME 49990 op amp] as my reference headphone. And as always I use FooBar WASPAI Even, with 16 Bit lossless files <3 Through Coaxial cables :D
 
Personally I really enjoy doing reviews, heck I buy and return cheap headphones just to review them. And on a positive note, Tommorow I'm emailing a member of the Audio Technica Publicity staff on getting a review sample! So once I get through that, I'll be back here to share with you guys what all he asked of me, So you guys can get the chance maybe to do some reviews from a BIG company as well ^^, not to mention I have an AKG K550 and Ath A900x [I purcahsed my self] on the way too. So my Blog/Head Fi accounts are about to xPlode
 
Still, I'm glad you started this thread... I'd love to see what qualities you guys look for :D. And I shared as much about what I do, so if you see something you like you can copy. That's what I've found to work best for me. ^^ Non the less what a fun hobby we have! 
 
Aug 14, 2013 at 7:16 PM Post #13 of 584
Interestingly, while I found darker headphones to be smoother, I find them to lack clarity.


XD forgot to add smoother... What was I thinking last night xD but they do have better clarity, at least, from those that I heard like the UE6000, Momentum, RS220 etc
 

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