What KT is struggling with sounds really bizarre to me.  Is it possible he received a defective set? 
 
I've all but abandoned all my IEMs in favor of these babies.. I can't imagine life without them.  I carry them with me everywhere I go, and then take them home and plug them into my computer when I'm playing games.  I use them for everything now and I can't stop.  I've actually stopped obsessively reading head-fi lately because I feel like I have all I need already. 

ebrian said:

  What KT is struggling with sounds really bizarre to me.  Is it possible he received a defective set? 
 
I've all but abandoned all my IEMs in favor of these babies.. I can't imagine life without them.  I carry them with me everywhere I go, and then take them home and plug them into my computer when I'm playing games.  I use them for everything now and I can't stop.  I've actually stopped obsessively reading head-fi lately because I feel like I have all I need already. 

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With 680 headphone???WOWWW!!!
Wich headphone do you try???
A little review please?Bass mid and treble???
Thanks

ebrian said:

  What KT is struggling with sounds really bizarre to me.  Is it possible he received a defective set? 
 
I've all but abandoned all my IEMs in favor of these babies.. I can't imagine life without them.  I carry them with me everywhere I go, and then take them home and plug them into my computer when I'm playing games.  I use them for everything now and I can't stop.  I've actually stopped obsessively reading head-fi lately because I feel like I have all I need already. 

Click to expand...

Please publish a review here:
http://www.head-fi.org/products/jvc-ha-s680-over-ear-headphones

ebrian said:

  What KT is struggling with sounds really bizarre to me.  Is it possible he received a defective set? 
 
I've all but abandoned all my IEMs in favor of these babies.. I can't imagine life without them.  I carry them with me everywhere I go, and then take them home and plug them into my computer when I'm playing games.  I use them for everything now and I can't stop.  I've actually stopped obsessively reading head-fi lately because I feel like I have all I need already.

Click to expand...

 
I don't think they were defective as shortly after I unboxed them they sounded as everybody described them to sound as new. After 10 minutes or so of use, they started to clear up a bit and have that wonderful focus on vocals.
 
It was only after a bunch of burn-in at high, but not earth-shaking, volume that everything turned really muddy and indistinct.
 
I burned them in two ways: several overnight sessions with pink/white/brown burn-in track on repeat at levels slightly above what I could stand for more than 10 seconds (loud, but not loud enough to damage the drivers, IMO).
 
I also had a number of overnight sessions playing my local club mix station, lots of bass. This time, same kind of volume, but there were a couple of nights where the treble may have been distorting a little bit.
 
I don't know if this would have been enough to damage the drivers or not.
 
I'm going to continue playing with them to see if they change, maybe with more burn-in, but at a very moderate level this time.

@BenF, I'll write a review when I get a chance.. but I don't much to add to what's already been written. 
 
@K.T., I feel bummed that you're having this experience with yours.  I bought mine used and the seller described his burn-in as similar to yours -- 50 hours of the file, 50 hours of his own stuff.  He happened to not enjoy the warm sound signature, of which I happen to be a big fan of 95% of the time. 
 
@andreamang:
 
3 things you need to know about me is:
1. I don't have a huge collection, so when I say I don't use any of my other stuff anymore, it's not like I'm saying S680 beats everything in the world.
2. I have a budget of under $50 per earphone/headphone, because anything more I have to clear with my wife first.
3. I like a warm signature, I'm a closet basshead.

ebrian said:

 
@K.T., I feel bummed that you're having this experience with yours.

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Thanks. I'm glad yours are working out.
 
I'm kinda bummed, but really just want to get to the bottom of it.
 
Truth be told, I overspent over the holiday and have a handful cans I have yet to spend quality time with. So it's not the end of the world, though I do want my S680s to sound the way they're supposed to.
 
If anyone has any other suggestions, I'd welcome them gladly!

But the CAL at the same price??? Who is the winner???

If you can manage to find an Aurvana Live for under $50, doesn't hurt try but to get a comparison you'll have to find someone who has both. 

I have the first CAL but I had a JVC 500 and I liked it because of the great dynamic sound.
It was uncomfortable and I sold the 680 ... but I understand that does not have great bass and is different from the 500 ...

andreamang said:

  I have the first CAL but I had a JVC 500 and I liked it because of the great dynamic sound.
It was uncomfortable and I sold the 680 ... but I understand that does not have great bass and is different from the 500 ...

Click to expand...

 
Maybe you should have compared the two before you sold it..

andreamang said:

  But the CAL at the same price??? Who is the winner???

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Haha, you're still asking this!
 
The CAL! When it comes to sound, the 680 beats them in just one area: soundstage. So far everyone in this thread, including myself, who's heard both 'phones prefers the CAL! And I'm sure many of the people in this thread who find the 680 amazing would be even more wowed by the CAL!
 
But the CAL! and 680 are very different 'phones so it's kinda hard to compare them. Though I personally prefer the CAL!, every once in a while I crave the warm (I've stopped using EQ with the 680), "wet" signature and bigger soundstage of the 680.
 
@K.T.--I'm willing to bet that the 680 sound like crap to you now since you've been switching back and forth between the CAL! and them. The 680 has a drastically different sound signature than the CAL! and it takes much time to get used to them after listening to the CAL! for a while. As long as the drivers on your 680s didn't pop out of place, they should be fine. If your 680s had distorted for many hours straight they likely would have fried and would no longer work at all. I've had headphones distort for a while without them being harmed.

I have read this thread with great interest. My main musical preferences are EDM - trance, techno with some hip hop and pop thrown in. My current favorite phones are the Gemini HSR-1000 (Takstar Pro 80). They do an amazing job with the music I like. They sound the best with a FiiO EO7K where I can adjust the bass and treble. I also listen from my Nook HD+ which has really good sound, by the way. I also have a Vali/Modi stack which doesn't sound as good which was surprising to me. I have tried and returned/sold the ZMF T50rp, Senn HD558, Sony Pulse Wireless, Fidelio L1, and the Skullcandy Crushers.

These S680s sound perfect to me. My question is - will they work with my gear? I don't really want to have to buy another amp (wife will kill me) to make them work. Otherwise was seriously considering the CAL!.

Also - I know that PurpleAngel just ordered the 680s so should be able to make a good comparison with the Geminis. I know somebody had asked this question earlier in this thread. I am also very interested in his impresiions as well.

@andreamang - PLEASE just buy something and try it!

Takstar Pro 80 is relatively neutral, so it benefits from E07K's warmth.
S680 is already warm, so it will sound better with Modi/Vali

Hey has anyone else noticed a spike in freq response at about 200-500 hz? I'm at about 40-60 hrs in. The kick drums sound elevated and slightly distorted. Female voices seem a touch nasally.

After less than a week I have totally enjoyed my time with the S680s. They are a lot of great attributes mixed with convenient qualities. Doesn't matter if this hp or that hp sound better to me. These sound great! Lots of good fun for the money.

Quote:

squeakez said:

I have read this thread with great interest. My main musical preferences are EDM - trance, techno with some hip hop and pop thrown in. My current favorite phones are the Gemini HSR-1000 (Takstar Pro 80). They do an amazing job with the music I like. They sound the best with a FiiO EO7K where I can adjust the bass and treble. I also listen from my Nook HD+ which has really good sound, by the way. I also have a Vali/Modi stack which doesn't sound as good which was surprising to me. I have tried and returned/sold the ZMF T50rp, Senn HD558, Sony Pulse Wireless, Fidelio L1, and the Skullcandy Crushers.

These S680s sound perfect to me. My question is - will they work with my gear? I don't really want to have to buy another amp (wife will kill me) to make them work. Otherwise was seriously considering the CAL!.

Also - I know that PurpleAngel just ordered the 680s so should be able to make a good comparison with the Geminis. I know somebody had asked this question earlier in this thread. I am also very interested in his impresiions as well.

@andreamang - PLEASE just buy something and try it!

Click to expand...

 
The 680 most definitely will work with your gear. They're extremely efficient 'phones meant for portable use. They'll work fine out of anything.