Oppo PM-1 Planar Magnetic Headphone Impressions Thread
Apr 24, 2014 at 12:02 AM Post #1,112 of 3,728
I've now got a week's worth of listening on my new PM-1. I've been running a varied diet of numerous genres of music through them 24 hours a day since they arrived. I find the comfort and fit simply astounding, especially for a relatively heavy set of headphones like this. Just supremely comfortable. Build quality is amazing - definitely a plus for the pride of ownership factor. The mini cable is too short- plain and simple - almost stupidly short. I originally thought I would like the short length for connecting to the iPad that's its on my desk side leaf, but it's even too short to allow for that. The primary cable is of great quality.

Now as for sound. For me personally, they are too dark and rolled off on the high end. There is almost a cotton-ball like softness to the attack of notes. Unfortunately, that makes them seem less articulate than I'm sure they are technically capable of. Mid range is good - even great with a lot of rock - but is too "fat" for a lot of the small format chamber orchestra music I listen to a lot. The effect ultimately is a sort of "ringing" or "sheen" around some notes that sounds artificial,and additive. Low end is great - even with insanely modest amplification. Very punchy and nice without being overbearing. The base is probably more naturally integrated into the overall sound than any other aspect of these headphones. Really nicely done. Note - I'm no bass head.

They run circles around my ATH-W1000, but are much heavier on the head. The have much more realistic lows than my ATH-AD2000. However, for most of my listening needs, they are bested by both the HD800 and new version of the HD650, when properly amplified. I tend to prefer lower listening levels than many people are accustomed to, but I've forced myself to listen across a variety of levels during the last week and I can't say I've noticed a difference. They are very consistent - which is great.
 
Apr 24, 2014 at 12:32 AM Post #1,113 of 3,728
Deleted.   Nevermind.
 
Apr 24, 2014 at 12:40 AM Post #1,116 of 3,728
New review : http://andreweverard.com/2014/04/23/review-oppo-pm-1-headphones/

Thanks for posting the link.
 
This was an interesting quote from the review:
"These are by some way the most open and airy headphones I have encountered, and with a good recording deliver a completely ‘out of the head’ experience that’s almost uncanny."

 
I don't think I have read anyone's impressions saying that they are "open and airy". 
 
Apr 24, 2014 at 2:17 AM Post #1,117 of 3,728
Yeah I can explain it. Perhaps you could purchase a current production version, run it in for a while, spend some time with it, and then make your bold predictions of it being one of the top overrated headphones

Correct..
They can never be called overrated as they do have the definition and instrument separation of a top tier can.



The PM-1's on the other hand seemed to have been found guilty until proven innocent.

That is because they are guilty..
:p



I know exactly why; I'm one of the HE560 tester/reviewers and so I have a pretty good idea of what's different between the PM1 reception and HE560 reception.

The difference is in how the testers/reviewers "fed" information to the Head-fi masses.

If you take at look at the first post of the HE560 thread I made, as well as skim through the first...oh 15-20 pages, you'll see that myself and the couple others who are testers tried to give AS comprehensive and objective coverage as possible, I was bombarded with questions for days, and tried to answer all of them to the best of my extent. Also compiled them into coherent impressions/review in the first post afterward. That more or less sated the folks and everyone was happy.

The PM1 thing, on the other hand...literally every beta tester / reviewer was tightlipped initially, except maybe @bigshot
 , and the unfortunate thing is, bigshot is a speaker guy with a very, VERY different background to this hobby than almost everyone else here, so even though he tried his best answering all the inquiries and filling up information, people had a tough time relating to his thought process, or even in some cases believing him. Doubt/suspicion turned to hostility (there have been more than 1 moderator wipes here already). That basically put a sour mood on everything PM1-related since then.
That's just my observation.

That's more than observation.
That's pretty good description.

If only the beta testers weren't so tight lipped and would at least keep thread alive with approximate ETA or simple info as pads or wire or weight or fit.
Nothing but dead silence to me was an incorrect move which killed interest instead of creating.



I ordered a pair and they will be here on Friday.  I plan on comparing them to my T1. 
very nice setup :)




...
Now as for sound. For me personally, they are too dark and rolled off on the high end...

This is why we need to know a member's setup in giving impressions.

Because with my woo wa7 the synergy is almost perfect and not dark but slightly soft.

Oppo will regret this move of a neutral treble because most high end cans have higher than neutral treble energy, so most owners compensate by adjusting/tuning their setups.

Enter suddenly a can like an oppo or a Senn HD650 and suddenly the trebles seem rolled off.

I can forsee the PM2 possibly making an "adjustment" for the pm1 overly neutral trebles issue.
:p


Thanks for posting the link.

This was an interesting quote from the review:

I don't think I have read anyone's impressions saying that they are "open and airy". 

THAT Is because Everyone Hears Differently.
Good for him, but I am pretty sure that he is the only one who will say this lol.
 
Apr 24, 2014 at 4:44 AM Post #1,118 of 3,728
THAT Is because Everyone Hears Differently.

 
At some point, that wipes out the value of pretty much any review, and also makes it hard to challenge what has actually been heard - the result is too many naked emperors.
 
I agree that it makes no sense to review a headphone purely on the basis of measurements or based on short-term listening - but by the same token, there are so many reviews out there where one has NO idea about the review process.    And at some point, it becomes a self-perpetuating truism that everyone starts to parrot (eg, that canard about "tube sound").
 
And no, I dont have a better suggestion, unfortunately.
 
Apr 24, 2014 at 7:02 AM Post #1,119 of 3,728
At some point, that wipes out the value of pretty much any review, and also makes it hard to challenge what has actually been heard - the result is too many naked emperors...

Actually you are going overboard in that view.

The truth is every impression thread will always have a "general consensus" with it's the overall average view,
Despite the few extremes that you seem to be focused upon.
There will always be that as well.

A general consensus view is easy of Any headphone.

Like the Fostex th600&900 have great bass, and the hd800 has great soundstage, and Alpha dog great neutrality , etc.

So Don't worry about the few extreme views in any thread.
Edit:
Let those few extreme views, stay standing out, naked lol
:p
 
Apr 24, 2014 at 7:49 AM Post #1,122 of 3,728
  Does Oppo sell direct only?

 
I asked them that question by phone, and they said for now the PM-1 is only available direct.  I asked about Amazon, among others, and they said eventually, but it may be a while for their new headphones to be listed there!
 
Apr 24, 2014 at 8:41 AM Post #1,124 of 3,728
hey maxx134 - will get to hear this can at some stage but was wondering how the mids and highs compare to the w3000anv that you offloaded
 
Apr 24, 2014 at 9:25 AM Post #1,125 of 3,728
  Ordered.  I'll get them in a couple days.  It will be interesting to hear how drastically these have changed after 1 or 2 revisions.

 
I'm sure you'll hate them, bash them, then return them...not necessarily in that order.
 
  Thanks for posting the link.
 
This was an interesting quote from the review:
 
I don't think I have read anyone's impressions saying that they are "open and airy".

 
I find they are open and airy if the recording itself is open and airy. If a headphone makes everything sound open and airy, it is distorting or coloring the sound.
 

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