[zilch0md]

@zilch

Looking forward to trying the PM-1 at the meet, Mike. Hope you can make whatever date is decided on.

[snip]

I'm looking forward to it, too. I'll probably never hear better audio than I enjoyed at the last Dallas meet I attended, when I listened to jazzerdave's proper HD800 rig, with an XMOS-based USB-SPDIF converter, Peachtree DAC, and Cavalli Liquid Glass (with I don't know which tubes), and some balanced copper cables. That HD800 was sublime. I seriously doubt the PM-1 could ever be cajoled into sounding that good.

Mike

 

[Headphoner]

 
I'm using a Schiit Lyr and Uber Bifrost with them  for two days now and I can say truthfully that, even out of the box they are exceptional headphones.   Yesterday I had them on for almost eight hours without ANY fatigue!   The Lyr and BF combo with the PM-1's are a formidable trio.   Smooth, non taxing high frequencies sing without any harshness.  Massed strings from the symphony  are pure and absolutely accurate.   (DSD recording of Mahler 7th Symphony)    Cassandra Wilsons "Another Country"  album   (96/24) was  holographic.  Terrific!   The PM's took on the Lyr's power stoically and with finesse, never loosing it's cool once.   Superb!   I have a xlr cable for the PM-1 coming on loan so I can use my Mjolnir  again as that is my main rig.  If anyone is interested I will report on that combination as well.   
Hope this is has been helpful.

I am very interested in the Oppo/Mjolnir combo.

 

[olegausany]

Another Planar I need to consider. This is getting more difficult to choose. Now I have to choose between LCD-X, Alpha Dogs and PM-1.

If comfort is critical for you the choice is much more easier

 

[Headphoner]

Measurement of the PM-1 at About.com shows a steep high frequency roll off beginning at 9 kHz.  If this measurement is reliable, the roll off should be audible -- for example, the phones should be lacking in air.  Can you lucky people who have auditioned these phones comment on any high frequency roll off?

 

[headwhacker]

If comfort is critical for you the choice is much more easier

 
SQ is my only concern. I have tried an LCD-2 so I have an idea how the LCD-X feels. I have tried an Alpha Dog around my head but was not able to hear how it sound yet. I don't think I will have any issues in terms of comfort. Whichever phone sounds the best is the one I will get. But to be honest the price is definitely another consideration.
 
It seems like PM-1 is looking to be a good value. But I guess I will wait until PM-2 is out.

 

[zilch0md]

Hi Headphoner,
 
Quote:

  Measurement of the PM-1 at About.com shows a steep high frequency roll off beginning at 9 kHz.  If this measurement is reliable, the roll off should be audible -- for example, the phones should be lacking in air.  Can you lucky people who have auditioned these phones comment on any high frequency roll off?

 
Go back five days to this post and read forward from there, looking for responses.
 
Then jump over to this post (or there abouts) at the re-opened original PM-1 thread, to where Currawong, our level-headed Admin, transported the discussion of this topic, where it is still undergoing a thorough thrashing.  

 
Hint:  Please don't discuss the topic here, in this thread.
 
But, sincerely, thank you for bringing it to everyone's attention - even though someone else beat you to it.
 

 
Mike

 

[olegausany]

If comfort isn't an issue and you best sound for your money than choice is too easy it's PM-1 because after trying LCD-X on the same setup as PM-1 i heard nothing what would wort paying extra $700 except discomfort i can tolerate for just 30 seconds

 

[Beagle]

 
No noise from the Lyr.   Volume control on the Lyr was at 8 to 9 o'clock.   Some times higher with some classical recordings.   Never higher than 10 o'clock.   Some tubes can be noisier than others I guess.

 
I'm using the Lyr as well...not a speck of noise....and I have to bring up the volume more than with normally sensitive headphones.

 

[zilch0md]

If comfort isn't an issue and you best sound for your money than choice is too easy it's PM-1 because after trying LCD-X on the same setup as PM-1 i heard nothing what would wort paying extra $700 except discomfort i can tolerate for just 30 seconds

 
Thanks for this comparison.  (I've been considering the LCD-X - haven't heard it yet.)

 

[headwhacker]

If comfort isn't an issue and you best sound for your money than choice is too easy it's PM-1 because after trying LCD-X on the same setup as PM-1 i heard nothing what would wort paying extra $700 except discomfort i can tolerate for just 30 seconds

What exactly is not comfortable with PM-1 is it the earcup or the headband?

 

[keanex]

  What exactly is not comfortable with PM-1 is it the earcup or the headband?

He's saying the LCD-X is uncomfortable.
 
One thing I'm noticing is that low-level listening is great with the PM-1. Something I rarely notice in a headphone.

 

[zilch0md]

I'm confused - I thought olegausany was saying that the PM-1 is more comfortable - that he can't tolerate the LCD-X for longer than 30 seconds. 
 
Waiting for his next post.
 

 

[eugenius]

   
I'll take a stab.  I am not an audio engineer (although i am an engineer by training), and these is just my hypothesis, trying to correlate subjective preferences with objective science:
 
When you listen to, say, a violin in a concert, you hear the direct sound of the violin as well as reflected sound coming off the room.
 
When you listen to a violin on speakers, you heard the direct sound of the speakers as well as the reflected sound coming off the room (although the acoustics of a typical home listening room are going to be different from that of a concert hall).
 
When you listen to a violin on headphones, there are no reflections.
 
Unless your ear is tuned to the sound of a violin being played outdoors in an immensely-large field, you might find a sound with some added decay to be closer to what you are used to hearing in a concert.   Of course it is not exactly the same thing - but as listening science shows, the brain is very good at filling in some of the missing gaps.   Which is a certain degree of coloration can indeed be perceived as more life-like.

 
Are we to assume that violins are usually recorded outdoors or in anechoic chambers?
 
They had a room where they recorded the violin too. You hear the violin in that room and you need to minimize your room coloration as much as possible. Good open headphones are the cheapest way to do that.
 
Just because you might be used to it doesn't mean it's right. People are used to +bass and +treble presets too.

 

[vkalia]

   
Are we to assume that violins are usually recorded outdoors or in anechoic chambers?
 
They had a room where they recorded the violin too. You hear the violin in that room and you need to minimize your room coloration as much as possible. Good open headphones are the cheapest way to do that.

 
I answered this already.   Have you considered the distance between the violin and the mike vs the listener and the mike, and factored that in when comparing the fall-off in SPL of the reflected sounds?
 

  Just because you might be used to it doesn't mean it's right. People are used to +bass and +treble presets too.

 
Umm, ok.  I am not sure how an arbitrary preference is somehow comparable to a preference based on how something sounds in an actual concert, but if you think these 2 things are comparable, then i dont really know what to say.
 
ETA:  I have stated why I think some people might prefer the additional decay.   It should be blindingly obvious to anyone that this is not meant as a universal truth but an explanation for a preference, and that there is no real "right" when it comes to subjective preferences (and let's be clear about something - the end game for most people is finding a sound that they like - not a sound that they can measurbate over).

 

[Beagle]

   
I answered this already.   Have you considered the distance between the violin and the mike vs the listener and the mike, and factored that in when comparing the fall-off in SPL of the reflected sounds?
 
 
Umm, ok.  I am not sure how an arbitrary preference is somehow comparable to a preference based on how something sounds in an actual concert, but if you think these 2 things are comparable, then i dont really know what to say.
 

 
Agree. We don't listen to live performances on headphones, we listen to recordings, made with mics, machines et al.