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The Sennheiser Orpheus 2? A First Look At The Sennheiser HE-1 (The New Orpheus)
Nov 30, 2015 at 8:45 PM Post #1,156 of 2,918
icebear said:
  You are generally correct that electrostat systems are not built for party volumes but the Stax Lambda pro can deliver 118dB's w/o distortion.
 
I simply don't trust "Mr self proclaimed crazy" on this notion that there were distortion above 100dB. Did he measure the spl? Absense of any distortion, usually a signal that the spl is already pretty high, can make people crank up the volume to insane levels w/o realizing how loud it actually is. I can't imagine this being the case (distortion above 100dB's) with a $55k system. That is something everyone should notice immediately, Tyll, Jude and last but not least the Sennheiser folks themselves. If that was indeed the case, they'd be the laughing stock. This being inlikely, I'd rather treat the crazy statement with a little bit of caution.
rolleyes.gif
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I completely agree on this. It just doesn't add up that a system claimed to have the lowest distortion ever measured would have noticeable distortion like this. Perhaps it was a mistake and it was merely distortion in the recording itself. We'll need more info to know what was going on.
 
Nov 30, 2015 at 9:54 PM Post #1,157 of 2,918
music alchemist said:
   
I completely agree on this. It just doesn't add up that a system claimed to have the lowest distortion ever measured would have noticeable distortion like this. Perhaps it was a mistake and it was merely distortion in the recording itself. We'll need more info to know what was going on.
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+1
I hate to beat the dead horse,  
deadhorse.gif

But this is the kind of stuff that comes out of totally subjective reviewing.
"Duh, I think it sounds like _______  (you fill in the blanks.)"
 
Dec 1, 2015 at 1:43 AM Post #1,158 of 2,918
In nomax's defence, I was asking what he thought of it - I know he has owned and tried a massive amount of gear and just wondered where it stood in his opinion. It's not an exact science, but objective measurements haven't helped me in the past either, so I guess it is what it is.

Who knows, it may measure to be the most accurate headphone in the world to date (at a certain volume), but does that mean they are engaging and make you want to pick them up and listen for hours and hours? Not necessarily. And if more people agree that the bass and soundstage is a little lacking, then maybe that's something worth noting.
 
Dec 1, 2015 at 2:42 AM Post #1,160 of 2,918
mulder01 said:
In nomax's defence, I was asking what he thought of it - I know he has owned and tried a massive amount of gear and just wondered where it stood in his opinion. It's not an exact science, but objective measurements haven't helped me in the past either, so I guess it is what it is.

Who knows, it may measure to be the most accurate headphone in the world to date (at a certain volume), but does that mean they are engaging and make you want to pick them up and listen for hours and hours? Not necessarily. And if more people agree that the bass and soundstage is a little lacking, then maybe that's something worth noting.
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They idea of true High Fidelity is to build a product that is the most accurate reproducer possible, not to make something euphoric and pleasing.
 
Dec 1, 2015 at 3:20 AM Post #1,162 of 2,918
sal1950 said:
  They idea of true High Fidelity is to build a product that is the most accurate reproducer possible, not to make something euphoric and pleasing.
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If you don't get pleasure from this hobby then what's the point? 
 
Maybe just hang the frequency response graph on the wall and look at it.  Then you can appreciate the feat of engineering that doesn't necessarily bring enjoyment.
 
Dec 1, 2015 at 4:20 AM Post #1,163 of 2,918
nomax said:
I was trying all opportunities for an hour,i am CRAZY Nomax lol

Here is the Link to my meet&greet with Orpheus 2 Video
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=XoCBY0ATsyo
NOMAX
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HEY... What do you know........    
gs1000.gif

 
I listened to the link, and the new Orpheus II sounded just like my HD600.   
wink_face.gif

 
Dec 1, 2015 at 5:20 AM Post #1,164 of 2,918
mulder01 said:
If you don't get pleasure from this hobby then what's the point? 

Maybe just hang the frequency response graph on the wall and look at it.  Then you can appreciate the feat of engineering that doesn't necessarily bring enjoyment.
Click to expand...


sure but there's no need to spend north of 5k for an abyss let alone 55k for an orpheus 2 to own a headphone that will bring you musical enjoyment. i think we expect exemplary technical performance from high-end gear don't you?
 
Dec 1, 2015 at 5:34 AM Post #1,165 of 2,918
Absolutely we expect that, but if it's not enjoyable as well then it defeats the purpose.  Pretty sure almost everyone on here is into this wallet sucking hobby because they enjoy it.
 
You can enjoy cheaper gear... to a degree... ...I don't want to go too far off topic though
 
Dec 1, 2015 at 5:44 AM Post #1,166 of 2,918
it's an old chestnut but a consequence of the pursuit of "high fidelity" sound is that it won't sound euphonic (unless the recording does). enjoyment for some audiophiles is derived from having a hi fi system that sounds "accurate", which entails that it doesn't "editorialise" or "sugar coat" the sound to their ears. hope that didn't stray too far ot. :wink:
 
Dec 1, 2015 at 11:01 AM Post #1,167 of 2,918
Hi Guys,
 
Long time - no see!  :wink:
 
Just had the chance to listen and check out the new Orpheus prototype at the fair in Austria named "Klangbilder".
 
First of all I want to thank you the guys of Sennheiser to give me that chance!
 
However as this product is really placed at the top end - I want to be very critical, even it was still a prototype.
 
To my impression, the DAC, Amplifier well placed in an solid Marble stone is really great!
Sorry, I do not have better words for it! If I would find it in my brain I would use - really!
 
As an acoustician and former headphone and microphone developer of course, I tried to judge the headphone itself much more than the amplifier.
Please understand that there was limited time only and may be a lot of my following comments are a result of this fact.
 
To my impression, the maximum sound pressure level where the headphone does not have too much distortion is relatively low.
Low means...: I checked it out with approx. 110 dB SPL (no filter!) and with simple music like Dire Straits it started to become distorted. I mean with simple music not the music itself, I mean the Crest factor. Or in other words it's not a music which force headphones dramatically.
 
Another impression was, that the sound stage - or may be better - the spatial imaging was also not really great.
Of course this is wailing at a high level, but for about 50.000,- € !!??
Just before I got the chance to listen to the new HD 800s... My impression it offered a larger surrounding.
 
Also the fit to the head was at least to me not at that level which the HD 800 offer.
 
Ok, enough bad criticism:
What really is great and may be more than great was the overall acoustic balance to my ears.
I never had that experience before!
All instruments sound naturally. The impression is really great and no other headphone offered it at that level in the past.
Nobody will have the need of any sound correction by equalisation or so! The air volume between the membrane and the human ear is large enough to be sure, that individual ear sizes will not change this impression.
 
Overall a really great headphone! Please be reminded that I criticise on really high level based and related to the expected sales price.
On the other hand, the product is still not on the market and may be, my critic could give Axel Grell and his team at Sennheiser the chance to adapt the next sample runs a bit.
 
Best regards,
Heinz
 
Dec 1, 2015 at 11:20 AM Post #1,168 of 2,918
wink said:
HEY... What do you know........    
gs1000.gif

  I listened to the link, and the new Orpheus II sounded just like my HD600.   
wink_face.gif
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bahaha! You just might have the best and most reliable sense of humor on Head-Fi.
evil_smiley.gif

 
mulder01 said:
  Absolutely we expect that, but if it's not enjoyable as well then it defeats the purpose.  Pretty sure almost everyone on here is into this wallet sucking hobby because they enjoy it.
 
You can enjoy cheaper gear... to a degree... ...I don't want to go too far off topic though
Click to expand...

 
Eh, I enjoy all sorts of headphones...but the most enjoyable ones are the most accurate ones, for me at least. I want to hear what is on the recording.
 
And anyway, if you go from the impressions, everyone is enjoying this thing immensely.
 
hrklg01 said:
  Hi Guys,
 
Long time - no see!  :wink:
 
Just had the chance to listen and check out the new Orpheus prototype at the fair in Austria named "Klangbilder".
 
First of all I want to thank you the guys of Sennheiser to give me that chance!
 
However as this product is really placed at the top end - I want to be very critical, even it was still a prototype.
 
To my impression, the DAC, Amplifier well placed in an solid Marble stone is really great!
Sorry, I do not have better words for it! If I would find it in my brain I would use - really!
 
As an acoustician and former headphone and microphone developer of course, I tried to judge the headphone itself much more than the amplifier.
Please understand that there was limited time only and may be a lot of my following comments are a result of this fact.
 
To my impression, the maximum sound pressure level where the headphone does not have too much distortion is relatively low.
Low means...: I checked it out with approx. 110 dB SPL (no filter!) and with simple music like Dire Straits it started to become distorted. I mean with simple music not the music itself, I mean the Crest factor. Or in other words it's not a music which force headphones dramatically.
 
Another impression was, that the sound stage - or may be better - the spatial imaging was also not really great.
Of course this is wailing at a high level, but for about 50.000,- € !!??
Just before I got the chance to listen to the new HD 800s... My impression it offered a larger surrounding.
 
Also the fit to the head was at least to me not at that level which the HD 800 offer.
 
Ok, enough bad criticism:
What really is great and may be more than great was the overall acoustic balance to my ears.
I never had that experience before!
All instruments sound naturally. The impression is really great and no other headphone offered it at that level in the past.
Nobody will have the need of any sound correction by equalisation or so! The air volume between the membrane and the human ear is large enough to be sure, that individual ear sizes will not change this impression.
 
Overall a really great headphone! Please be reminded that I criticise on really high level based and related to the expected sales price.
On the other hand, the product is still not on the market and may be, my critic could give Axel Grell and his team at Sennheiser the chance to adapt the next sample runs a bit.
 
Best regards,
Heinz
Click to expand...

 
Nooo! Another distortion comment! This is getting scary...
ph34r.gif

 
On the positive side, the new Orpheus system going around the world is apparently still a prototype, so hopefully Sennheiser will pay attention here and make sure there is no audible distortion no matter the volume or frequency.
 
Dec 1, 2015 at 11:22 AM Post #1,169 of 2,918

hrklg01 said:
  Just before I got the chance to listen to the new HD 800s... My impression it offered a larger surrounding.
 
Also the fit to the head was at least to me not at that level which the HD 800 offer.
Click to expand...

 
I thought the only changes to the 800S were the color and some damping material inside. This is the first I've heard that there were changes that effect the fit. Very surprised.
 
Dec 1, 2015 at 11:35 AM Post #1,170 of 2,918
He's talking current HD800 fit. No changes on it for HD800S AFAIK
And there's no damping material added : Sennheiser didn't use the Anax mod way to change the FR, but worked on the "spider-looking-plastic-grid" ahead of the driver to tune it. This grid is thicker all-over, and its center may be tuned as a Helmholtz resonator to tame the 6 khz peak.

Ali
 
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