bluesaint
500+ Head-Fier
As I didn't see a closed version specific thread I thought I'd start one. Apologize to moderators if there's one, feel free to merge the thread.
I just received these today from headroom, so this is my quick out of the box impressions and possibly with a bad pair, so reserving final impression once I sync up with Audeze support.
I've compared it with:
1. Denon AH-MM400
2. Denon AH-D5000 (Lawton modded)
Using my Cayin N6 DAP BTL 250mw+250mw @ 32ohm amp section playing back DSD and 192khz/24bit FLAC files
Quality of EL-8C:
1. The design and build quality as a whole looks solid. feels solid too
2. I didn't run into cable problems like some others, but they plugin like lightning connectors, but with less force and less of a "click", so can see even margins of imperfections in mfg can lead to it being loose
Comfort:
1. The ear cups are HUGE compared to the 2 denon's. The MM400 fits over my ears just fine, so by looking at the picture you can see how much bigger the pads are on the EL-8C
2. While the unit is solid, and you can feel the weight when picking them up, it fits comfortably on my head and has the right amount of clamping pressure that I don't feel squeezed, but doesn't move when I turn my head
Isolation:
1. Due to the size of the cups, they seal really well. I consider the MM400 seal decently, but these are another notch up.
2. So if we go by percentages, D5000=30%, MM400=50%, El-8C=65% in terms of isolation
Sound:
Before I provide more info here, I think I may have a defective unit because the right side keeps giving this "thack, thack" sticky type of physical noise from the headphone itself when I turn my head and if i press on the closed back of the right cup i hear it even with a light tap. The left side doesn't have this problem. So i wonder if there's something loose or defective inside because the right driver sound seems lacking (could be my mental manifestation due to the physical noises bothering me)
With the said problem, I observed the following sound performances:
Bass: Sit's somewhere in between the MM400 and D5000 because the MM400 has the deepest extension while the D5000 has the quantity. Which produces an ideal overall bass
Treble: I can see how some declares this being bright. The Denon's are more relaxed and not as pure and forward like what I observed in the EL-8C. For female vocal's, it is very crisp
Mids: This is where Planar's suppose to shine, but sounds recessed compared to both Denon's, and another reason I feel the unit might be defective.
Sound Stage: Wider than MM400, but not as cavernous and airy as the D5000's.
Imaging: The ability to hear instrument separation is better than the Denon's.
I ordered a headphone case and looks like it fits the EL8-C's perfectly at least
Given what i heard, I'm going to hold on to my lawton 5k's until I get this sorted out with Audeze on the possibly defective unit.
y
I just received these today from headroom, so this is my quick out of the box impressions and possibly with a bad pair, so reserving final impression once I sync up with Audeze support.
I've compared it with:
1. Denon AH-MM400
2. Denon AH-D5000 (Lawton modded)
Using my Cayin N6 DAP BTL 250mw+250mw @ 32ohm amp section playing back DSD and 192khz/24bit FLAC files
Quality of EL-8C:
1. The design and build quality as a whole looks solid. feels solid too
2. I didn't run into cable problems like some others, but they plugin like lightning connectors, but with less force and less of a "click", so can see even margins of imperfections in mfg can lead to it being loose
Comfort:
1. The ear cups are HUGE compared to the 2 denon's. The MM400 fits over my ears just fine, so by looking at the picture you can see how much bigger the pads are on the EL-8C
2. While the unit is solid, and you can feel the weight when picking them up, it fits comfortably on my head and has the right amount of clamping pressure that I don't feel squeezed, but doesn't move when I turn my head
Isolation:
1. Due to the size of the cups, they seal really well. I consider the MM400 seal decently, but these are another notch up.
2. So if we go by percentages, D5000=30%, MM400=50%, El-8C=65% in terms of isolation
Sound:
Before I provide more info here, I think I may have a defective unit because the right side keeps giving this "thack, thack" sticky type of physical noise from the headphone itself when I turn my head and if i press on the closed back of the right cup i hear it even with a light tap. The left side doesn't have this problem. So i wonder if there's something loose or defective inside because the right driver sound seems lacking (could be my mental manifestation due to the physical noises bothering me)
With the said problem, I observed the following sound performances:
Bass: Sit's somewhere in between the MM400 and D5000 because the MM400 has the deepest extension while the D5000 has the quantity. Which produces an ideal overall bass
Treble: I can see how some declares this being bright. The Denon's are more relaxed and not as pure and forward like what I observed in the EL-8C. For female vocal's, it is very crisp
Mids: This is where Planar's suppose to shine, but sounds recessed compared to both Denon's, and another reason I feel the unit might be defective.
Sound Stage: Wider than MM400, but not as cavernous and airy as the D5000's.
Imaging: The ability to hear instrument separation is better than the Denon's.
I ordered a headphone case and looks like it fits the EL8-C's perfectly at least
Given what i heard, I'm going to hold on to my lawton 5k's until I get this sorted out with Audeze on the possibly defective unit.
y
...)
