PM3 and Alpha Dog
I purchased the Alpha Dog with the intent of using them at work. They’ve served me well in that role for about ten months now. I wanted the Planar Magnetic sound at work because my first two experiences with Planars was so powerful – the LCD 2.2 and then after while the HE500. They did not disappoint.
That is why I also spent a bit more for the PM3 than I wanted. A planar that is closed back, portable, costs less than an Alpha Dog and doesn’t make me feel awkward while walking? Shut up and take my money! The prospect was too good that I took the plunge even without very many write ups on them. They were good looking enough that I surmised I might attract non audiophile buyers and recoup my cash by selling them online - should they disappoint. They didn’t.
So here were my two choices for “Work” headphones. What is the verdict? Let’s talk about some details first.
The Alpha Dogs are not ugly ducklings. To me they evoke a certain retro charm – whilst in your hands.
On your head, well, awkward is a kind word. Oh yeah, yeah, we only care about the sound, blah, blah, blah. Remember that I got them for the office, not the house. It would matter not one bit if my main use for the dogs is in my listening room. At work, you will often get the quizzical look that says, “really?” If I were single, the Dogs would have ensured I got exactly nowhere with any of the hotties at work. On the street, let’s not go there. People can be mean. Seriously. If you ever went through highschool, you’ll know what I meant. And besides, it makes it more difficult to be an advocate of good sound, when your headphones look uhm, strange.
Case in point, a colleague of mine passes by the front of my desk every single day en route to the coffee machine. No interest in the Alpha Dogs whatsoever. First day with the PM3s? “Hey! Cool headphones! Can I have a listen?” After ten minutes, I offered him the Alphas, and he goes “Sure.” Obviously I have the world’s most judgmental officemates, and this only happens to me, and nowhere else.
Sorry, I’ve rambled on. Back to the important stuff.
The AD and the PM3 isolate equally well. The ADs feel more sumptuous on the head owing to the thicker, more lux pads. The angled pads lift up the drivers and that gives the illusion of better soundstage. I say illusion because even though the Alpha Dogs evoke a spacious stage, they are a bit flawed. The PM3, HE500, and LCD 2.2 wrap you in a 360-degree sphere of sound. While the size of this sphere is not TH900 and T1 level, within it, you get the solid, sumptuous planar magnetic sound sig. The ADs seem to me to have this gap in the front and back of about 10-degree wedge. So you have two bubbles of sound on your left and on your right, but nothing in between. I would say this is in about 20% of the recordings that I listen to. Not a big amount, but significant enough.
The PM3’s bass is hands down better than the AD, whilst the AD has better treble extension. Mids are about the same to my ears. The PM3s are also quicker and more visceral. You feel the snap of the snare drums more, and the bass is more impactful. The PM3 also sounds more natural and organic. Of all four Planars I have on hand, the AD sounds the least realistic i.e. sounding like the “real thing”. Sounds really good, but conveys the least degree of the “sense of being there”.
This leaves me in a bit of a quandary. I can tell that the ADs have now lost their main role, and will surely lose headtime to the PM3s – to a serious degree. There are still some tracks where I think the ADs perform well above the PM3’s but is that enough justification to keep them? I don’t know. This coming week, will test further and use my most favorite amp for the ADs, the Pan Am. I did not have this amp charged as I’ve left the charger at work. If I still feel the same way after extensive listening, I may have to let the ADs go.
All sonic characteristics considered, the PM3s are at least equal of the ADs. They are more aligned to my tastes than the AD though, and that might be the clincher. Plus they look far sexier and are the more versatile pair.
Comparisons with other phones while on the go and some final thoughts next.