Sorry, it took me ages to actually read the thread and not just read the email digest.... I auditioned both IV and VI side to side for hours before I bought the VI. They have a similar tuning, but they don't sound the same. VI has a lot more grounded, full bodied sound. Sounds stage is slightly...

Would you consider sending these to Australia? I'm interested.

I don't think the "hollowness" is due to build quality, but more about the material. IV's main cup frame is made of plastic, where VI is solid stainless steel. The higher density serves to stabilise the sound better.

You can contact him on his website. Darko.audio then go to the FAQ page and scroll down to the bottom to find the inquiries. Leave a message about your intent and your contact details, and he will probably let you know if he's got the time for it or not? He's usually pretty good at responding to...

How about Darko? He was pretty impressed with the Aquila 2.

I've been looking too, but it only seems to ever hit the same youtube one that only really talks about the DAC section.

Anyone had any experience with the Aquila III? Looks really good on paper and I generally like most DACs using AKM chips.

I was actually looking for a HPA that's reasonably priced, capable of both balanced and SE, with an AKM DAC, but the power output from this thing and my positive experience with EF400 in the past has me keeping my eyes open. Looking forward to some user reviews.

I wanted a DA10 but you can't seem to get them any more... DA11 has ESS DAC. I like the AKM sound better. :(

I really want a DA10 but it's hard to come by any more. The updated one has a ESS Sabre DAC chip and I don't like that...

While many people absolutely believe in measurements, I believe humans are able to perceive some extremely subtle differences. We also don't know what exactly makes up things like "soundstage". There's been a heap of studies trying to get at the measurements and it's been linked that treble...

Obviously very rare... Can't even find any info on them! Took me whole 2 days to find anything remotely like it! I think I bought mine in 1999. In Australia.

Mine was not the Manhattan, and it was not blue. It was teal, like that of the 440, but exactly the same shape as the Manhattan.

Found it!! HD435 before the update to the silver/red version later. I can only find the Blue "Manhattan" one or the orange "vegas" one, although mine were teal... but it's the same shape, so I'm going to assume it's that. Thanks for your help!

I've found a photo of HD445, which is really close, but not quite. I think it must have been some variation of HD44X.

Not quite, but sort of... The entire back of the cups were covered in little holes. Like, what it may look like without that silver bit... possibly slightly larger holes than those 480IIs

It doesn't look like that, unfortunately. It's actually very close to the HD440II, but not quite: https://img.audiofanzine.com/images/u/product/normal/sennheiser-hd-440-ii-29745.jpg The only thing different is the back of the eacups, pretty much. I haven't seen a good enough picture of HD440...

Definitely doesn't look like HD440II, HD450II or HD452 pictures I can find... The basic design seems very similar, but the design of the cup seems different. They weren't as rounded, and they didn't have that "opening" on the back of the ear cups. Instead, they had a whole heap of little holes...

Sorry to revive an old thread... I used to have an old 90s Sennheisers... looked a bit like the HD450/480, but had a perforated back (a whole bunch of tiny holes across the whole surface) to the "ear cups" (which weren't actually ear cups at all, but that's another point), instead of having...

I know this has been done over, but what's the opinion on pads? I would like obviously good sound, value and longevity. Particular link to the products appreciated.

Nah. I own a pandora hope vi, and not the sonorous. I'm proud of the fact and don't want it to change.

I don't have locking on mine, but I got an upgrade cable with normal slim 3.5mm mono jacks. I can't remember the website, but it was a braided cable from Singapore.