I am approaching being due on a review but I can't help but give my impressions.
Let me be blunt and quite reckless, disregarding any care of my reputation, or what people may think of these headphones after actually hearing them. THESE WILL BE IN MY STABLE AT SOME POINT AND WILL HAVE A HARD TIME LEAVING. MY END GAME STABLE WILL HAVE THESE AND THE HD800S IN IT. Or the Odins if they are better.
I don't want to hear the Odin because it is too expensive and if it sounds better than these I am screwed.
First of all, I thought it had too much lower midrange murkiness but my DAC being so rich in the mids was halfly responsible. It is still a little overdeveloped there but I kinda like it. Using something clean, kinda sharp, and neutral like the CAYIN I-DAC 6 makes my world lovely with these headphones. These things are very sensitive to system changes, or maybe It's me. I also thought the cable was holding them back but the cable isn't that bad I just prefer mine because it sounds slightly richer in the midrange and bass.
BASS - Taught, controlled, full and with good speed and texture.
MIDRANGE - a little warmer than most, a lot richer and fuller than the HD800S. Full middle mids but nice and rich balance, full of euphony and tonal roundness. If I can call on my memory of the Paradox Slants I heard at a meet I would but the upper mids less than the Omnis but slightly more than the Slants. Males sound a little rich and females sound full but clear
TREBLE - The texture isn't hard or glaring. Not a really bright headphone or super dark. Def darker than the HD800S
SOUNDSTAGE - Decent and acceptable. Sometimes seems intimate because of the midrange presentation but it is still better than average for sure.
RESOLUTION - Decent but needs a precise amp to help carve out those little details. I wouldn't recommend a luscious amp with them because they will get thick fast.
Very Scalable
DEF NOT a super HE6 because it is tuned differently, less bright, more dynamic, fuller midrange, less precise and detailed, similar soundstage, similar speed, less transparent. But it is like a super HD650 because it is faster, deeper in the bass, more engaging, and has a bigger soundstage, yet I can see someone saying the HD650 has a better and more nuetral midrange tonality, or the Vali being more natural.
Waiting for validation is killing me... I kind of don't really care as much though because I am pretty much sold. If you have a NOS DAC or something already natural sounding then consider your pairing when hearing these together you may find them too much.
Also some may not be able to get with the fit and weight.
EDIT: I actually find the treble a little on the dark side.
