Well, not going too deep into this, I'll just tell you that I sold my topping d10s & Atom AMP+ stack after I received topping dx1. It just sounds better, with my Shure SRH1540 anyway. AKM really came up with a good marketing term "Velvet Sound" ))

I had fiio BTR5 and Topping d10s & Atom AMP+ stack for my Shure SRH1540 (46ohm, 99db/mW) and I liked both. Then I came across Apple type C to 3.5mm dongle and was blown away by its value for the price, it sounded ok, not quite on the level of stack or even fiio, but for its size and price it was...

Couple of days ago I bought cheap little DAC/AMP just for testing with my 1540, it's topping dx1.....I do not know how they did it, but I'm now selling my topping d10s & Atom AMP+ stack and Fiio btr5 ))) This little USB powered ****er for 99$ (bought it for 80$, used) just sounds fantastically...

Give your ears time to adjust to the new sound profile and try to listen on lower volumes. In a day or two you will hear the differences.

Tried to measure again with some sealing, my 70db went to 79db. My problem is that I can't believe how little amplification this headphones need and looking at atom amp+ knob which is set around 9 o'clock on low gain I have overwhelming urge to rotate it little bit more and then my head starts...

It could be just overall volume in this particular case. Maybe I was listening just on a high volume and high frequencies had nothing to do with my ear strain. At what DB are you listening to yours, in extended sessions? For me it's 60-70db in low noise environment. Can you test it for the...

I guess it's just hearing adaptation difference. I'm not used to extended high frequencies. Even tho I don't hear anything above 16Khz )) But it could be normal after all, at age 38

Yes, I also had this theory, but after measuring volume from headphones, turns out that I was tired from 80db and my comfortable volume is around 70-75db, which is just very low knob position on atom amp+, so it seems that amp is too powerful and my listening volume is normal, it's just the knob...

So, I can only listen them on low volumes (even at medium volumes they pierce my head), or maybe it isn't too low, I don't know what DB value I'm listening to but on Atom amp+ knob is at 10 o'clock on low gain. Maybe atom is too powerful for this low impedance headphones :) Actually I measured...

Changed some cheap ass RCA to RCA cables (topping>>atom) for more high quality RCA to TRS.....maybe I'm imaging things, but sound is smoother now, less harsh. Update: Well, I'll be damned, never thought cables could make such a difference. Now I'm 90% positive that sound turned from harsh and...

Got them yesterday. Well, my initial impressions and thoughts: They are good, like really good.....are they worth $499? Hmm, I'm not sure, I'm not even sure that I like them more than srh840. Obviously these are more technical and have better soundstage, but I kinda liked srh840 tunning...

What I mean is low gain & volume knob in higher position vs high gain & volume knob in lower position. So, I've seen many discussions already, but there's no uniform consensus between users. So, I checked with producer and they have pretty definitive answer for this question. Can I consider this...

Glad to hear that :) Hope that topping d10s will also play nicely in this trio. At some point I'll definitely would try balanced, but it means I need to upgrade my amp and cables and right now (now = new home and full renovation) I'm not ready to spend anymore, even $499 was hard to swallow :)

Thanks for the the reply :) I also had srh840 with this stack and they sounded amazing to me. But I used it on low gain at 12 o'clock, I have rather long listening sessions and high volume tires my ears. So I really liked the fact that srh840 sounded good on low volumes, beside for their tuning...

Phew, pretty long thread, finished it at least )) Thank you all for informative comments, they are very helpful. I guess I've read every comment and review on the internet and watched every video on youtube about srh1540. So, almost all my potential questions about them are pretty much covered...