I have the P21, not the S version.  I have been auditioning several on-ear portables over the past 8 months, some that are 4 and 5x more expensive. The P21's hold their own by comparison very well.  These portables are a screaming value and are great "on a budget" portable on-ear with sparkle...

  Sorry, no experience with sound cards. I use my computers original dac. 

If you're looking for a reasonably priced amp that makes a very good pairing with the X1, I can recommend the Fiio E09k.   I  use this amp with a variety of low impedance headphones including the X1. In the comments section following the review of the X1, the E09k was recommended by Mike a...

I overlooked the differences in systems and amps paired with the X1. This can alter the sound.  Plus I use the stock cable with mine, which is known for a lack of bass control.  . When I changed to the mediabridge it tightened up the bass and changed the bass emphasis.

  Yes, the X1 is bass heavy, agreed. I had the X2 and I like the X1 better, so I guess I'm somewhat a basshead. And our ears and brain do acclimate to a particular sound and when we move to a different sound signature it can sound "foreign" and thus not pleasing.  I agree with your assessments...

I had the DT 990 (250) here for a few days, and while I believe in burn in, I did not feel more burn in would improve it enough to make it competitive with the X1.  It was cold sounding to me, lacked resolution, depth and any warmth (soul). The X1 just sounds so much better when comparing their...

For me, music is not to be analyzed, it is to be enjoyed.  Although we audiophile types fall into analysis all the time, I think it is the quest for higher quality sound reproduction that traps us into analysis.  Music is to be listened to for the sheer enjoyment of the music and not to sit and...

Hi I had the X2 and returned it.  (I can't remember why). I did like it.    I kept looking for another headphone and decided to try the X1.   Unlike many here I actually prefer the X1 for its bassier presentation. Both headphones are very good and you would likely enjoy either.  The X1 is...

Although I enjoy the spacious sound stage of my Fidelio X1's, I took a listen to a pair of my son's inexpensive on-ear portable Sonys and I appreciated the more intimate and close-up sound of an on-ear portable though the sound quality was lacking.  Since then, I have been on a quest to find an...

If I leave the headphones on a paper surface they will leave small stains on the paper.  So I stopped doing that.  It's really not a big deal but a minor annoyance.  I have not washed the pads because I have no intentions of taking them off, at least no time soon. The performance of the...

Bought X1's several months ago and they do the bleed thing. It got worse over time as I wore them.  But, still great great headphones.

 In my experience, (and I have only owned low impedance phones) including the X1, using the high gain setting on amps has always caused a more "in your face" kind of sound which for me sounds less natural and takes away from the soundstage.  I would stick with low gain unless that "in your face"...

Thanks for the reply.  Regarding the WA6, I bought mine new and  there is no issue of a noise floor; it is silent, quiet as can be.  The WA6 also plays with better refinement resolution and a wider more 3 dimensional soundstage than the LD1+. It is softer and smoother than the LD1+ where the 1+...

Your theory is plausible.

Thanks so much for the positive response, Kramer. Oddly, these amps both have 1 thing in common; both designers state they should be powered off after 8 hours run time.  So some power cycling is unavoidable. I will consider your advice.. 

Hi, I'm new to Headfi but have done an awful lot of reading here recently.  I  have a pair of Fidelio X1 and a Little Dot 1+ listening with my desktop pc as a source.  Had the LD1+ for a month and yesterday I received a new WA6 (stock). I do like the performance of the LD. (good dynamics bass...