Is there anything unequivocally better in the midrange than the HD600 (/HD650)? I've had my HD600 set for a couple of years. I think the balance in the vocal range is perfect. It's so good that I can't get along with Sonarworks or similar flat EQ settings because any change to the midrange...

How does the Elear compare to the HD600? I adore the midrange and the mid-high balance of the Senns, but bass definition and quantity could be improved. The original plan was to pick up a pair of used HD800s. The Elear pricing isn't so far away, if it's a better choice.

Indeed. There may be some way to configure it to use multichannel. I haven't looked into it. 

That's a pity. You might try a few more settings. Panorama is wildly configurable, it actually took me a week before I learned enough to make presets I liked. 

Pretty cool, no? Have a go with the Sonarworks stack-- the settings I posted are for an equalized version of my HD600s. When the HD650s are set likewise, you should hear what I hear. I have a few other variations that bring the vocals more more forward. What HRTF has worked best for you so far? ...

  I can't speak to Isone, but the other two have free trials with no functionality limitations, so by all means have a go yourself. I made a post with more details here:   http://www.head-fi.org/t/782170/fun-with-vsts 

Nope. :) Sonarworks is a fixed offset that assumes an unmolested signal. Panorama is more akin to a multiplier that affects only some parts of the signal. The HRTF assumes a neutral signal; the less neutral the cans, the less it's likely to perform as expected.   Let's say 10 represents a...

Try the Panorama trial. :) I'm not actually sure it expires when used liked this. Frankly though, for what I'm hearing, they're both a bargain at full price. People put megabucks into amps and cables and whatever else for benefits that are a whole lot more subtle.   What I'm doing is first...

This is too cool, I have to post this. I've been bogarting too much of the Darin's (really cool) OOYH thread with references to other HRTF software. After a whole lot of tweaking, I'm just grinning nonstop. My rig is some HD600s with an O2/ODAC.    http://www.jriver.com/mj/...

FYI for anyone into this-- the combination I found to replace PotPlayer is J.River player with Sonarworks and Wave Arts Panorama VST plugins. The latter has a dozen HRTF profiles. Find the right one and the result is pretty incredible. The best demos from OOYH can do better, but if your HRTF...

Darin, Thank you for that comprehensive response. There's an engineering site online that's made available for free use about 50 HRTF models derived from a variety of heads. A number of companies use a handful of them to make high-priced VST plugins for surround emulation in music production...

Besides the one I mentioned, I haven't found any freely-available HRTF models worth listening to. Surprising, this, given how compelling a good one can be. I'm listening on sets of 400i and HD600.     If OOYH represents how the sampled speakers actually sound, it's not an argument in their...

This is very impressive software. I've had a few hours of listening time with the various presets. Long enough to agree that, yeah, it sounds just like a set of speakers.    But not particularly good speakers. They're all very different and none approach neutral. The binaural positioning is...

No, the other two are as smooth (HD600) or smoother (400i). It's an intentional dip in the high frequencies.    http://www.innerfidelity.com/images/OppoPM3.pdf   http://www.innerfidelity.com/images/HiFiMANHE4002014.pdf   http://www.innerfidelity.com/images/SennheiserHD600.pdf   It...

It's not something that stands out unless you're comparing directly with the other two. Same with the dull treble; if I wasn't switching back and forth, I'd be indifferent to it. 

So I've had a go with the 400i for the last few hours. My impressions may change over the next few days, but in terms of vocal realism: it is to the PM3 what the PM3 is to the HD600. Interestingly though, I could see someone justifiably choosing any of the three.   For non-sound: (numbers may...

I bought these three weeks ago along with a pair of HD600s. Amp is an O2/ODAC. Long experience with Grado SR80 and various mid-fi speakers. Extended listening sessions with five-digit Martin Logans at Magnolia. Probably 50 hours on each set of cans with a variety of music.         The short...