Intro:
So please don't flame me for my first review. My impressions are unbiased and subjective to my tastes in music and my preferences in sound signature. I acquired this set of headphones through the Loaner Program, which i might add thank you so much Jiffy Squid. After reading multiple high regarded reviews from people who also acquired through the loaner program, also other respected reviewers, i had my hopes set on high. I was eyeing this pair of headphones for quite awhile. I was either going to get an OPPO PM-3 or an Audeze EL-8 closed Planar. So when i found out there was a loaner program which i thought was amazing. I was super excited, and was anticipating to hear greatness. I feel a lot of the reviews are subjective due to gear and music genre preference. So this review won't be super detailed. But more my experience and impressions through my ears in music preference and gear.
Packaging and Accessories and Design and Fit:
So when the set arrived to me, it came in a cardboard box packaged tightly with two smaller white boxes containing an Android cable, and an Apple cable. Then there was this simple but classy black box that had the OPPO logo on it. Very neat very nice. Upon opening the black box there was very nice zippered case to carry the headphones in. Inside there was a small coin pouch that contained a 3 meter cable (could be wrong but it was damn long) and a 1/4 adapter. And of course the headphones itself. I know this has been gone over many times. But i have to repeat it, they're so beautiful. Photos do no justice to how i felt they looked. Only drawbacks i have to say is that the leather isn't real, but they do feel great, cups are really shallow that they touch my ear and when the low end rumbles i feel them vibrate. To me is annoying. The fit i have a bigger head than the average Joe, definitely not the largest though, so anyone with really big heads should stay away. Also i found the headband kept slipping on me, so i had to re-adjust quite a bit depending on what i was doing.
Gear used and compared to also music genre used:
Pc setup: foobar connected with Kimber optical toslink cable to a Pro-Ject Dac, Oyaide rca interconnects to a Heed Canamp. Also TEAC UD-H01 USB DAC
Portable set up: Fiio X1 and iPod Classic 5.5 rockboxed connected to Cayin C5.
Headphones compared to: Akg K7xx, Akg Q701, Akg K142, Grado Ms1, Grado Ms2i, Ultrasone Pro 900, Audio Technica AD700. Hifiman HE400.
Music Genres used: 90's Hiphop and Rnb, Trap, Drum n Bass, EDM (Trance, Electro House etc...) Classical, and Final Fantasy Piano soundtracks.
Note: I wont get into straight comparisons to my gear, because i didnt bother comparing one on one due to disappointment. If you want to know what i thought compared to something i have by memory just ask, and ill try to answer you honestly to what my recollection is.
Sound:
Being someone who owns 80% of open headphones, i don't expect any comparisons to soundstage, so i won't waste your time with that. So lets start with isolation, as i stated earlier they hug very close to your ears( touches mine, in my case) isolation is great, very little sound leakage even at high volumes. Ill get into each range briefly.
Lets start with the Highs, being someone who listens to a lot of Electronic music, i crave for extended highs that blend well with the rest of sounds. I found myself disappointed in this department. I prefer something with more crisp. I can say the highs here are very smooth and neutral.
Next the Lows, were tight and punchy, but they felt like they wanted to do more, they wanted to extend a little further, but couldn't quite get there. And when it almost extended to where i wanted it. It would vibrate against my ear which threw everything off again.
Lastly the Mids, probably the sets biggest strength. Incredibly balance complimenting the highs and lows where they lack. IMHO if it wasn't for the mid range this set would be completely lost.
Conclusion:
After being so excited receiving it, i did a quick run through for 10 - 20 minutes switching through different genres that I listen to. I have to say i was disappointed. After taking it off i kept being enticed and seduced by its sexiness, of course i gave it a second shot. I must of carried it with me everywhere i went for the next two days. Total usage was about 16 hours. I had the set for 7 days and it sat inside the package it came in for the last 5 days. In the end when it was time to listen, i found myself reaching for other sets. Overall sound was good, but just wasn't my cup of tea. Being for what it is though a portable Planar with low impedance is however impressive. I feel there is still room for improvement. Did they achieve what was promised? I suppose so. Its better than other mid range priced sets, but for the same price tag there's better non-planar options. Again i had high expectations for them, and was disappointed in the end.
So please don't flame me for my first review. My impressions are unbiased and subjective to my tastes in music and my preferences in sound signature. I acquired this set of headphones through the Loaner Program, which i might add thank you so much Jiffy Squid. After reading multiple high regarded reviews from people who also acquired through the loaner program, also other respected reviewers, i had my hopes set on high. I was eyeing this pair of headphones for quite awhile. I was either going to get an OPPO PM-3 or an Audeze EL-8 closed Planar. So when i found out there was a loaner program which i thought was amazing. I was super excited, and was anticipating to hear greatness. I feel a lot of the reviews are subjective due to gear and music genre preference. So this review won't be super detailed. But more my experience and impressions through my ears in music preference and gear.
Packaging and Accessories and Design and Fit:
So when the set arrived to me, it came in a cardboard box packaged tightly with two smaller white boxes containing an Android cable, and an Apple cable. Then there was this simple but classy black box that had the OPPO logo on it. Very neat very nice. Upon opening the black box there was very nice zippered case to carry the headphones in. Inside there was a small coin pouch that contained a 3 meter cable (could be wrong but it was damn long) and a 1/4 adapter. And of course the headphones itself. I know this has been gone over many times. But i have to repeat it, they're so beautiful. Photos do no justice to how i felt they looked. Only drawbacks i have to say is that the leather isn't real, but they do feel great, cups are really shallow that they touch my ear and when the low end rumbles i feel them vibrate. To me is annoying. The fit i have a bigger head than the average Joe, definitely not the largest though, so anyone with really big heads should stay away. Also i found the headband kept slipping on me, so i had to re-adjust quite a bit depending on what i was doing.
Gear used and compared to also music genre used:
Pc setup: foobar connected with Kimber optical toslink cable to a Pro-Ject Dac, Oyaide rca interconnects to a Heed Canamp. Also TEAC UD-H01 USB DAC
Portable set up: Fiio X1 and iPod Classic 5.5 rockboxed connected to Cayin C5.
Headphones compared to: Akg K7xx, Akg Q701, Akg K142, Grado Ms1, Grado Ms2i, Ultrasone Pro 900, Audio Technica AD700. Hifiman HE400.
Music Genres used: 90's Hiphop and Rnb, Trap, Drum n Bass, EDM (Trance, Electro House etc...) Classical, and Final Fantasy Piano soundtracks.
Note: I wont get into straight comparisons to my gear, because i didnt bother comparing one on one due to disappointment. If you want to know what i thought compared to something i have by memory just ask, and ill try to answer you honestly to what my recollection is.
Sound:
Being someone who owns 80% of open headphones, i don't expect any comparisons to soundstage, so i won't waste your time with that. So lets start with isolation, as i stated earlier they hug very close to your ears( touches mine, in my case) isolation is great, very little sound leakage even at high volumes. Ill get into each range briefly.
Lets start with the Highs, being someone who listens to a lot of Electronic music, i crave for extended highs that blend well with the rest of sounds. I found myself disappointed in this department. I prefer something with more crisp. I can say the highs here are very smooth and neutral.
Next the Lows, were tight and punchy, but they felt like they wanted to do more, they wanted to extend a little further, but couldn't quite get there. And when it almost extended to where i wanted it. It would vibrate against my ear which threw everything off again.
Lastly the Mids, probably the sets biggest strength. Incredibly balance complimenting the highs and lows where they lack. IMHO if it wasn't for the mid range this set would be completely lost.
Conclusion:
After being so excited receiving it, i did a quick run through for 10 - 20 minutes switching through different genres that I listen to. I have to say i was disappointed. After taking it off i kept being enticed and seduced by its sexiness, of course i gave it a second shot. I must of carried it with me everywhere i went for the next two days. Total usage was about 16 hours. I had the set for 7 days and it sat inside the package it came in for the last 5 days. In the end when it was time to listen, i found myself reaching for other sets. Overall sound was good, but just wasn't my cup of tea. Being for what it is though a portable Planar with low impedance is however impressive. I feel there is still room for improvement. Did they achieve what was promised? I suppose so. Its better than other mid range priced sets, but for the same price tag there's better non-planar options. Again i had high expectations for them, and was disappointed in the end.
