INTRODUCTION.  It can be a daunting process selecting an earphone among the hundreds that are available.  I was in need of an affordably priced in-ear headphone for work.  The Read Health Audio (RHA) T10i aesthetics appealed to me and their other earphones have been well received by the community.  A special thanks goes to Head-fier shotgunshane for setting up the T10i loaner program.  I took a full week to get acquainted with the T10i before sending it off to the next reviewer.  That was a sufficient length of time for them to make an impression on me.  My main regret was that I neglected to take pictures the last day.  I was in a rush and did not want to delay the shipment of the earphones.  However, there are plenty of pictures of these gorgeous earphones on the web. 
 
If there are no mechanical issues then I believe there is not a best or worst sounding earphone.  There are flavors of earphones that are best for individuals at a given price range.  If a potential buyer reads through this review and finds that he or she shares similar values in audio then the review will play some small part in the informed decision process.
 
PREFERENCES.  Probably a good idea to reveal my biases up front.  I lean towards a flat frequency response or even a slightly bright presentation with gobs of detail.  However, if you look at my profile or know my past earphones/headphones you will understand that I have no problem straying from a balanced type of sound.  There is room for many flavors of headphones in my arsenal.  My favorite headphone to date is the HD800.  For earphones, I really enjoyed the Heir Audio 4Ai and Aurisonics Rockets a lot.  With that said, I have owned guilty pleasures such as the ASG2 & 2.5, LCD-2, PS-500, TH-600, and RE-262.  The ASG2.5 has been my favorite earphone to date and I may return to it after further exploration.  I can appreciate tight bass and a warm sound signature.  I do not have much experience with bassy earphones.  A U-shape frequency response is fine with me though it would not serve as my only earphone or headphone.  Dare I say I prefer tube amps?  I do, especially with the HD800.  Therefore, I am not a complete audiophile neutral robot.  I primarily listen to small jazz trios but I have my phases when I will reach for reggae, folk, classic rock, electronica, and music from the Middle & Far East.     
 
RANKED IMPORTANCE OF SOUND CHARACTERISTICS:    
Detail > Air > Transparency > Slightly Forward Mids > Timbre > Texture > Attack > Articulation > Layering > Musicality > Soundstage > Impact
 
PLAYLIST: 
The Hilliard Ensemble Bach Morimor “Partita for Violin Solo No. 2 in D minor, BWV”
Youn Sun Nah “Lament”
Pierre Bensusan “Chant De Nuit”
Grateful Dead “Ripple”
Dire Straits “Sultans of Swing”
Coheed and Cambria “2113”
Groundation “Suffer the Right”
Helge Lien Trio “Sceadu”
Avishai Cohen “Etude”
Foo Fighters “Everlong (Acoustic Version)”
Massive Attack “Future Proof”
Jerry Garcia and David Grisman “Arabia”
 
SOURCES:  iPhone 6 Plus and iFi iDSD Micro.  I do not know how the T10i sounds with other smartphones or a separate portable amp, but the iPhone 6 drove it with authority.  The iPhone 6 is a fairly good sounding, balanced music player.  I do not want to bulk up my portable listening rig at work.  This earphone did not sound significantly better or worse with the well-regarded iFi iDSD Micro.  Meaning, the overall warm character of the T10i cannot be significantly changed by a lean amp.   The iDSD Micro’s amp section is known for being on the lean side with maybe only a smidge of extra warmth added to the signal.  Using the internal amp, the iDSD pairs well with bass-tilted headphones like the TH-600 or warm headphones like the PS-500.
 
BUILD QUALITY:  The T10i’s drivers sit inside beautifully constructed stainless steel housings.  I find the T10i aesthetics very appealing.  One does not feel RHA spared any expense in the quality of materials.  The cable is relatively heavy compared to any earphone I own but it was not too troublesome.  The over-the-ear design was well thought out and worked well.  My main suggestion to RHA would be to go with a lighter cable or detachable cable so one can opt for a lightweight aftermarket cable.  I am not one that worries about microphonics because I use earphones while sitting at my work desk.  When walking around with the T10i in my ear I was not distracted by microphonics.
 
COMFORT:  I could listen for a stretch of 2 hours before I needed to pull the relatively large T10i out and give my ears a quick stretch.   This is the case for most earphones and my ears.  The isolation was pretty good and I had no complaints.  I used the stock tips.        
 
INITIAL IMPRESSION:  The reference filter was already installed and my first response was “This is the reference filter?”  My definition of reference is one of a near flat frequency response and these were far from that with this filter.   However, “reference” in this case could be in reference to the house RHA sound, which is something I am not familiar with.  My first impression was that the T10i is a dark sounding earphone and this may be what people call a basshead earphone.   Probably the darkest signature I have experienced.  The T10i was not harsh sounding, but in fact fairly smooth and very warm.  What I may consider a very warm signature others might call a slightly to moderately warm signature.               Depending on which camp you fall into, the prominent bass is the strength or weakness of this earphone.  The soundstage and imaging were adequate for the genres of music I listen to.  I had no problem with these characteristics of the T10i.  The noticeable warmth and bass of the T10i told me what RHA was going for with this earphone.  My initial impressions have not always been my final impression and I continued to listen to the T10i. 
 
FILTERS:  The majority of this review will be focused on the T10i with the treble filter.  I felt the treble filter did the most to tame the bass and allow the other characteristics of the T10i to come through without distraction.  Plus, there was still plenty of bass response with the treble filter.  Application of the bass filter did not result in out-of-control bass, but rather more bass than was necessary or realistic.  Fun for a short while?  Yes, but not something I would leave on the T10i for general listening.  Details in the upper bass and lower midrange were prominent with all filters, but especially with the bass filter.  A jazz musician tapping his foot on the ground or a slight bump of the mic on a podcast show was a bit too elevated for my tastes.  For male vocals the sound was a bit heavy or chesty with the reference or bass filters.  The treble filter did allow me to enjoy male and female vocals more so than with the other two filters.  The treble filter was more aligned with my sonic preferences.
 
DETAIL:  I felt that the T10i was fairly good in this regard, especially with the treble filter.  I am partial to a more etched sound, but the T10i had plenty of details in the midrange and lower frequencies.  Detail was there in the upper frequencies, albeit somewhat subdued.  Overall, it is a smooth sounding earphone that does not sacrifice too much detail when the treble filter is at work.  There probably is not a loss of detail with the other filters, but the bass stands out and can easily draw away your attention away from the rest of the spectrum.
 
MIDRANGE:  Mids are slightly forward which is what I like.  Recessed mids would be an instant killer for me.  I did feel like the leading edge of notes was rounded and when combined with the warmth and lack of air gave me an impression of a slight veil or congestion.  The attack is not as quick or as biting as I might prefer for guitar performances.  The plucking of guitar strings was lacking the texture one might get from more detailed or revealing earphones.  However, those earphones do not deliver the bass and fuller sound of the T10i nor are they under $200.  In the world of IEMs, one does not get the cake and eat it too for less than $400.  You have to spend much more in order to get an IEM that can do many things (bass, treble, midrange) cleanly.
 
The coloration of the T10i presents the midrange with a tonality that is far from natural.  Some people will like the coloration, others will not.  I typically want to get as close to live or natural reproduction as possible.  The midrange is not missing or distant, it is just presented against a backdrop of warmth that does not appeal to me.   The coloration is one of warmth, thickness, and heaviness.  Others may call it a lush sound.  Especially for jazz, the T10i coloration is not working for me.  My ideal is one of crystalline clarity or ultimate transparency and that is not what I get from the T10i.  The realism was not coming through.
 
TREBLE:  With the treble filter in place I did feel there was an increased extension in the treble that was less apparent with the bass and reference filters.  The treble was still clearly not an equal partner with the midrange and bass.  The treble lacked a delicateness and openness that I would like for cymbals, chimes, and other instruments that can reach into that 2-10 kHz range.  As someone who has enjoyed the LCD-2 and HE-500 I do not need the treble to be overemphasized.  However, with such warmth coming out of the T10i the treble is bound to suffer as it is going to stray from neutrality.  With that said, I am glad RHA included the treble filter as that was my favorite and the sound with this filter would be the closest to winning me over.
 
BASS:  For many, the main attraction of the T10i will be its extended and visceral bass response.  There is plenty of weight, punch, and impact here.  One man’s overly abundant bass is another man’s ideal bass quantity.  The decay and quality of the bass was very good.  It did not sound bloated or like one-note bass.  The bass quantity was too much for my tastes with the reference filter.  I could probably live with the delivered bass coming through the treble filter.  I will not deny that it was fun at times to listen to the sub-bass response with the bass filter.
 
CONCLUSIONS:  I think if you have similar likes-dislikes and an average, healthy middle-aged ear such as me then you might come away with the same feelings about the T10i.  Overall, the T10i did not fit my preference profile for earphones as I am likely to gravitate towards a more balanced, airy, and revealing sound.  However, there will definitely be an audience for the T10i.  For me, I would say the T10i was 75-80% of what I might want in a general-use earphone.  If I was in the market for a warm, bass-heavy earphone then I would consider the T10i to be a top candidate in the under $200 price club.    
 
Could I grow to like the T10i given more time?   Possibly, with the notion that the T10i was not going to be my everyday earphone.  I did not spend a lot of time trying to EQ the sound.  I played around a little with the EQ in the Can Opener app on my iPhone.  I also applied the flat response EQ profile in Amarra.  EQ tweaks did not significantly change my opinion as the dark signature was still there.  I do prefer that my earphone purchases sound closer to my preference right off the bat as I am not one to tweak.  The excessive warmth was the main negative for me.  I listen to a lot of music with acoustic guitar, piano, and double bass.  For these instruments, I do not like the extra warmth provided by the T10i.  A little warmth is ok, but the T10i leans far to the left.  For me, instruments should be reproduced to sound crisp and natural.  The bass of the T10i was inappropriate or less than natural with the reference and bass filters.   With the treble filter the bass less overwhelmed me.
 
The T10i is just not my cup of tea.  If the opportunity came along to buy one of these used at say half off MSRP I would do it.  Why?  Every once in a while I want a lot of bass as it can be fun for short periods of time with the right genre like reggae.  I am not familiar with bassy earphones and among this group the T10i may be top of the food chain at this price range. 
 
I do not think the opinions about the sonic character of the T10i have been very different.  However, I do believe that the T10i coloration will be very polarizing.  But, what piece of audio equipment does not have dissenters as well as proponents?  Maybe with the T10i there will be fewer people in the middle.
 
I do look forward to other offerings from RHA, as they do seem to be a company that listens to its potential customers.  Likely they will roll out an earphone with a flatter baseline frequency response.  Throwing in the bass, reference, and treble filters would then be icing on the cake.  Maybe even a user tunable bass port.  I would be one of the first in line to hear such an earphone with or without a loaner program in place.  The build quality, accessories, and fair pricing are enough to keep me intrigued by this company.  I am truly excited to see what they do next. 

Q-audio French Silk Aftermarket Cable for MrSpeakers Alpha Dog
 
 
INTRODUCTION
I have spent a little over two months with the Alpha Dogs and its stock cable.  About one month into the journey I acquired a Q-audio 8-foot cable for the Dogs.  The gamut of effects I heard from previous aftermarket cables with other headphones has spanned from inaudible to subtle to dramatic.  At the start I did not want to believe that cables could make an audible difference, but making such a statement without trying one is no fun.  My engineering buddies who work in the field of materials sciences do not believe in differences among cables.  That was my bias going into the world of cables.  And to be truthful, for many cables I have not heard a difference in stock vs. aftermarket.  Bigger effects will be heard from a change in DAC or amp than a cable.  With that said, I am up for trying cables at times when it is within my budget.  For these icing-on-the-cake type of purchases I have gone as high as $180 for interconnects and $300 for headphone cables.  Nowadays I use affordable Blue Jeans Cables interconnects, but I am willing to splurge for headphone cables even if for the reasons of a lighter and longer cable with better aesthetics.  In the past I have noticed acoustic and comfort benefits using copper Litz cables with the LCD-2 and HE-500.  To my ears, the biggest benefits were in clarity.  That clarity helped with revealing more low-level detail.  These benefits were most noticeable when I used aftermarket cables on the Audeze LCD-2 rev1/rev2 and still to some degree on the HE-500.  Those finding suggested to me that the stock cable that comes with the Hifiman HE-500 is more than acceptable and the early Audeze cables were not so great.  Since those days I have been open to trying an aftermarket cable with planar magnetic headphones.  This brings us back to the Alpha Dog.          
 
 
STOCK CABLE
The stock cable that comes with the Alpha Dog is very, very good in regards to acoustics and durability.  My main complaint might be the length and it is heavier than other aftermarket cables that come with cotton or silk sheaths.  These minor complaints in themselves would not require the additional purchase of cables.  Some may even think the current length and weight of the stock cable are ideal for their listening room.  I move around a bit in my room so a cable that is lighter, longer, and has low microphonics are important to me.  When the relatively heavy and rubber-sheathed stock cable is moved around you will hear it through in the cups.  Nothing to lose sleep over but there may be individuals that use their Alpha Dog in a more portable manner than I do.  In such a situation a shorter, lighter cable would be ideal. 
 
 
Q-AUDIO CABLE: FIRST RULE, DO NO HARM
I spent one month prior to receiving the Q-audio cable just listening to the stock cable.  The Q-Audio cable is a Type 2 litz (20.74 gauge equivalent) cable sheathed in sexy red silk.  When the Q cable arrived I spent weeks getting used to any potential sound signatures.  This was done with normal listening to a wide range of music several evenings a week.  Then over the span of two weeks I set my up main listening tracks and went back forth between the cables.  I paid attention to a number of different aspects of sound:  clarity, detail, harshness/edge, speed, excessive smoothing, soundstage, and tonality.  Initially, I thought I’d be writing a long-winded, wordy review comparing the technicalities of each cable.  This will not be the case.  I could not hear differences between the stock cable and the Q-audio cable using the equipment and tracks listed at the end of this review.  This finding points to the Alpha Dog stock cable as being excellent.  This also means the Q-audio cable is excellent in as much as it does not result in a loss of performance over the stock cable.  Naturally, this is what we would expect in an aftermarket cable.  I have experienced undesirable changes in sound quality with some aftermarket IEM cables.  In the end, this experience was a departure from prior trials with copper Litz cables.  However, this clearly is an indication that MrSpeakers has included a top-notch cable with the Alpha Dog.  Kudos.
 
 
TESTING CAVEATS
I did my best to be fair when judging both cables.  Nobody likes a tie score.  I volume-matched and took notes.  The Decware amp is a highly regarded amp that has sufficient power and with sufficient transparency that makes tube rolling a significant part of its performance.  I used familiar audio tracks that have certain acoustic qualities that I would be able to judge with each cable.  With that said, there are reasons why my system could rightly be scrutinized.  My stock cable is balanced and my Q-audio cable is single-ended.  Unfair advantage to the stock cable?  I know people say that a balanced configuration actually does sound better than a single-ended configuration.  The Decware Taboo tube amp that I use has both single-ended and balanced headphone jacks.  The Taboo is not a true balanced headphone amplifier as there are no balanced inputs.  The topology of the circuits is beyond my knowledge so I am more than happy to let others chime in.  The balanced output of my Taboo is louder than the single-ended output.  Others have indicated that the balanced output from the Taboo is better than its single-ended output.  If true, the fact that the single-ended Q-audio cable can keep up with the stock balanced cable is quite amazing.  When I get a chance I will buy a 4-pin-to-TRS adapter so that the two cables get a chance to go through the same amplification circuit.  If I notice any differences I will make an amendment to this review.  Additionally, there are >100 hours on the Q-Audio cable and >200 hours on stock cable.  I listened to each cable during this period.  Some might say these are not sufficiently burned in.  I didn’t notice any change to the sound signature during this period for any of the cable.  If changes occur I will keep this review updated.  I hope to add a solid-state amplifier in the near future as well to serve as another method for comparison of the two cables.  I could have waited to publish the review, but knowing myself, the longer I wait for everything to be right the more likely it is that “life” will interject and nothing gets written up.  How many of us are sitting on a handful of reviews?
 
       
JUSTIFICATION
How does one justify the cost of a $300 cable and $600 headphone? 
 
For me it boils down to…
 
Craftsmanship
Quality of Materials
Aesthetics
Lower Microphonics
Cable Length
                  Cable Flexibility
 
 
 
CONCLUSION
The Q-audio cable is of the highest quality and craftsmanship.  Steve has described the cable-making process to me via emails and I am amazed by the intricacy needed to braid these cables.  Steve is a straight shooter with outstanding customer service.  A true gentleman and scholar.  He makes no audiophile claims about his cables; he only speaks to the build materials and workmanship of his cable.  While I have heard the benefits of his cables in reference to other headphones, I think the Alpha Dog cable holds its own.  I prefer the Q-audio cable over stock in regards to length, weight, microphonics, and aesthetics.  I recommend the Q-audio cable to anyone with similar justifications as myself.  I am willing to loan out the Q-audio cable to anyone who wants to hear it for pleasure.  Anyone who can do a proper side-by-side comparison in a single-ended system is also welcome to use my cable alongside his or her single-ended stock cable.      
 
Main tracks used:
John Coltrane, “A Love Supreme Part I”
Ben Howard, “Oats in the Water”
Steely Dan, “Hey Nineteen”
The Super Audio Collection Volume #5, “Sonata No. 1 in G Minor – Adagio”
Andre 300 featuring Norah Jones, “Take Off Your Cool”
Pierre Bensusan, “Altiplanos”
Metallica, “The Unforgiven”
Joni Mitchell, “Blue”
Keith Jarrett et al, “Autumn Leaves”
Eva Cassidy, “Leaves of Gold”
Jerry Garcia and David Grisman, “Arabia”
Head-fi and HD Tracks, “Open Your Ears” album
 
Equipment used:
Macbook Pro > Amarra > Ciunas DAC > Decware CSP3+ preamp > Decware Taboo MKIII amp > Mr. Speakers Alpha Dog (balanced stock cable, single-ended Q-audio cable)
 
Previously owned aftermarket headphone cables:
Q-audio SE cable for HE-500
Norse Norn SE cable for HE-500 and LCD-2 rev1/rev2
 
Contact Steve Eddy about ordering cables for Alpha Dogs.  steve@q-audio.com
For hard wire of Q-audio cable into your Alpha Dog contact BTG-Audio.  http://www.btg-audio.com/
 
Manufacturer website
http://q-audio.com/
 


 
 
 

MrSpeakers Alpha Dog
 
INTRODUCTION
Like many I was bit by the planar magnetic bug years ago and I have not looked back since.  I have never heard any of Dan’s other headphones, but I have my own modded Fostex T50RP that I enjoy a lot.  Having owned the Fostex T50RP for 2 years I am familiar with its strengths (neutrality, focus, midrange, and tight bass) and weaknesses (air, polite treble).  I believe Dan has extracted every last drop of sonic goodness out of this Fostex driver.  When I first heard the Alpha Dog I will admit that I was not blown away.  I had just owned the Fostex TH-600 which I liked a lot, a more euphoric headphone in regards to treble and bass.  However, I was in want of those palpable mids that are associated with a well-driven planar headphone.  While waiting for the Alpha Dog I spent more time listening to my own modded T50RP which is a warmer version than the Alpha Dog.  Going from my T50RP to another headphone with the same driver took me a couple listening sessions to fully appreciate what the Alpha Dog was doing. 
 
In my brief time of 3 years in this audiophile world there were several headphone transitions that required an adjustment period: (1) Sennheiser HD650 to Hifiman HE-4 and Audeze LCD-2, (2) LCD-2 to HE-500, and (3) Fostex TH-600 to MrSpeakers Alpha Dog.  Spend some time to get to know the Alpha Dog.  We all know that our opinions can change over time.  I have experienced headphones that I never liked even after quite some time and then sold them.  I do not force myself into liking headphones.  Even with the Alpha Dog there were ups and downs in my experience with them.  After spending almost 2 months with the Alpha I am very fond of this headphone and that is what this review is about.  I usually own one headphone and amp at any given time so I will be recalling on a lot of audio memory.  I thought about waiting to release my review until I got to hear the Alpha Dogs on a solid state amp.  For now my experience with the Alpha Dog is that of them being driven by a very good, transparent Decware tube amplifier.           
 
SOUNDSTAGE
For a closed headphone the Alpha Dog does not disappoint in regards to soundstage.  Is it amazingly spacious?  No.  However, there is more than adequate width or stereo spread, all contributing to an accurate, coherent image.  The center fill is right where I expect it to be, not too high or too low.  If people are expecting an open headphone type experience then they will need to tame those expectations.  My only other mid-tier closed headphone was the Fostex TH-600 which probably beats the Alpha Dog by some margin in regards to air as well as soundstage width and depth.  However, on an amp such as the Decware Taboo which has a lucid mode I can narrow the gap in soundstage.  When I turn lucid mode off I lose a bit of width and depth.  It can be fun trying different amps with the Alpha Dog and observe the differences in the perception of soundstage.  I have owned vintage receivers which can present a very wide soundstage and then there is something like the Violectric V200 which has very good depth and average width.  Ultimately, there are trade-offs with headphones, amps, and DACs. 
 
In regards to layering I would give the nod to a planar like the LCD-2.  Maybe this is not fair because it is an open headphone.  Open headphones by their very nature may have an advantage in creating more space for notes to recede and generate an image with more depth.  However, I never felt the open HE-500 headphone had amazing depth, and therefore soundstage qualities cannot be simply boiled down to ear cup design.  And take the TH-600, I feel it has better layering and depth than either the HE-500 or Alpha Dog.  I do not doubt that one’s experience with the Alpha Dog will be largely affected by one’s amp.  I consider the Decware pre-amp and amp that I use a more than adequate in its ability to drive the Alpha Dogs with authority.  I feel the Alpha Dog will scale nicely with higher end systems.  I will be adding a solid state amp in the future, but I continue to enjoy planars with tube amps.  Tubes add a dimensionality, texture, and color to music that I like with planar headphones. 
 
TREBLE
My ears are not sufficiently trained to breakdown treble like other established members who can identify spikes and valleys quite easily without looking at a headphone’s frequency response trace.  I have not taken a look at the Alpha Dog’s own frequency response.  The treble is not fatiguing or harsh, at least for the recordings I commonly use.  The treble sounds natural and smooth to me.  I primarily listen to jazz and the Alpha Dog’s treble is well-suited for this genre.  I am a fan of treble sparkle or brightness but it is not a requirement of all my headphones.  Having owned the HE-4 and LCD-2, which take different approaches to treble, I feel there is room for all kinds of treble in this headphone journey.  
 
I feel the Alpha Dog is somewhere in the middle of my planar experience in regards to treble emphasis (HE-4 > HE-500 > Alpha Dog > LCD-2 > Self Modded T50RP).  I like the tuning of the Alpha Dog’s treble.  The music is lively with adequate realism.  I am guessing that when I get around to trying a solid state amp the Alpha Dog’s top end will be slightly brighter in comparison to the presentation I get from my tube amp.  I may change my opinion of the Alpha Dog’s treble when I get a chance to hear it from a solid state amp.  For now, I do not think the treble is neither a weakness nor a major advantage of the Alpha Dog.          
 
BASS
The bass is full and when called upon will deliver rumble and impact that is far from polite.  I did not adjust the bass from Dan’s factory settings.  I suspect what one hears in regards to bass may be dependent on other things in one’s chain such as amplification, equalization, and/or tubes in my situation.  Bass from planar magnetic headphones is something one loves or hate.  I enjoy tight bass but I can also get into the deep, rich bass of say the TH-600.  I would call the LCD-2 the king of bass among planars that I’ve owned, especially in regards to impact and rumble.  When I had the HE-500 I felt it had deep, impactful bass yet I always felt it was a one-note type of bass.  The Alpha Dog bass is more textured than the HE-500.  It has more personality to me.  I can’t take away the visceral nature of the HE-500’s bass and it extends lower than the Alpha Dog.  Additionally, the speed at which the LCD-2 and HE-500 can deliver quick, succinct and clear bass notes is not to be trivialized.  The Alpha Dog is not going to deliver those bass lines in the same manner.  If you like jazz you will likely enjoy the Alpha Dog’s low end response.  It is more than adequate for that type of music. 
 
MIDRANGE
My preference rankings for midrange, especially vocals, would go LCD-2 > Alpha Dogs > HE-500.  Keep in mind I could live with the mids from any of these headphones.  The LCD-2 midrange has that smoky Audeze house sound.  The strength of the midrange of the Alpha Dog is neutrality, clarity, and focus.  The vocal experience is full, intimate, and the smoothed treble works well with female singers.  Male voices do not sound flat and you will also like the Alpha Dog with male vocals from say Marvin Gaye or Kurt Elling.  The Alpha Dog really shines with acoustic guitar performances.  With its midrange I get an excellent portrayal of detail, palpability, texture, and smoothness that I enjoy.  The delicacy of the Alpha Dog makes it an excellent headphone for low-volume listening as well.  In the end, vocal and stringed performances that I enjoyed in the past with other headphones have retained their magic when heard through the Alpha Dog.  That is always a major worry for me when using a new headphone.  The Alpha Dog's midrange sounds very good to my ears.      
 
TONE
I use piano and acoustic guitar pieces as my reference points for tone and timbre.  Additionally, I play the clarinet and shakuhachi so music pieces that highlight these instruments are good reference points for me.  If these instruments sound natural then I usually can assume reproduction of other sounds will be on point.  Nothing sounds off key to me with the Alpha Dog.  I do not hear any major weaknesses in regards to tonality and timbre.         
 
ATTACK and PACE
The Alpha Dog has plenty of bite.  Although one might call it a smooth presentation among the competition of planar headphones, the Alpha is not so laid back to cause real concern.  When compared to the dynamic headphones I have owned the Alpha Dog leads the pack in regards to attack and pace.  In comparison to other planars, the LCD-2 and HE-500 drivers have more edge, punch, and dynamics.  I do believe those drivers are faster than the Alpha Dog which helps with rhythm and timing.  The HE-500 can be intoxicating and at times fatiguing because it hits harder, quicker, and sometime harsher than the Alpha Dog.  Even my recollection of say the HD-650 was that it has more energy in comparison to the Alpha Dog, especially for piano.  With that said, I prefer the overall presentation of the Alpha Dog to the HD-650.  The Alpha Dog is a planar to the core which means the T50RP driver delivers music in an impactful and visceral way.  We all have had headphones that do not move us.  The Alpha Dog will release those music-induced pheromones.  I do not worry about the Alpha Dog keeping up with faster genres of electronica and traditional Indian music that I have in my library.  Is it best for those genres?  That question is best left for those who listen to a lot of fast music.  In the end the Alpha Dog has very good control and is far from sluggish.  It is more than capable of keeping up with most of your music.             
 
DETAIL
Resolution or definition can be a hard thing to gauge among different reviewers because it can also be influenced by one’s audio chain.  I have owned detailed IEMs like the Heir Audio Tzar 350 and Hifiman RE-Zero but never a super detailed headphone like the Sennheiser HD800.  I would not consider the Alpha Dog’s detail level analytical or smeared.  Probably in the middle of the pack in regards to headphones I have owned.  The T50RP driver does not have the resolving power of the Hifiman and Audeze drivers, but it is not far off.  This is my opinion and where I really have to stretch my audio memory because it is not like one of these headphones dominates.  The Alpha Dog does not disappoint in regards to detail and there are no glaring weaknesses here.  Notes are whole and distinct.  Low-level detail is good.  For jazz trios this is important to me.  The subtleties of plucked guitar strings and the tapping of piano keys are never lost in the Alpha Dog.  Headphones like the LCD-2 and HE-500 have a bit more snap and crisp to them which help with emphasizing details.  In this scenario, the Alpha Dog may not be missing details.  It takes a more balanced approached across the entire spectrum with very little bias or overemphasis.  Though I am fairly loud listener of music, the Alpha Dog is very good headphone for low volume listening without losing the meaning of the music.  This is possible when the headphone has an ability to get across those micro-details.    
 
COMFORT 
The weight of most planar magnetic headphones doesn’t bother me.  The pads on the Alpha Dogs are comfortable and do not cause any type of sweating.  I can wear the Alpha Dogs for 1-2 hours with no worries.  Because I shave my head the Alpha Dog sits lower on my head than I would prefer.  I will likely add additional padding underneath the headband, such as I did with my own T50RP using HD600 foam.         
 
CONCLUSIONS
Purchase regrets?  None.  Is the Alpha Dog worth 6X the stock form of the Fostex T50RP?  In my opinion, yes.  The Alpha Dog improves upon the stock driver’s performance by a good margin, plus it comes with a better cable and gorgeous ear cups.  Let’s admit it; the Fostex T50RP in its stock form is capable but boring headphone.  With the Alpha Dog I am not worried about a laid back experience.  Sure it is smoother around the edges than other planars but the Alpha Dog never fails to deliver an enjoyable experience.  With music you love, you will continue to love it on the Alpha Dog.  For me the Alpha Dog is the last stop on the closed headphone tour.  I may get around to trying the other flagship closed headphones but I am not in any rush.  The Alpha Dog will be part of a one-two punch in many people’s rig with the Alpha’s taking care of the closed headphone portion and people throwing in their open headphone of choice.       
 
FUTURE
I want to hear this Alpha Dog on a solid state amp like the Emotiva Mini-X as well as compare the stock cable to the Q-audio cable.  I will offer anyone who wants to hear the single-ended version of the Q-audio cable with their Alpha Dog a chance to do so as with some sort of loaner program.  
 
Strengths
Female Vocals
Acoustic guitar and jazz trios
Non-fatiguing
Very good all-around headphone
 
Minor weaknesses
Layering and depth
 
Equipment used 
Macbook Pro > Amarra > Ciunas DAC > Decware CSP3+ > Decware Taboo MKIII > Mr. Speakers Alpha Dog (balanced stock cable, single-ended Q-audio cable)
 
Main Music Rotation:
Helge Lien “Hello Troll”, “Natsukashii”
Avishai Cohen “Sensitive Hours”, “Duende”, “Seven Seas”
Arvo Part “Tabula Rasa”, “Alina”
Diana Krall “Live in Paris”, “The Girl in the Other Room”
Joni Mitchell “Blue”
Dawn of Midi “Dysnomia”
Metallica “Black Album”
Pierre Bensusan “Altiplanos”
Jerry Garcia and David Grisman “Grisman and Garcia”
Jimmy Hendrix “Blues”
Johnny Cash “The Man Comes Around”
Ottmar Liebert “Up Close”
Keith Jarrett “Up For It”
Shankar “Eternal Light”            
Hilliard Ensemble “Morimur”
Groundation “Upon the Bridge”
 
Previously owned headphones serving my audio memory:
Hifiman HE-4, Hifiman HE-500, Audeze LCD-2 (rev1, rev2), Audio-Technica WS-99, Audio-Technica ATH-900X, Sennheiser HD-600, Sennheiser HD-650, Fostex TH-600, Fostex T50RP (self-modded – Blu Tack & Dynamat dampening, semi-closed vents, V-Moda cable, ATH W5000 ear pads), Beyerdynamic DT-770 LE 32 ohms, Koss ESP-950, Grado 225i
 
Manufacturer website:
https://www.mrspeakers.com/index.php?route=product/category&path=69

 
Norse Audio Norn Litz OCC Cable
I had the original Norse OCC LCD-2 cable for 4 months and I’ll gladly admit that I chose it at the time for the price-to-performance ratio based on comments in this thread and others.  The Norse cable ended up being a purchase that I did not regret.  My criticism for the older cable was that you always noticed it was there.  It wasn’t super heavy but it would fold and twist depending on its mood.  4 months later Trevor released the cotton-sheathed Norn series and because I liked the original cable on a sonic level I contacted him about the new cable.
 
Comfort:  now this is what I’m talking about.  Lighter than the original cable and doesn’t snake around itself.  For those that like to color coordinate, the cotton sheath is brown and black, closer match to the LCD-2 own colors.    
 
Sound:  Trevor said a little burn was necessary to temper the treble.  I didn’t think the treble out of the box was a worry but now a week later any additional burn in time is icing on the cake.  I don’t have much cable experience so all I can compare this cable to is the original Norse and Audeze (AZD-6) cables.  All of the Norse cables have a clarity/transparency that lifts the veil associated with the Audeze cable.  Audeze cable does have a bit more weight at the midrange and low end but at the cost of some detail and clarity.  As many have said, these aftermarket cables get out of the way and let your source, amp, and headphone do their jobs.  With the Norn I believe there are more details and clarity in the mid-bass and deep bass with a slight loss to impact in comparison to the original Norse cable.  The timbre of instruments is a shade more natural and accurate with the new cable as well.  I’m really digging vocals with this Litz cable as well.  The bass is balanced and smooth.  Some people thought the original Norse cable was a tad bright.  This is not the case with the Norn by any means, from far it.  I don’t know what to call it, treble control or accuracy, but it’s very obvious.    
 
Conclusion:  I really liked the original Norse cable so if you don’t care about cable entanglement then stick with it.  With the Norn I no longer notice the cable’s omnipresence so that’s worth the price of admission alone.  The other main advantage of the Norn is the naturalness I perceive across the entire dynamic range, especially at the top end.    
 

 

 

 

 

 
[size=10pt]APEX HI-FI BUTTE REVIEW[/size]
 
[size=10pt]Equipment used:[/size]
[size=10pt](a) Apex HI-FI Butte – Loaner from Todd at TTVJ[/size]
[size=10pt](b) Foobar2000 > W4S DAC-2  [/size]
[size=10pt](c) Hifiman HM-601 portable player[/size]
[size=10pt](d) Marantz SACD SA-8003 player[/size]
[size=10pt](e) Sansui TU-717 receiver                                       [/size]
[size=10pt](f) Headphones: LCD-2 (60 ohm, 95 dB) w/ Norse Audio Norn cable, Fischer Audio FA-011 (160 ohm, 98 dB), Hifiman RE-262 IEM (150 ohm, 95 dB), Fostex T50RP (50 ohm, 98 dB)[/size]
 

 
 
[size=10pt]Initial impressions:[/size]
[size=10pt]Fewer frills lead to lower bills.  This is your blue collar amp, it pushes sound with no shortcuts and little compromise.  The Butte has a solid build, no cheap plastic feel here.  This little champ can be easily tucked away on a night stand or corner of a work desk.  Volume control is smooth.  The headphone input will hold your ¼” TRS connector tight.[/size]
 
[size=10pt]Sound:[/size]
[size=10pt]Right away I found this amp to be neutral and smooth.  Transparency and midrange clarity are delivered in spades with the Butte.  These are the major strengths of the Butte.  The midrange is where a lot of the magic happens for many of us and I found the Butte’s midrange to be natural and uncolored.  You can push this amp without any significant edginess/harshness at the top or bloat at the bottom.  There is no chance of amp-induced fatigue here.  In general, with all of my headphones and IEM I found the bass to be tight and controlled.  There is fairly good low-end weight and impact, but these are not the strengths of this amp.  The ability to convey inner detail as well as resolution at the high frequency range is a bit lower than some other amps I’ve used but nothing to make me wince, especially at this price point.  Above all, I found that the source and headphones can significantly make the Butte listening experience go from one that is laid back to one in which you are bobbing your head (discussed later).    [/size]
 
[size=10pt]Soundstage:   [/size]
[size=10pt]I found the soundstage to have a pleasant width and appropriate depth.  Describing soundstage and layering can be difficult and subjective but to me it was adequate.  I didn’t get the impression the instruments were on top of each other or too far away.      [/size]
 
[size=10pt]Driving Power (with DAC-2 as source):[/size]
[size=10pt]LCD-2 --- low (9 o’clock), normal (12 o’clock), very loud (3 o’clock), insane (6 o’clock)[/size]
[size=10pt]Fischer FA-011 --- low (9 o’clock), normal (12 o’clock), very loud (3 o’clock), insane (6 o’clock)[/size]
[size=10pt]Fostex T50rp --- low (9 o’clock), normal (12 o’clock), loud (3 o’clock), very loud (6 o’clock)[/size]
[size=10pt]Hifiman RE-262 --- low (9 o’clock), normal (12 o’clock), very loud (3 o’clock) , insane (6 o’clock)[/size]
 
 
[size=10pt]Favorite Butte + Headphone combos (with DAC-2 as source):[/size]
[size=10pt]1.   RE-262[/size][size=10pt],  Best synergy was heard here.  I felt this combo presented the dynamics and toe tapping experience that I didn’t have with the headphones.  Wonderful soundstage, not too wide, not too deep, just right.  RE-262 is a forward IEM yet the Butte kept the instruments and vocals properly spaced rather than pushing the sound far into one’s head.  The timbre of pianos, cymbals and saxophones were on point.  The articulation of vocals was fantastic.  More than adequate weight through the low end.  The Butte displayed all of the detail this IEM could provide.  I've never heard this IEM sound so good.      [/size]
 
[size=10pt]2.   LCD-2[/size][size=10pt], a solid pairing.  Would I buy the Butte if the LCD-2 was my only headphone and DAC-2 the main source?  Probably not.  The combination by no means sounded terrible but I felt that the LCD-2 was always at the tipping point of going from a pleasant listening experience to "wow, I forgot the time" type of experience.  Simply, I wanted a bit more attack.  And to be honest, in this hobby we are paying good money for ear-gasms whereas others who are not so fanatic could very well live with this combo for a long time.  Spoiler alert.  However, when I used a different source I did achieve the PRAT I was looking for with the LCD-2 and Apex Butte (discussed later).        [/size]
 
[size=10pt]3.   T50RP (bass-heavy mod)[/size][size=10pt], almost on par with LCD-2.  In fact, the excellent transparency of this amp made the Butte + T50 pairing better than that with my Schiit Lyr.  To my ear, the Lyr can be a bit more lush in the mids and low end which causes my modded T50RP to bloat a bit at loud volumes.  The Butte is leaner in the mid bass in comparison to Schiit Lyr.  These characteristics of the Butte may in fact benefit individuals with bass-heavy headphones.[/size]
 
[size=10pt]4.   FA-011[/size][size=10pt], the best way to describe the sound of this combination was thin and dry.  When pushed to moderately loud volumes there was more treble energy in these headphones than I could take.  If you’ve heard this headphone under properly amped conditions you know this is a “fun, liquid, v-shaped” headphone.  So while I can’t offer an explanation for the results I found the least amount of synergy in this pairing. [/size]
 
 
[size=10pt]Favorite Butte + Source combos (with various headphones):[/size]
[size=10pt]1.   Marantz SACD player[/size] [size=10pt]– this combination was the clear winner of the two week experience!  The Butte made me a believer rather than just a tester at this point.  I saved the different source combinations for the very end but I wish I had started here.  I could easily be content with my CD player, LCD-2, and the Apex Butte.  Throw away my computer + DAC-2 and live happily ever after, that was how good it was.  The LCD-2 came alive during this pairing, especially in getting across the treble details.  Details in the top-end were now dancing through the LCD-2.  The midrange became even more palpable with no cost to clarity and articulation.  The focus was now better and imaging stabilized.  The attack transients now had my full attention, which was my main complaint with the DAC-2 combo.  The dynamics + impact missing with the DAC-2 combo were present in the CD player + Butte.  All of this was completely unexpected because I slightly prefer the DAC-2 + Lyr over the CD player + Lyr.  For this reason I waited until the end to test difference sources, I figured it wouldn’t matter because the DAC-2 would always be better even via USB.  We could try and dissect the reasons why but it was pure joy to hear the Butte behind a solid CD player.  I would think that those who primarily listen to speakers and just want to throw a small headphone amp into the mix should seriously consider the Butte.  Of note, the FA-011 sounded better now but still not great.  LCD-2, RE-262, and T50 were thoroughly enjoyed with Marantz + Butte.    [/size]
 
[size=10pt]2.   W4S DAC-2[/size] [size=10pt]– my experience with this combo is detailed above.  The experience overall was good but not amazing.  Side by side with the Lyr and my headphones, I would choose the Lyr due to better synergy between DAC-2 + Lyr than DAC-2 + Butte.  I am believing the output power of the source is really determining my experience with the Butte.  The Marantz and W4S DAC-2 (unbalanced mode) have similar reported output voltage but I don’t know if the DAC-2 specs are RMS or peak.    [/size]
 
[size=10pt]3.   Sansui TU-717[/size] [size=10pt]– I enjoyed this a lot and contemplated for a while whether it should rank 2^nd or 3^rd.  I imagine if the 717 had auxiliary inputs this would go 2^nd because there was a tad more dynamics than with the DAC-2 + Butte.  As a testament to the neutrality and transparency of the Butte the sound I heard was exactly as if I was listening to the radio through speakers.[/size]
 
[size=10pt]4.   Hifiman HM-601[/size] [size=10pt]– last but not least.  The small form factor of the Butte combined with a portable DAP may be a selling point to many.  I did not use the Butte’s 2^nd input (stereo mini) but rather the line out of the 601 to the analog inputs of Butte via a Blue Jeans Cable 1/8” TRS to RCA cable.  The warmth of the 601 did color the sound a little bit.  In comparison to the other sources there was a small hit to soundstage and image focus, not by any fault of the Butte.  A small reduction in resolution was mainly due to source rather than Butte.  While I would not buy the $499 Butte purely for use with my $249 DAP I could see how on vacation or work travel I would be very content with the combination.[/size]
 
[size=10pt]Conclusions:[/size]
[size=10pt]I primarily use tube amps so the Apex Butte loaner was an opportunity to hear the other side.  The Butte is a solid state amp that can deliver clean, transparent sound at a price that may rival higher-end SS amps.  If the LCD-2 is your main headphone and you already own the Schiit Lyr you’ll probably find that the Lyr provides a bit more dynamics and punch.  However, the world doesn't revolve around the LCD-2 so I can see how people who do not prefer tube associated warmth and mid bass weightiness would flock to the more neutral Apex Butte.  I am now a fan of the Apex sound and when I do get a solid state amp to complement my tube amp I will strongly consider the Apex line of products.  As the reviews for this amp do start to come out it will be interesting to hear the opinions of those individuals with a more diverse set of headphones than myself.      [/size]
 
[size=10pt]Pros:[/size]
[size=10pt]Transparency and clarity in the midrange.  Price-to-peformance, small form factor (office use / travel), and the power to drive most cans make the Butte a versatile amp for the office or home.      [/size]
 
[size=10pt]Cons:[/size]
[size=10pt]Synergy between Butte with one’s sources and headphones will significantly influence one’s experience. [/size]
 
[size=10pt]Me:[/size]
[size=10pt]First full review of gear after about a year into this world of better sound so take my comments with a grain or two of salt but I know what I hear, I hear what I hear, you may hear something different than me, but hear this, y’all come back now, you hear?  But really, keep in mind I mainly use tube amps which can be very different than their SS brethren which may color my expectations.  With that said, SS amps are a breath of fresh air that I will continue to explore.  [/size]
 
[size=10pt]Conflicts of interest and financial disclosure:[/size][size=10pt]  would love some but none in reality[/size]
 
[size=10pt]Thank you to Todd over at TTVJ for allowing me to enjoy this little amp for 2 weeks[/size]
[size=10pt]Availability: [/size] https://www.ttvjaudio.com/store/comersus_viewItem.asp?idProduct=720
 
Close-up of T50s