MrSpeakers - Alpha Prime Review
Used Hardware:
MrSpeakers Alpha Prime
- with 3.5mm jack cable (and 6mm converter if needed)
- with XLR balanced cable
DAP | | Astell & Kern AK100 II (new model) | DAP | | FIIO X1 | DAP | | iPod Classic 160GB | DAC/AMP | | Centrance HiFi M8 LX | DAC/AMP | | FIIO E18 | Phone | | Samsung Galaxy S5 | PC Soundcard | | ASUS Xonar Xense |
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Delivery .... what is in the package:
The main packaging is simple, clean black box with a discrete MrSpeakers logo in the middle.
In the box all is very well secured by dense foam, and you'll find:
- the headphones
- headphone stand (branded discretely with MrSpeakers)
- velour carrying bag for the headphones
- cable of your choice/order
- cloth for cleaning the headset
- bluedots to tunes the headset a bit to your preference
- userguide
Sources tested with the Alpha Prime:
Samsung Galaxy S5 (with PowerAmp and Viper V4 installed)
Astell & Kern AK 100 II
FIIO X1
iPod Classic
PC (Asus Xonar Xense)
Samsung Galaxy S5 (OTG) + FIIO E18
AK 100 II (optical) + Centrance M8 LX
FIIO X1 + E18 (analog, only AMP)
iPod Classic + E18 (analog, only AMP)
FIIO E18: “gain; high”, “bass; off” for best result
Centrance HiFi M8: “gain; medium” for best result
NO EQ set on any device, DAP or PC
Sound files used:
A wide variety of files was used. From lossless standard iTunes files up to 24bit/192khz FLAC files.
As I like all kinds of music, but most often listen to Classical music, I reviewed the Alpha Prime with all genres I use.
Some Titles:
Seasick Steve: I Started Out With Nithin' and I Still Got Most of it Left (iTunes)
Passenger: All the Little Lights (iTunes)
Armin van Buuren: A state of Trance 2014 (iTunes)
Buena Vista Social Club: Buena Vista Social Club (iTunes)
Armin van Buuren: Intense (16/44 lossless)
Ton Koopman: J.S. Bach, Toccata and Fugue (16/44 lossless)
Lang Lang:
C.C. Colletti: Bring It On Home (HD Tracks, 24/192)
Norah Jones: Come Away with Me (HD Tracks, 24/192)
Keith Jarrett: The Köln Concert (HD Tracks, 24/96)
Dr Chesky's; Sensational, Fantastic and Simply Amazing Binaural Sound Show (HD Tracks, 24/192)
... and many more ...
First the obvious, sound levels with the combinations …. Does it push the Alpha Primes?
(
= happy,
= it works,
= not happy)
Source | Volume (0-10) | Bass | Treble | Quality | Feels like |
Samsung Galaxy S5
| 7 | 8 | 9 | 8 | |
AK 100 II
| 9 | 9 | 9 | 10 | |
FIIO X1
| 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | Impressed |
iPod Classic
| 5 | 8 | 8 | 8 | |
PC (Asus Xonar Xense)
| 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | |
| | | | | |
Samsung Galaxy S5 (OTG) + FIIO E18
| 10 | 10 | 10 | 9 | |
AK 100 II (optical) + Centrance M8 LX
| 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | |
FIIO X1 + E18 (analog, only AMP)
| 10 | 10 | 10 | 9 | |
iPod Classic + E18 (analog, only AMP)
| 10 | 10 | 10 | 8 (only lossy possible) | |
In general, the Alpha Prime is not difficult BUT most sources shine more with additional amplification.
It seems a bit reverse logic, but in this case the Prime's seem to allow your source to give what it can and make to most of it.
The Alpha Prime always sounds great, the volume and fullness of the bass changes with the source.
That said:
To get a high volume with the FIIO X1 and AK100 II I'm at about 80% - 90% of max volume.
They do still produce wonderful sound though!! No or not detectable deformation.
Both the X1 and the AK100 II gave good base, a solid and nice sounding base.
(Tested with Seasick Steve and Walking Man)
Starting the Listening with my all new rig:
AK100 II + Centrance HiFi M8 LX + Ultra Short Fiber connection (from
Sys Concept)
No EQ, No Bass Boost, No Treble Boost, Gain on first setting up.
Other headphones I own, as reference | |
Beyerdynamic DT880 Pro 250 Ohm | Sennheiser Momentum (over-ear) |
AKG K551 | B&O H3 (in-ear) |
I start off with one of my favorite sets,
"The Köln Concert" by Keith Jarrett. The sound is immediate, very wide open and pure is the best word I can find. The piano can speak and projects its softness and its force. Keith's gentle touch on the keys brings soft, hmmmm, careful tones I would use to describe the sound. The high notes in the opening of the first track ring all around me. Almost floating in space as they are far apart. Keith lets the notes be, hang there in space. The bass notes are in detail, subtle but very part of the melody. The Alpha Prime is giving me feeling I'm sat on a bench next to Keith watching him play this wonderful instrument. Close your eyes and you can see his fingers effortlessly walk over they keys... What a projection and open sound.
By now I'm in love with my new headphones ...
... I've been listening for 67 minutes I see ... no fatigue in the ears,
... I do notice the headphones are on; as they are not light, 440 gram to be precise, but not uncomfortable ... or would have taken them off
Time to move on ... lets test the base ... hmmmm ... aha!
Why not start gentle ...
The Buena Vista Social Club.
Big smile, the contra bass is so nice to follow under, over, in between the melody and song ... When you listen to the song you 'notice' the bass. The Prime presents it subtle, almost sneaky!
Then when you switch your concentration to the bass ... you can follow its melody without any effort. It is easy to follow, even the deepest tones ... no muddy cover-all sound but a very distinct vibration of the strings can be perceived. It makes me smile, Cuban music with soul and feeling and MrSpeakers Alpha Prime to give me the vibes!
Switching it up brings me to a cool, strange person,
Seasick Steve (he got that name from his friend on a boat trip ... seasick, Steve?)
The album is "
I Started Out With Nothin' and I Still Got Most of it Left". Steve uses his boot to stomp on a box to make the bass drums, his guitar has only 3 strings.
He starts his intro saying the song is about "nothin", then the bass beat starts in short precise pulses with the snare drums rumbling away. All instruments are sounding precise and with a lot of presence. Steve starts to play his 3 string guitar to complete the tune and his raspy voice adds so much character. The instrument separation on the Alpha Prime is great. Each instrument and voice can be itself, never drowned-out by the others. Listing to the entire album, the sound is engaging, fun, present ... Just got to track "
St. Louis Slim", I notice the drum sticks hitting the side rim of the drum, this is the first time i really notice them, softly dancing their rhythm.
Time to go look for some awesome bass ...
Starting this off with
Armin van Buuren, Intense ... heeeeeeere we go ... first track, electronic vibes, the notes simply go up and down, a bass track is added, the Alpha Prime's are giving to sound with authority, very wide open. The electronic violin start the real tune, high up there ... in the open sky, floating, the song is gaining substance, volume and strength. Then there it is, the strong bass. It is like the song IS the bass line with a bassy electronic kind of violin. Very nice ... my Alpha Prime is making me happy. I enjoy the strength of the music, the power being present. Not harsh, and certainly not timid. The track has a lot of contents and body. Very, very nice ... lets find another great one;
... there we go, 6th in the list "
Sound of the Drums", as you can imagine, the title is not stolen!
THIS IS FUN!
This is going very well ... been listening non-stop for 5 hours now ... the Alpha Prime is still on my head!
Comfort is very good. No sweaty head or ears.
Going back to subtle waterfall of notes on a piano ... Lang Lang, "Liszt - My Piano Hero".
I jump to the second track ... "La campanella in G-sharp Minor" from "Grandes études de Paganini, S.141/3"
This track has a lot of high notes, the end of the ladder and it sounds delicate and wonderful. Even the highest notes sound their sound. The Alpha Prime makes the piano sing, no harshness or lost clarity. The notes jump out in what seems like a wide field ... those enormous tone ladders. Up and down we go, I think he uses all the keys he has! Forceful when the piano is hammered, relaxed when it is stroked. What a piece, what a great headphone.
Conclusion
My conclusion can probably be guessed, I'm very, very happy with my new (blind) purchase.
I had never the chance to listen to any of the MrSpeaker products before i decided to buy it.
I had been looking for a great closed headphone for a while, I had been considering the Audeze LCD-XC for a while.
Then I saw the new Alpha Prime came out. Read some of the reviews ... well ... the one review on Guru.
I did hear good things about the Alpha Dog, I like the small business, VERY HIGH effort Dan and the team is putting in.
So ... I went with the MrSpeakers. Pushed the button, easy, you dont have to pay any more
just push the button on the web.
(PS: for young people ... you DO have to pay, to avoid misunderstandings, before you buy anything, always check with your parents!!)
I am a very happy customer.
Small side note: the stock cables are a bit cumbersome on the move or in the office, a bit stiff. So I will probably look out for some replacements.
With very kind regards,
Wishing you a great day, evening, night,
CasperBxl
(still enjoying Lang Lang and his piano ........)