OPPO PM-2

After spending some time with my new Oppo PM-2s today, and yes i know im late to the party as these have been around for a while and are no longer in production...... Yet, ive wanted to own them and just have not pulled the purchase trigger until recently...
(nothing tried, nothing gained)
(don't wait for life to find you, instead, take your talent and your dreams and your time and build the life you want.).
So, after spending some time with them, i thought to post a few photos, and write a few comments regarding what they offer the ears and also the pleasure center within my brain.
And on both accounts, they offer quite a bit.

On the ears, they are 8.5 in comfort, feel pleasant and have no unreasonable pressure issues/points with the band or the cups.
They are not light as a feather, but this is owning to their stylish tho industrial design & materials.
Ear cups are medium-sized and will never be too large. Which all together means, wearing them is not a hardship and admiring their build quality is a certainty.
If Apple made a designer set of headphones that mattered, then these would be the evolution of that blueprint.
They are sleek and expertly crafted, with a hint of aesthetic elegance.
And that is exactly how they sound..... They sound exactly like they look......sleek, expertly crafted, with a hint of aesthetic sonic elegance.

When i first connected them to signal and my ears became their focus i felt they were very tonally smooth, and a tad polite.
But as my brain/ears began to sync with their sound, i realized that their smooth was their resolution and their polite was the way they manifest a lot of micro detail without sounding at all harsh within their upper treble frequency.
There is no 6-8kHz glare to be found.
Also, and something unusual for a set of headphones, is that the PM-2s have the ability to let your ears see all the detail in the music, yet, not because of anything related to treble frequency "crutch".
(TFC) is : when a badly designed headphone sound that is lacking resolution is overcompensated by..... jacking up/overcooking/hyper-extending.....the treble response.
Well, no such sin is being committed inside these high tech'd aluminum framed beauties......as they have all the resolution you want, and have a somewhat smooth tonality as well.
Now, if you are into something like the recent HiFiman Ananda or similar, and are looking for that extra not truly natural insight detail that some headphones can give you at the expense of musical beauty, then the PM-2s will get you about 94% of this type of hyper-realism, yet, not so much of it that the music falsely glitters and shines at the expense of naturalness regarding overall tonality.

----------------------

Soundstage / Soundstage depth : Better then average, with very nice instrument separation.

Bass : Somewhat extended, slightly round yet authentic. Kick drums kick and bass guitar pumps, but this is a bass response that respects the midrange and sounds very balanced.

Midrange : fluid, polished, elegant.

Treble : Not rolled off & not overextended. Cymbals are clean without sizzle, and acoustic guitars sparkle without sounding thin. Once again, very balanced, nicely detailed without anything harsh or edgy.
Tyll felt the treble was a bit "artificial", but i perceive it to be very controlled/balanced and not compensated by 6-8kHz over-extension.
I can't think of any other headphones that sound like the PM-2s.
They have their own thing going on., and i like it.
Maybe you will also if you reach for a pair with your bank account, someday.


Overall Tonality : Controlled, polished, refined, expertly designed.

Who will love them? : Discerning Listeners who can afford to love and appreciate more then just a few sets of very good sounding headphones, and enjoy a well made attractive product.

Who will hate them ? : Buyers who are looking for only "one great headphone" and the "where is the extra treble, these don't sound like Beyers or AudioTech's", crowd.
-
-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-


-

-

    
 
 
Firstly, I have to give a major shout out and thanks to @Jiffy Squid for accepting me into the reviewers program for @Oppo. I’ve had the honor of listening to all three planar magnetic models offered by Oppo and firmly believe their competence in audio is truly something to behold.
    As an avid fan of the PM-1 I had to try the PM-2 because from what I gathered, the only difference other than being $400 cheaper, is you don’t get the mega extravagant box and complete set of pads. Sonically the PM-1 and PM-2 are the same sharing the exact same driver,  but let’s dive in to this and find out for ourselves shall we? Also as mentioned above, this is a loaner/review unit so your experience may vary some.
 
 
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
The Opening Experience
 
    I can’t give a full unboxing experience of the PM-2’s being that these were a review unit but like the PM-1’s these came with 2 sets of leather pads (small and large) and my oh so favorite and loved velour pads (if you can equip your cans with velour pads, do it, thank me later). A quick note however is these DO NOT come with all 3 pads, only the review unit did. You will have to purchase your desired pad (if not already equipped) separately.
    Also received is the outstandingly well made 10 foot cable that is not just well made but awesome looking as well. As for the portable cable, it’s still the very cheap looking and feeling one.
 
       
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Construction
 
    Just like their bigger brothers, these are stunningly made. Rather you’re more interested in aesthetics or a super durable build these are absolutely world class and do not disappoint me in any sense of the word (except for the mobile cable).
    The frame is made of very nice *lamb skin I believe* leather and just feels sturdy in my hand. The framework that holds the drive units are also very well put together but unlike the PM-1’s shiny and well polished aluminum, these are made of a matted very hard plastic instead.
    The cushions are easily detachable which allows one to easily replace and equip the desired pads of their choosing.
The 10ft. amp. cable is wonderfully well done and well shielded from outside interference, the jacks feel sturdy on both ends and I feel no worries about having them for years on end.
    The mobile cable however is like Harry Potter. This thing was given absolutely no love and feels as if it was thrown together with whatever was laying around like Harry was thrown under the stair case. It kinks up all the time and *at least the review unit I receiver* the jacks that connect to the headphone protective plastic comes off if I don’t death pinch them. So please do yourself a favor and buy a competent 3rd party cable mobile for these or get the @MoonAudio Silver Dragon cable if you really want to extract every single note of detail. Quick note: yes these are a review unit that’s been heavily used but I expect this to happen to anyones mobile cable.
 
                                                                                              
 
 
 
 
Comfort
 
    Have you ever wondered what a cloud would be like if it gave you a firm hug? Put on a pair on PM-2/1’s and you’ll know. The headband sits perfectly still on my head and doesn’t irritate my hair whatsoever (and I keep it ⅛” buzz cut). It has the right amount of give and support that never once during my longest (i.e. 5+ hours) sessions was I ever uncomfortable or required adjustment. The earpads, especially the velour ones, have the perfect amount of clamping force and are the best example of the goldilocks effect. What more is despite the bulk of these, they don’t hardly weigh anything, so that’s yet another box you can mark off the checklist.
 
Sound
 
    Just like the PM-1’s, after listening to these I’m left awe struck and satisfied. The PM-2’s are oh so full sounding and, to me, leave nothing to be desired. These also carry a potential downside (depending on how you look at it), and that’s they don’t scale well. These sound relatively the same regardless if I’m playing from my phone or my Project Horizon 3 tube amp., henceforth I don’t feel the need to individualize the sound before and after external amplification.
    I found the PM-2’s to overall be very neutral but with a warm inviting hint of warmth. They were wonderfully transparent and provided great imaging to whatever I was listening to from “The Pride” from Five Finger Death Punch to “For All Seasons” by Yanni. I truly felt at the performance.
    Like the PM-1 the only downside I could find with these only exist if you consider them a full open back design over a semi-open, and it’s that they’re not as open or airy sounding as open backs are traditionally known for.
 
Treble
 
    Excellently clean and accurate. The treble extends very high and the energy transfer from the notes to your emotions are terrific and will definitely give you chills.
    The only downside with these which sonically that I’ve found and it’s not even that large is that at the upper treble range, it tends to roll off instead of extending further.
 
Mids
 
    Just like with the PM-1’s, I’m in heaven with these. The mids are strikingly neutral and very precise. I honestly have zero complaints with the mids, they’re perfect.
 
Bass
 
    Out freaking standing is what comes to mind when thinking about the bass response. As I’ve grown to expect from planar magnetic headphones, the bass is incredibly tight and controlled. The warmth presented is exactly what I like in audio and can produce the bass hit when the music demands without layering over the other tones.
 
 
                                                                                     
 
 
Conclusion
 
    To sum up the younger brother of the masterpiece that is the PM-1’s, these are truly a defining headphone and a new standard for what I prefer in audio. The quality, craftsmanship and presentation are above and beyond almost anything regardless of price range. The PM-2’s can also play well with lower tier audio files but I’d definitely recommend no less that FLAC if applicable.
Finally, for those of you who are like myself and have fallen in love with the PM-1’s but the intimidating $1,100 price point deters you then you can absolutely make yourself at home with the PM-2’s. At $700, sonically there are the exact same and aesthetically you’re only missing out on a shiny finish, the extra pads and the very extravagant box. So like flagship bigger brothers, if you’re looking for a wonderful, sub elite class tier headphone that performs exactly like an elite class,  that’s extremely well built, very accurate and neutral, and benchmark setting comfort, or in other words a very close to perfect headphone. Then the Oppo Planar Magnetic (PM) 2’s are definitely for you.
 
Till next time my friends, also make sure you check out my unboxing video here, and my full video review here!

Before we start, I have to admit to a bias; the description of a Libra fits me pretty well. I love balance and an even-handed approach to everything. A little bit more about the libra personality: we are diplomatic, hospitable, peace-loving, and idealistic. We're also sometimes vain! Acoustically, I love many different kinds of sounds, I also play a lot of videogames, and I tend to have long listening marathons. Fortunately, the Oppo PM-2 is the Libra headphone!



Sound Signature
Balance. That's what the PM-2 is all about. I don't detect major spotlights on particular frequencies, mainly the headphone speaks honest-to-the-recording. This makes the PM-2 a sociable creature that can easily hang with the R&B crowd, speed along quickly with some metal, or recline dreamily with the parlor piano. This chameleon quality makes the PM-2 score pretty high on transparency, but without obvious colorations it doesn't obviously put on rose-tinted glasses to satisfy bass heads or treble heads. If I listen through a whole song or two, the Oppo's strengths in note separation, imaging, quick leading impact, and low distortion and note bloom really can draw in the listener.

Generally mids do have a bit of meat on them and are engaging, but still balanced and not "thick" like the mids on a Sennheiser HD700. Treble is slightly less hot than I'm used to from my AKGs, but in a nice "red wine audiophile" way; I don't find it veiled, and in fact I really appreciate the fatigue-free experience for 3+ hours of listening. Playing my favorite CoD4:MW, I used to hate it when someone called in a helicopter; of all the guns in that game, the staccato slicing sound of the chopper gun is the most irritating. My old Audio Technica ATH-AD700 could get irritating, the AKG Q701 was better but would still make me wince sometimes, the Beyerdynamic DT880 would leave my ears ringing, but the only irritation I feel with the Oppo is if the chopper kills me... I could hear it coming, I knew better! Bass is always low distortion and articulate, extending deeper than the PM-3 with "Undisclosed Desires of the Heart" by Muse and making a fairly strong showing in "Angel" by Massive Attack, but never bleeding over my ability to hear over other instruments and only thumping on the door when called on.







Tech/benefits
The PM-2 is the good child which plays well with home or portable systems. One way Oppo achieved this was with a double-sided diaphragm that's quite efficient, with relatively low impedance (32 Ohms) and high sensitivity (102 dB in 1mW). The other system "hospitable" aspect of the PM-2 is Planar Magnetic's purely resistive impedance, meaning that you can ignore the 1/8 output impedance amping guideline. If you don't know what that is, stay innocent – a whole can of worms is not an easy thing to swallow! With my iPhone 5s, I heard a surprisingly capable and full experience; plugging it into my home reference system (with a Theta Pro Basic II DAC) yielded a little better dynamic "impact," slightly more meat on the bass and mids, and extended soundstage depth, but the iPhone still had great resolution and extension without sounding harsh. I give any and all sonic improvements to the multibit DAC because the PM-2 doesn't need a special amp to "fix" flubby bass or grainy distortion. Oppo bucks the trends set by Audeze and HiFiman where Planar Magnetic drivers earned a reputation as some of the most power-hungry tech on the market among headphones.

It's also light weight for a Planar. Sure, the 385g PM-2 is heavier than my all-plastic headphones, but considering all the leather, metal, and plastic that goes into the build, the weight is an achievement and noticeably nicer than (again) the other Planar Magnetic headphones on the market. The weight and its distribution (Oppo even published the clamping force in the spec sheet: 5 newtons!) make for a headphone I can wear long-term during an Iron Banner event in Destiny. My casual-earclip-toting fiancée notices the weight, but ON HER OWN listened to three songs instead of just the usual 42 seconds and "That's nice dear."

The earpads and cables are easily swappable and Oppo (separately) offers pads of different materials and balanced cables (2.5mm jack in the headphone). Replaceable cables give peace-of-mind for a headphone of this price, and it's cool to customize cabling for my amp. I usually loathe leathery earpads, but these latex ones wrapped in pleather don't trap heat as much as some others, resist moisture absorption (I was like 15th in line for the loaner program, and the pads didn't feel grease city at all!), and were still nice and springy.

Apparently, these PM-2 "alt" pads helped bring out some treble which people complained was missing from the PM-1's default pad. My own cursory swap didn't immediately detect a huge drop in treble, but it probably would've taken more songs to really notice. I spent half of my time with the velour-wrapped earpads, which I found gloriously comfortable despite the front to back width being narrow enough that the back of my ears would often be slightly covered by the pads. The pads swap super easily, with plastic pegs reminiscent of reattaching speaker cover screens.






Cool Factor
The PM-2 won't get you a hot date or show off in a big way to your friends, but it is a headphone you could show your spouse (without getting slapped in the face), could be your best buddy at the office, or could help you let go of tension at the end of the day.

It has the functional "first kind of cool" of being a very capable headphone, in spades, but not cool in being specialized for "The phatest bass you've ever heard!" or "Massive amphitheater Soundstage". A Coworker, let's call him "tin-ears" to protect his dignity/anonymity, wore them for 2 minutes and remarked that they didn't sound "much different" from his EarPods (compared to going to his Beats Studios), but almost immediately after putting his earpods back on came back and suddenly rattled off a bunch of ways his earpods weren't as good.

Form and size-wise, it's maybe a bit bigger than would look great while walking down the street, but this full-sized headphone embraces a unique rounded-rectangular aesthetic that really sets it apart from most headphones. However, this is still the Libra headphone... the PM-2 isn't unique like the purple Audio Technica ATH-AD700 with head "wings." Oppo decided to balance the uniqueness by using traditional headband/yolk shapes, traditionally classy but low-key materials like black leather and brushed metal, and understated style accents. The Selvedge premium denim case is something new, encouraging me to fold the earcups flat and have it accompany me to work. So it's unique, but in a handsome and upscale way rather than unique in a wild way.

Not as collectible "Cool" as the PM-1 with all that model's included accessories, display case, and premium price, but the PM-2 saves a "cool" $400.



Best Use Scenario
The PM-2 is a gentlemanly headphone, transporting neatly to accompany you to the office or library. It's Forward and Musical, rather than brightly analytical, so this is probably not the choice headphone for mastering engineers. Suitable for long-relationships and a genre chameleon, I wore these for hours while gaming first person games with surround, but it's equally suited for hi-fi music listening marathons on "shuffle" mode. Finally, the Oppo might make your expensive, fancy amp seem redundant, make theaters seem overpriced, and make you contemplate raw denim jeans, but in the long run the PM-2 is a satisfying value that excels at showing off great audio files and a quality DAC.

Attractive, hospitable to playing off of most devices, skillful at diplomatically playing almost anything, almost ideal for extended listening... Now that's a Libra Headphone!