Introduction:
I still don't know why I keep buying headphones, really! I thought I was done but no, headphones like this one have to pop up on my radar and I'm weak enough that I have to buy them! Even though I already had what I considered my prefered headphones (Ultrasone Signature Pro/DJ and MrSpeakers Mad Dogs) I still wanted to try these just because I read they were very bassy. Being a Signature DJ owner (and a Denon D5000 owner as well), I wanted to try them and verify if indeed it would satisfy my "basshead" needs from time to time.
Let's get this out of the way, I'm happy to report that they do indeed satisfy!
Perfect Sound Dido D901 Stats:
Package Contents:
Design, Comfort and build:
Before delving into the sound, let's talk a bit about the headphone's looks. I have to say that, to me at least, they LOOK STUNNING. All metal construction, ear cups look spectacular from any angle, the white color gives it a nice contrast, it has a bunch of different etchings with the perfect sound name, spiders, shapes, etc. and they look a bit different from other headphones, that is until you really step in close and tell yourself: "heeeeyyy wait a minute! These are basically Beats made with metal/chrome parts and a cool comfortable headband!" I mean, the cups (and earpads) look similar, yokes as well, etc. Yeah, a bit disappointing. Even more disappointing is that they fold "incorrectly" (the wrong way). Maybe they just wanted to not make them TOO SIMILAR to the Beats!
Like a lot of headphones lately, these guys also have dual inputs so you can use either side which is cool depending on your arrangement.
So in my eyes, although good looking, the design is not a strong suit for these...
One of my main nitpicks with MOST headphones is the comfort factor. If they are NOT comfortable I don't care how awesome they sound, I wont keep them. Even though these are mostly made of metal and the earpads don't really articulate that much, they are actually comfortable (at least I find them more comfortable than the Ultrasone line.) They don't clamp as much so that's probably why they feel good while wearing them. No pressure up top (unlike headphones such as Yamaha Pro 500) either. Overall I like how they feel and I can listen to them for hours!
Now regarding build... shake, rattle and roll... I guess one of the downsides of building a mostly all metal headphone is that every time you move harshly you will hear clicks and bangs all over the place. Heck, when you pick them up you might think you broke something since they make all sorts of sounds. I have to say though at the same time they feel robust, and look like they seem to be built to last. Time will tell! (at least I don't expect to break like the usual Beats do!)
Sound:
Now to the most important thing... These impressions are done using/listening my usual test songs with my usual home setup consisting of: Nuforce Icon HDP --> Lehman BCL
Damian Marley - Welcome to Jamrock
Thrice - To Awake and Avenge the Dead
Miguel Bose - Este Mundo Va
Kaskade - Fire in your Shoes
Blink182 - Kaleidoscope
Jon Cleary - When you Get back
Mima - Oigo Voces
Esperanza Spalding - What a Friend
Sara Bareilles - Vegas
Killswitch Engage - Fixation on the Darkness
Juancho - Pillala
Boston - More than a Feeling
J-King y Maximan - Ella me Pide Something
Calvin Harris - Feel so Close
Three Six Mafia - Late Night Tip
Orquesta Macabeo - Me Repito
Let's start by saying: Daaaaamn! Be careful when using these cans. They are SENSITIVE AS HECK! At times I thought that these guys wanted to blow up my ear drums! They go loud pretty fast from either my set-up, straight from a FiiO X3 or my phone! SO again, just a warning if you are planning on getting these! LOL
These have MONSTER BASS! Extension is superb (I can "feel" these rumble at 15Hz), sub-bass is plenty powerful (almost headache inducing when playing Three Six Mafia - Late Night Tip) and mid-bass has enough impact to take care of low bass notes, double kick drums, etc.! Reggaeton music excels on these headphones, as well as Hip Hop and bass heavy songs. They definitely are boosted (i.e. mid-bass with respect to sub-bass) and I feel that they are not super fast since there's definitely a bit of "smearing" into the mid range. Still completely understandable though, these were made for bass-heads so I wont cry too much about that.
Even though bass is indeed boosted, I don't find the mids too recessed at all, upper mids in particular (since I feel lower mids are a bit "laid-back" possibly due to the bass eating a bit of it up!). Playing tracks from Esperanza Spalding, Sara Bareilles, Fiona Apple, and other singer/songwriters, I don't feel I miss either any detail, clarity, or resolution. They sound splendid which is a bit surprising. In fact, I can say that mids on the Dido's are more up-front and in-your-face than my Signature DJs. Tracks such as "When you get back" by Jon Cleary sound very very good and fun. Piano notes are rendered beautifully to my ears, so I have listened to a lot of Ms. Bareilles as well. And talking about "in-your-face", I feel the highs have more air as well (compared to the Sig DJs). It seems there is also a bit of a boost in treble (2-4Khz) as well since sometimes violins sound a bit, I dare say, unnatural, but other than that, highs are NOT ear-piercing, they are NOT shrill, they don't "introduce" sibilance, they are detailed, extended and make the headphones just fun overall. Having these qualities (bit of a boost up-top, air) actually helps with imaging as I feel they also excel on that front and on some non-bassy tracks I actually prefer these over the Signature DJs.
Summary:
Very good bassy presentation, Good upper mids (female vocals sound excellent and so do pianos, acoustic guitars, etc.), Good highs (no sibilance, energetic but never shrill) and Sound Stage/sound separation is very good (I find them better than the Signature DJs in non-bassy tracks) and all of these traits make the Perfect Sound Dido D901s one of the best basshead headphones I've tried!
If I were to order closed BASSHEAD cans by preference (the ones I have tried)
Comfort: Denon D5000 (modded or not) --> Denon D600 --> Beyerdynamic DT 770 Pro80 --> Perfect Sound D901 Dido --> Ultrasone Signature DJ --> Monster N-Pulse --> M-Audio Q40 (with Beyer pads) --> JVC HA-SZ2000 --> Spider PowerForce --> Panasonic RP-HTF600-S --> V-MODA M100 --> Yamaha Pro 500 --> Skullcandy Mix Master Mike
(this is taking into consideration both earpad and headband feel)
Sound Quality: Ultrasone Signature DJ == Denon D5000 with Lawton Mods --> Perfect Sound D901 Dido --> Yamaha Pro 500 --> V-MODA M100 --> Monster N-Pulse --> Denon D600 --> M-Audio Q40 --> Beyerdynamic DT 770 Pro80 --> Panasonic RP-HTF600-S --> JVC HA-SZ2000 --> Skullcandy Mix Master Mike --> Spider PowerForce
(note, ALL of these have from good to great sound and some are "special" on specific genres, but when nitpicking, this is how I would choose them)
Conclusion:
If you are indeed reading this is probably because you are bored, or a basshead so that means that you are not looking for neutral, for analytical or cold sound, you are looking for BASS BASS BASS! Again I say, these cans deliver!
Just like on my Yamaha Pro 500 review, If you ask: "well, why should I choose these instead of the M100s, Denon D600s or any other "bassy" headphone?
And the answer is always, depends on what you are looking for... Some people like different styles, some people have different ear/head shapes, some people like more/different accessories, some people might value comfort more than anything else, etc. As above, if only interested in the best sound, I WOULD rate these VERY HIGHLY over most basshead headphones I've tried with the exception of the Ultrasone Signature DJs and the Denon D5000.
The other usual question would be: "So should I pay $800 for basshead headphones?"
And I would say... if you can get the Ultrasone Signature DJs for similar price, well... go for those!
But in reality the law of diminishing returns is VERY real and you might find similar enjoyment from the V-moda M100s or even the Monster N-Pulse headphones (which I do liked QUITE A LOT and got them cheap!), it's up to each individual to choose whether they like the design, whether they can actually hear the differences and then decide if the difference in price is worth it or not.
I have to say though, to me, and after side by side compares, THESE ARE WORTH every penny!
As always YMMV, it all depends on taste! Hopefully I could provide an idea with these impressions and whenever one has a chance to test all or any of these headphones I have mentioned, do it!!!
Always trust your ears.
Bye.
I still don't know why I keep buying headphones, really! I thought I was done but no, headphones like this one have to pop up on my radar and I'm weak enough that I have to buy them! Even though I already had what I considered my prefered headphones (Ultrasone Signature Pro/DJ and MrSpeakers Mad Dogs) I still wanted to try these just because I read they were very bassy. Being a Signature DJ owner (and a Denon D5000 owner as well), I wanted to try them and verify if indeed it would satisfy my "basshead" needs from time to time.
Let's get this out of the way, I'm happy to report that they do indeed satisfy!
Perfect Sound Dido D901 Stats:
| Driver Diameter | l 40mm |
| Driver Type | l Dynamic Speaker |
| Impedance @ 1kHz | l 16 Ohms |
| Connector Type | l 3.5mm |
| Weight | l 395gr |
| Cord Length | l 1.3 meter |
| Headphone Type | l over-Ear |
Package Contents:
- Headphones
- Good looking usable stand
- Green 3.5mm to 3.5mm cable
- 3.5mm Stereo Female to 6.35mm (1/4) converter
Design, Comfort and build:
Before delving into the sound, let's talk a bit about the headphone's looks. I have to say that, to me at least, they LOOK STUNNING. All metal construction, ear cups look spectacular from any angle, the white color gives it a nice contrast, it has a bunch of different etchings with the perfect sound name, spiders, shapes, etc. and they look a bit different from other headphones, that is until you really step in close and tell yourself: "heeeeyyy wait a minute! These are basically Beats made with metal/chrome parts and a cool comfortable headband!" I mean, the cups (and earpads) look similar, yokes as well, etc. Yeah, a bit disappointing. Even more disappointing is that they fold "incorrectly" (the wrong way). Maybe they just wanted to not make them TOO SIMILAR to the Beats!
Like a lot of headphones lately, these guys also have dual inputs so you can use either side which is cool depending on your arrangement.
So in my eyes, although good looking, the design is not a strong suit for these...
One of my main nitpicks with MOST headphones is the comfort factor. If they are NOT comfortable I don't care how awesome they sound, I wont keep them. Even though these are mostly made of metal and the earpads don't really articulate that much, they are actually comfortable (at least I find them more comfortable than the Ultrasone line.) They don't clamp as much so that's probably why they feel good while wearing them. No pressure up top (unlike headphones such as Yamaha Pro 500) either. Overall I like how they feel and I can listen to them for hours!
Now regarding build... shake, rattle and roll... I guess one of the downsides of building a mostly all metal headphone is that every time you move harshly you will hear clicks and bangs all over the place. Heck, when you pick them up you might think you broke something since they make all sorts of sounds. I have to say though at the same time they feel robust, and look like they seem to be built to last. Time will tell! (at least I don't expect to break like the usual Beats do!)
Sound:
Now to the most important thing... These impressions are done using/listening my usual test songs with my usual home setup consisting of: Nuforce Icon HDP --> Lehman BCL
Damian Marley - Welcome to Jamrock
Thrice - To Awake and Avenge the Dead
Miguel Bose - Este Mundo Va
Kaskade - Fire in your Shoes
Blink182 - Kaleidoscope
Jon Cleary - When you Get back
Mima - Oigo Voces
Esperanza Spalding - What a Friend
Sara Bareilles - Vegas
Killswitch Engage - Fixation on the Darkness
Juancho - Pillala
Boston - More than a Feeling
J-King y Maximan - Ella me Pide Something
Calvin Harris - Feel so Close
Three Six Mafia - Late Night Tip
Orquesta Macabeo - Me Repito
Let's start by saying: Daaaaamn! Be careful when using these cans. They are SENSITIVE AS HECK! At times I thought that these guys wanted to blow up my ear drums! They go loud pretty fast from either my set-up, straight from a FiiO X3 or my phone! SO again, just a warning if you are planning on getting these! LOL
These have MONSTER BASS! Extension is superb (I can "feel" these rumble at 15Hz), sub-bass is plenty powerful (almost headache inducing when playing Three Six Mafia - Late Night Tip) and mid-bass has enough impact to take care of low bass notes, double kick drums, etc.! Reggaeton music excels on these headphones, as well as Hip Hop and bass heavy songs. They definitely are boosted (i.e. mid-bass with respect to sub-bass) and I feel that they are not super fast since there's definitely a bit of "smearing" into the mid range. Still completely understandable though, these were made for bass-heads so I wont cry too much about that.
Even though bass is indeed boosted, I don't find the mids too recessed at all, upper mids in particular (since I feel lower mids are a bit "laid-back" possibly due to the bass eating a bit of it up!). Playing tracks from Esperanza Spalding, Sara Bareilles, Fiona Apple, and other singer/songwriters, I don't feel I miss either any detail, clarity, or resolution. They sound splendid which is a bit surprising. In fact, I can say that mids on the Dido's are more up-front and in-your-face than my Signature DJs. Tracks such as "When you get back" by Jon Cleary sound very very good and fun. Piano notes are rendered beautifully to my ears, so I have listened to a lot of Ms. Bareilles as well. And talking about "in-your-face", I feel the highs have more air as well (compared to the Sig DJs). It seems there is also a bit of a boost in treble (2-4Khz) as well since sometimes violins sound a bit, I dare say, unnatural, but other than that, highs are NOT ear-piercing, they are NOT shrill, they don't "introduce" sibilance, they are detailed, extended and make the headphones just fun overall. Having these qualities (bit of a boost up-top, air) actually helps with imaging as I feel they also excel on that front and on some non-bassy tracks I actually prefer these over the Signature DJs.
Summary:
Very good bassy presentation, Good upper mids (female vocals sound excellent and so do pianos, acoustic guitars, etc.), Good highs (no sibilance, energetic but never shrill) and Sound Stage/sound separation is very good (I find them better than the Signature DJs in non-bassy tracks) and all of these traits make the Perfect Sound Dido D901s one of the best basshead headphones I've tried!
If I were to order closed BASSHEAD cans by preference (the ones I have tried)
Comfort: Denon D5000 (modded or not) --> Denon D600 --> Beyerdynamic DT 770 Pro80 --> Perfect Sound D901 Dido --> Ultrasone Signature DJ --> Monster N-Pulse --> M-Audio Q40 (with Beyer pads) --> JVC HA-SZ2000 --> Spider PowerForce --> Panasonic RP-HTF600-S --> V-MODA M100 --> Yamaha Pro 500 --> Skullcandy Mix Master Mike
(this is taking into consideration both earpad and headband feel)
Sound Quality: Ultrasone Signature DJ == Denon D5000 with Lawton Mods --> Perfect Sound D901 Dido --> Yamaha Pro 500 --> V-MODA M100 --> Monster N-Pulse --> Denon D600 --> M-Audio Q40 --> Beyerdynamic DT 770 Pro80 --> Panasonic RP-HTF600-S --> JVC HA-SZ2000 --> Skullcandy Mix Master Mike --> Spider PowerForce
(note, ALL of these have from good to great sound and some are "special" on specific genres, but when nitpicking, this is how I would choose them)
Conclusion:
If you are indeed reading this is probably because you are bored, or a basshead so that means that you are not looking for neutral, for analytical or cold sound, you are looking for BASS BASS BASS! Again I say, these cans deliver!
Just like on my Yamaha Pro 500 review, If you ask: "well, why should I choose these instead of the M100s, Denon D600s or any other "bassy" headphone?
And the answer is always, depends on what you are looking for... Some people like different styles, some people have different ear/head shapes, some people like more/different accessories, some people might value comfort more than anything else, etc. As above, if only interested in the best sound, I WOULD rate these VERY HIGHLY over most basshead headphones I've tried with the exception of the Ultrasone Signature DJs and the Denon D5000.
The other usual question would be: "So should I pay $800 for basshead headphones?"
And I would say... if you can get the Ultrasone Signature DJs for similar price, well... go for those!
But in reality the law of diminishing returns is VERY real and you might find similar enjoyment from the V-moda M100s or even the Monster N-Pulse headphones (which I do liked QUITE A LOT and got them cheap!), it's up to each individual to choose whether they like the design, whether they can actually hear the differences and then decide if the difference in price is worth it or not.
I have to say though, to me, and after side by side compares, THESE ARE WORTH every penny!
As always YMMV, it all depends on taste! Hopefully I could provide an idea with these impressions and whenever one has a chance to test all or any of these headphones I have mentioned, do it!!!
Always trust your ears.
Bye.
A tour sounds like fun!