Sash Deux

Roderick

Headphoneus Supremus
Pros: - Headphones can be customised on order
- On most aspects sonic performance is very good for the price
Cons: - Midrange can be too forward
- Stiff earpads
- People with large heads might find headphones uncomfortable
- Requires carefull amp matching or/and EQ to sound it's best
- Closed version does not sound that good (hardly a con as it is a free bonus feature)
*These headphones were purchased by me directly from Sash (Studio Audio Sound Handmade) and I receive no compensation for this review.

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In spring I 2019 came across some fine looking headphones in one of those facebook headphone groups. That same headphone started showing up more an more often in my feed. I found the official facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/Studio-Audio-Sound-Handmade-300941327300195/
and contacted Sasha Lyah, the maker of the headphones. Turns out it's a commercial built on order DIY planar headphones that cost $350. With google translate I had managed to read few reviews. Most often Sasha's headphones are compared to Audeze lcd-2. Reviews were favorable and since I'm a nut for underground headphones I took a change and ordered a set.

Sasha told me it would take three weeks for him to build an unit. It was a cool experience. I had an option to choose between different woods (went with oak), level of varnish I want on the headphones (went with shiny) and cable termination of my choosing. He send me pictures through the process so I could see what is going on. This was one of a kind customer service :)


Build quality and comfort:

It is my understanding that version with leather covered housing is called V2 and one made entirely of wood is V3. I chose the leather version. Grilles are made of plastic. I would have preferred metal but it still does look nice. According to Sasha plastic was chosen to reduce weight.

Grilles and wood cups connect to the housing with four allen key screws. Changing between the closed and open versions is simple but it might take a while to properly align the holes for the screws.

Yokes are metal and headband is made of plastic. All plastic headband seems a bit weird but it works really well and seems durable. Headband has a soft leather padding on it. Suspension headband would have been better considering these are not small headphones. Luckily there are no hot spots so I can't fault this designs comfort.

Cups rotate in all directions. Handy feature incase there is not a headphone stand nearby.
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Clamping force is quite firm and people with larger heads might have problems. Tight clamping does help with weight distribution and for me Deux is quite comfortable.

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Earpads are a bit stiff but soften after a while of use. Earpads attachement is a simple twist lock system. Definately nicer than glue system used by Audeze or system used by Hifiman. Hifiman system is basically simple but I don't like how one has to bend the attaching ring a bit and every time take a risk of breaking it. My only gripe with the earpad system is that the ring is glued on the earpad. So no aftermarket earpads unless one is willing to do some diy. I hope in the future models that ring will be removable like on Fostex headphones or better yet, removable Verum style magnet ring.

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For a cable I chose 3.5mm 2x 4pin xlr like on Audeze LCD-series. Cloth covered cable has slight microphonics but not to a degree it bothers me. Overall it's a really nice cable and it is a nice touch to have a in house built cable. At this relatively affordable price I was expecting some bulk cable out of aliexpress.

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Woodwork on the cups is very nice. There is variety of different finishes to choose from and I got exactly what I wanted. Also the leather parts on the cups are very well done. While there is certain diy vibe present I feel Sash is a step above the competition here. If I did not know better and someone told me these were $1000 I would not blink.

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Sound quality:

Overall tonality of Deux is bit hard to pin down. It's a midrange centric headphone but sounds kind of dark at times because of suckout at upper midrange and lower treble. Depending on recording Deux can come of either dark or even bright, sharp or piercing. There is some peak near 1khz that can induce fatique rather easily. With some albums it's a close call whether Deux sounds energetic or too agressive. Besides that peak near 1khz I'm pretty happy with the midrange. There is bit of a haze to sound but in this price range that is more of a rule than exception. Personally I prefer more linear upper midrange but fans of more laid back presentation will be happy with Deux.

I'm really digging the bass on these. It can't match the bass on most Audeze's or surprisingly good bass performance by Brainwavz Alara but it's more robust than bass on any of the hifimans I've owned(he400/he400i/he4xx/560/sundara/ananda). Bass is well extended and slams quite hard, better than Verum 1 for example.

Highs are well implemented. There is occasional splashiness but overall I like balance of highs better than on most headphones.

Amps:


With Sash Deux I've mostly used Gustard H10, which has been my preferred pairing. However differences between Gustard, SMSL SP200, Burson Soloist SL and SPL Phonitor 2730 were pretty much nonexistent to my ears. Chord Mojo was barely suitable for the Deux and Audioquest Dragonfly Red was a definately lacking. With Audioquest there was clearly audible distortion. Most portable amps just cant power low impedance planars like Deux and Verum1.

It has been reported that Schiit Lyr 3 is a bad match for Sash Deux and DNA starlett and ECP DSHA3f pair well with the Deux. Majority of people looking into this headphone propably don't have such expensive amplifiers but it does seem Deux can be quite picky about amps. Would be nice to hear these one day out of a top tier amp.

Comparisons:

Hifiman Sundara, Verum 1, Sash Deux, iBasso SR1. Prior to release of Sash Tres these were my favorite sub $500 headphones.
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HIFIMAN SUNDARA

Besides being affordable planar headphones these two don't have much in common. Sundara is brighter, more spacious sounding of the two. Deux has fuller mids and better bass impact. Sundara does sound quite thin in comparison and for that reason I personally prefer the Deux. If big soundstage, transparency and detail retrival is priority Sundara is likely the better choice.

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VERUM 1

Verum vs Sash Deux is a interesting comparison. Both are $350 Ukranian planars and both are very good at what they do. I think Verum is more middle of the road good headphone but Sash Deux is more capable of really impressing a person if one likes what it does. I think technically Deux is the better headphone.

Verums have very nice overall balance. Not bright like low end hifimans or dark like audeze, brainwavz alara or mr.speakers AFO. Tonally Verum is definately the most balanced sounding Planar I've heard. In comparison Deux are bit of a mess, especially considering that nasty 1khz peak.

Verum's have bigger and more diffuse soundstage than the Deux. Deux has harder hitting bass.

Overall I find it hard to tell which headphone is "better". For short listening sessions I'd propably go with Verum but if I have time to get used to the sound of Sash Deux and access to eq, I'd propably choose them.


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AUDEZE LCD-3f


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Like I said Audeze lcd-2 has been common point of comparison for the Deux. I never had LCD-2 and Deux at the same time so I can't do a direct comparison but I have LCD-3f. Comparing $1945 headphone to a $350 headphone is quite stupid but perhaps usefull to someone. However it must be stated that I was not a fan of LCD-3f. Either it just was not for me or I had a bad pair. There are reports of heavy unit to unit variation between Audeze's.

Compared to Sundara and Verum 1 Sash sounds a bit veiled but coming from Audeze it is the opposite. Sash maintains the full sound of Audeze but it's a step towards brighter and more lively sound. LCD-3f is not just overly smooth it is borderline nasal sounding. It's just too buttery, surypy to a point it does not sound real at all.

Even though I prefer Deux over Audeze's I have to say LCD-3f is objectively the better headphone. Most notable difference is that Audeze more bass slam and mids and highs are more resolving by a good margin. Imaging and soundstage qualities are quite similar but LCD-3f has notably darker background.

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Sash Deux Closed Back

I have to admit that I have not listened to the closed back version much. In some ways it is quite an opposite to the sound of open back Deux. As you can see the frequency response looks really weird with a huge hole at the center. It does not sound quite as bad it looks but that does not save much.
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Wood cups look gorgeous but for similar price there are a lot better alternatives such as Fostex x00 series or Audeze EL-8 titanium.
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CONCLUSION:

Despite it's flaws Sash Deux is a very competent headphone. Depending on preferencess it can be the headphone for people looking an openback headphone below $500. However with the introduction of Sash Tres, Deux is bit of obsolete in my opinion. I'll do a more thorough comparison on my Sash Tres review but shot version is that Tres fixes the sonic flaws of Deux and offers improved comfort for people with larger heads with a new headband design. So if it wasn't for Tres I would give my highest recommendation to Sash Deux.
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