It all started 14 years ago when I came across a Monsoon system, namely the monsoon PlanarMedia-14. Monsoon was, at that time, the only company that manufacture planar magnetic computer speakers. I was immediately hooked by the sound: it can't play loud like those logitech bigass offerings, neither does it have the dynamics of ProMedia 2.1s, but the details, coupled with the fact that they portray soundstage in such a unique way makes it the most immersive 2.1 system available up to this date. For $150, it was a bargain. Two planar speakers reproduce mid and high frequencies and an 8' subwoofer handles frequencies from 200Hz to down below. Granted, an 8' sub would struggle for freqs above 120Hz and it'd make the sub easy to localize, but Monsoon did such an excellent job that every time I turn them on I refuse to acknowledge the presense of a subwoofer---there isn't a hint of crossover, neither is there any unnaturalness transitioning from fast ribbons to slow cones. Up to this date, magnepans came and gone, but I still keep these Monsoons and enjoy them everyday. I dare say, as I did all those years ago, put a blindfold on your eyes and you'd swear you're hearing full-rangers. They portray music in such a way that even 13 years after they're discontinued, I still have a hard time turning them off every time I turn them on. "One more song" they beg, "Just one more."
Over the years I've had all sorts of headphones, from HD600, 650 to Audeze LCD2 & 3, Focal Utopia to Ultrasone Edition 12. All sorts of amplifiers, from Schiit Asgard 2 to Ygg, Liquid Gold to Headtrip. Never had a pair of headphone captures the magic of music like these monsoons do. I sold them all.
It's over. I've long since given up on this bizarre hobby, as I have the best 2.1 speakers in the world from the very start. I've left so many headphone meets unimpressed: OMEGA+T2 combo, LCD4+DAVE combo, Abyss+Headtrip combo. That is, until my friends hook me up with ORPHEUS 4 months ago. He borrowed it from one of his friends place for three days and called me over to his place for a listen.
The listening is done on orpheus combo hooked up to a DAVE. From the very first moment I pull it on, I knew something's different. Going through my playlist seems like revisiting childhood. For the very first time in my life I felt like a youngster once again. College football tournament seems like yesterday, jogging has never becoeme a burden. It was midnight when I put Orpheus down again, all songs on my playlist finished. "How is it?" My friends asked.
Are they good? Of course they are. But there is something present that I've never heard on another pair of headphones---emotion. Orpheus has a mind of its own. I wouldn't comment on any other aspects such as mid-bass or detail retrieval or soundstage: words are pale describing Orpheus. They paint music on canvas, and present to you in an utmost elegant way it'll remind you the first time you hear that song. Yeah, they're just that immersive.
So I told my friend it resembles my PlanarMedia a lot. Had he know what a PlanarMedia is he would proly laugh at me for comparing such a TOTL system to a 2.1. But ultimately, both give me teary eyed moments, both take me to another dimension when I'm listening. And Orpheus, they're the first and'll likely be the last that allows me to finish all songs on my playlist without being aware of time. I'd quote Monsoon's catchphrase as an end to this review: drenched in sound.
Over the years I've had all sorts of headphones, from HD600, 650 to Audeze LCD2 & 3, Focal Utopia to Ultrasone Edition 12. All sorts of amplifiers, from Schiit Asgard 2 to Ygg, Liquid Gold to Headtrip. Never had a pair of headphone captures the magic of music like these monsoons do. I sold them all.
It's over. I've long since given up on this bizarre hobby, as I have the best 2.1 speakers in the world from the very start. I've left so many headphone meets unimpressed: OMEGA+T2 combo, LCD4+DAVE combo, Abyss+Headtrip combo. That is, until my friends hook me up with ORPHEUS 4 months ago. He borrowed it from one of his friends place for three days and called me over to his place for a listen.
The listening is done on orpheus combo hooked up to a DAVE. From the very first moment I pull it on, I knew something's different. Going through my playlist seems like revisiting childhood. For the very first time in my life I felt like a youngster once again. College football tournament seems like yesterday, jogging has never becoeme a burden. It was midnight when I put Orpheus down again, all songs on my playlist finished. "How is it?" My friends asked.
Are they good? Of course they are. But there is something present that I've never heard on another pair of headphones---emotion. Orpheus has a mind of its own. I wouldn't comment on any other aspects such as mid-bass or detail retrieval or soundstage: words are pale describing Orpheus. They paint music on canvas, and present to you in an utmost elegant way it'll remind you the first time you hear that song. Yeah, they're just that immersive.
So I told my friend it resembles my PlanarMedia a lot. Had he know what a PlanarMedia is he would proly laugh at me for comparing such a TOTL system to a 2.1. But ultimately, both give me teary eyed moments, both take me to another dimension when I'm listening. And Orpheus, they're the first and'll likely be the last that allows me to finish all songs on my playlist without being aware of time. I'd quote Monsoon's catchphrase as an end to this review: drenched in sound.