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- Feb 11, 2008
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Hi, I'm a noob on these forums but I have taken time to search them for an existing answer to my query, finding very little of direct relevance, other than the following post, which I will admit, I did not notice, prior to purchasing my 'phones:
http://www.head-fi.org/forums/3567297-post644.html
As a matter of fact, I read a great many forum posts here, about these earphones, before I purchased my ah-c700s - they encouraged me to go ahead and splash the cash.
However, I received my new 'phones today, direct from Japan, and I must say that while they have quite an authoritative, firm sound, I am extremely disappointed in the midrange, which is distinctly recessed and muddy - very much the opposite of the reviews and forum posts I have read. Am I really alone in feeling this way?
The midrange is almost as muddy and recessed as my old Sony MD-71s, and they are BBAAADDD.
Using the 'Spoken Word' preset on my iPod does lift the midrange a little, but not sufficiently to make the midrange even close to the glowing reviews for these 'phones. I was hoping that replacing my appallingly-bad Sony MD-71s with the Denons would finally allow me to dispense with using any EQ at all, since I don't like EQ at the best of times and Apple made a total botch-job of implementing EQ on the iPod anyway - did somebody say D-I-S-T-O-R-T-I-O-N-?!?
I'm not a bass-head; I don't listen to happy hardcore of techno. I like Rock, pop, blues, jazz, and particularly acoustic and female vocals - NEUTRALLY portrayed by my listening equipment. No spiky or dulled treble, no absurdly bloated thumping bass, and no muffled midrange.
I am prepared to accept some fidelity limitations due to use of an iPod and (carefully) compressed audio files, but I see no reason why I should suffer VERY recessed midrange for an earphone claiming to outperform others costing half or quarter the price - I have Sony MDR-E829Vs that are lacking in bass but seem to have FAR superior midrange to these Denons.
I've left the Denons to burn-in a bit, with some blues, R & B etc, but I don't hold out much hope...
If I find things improving after extended burn-in, then rest assured, I will alter this post accordingly.
Can anyone share their experiences, specific to this issue, please?
John
P.S., I do not believe this is a hearing issue - I can hear the midrange superbly on my fullsize Scanspeak/Dynaudio loudspeakers, and this at sensible volumes. Also note my earlier comment on the relative midrange performance of the cheap-&-cheerful Sony MDR-E829Vs
http://www.head-fi.org/forums/3567297-post644.html
As a matter of fact, I read a great many forum posts here, about these earphones, before I purchased my ah-c700s - they encouraged me to go ahead and splash the cash.
However, I received my new 'phones today, direct from Japan, and I must say that while they have quite an authoritative, firm sound, I am extremely disappointed in the midrange, which is distinctly recessed and muddy - very much the opposite of the reviews and forum posts I have read. Am I really alone in feeling this way?
The midrange is almost as muddy and recessed as my old Sony MD-71s, and they are BBAAADDD.
Using the 'Spoken Word' preset on my iPod does lift the midrange a little, but not sufficiently to make the midrange even close to the glowing reviews for these 'phones. I was hoping that replacing my appallingly-bad Sony MD-71s with the Denons would finally allow me to dispense with using any EQ at all, since I don't like EQ at the best of times and Apple made a total botch-job of implementing EQ on the iPod anyway - did somebody say D-I-S-T-O-R-T-I-O-N-?!?

I'm not a bass-head; I don't listen to happy hardcore of techno. I like Rock, pop, blues, jazz, and particularly acoustic and female vocals - NEUTRALLY portrayed by my listening equipment. No spiky or dulled treble, no absurdly bloated thumping bass, and no muffled midrange.
I am prepared to accept some fidelity limitations due to use of an iPod and (carefully) compressed audio files, but I see no reason why I should suffer VERY recessed midrange for an earphone claiming to outperform others costing half or quarter the price - I have Sony MDR-E829Vs that are lacking in bass but seem to have FAR superior midrange to these Denons.
I've left the Denons to burn-in a bit, with some blues, R & B etc, but I don't hold out much hope...
If I find things improving after extended burn-in, then rest assured, I will alter this post accordingly.
Can anyone share their experiences, specific to this issue, please?
John
P.S., I do not believe this is a hearing issue - I can hear the midrange superbly on my fullsize Scanspeak/Dynaudio loudspeakers, and this at sensible volumes. Also note my earlier comment on the relative midrange performance of the cheap-&-cheerful Sony MDR-E829Vs