Astrotec AX60 | Thoughts, Reviews, and Tour Impressions

[White Lotus]

  Front (overview): Filters "B"

Filters "A"


Front (Close-up) Filters "B":

Filters "A":

 
Rear: Filters "A":

 
Filters "B":

 

 
Feel free to draw your own conclusions from the above photos.
 
Double post: I have to run off to play with lasers now, but if anyone else can shed light on this, that would be great.
 
Perhaps Astrotec accidentally provided us with two of the same filters?
 
The manufacturers blurb states:
 

 Users can choose between the provided filters, which aims to sound clean and balanced or with the lows emphasized.

 
Ahh, there we are! Astrotec are telling us that the filters are different. This is great!

But then..
 
 

Changeable filter which allows users to tune themselves, or to DIY, adding materials to the filter.

 
Hmm.. Does that mean that we have spares, that we can DIY with? It would make sense, because we would then have an un-modified "stock" reference to compare to.
 
My inner-technician is telling me that my confirmation bias is too strong to continue research on this topic.
 
I will keep doing further testing tomorrow (My last day with them), but if anyone has anything to add, help me out! I'm a little confused.

 

[Idsynchrono_24]

I'm quite amused that Astrotec even chose to ape the K3K's filter system right down to the chunk of metal to which they're affixed, but aside from that, the filters themselves appear virtually identical? On the K3K's filter, you can see a tiny knowles style damper behind the mesh grill, which is aligned with the opening of the TWFK driver itself when the filter is screwed on. If the Astrotec filters are indeed different, they certainly seem to be a cruder implementation. The proof will come down to A/Bing I guess, which should have clearly audible differences

 

[White Lotus]

The proof will come down to A/Bing I guess, which should have clearly audible differences

 
Actually, this raises a good point.
 
Those of you who have heard the difference between the filters, how "night and day" was the difference? Would you instantly be able to identify each filter?

 

[NLNH]

   
Feel free to draw your own conclusions from the above photos.
 
Double post: I have to run off to play with lasers now, but if anyone else can shed light on this, that would be great.
 
Perhaps Astrotec accidentally provided us with two of the same filters?
 
The manufacturers blurb states:
 

 
The two pairs of filters are different.... one has a filter(kind of fabric) in the middle, so there's a white patch....
this one should be the better sounding neutral filter to many ppl... I will see if I can take a close up photo a while later for reference!

 

[billymav]

Let's not jump to any conclusions yet guys.  On initial inspection of the images, all 4 filters appear to be the same, but we can only confirm this when we get them back to check.
 
There should be 2 different types of filters, so not sure what/how its happened until we investigate further.
 
Here's an image showing the differences in filters. (Disclaimer: These are not our photos, and have been added just to highlight the differences).
 

 
Edit: Ok guys, here's the low down from the manufacturer/designer...
 
The filters have a different internal size diameter (not taking into account the smaller screen with the smaller opening)
 
The version on the right, with the white screen/smaller opening, has a wider diameter with a focus on lows/mids.
The version on the left, has a slightly narrower diameter with a focus on highs.

 

[ericp10]

Those filters - I admit - look the same, but my two pairs don't look the same. One is a bit wider in space in the middle than the other. Those might be the same set by mistake. I don't think I can take a good enough photo to show the difference though. And they don't sound the same at all. Both have mucho bass, but the bass ones take the bass somewhere else that's even too much for audiophile-basshead such as myself (yes, I made that up, but I believe it just the same>>> audiophile-basshead)...lol

 

[H20Fidelity]

  Let's not jump to any conclusions yet guys.  On initial inspection of the images, all 4 filters appear to be the same, but we can only confirm this when we get them back to check.
 
There should be 2 different types of filters, so not sure what/how its happened until we investigate further.
 
Here's an image showing the differences in filters. (Disclaimer: These are not our photos, and have been added just to highlight the differences).
 

 
Edit: Ok guys, here's the low down from the manufacturer/designer...
 
The filters have a different internal size diameter (not taking into account the smaller screen with the smaller opening)
 
The version on the right, with the white screen/smaller opening, has a wider diameter with a focus on lows/mids.
The version on the left, has a slightly narrower diameter with a focus on highs.

Maybe Astrotec should um.... label them with a dot marking or alike. As it's not very self explanatory.

You'll have owners running around with one of each filter on either side, bassing out to the left trebling out to the right.

Must. Keep. Balance. 

 

[Carlsan]

 

Maybe Astrotec should um.... label them with a dot marking or alike. As it's not very self explanatory.

You'll have owners running around with one of each filter on either side, passing out to the left trebling out to the right.

Must. Keep. Balance. 

And saying
"Bloody hell, what's the matter with these things!"  or worse

 

[White Lotus]

audiophile-basshead such as myself (yes, I made that up, but I believe it just the same>>> audiophile-basshead)...lol

 

Audiophile bassheads exist! We unite in the basshead club thread. BE PROUD OF YOUR TASTES.
 

  Maybe Astrotec should um.... label them with a dot marking or alike. As it's not very self explanatory.

 
Yup - couldn't agree more. This kind of confusion is very easily avoided. 
 

  And saying
"Bloody hell, what's the matter with these things!"  or worse 

 
Or worse - some idiot like me could post close-up photos on the internet of the filters 

 (my bad!)
 

  Let's not jump to any conclusions yet guys.  On initial inspection of the images, all 4 filters appear to be the same, but we can only confirm this when we get them back to check.

 
Good idea. If I try some other filters, I'll add my impressions of them to the review. Thanks, mate!

 

[billymav]

I also think the confusion might stem from the tour model having all the same, or maybe even 3 the same and one different.
 
I have been using the AX60 for over 2 months now, and its not that hard to know which is which.

 

[zlorena]

Hey ericp10!I've seen you have tested the Cardas EM5813..Do those and the ax60 can be comparable?which one do you prefer?

 

[ericp10]

  Hey ericp10!I've seen you have tested the Cardas EM5813..Do those and the ax60 can be comparable?which one do you prefer?

 
 
Can't really compare them. They're so different. I can just say the AX-60 is more mainstream. I probably like them the same for different reasons.

 

[third_eye]

   
 
Can't really compare them. They're so different. I can just say the AX-60 is more mainstream. I probably like them the same for different reasons.

How about AX-60 vs M200?

 

[ericp10]

 
How about AX-60 vs M200?

 
 
The M200 is the most refined earphone I've heard for under $300. And it's one of the best I've all the way up to the $400 range. Sound quality-wise, it's more refined than the AX-60, but the Astrotec has thicker notes (by a little bit). Bass is more in the AX-60, but the M200 bass can be massive. The M200's sound is airier. 
 
It's tough, personally, to decide which I like better, but it's easier to compare these two than the AX-60 and the Cardas. I would say I personally prefer the M200's sound but with a caveat. You have to really play around with the M200 to get it in the right position in your ear to hear it at its best. Not so much (if at all) with the AX-60. Quite a few people have reported not being able to get a proper fit and seal at all with the M200. I can, but it's a bit of a struggle. So base on fit issues, the AX-60 wins. But if we're going strictly on sound (both fitting perfectly), I give the edge to the M200. The AX-60 is right there but I like the M200 more. If the M200 fit me like the AX-60, the M200 would win hands down.  I still think, however, that the AX-60 slams the DN-1K and the H-200 (although I like the DN-1K quite a bit). 

 

[third_eye]

   
 
The M200 is the most refined earphone I've heard for under $300. And it's one of the best I've all the way up to the $400 range. Sound quality-wise, it's more refined than the AX-60, but the Astrotec has thicker notes (by a little bit). Bass is more in the AX-60, but the M200 bass can be massive. The M200's sound is airier. 
 
It's tough, personally, to decide which I like better, but it's easier to compare these two than the AX-60 and the Cardas. I would say I personally prefer the M200's sound but with a caveat. You have to really play around with the M200 to get it in the right position in your ear to hear it at its best. Not so much (if at all) with the AX-60. Quite a few people have reported not being able to get a proper fit and seal at all with the M200. I can, but it's a bit of a struggle. So base on fit issues, the AX-60 wins. But if we're going strictly on sound (both fitting perfectly), I give the edge to the M200. The AX-60 is right there but I like the M200 more. If the M200 fit me like the AX-60, the M200 would win hands down.  I still think, however, that the AX-60 slams the DN-1K and the H-200 (although I like the DN-1K quite a bit). 

 
Thank you sir, super helpful! I will give the M200 a shot and hope I can get a good fit.