robm321
Headphoneus Supremus
- Joined
- Jan 12, 2006
- Posts
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I'd say the review is spot on.
Most us using balanced cables with full size cans don't think the cable improves SQ either, the doubled powered per channel certainly does for hungry transducers though (planar the main culprits).
For the particular headphones in this thread I wouldn't really expect there to be much benefit.
Oh hell. You only live once. I went with the open backed el8.
Since the PM3s are planar, would this not help out on a balanced amp(such as the HA1) x4 output balanced versus SE?
the PM3s are extremely easy to drive.
people who say balanced topology doesn't make a difference mean that a well-balanced audibly transparent single-ended amplifier will sound the same as a balanced audibly transparent balanced amplifier assuming that both amplifiers adequately drive the headphones. they mean that a good amplifier will sound good regardless & just because an amplifier is balanced doesn't mean it will sound superior to an unbalanced amplifier.
ymmv.
If you only live once, What's the matter with the Stax 009??
The paradox here is that if I bought the stax, then my wife would kill me. Then, if she eventually remarried , some other ahole would be enjoying them
I just got the el8 in yesterday. Have not had a chance to listen. Will post back once I have had some time with them.
the PM3s are extremely easy to drive.
people who say balanced topology doesn't make a difference mean that a well-balanced audibly transparent single-ended amplifier will sound the same as a balanced audibly transparent balanced amplifier assuming that both amplifiers adequately drive the headphones. they mean that a good amplifier will sound good regardless & just because an amplifier is balanced doesn't mean it will sound superior to an unbalanced amplifier.
ymmv.
subbed. I enjoy my PM-3's but I was missing that bass slam I am accustomed to from my LCD2.1 and TH900. Much appreciate you taking the time to post this. Do you happen to have the LCD-X or XC?
I have LCD-X. I got it because people are saying it has better bass than LCD-3. I never owned a LCD-3. So, I can't tell which one has beeter bass, but it doesn't give me the bass I want, even with Clear-Bass on my Sony ZX-2 EQ is all the way up to 10. Not a boomy bass, may be just a tight bass. With Sony MDR-1R, I just need to raise to 4 or 5.
you are looking for bass-emphasizing headphones. when people talk about better bass here, they generally mean bass quality not quantity/amount. The MDR-1R has a significant mid-bass boost to its frequency response range. if you cannot adjust to the amount of bass present on the LCD-X and find you do prefer a bass boosted frequency response, you stop looking at $500+ headphones. There are many $300ish or less quality headphones with a good bass boost. My first recommendation for you would be the V-Moda M100. It has a good amount of bass boost while maintaining decent bass quality. You can even look into the V-Moda LP (sub-$100 if you want more bass quantity over bass quality).
edit: only expensive headphones that I am aware of with a significant bass boost would be the Ultrasone Pro DJ at $1k and the Fostex TH900 at ~$1.5k. However, they are both tuned to more in-line with 'audiophile'-tastes (people who want a flatter frequency response), so I think it would be wiser for you to just stick in the $300 price range for now.
Isn't M100 a closed back headphone? TH900 is also a closed back. I have Sony MDR-1R (which is not a highend but small enough for me) already as closed back option. I use LCD-X at a place where I can lean lean back because it is so damn heavy. I am looking for a light weight open back with deep bass.