drifter74
New Head-Fier
So I guess good things do come to those who wait.
After ordering a set of these in November last year, they finally arrived - I am located at the most southern tip of Africa. My bank manager has tears in his eyes.
First impressions:
- Proper open back, there is just nothing that stops external sounds. It feels like there is nothing actually covering your ears. You hear every single ambient sound.
- Surprisingly light (just over 400g) when compared to some of Audeze's other monsters that can tip the scale at 700g.
- Build quality is as one would expect very good. They feel sturdy and well put together.
- The matt carbon headband is stunning.
- I was a bit nervous about comfort. These have the larger headband and I am relieved to say that they feel like my Beyer DT770Pro's. You forget you have them on. I have a big head and clamping force is medium to low. The headband is thinner that the standard Audeze suspension band and it took a few minutes to find a good resting point for it on my large head.
- The new slanted ear pads is a winner. There is much less pressure on your cheeks and the area around your ears.
- I don't care much for the standard braided cable. I need to compare it to my Hart and Toxic cables for sound but the actual design is not my bag.
- Not that easy to drive considering the 14 ohm impedance.
So how do they sound, initial thoughts are:
- Redefines the term "fast bass". I have never heard a double bass sound as good. Bass notes start and stop on a pin. Best I have ever heard from any speaker or headphone full stop.
- Very very accurate soundstage, pinpoint placement. Not HD800 wide, but extended and offers plenty of hight and depth.
- Extended treble, but never sharp.
- Insight provided into the recording is remarkable.
The un-EQ'd sound is very similar to the voicing of my main hifi (Devialet 440PRO + Vivid Audio B1 Decades), pretty neutral. Comparing these to the LCD2 Classic closed backs is quite funny. They are just so different that it is difficult to think that they come from the same marques.
Comfort really is excellent.
After ordering a set of these in November last year, they finally arrived - I am located at the most southern tip of Africa. My bank manager has tears in his eyes.
First impressions:
- Proper open back, there is just nothing that stops external sounds. It feels like there is nothing actually covering your ears. You hear every single ambient sound.
- Surprisingly light (just over 400g) when compared to some of Audeze's other monsters that can tip the scale at 700g.
- Build quality is as one would expect very good. They feel sturdy and well put together.
- The matt carbon headband is stunning.
- I was a bit nervous about comfort. These have the larger headband and I am relieved to say that they feel like my Beyer DT770Pro's. You forget you have them on. I have a big head and clamping force is medium to low. The headband is thinner that the standard Audeze suspension band and it took a few minutes to find a good resting point for it on my large head.
- The new slanted ear pads is a winner. There is much less pressure on your cheeks and the area around your ears.
- I don't care much for the standard braided cable. I need to compare it to my Hart and Toxic cables for sound but the actual design is not my bag.
- Not that easy to drive considering the 14 ohm impedance.
So how do they sound, initial thoughts are:
- Redefines the term "fast bass". I have never heard a double bass sound as good. Bass notes start and stop on a pin. Best I have ever heard from any speaker or headphone full stop.
- Very very accurate soundstage, pinpoint placement. Not HD800 wide, but extended and offers plenty of hight and depth.
- Extended treble, but never sharp.
- Insight provided into the recording is remarkable.
The un-EQ'd sound is very similar to the voicing of my main hifi (Devialet 440PRO + Vivid Audio B1 Decades), pretty neutral. Comparing these to the LCD2 Classic closed backs is quite funny. They are just so different that it is difficult to think that they come from the same marques.
Comfort really is excellent.
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