Seeing as how it’s been a week, I figured I’d drop an updated impression of the HI-X55 (even though no one has asked
)!
I’ve used these now to listen to a lot of different music. I’ve also used them for studio monitoring purposes. I standby with pretty much everything I’ve said. Very comfortable, very detailed, great sound stage. There’s a reason why so many audio professionals have written positive things about these headphones. With the detail retrieval and sound stage, I was able to really hone in on some reverb settings for my vocalists. I wouldn’t use them to mix/master an entire track/session, but if I need to pinpoint something specific - these are my go-to’s.
In terms of pleasure listening, I would probably re-emphasize that these are really going to make instrumental tracks shine. I’m listening to Shostakovich’s Gadfly Suite, some Miles Davis, etc. with these and my iFi hip DAC (high gain and XBass on) and my Sony ZX507 as a source and I’m in audio heaven. I’ll listen to the same stuff and compare with my Z7M2s or DT770s or HD6XXs (nice diverse array there) and they all bring something unique to the table, but something about the HI-X55s makes them very personally engaging. Typically, when I listen to classical music, I’m listening to it as background music while working or cleaning or, if you can believe it, in the gym. Listening with the HI-X55s makes me want to sit down and really listen to it. I love it.
These also some of the most polarizing headphones though, to my ears at least. I can have an amazing listen for classical music, but then play something by Blanco White or Twenty One Pilots or Bears Den (basically anything with vocals) and hate it. The HI-X55s are just not very kind to vocal performances - the mid peak (I think) sucks a lot of the natural tonality so vocalists way too analytical and, depending on the type of vocalist, sort of tinny. It gets better with a smoother source, but it’s not great.
All in all, would recommend for any classical fan. Would exercise caution for anyone who likes powerful vocal performance.
Also, I wouldn’t bother trying the Audio Technical ATH series cord. I ordered 3 from 3 different companies and none worked. I said previously that the coiled one made by Audio Technica worked, but upon removing it from the housing, I found that it had actually cracked it. So.... maybe stick with the Austrian Audio cable or try the previously mentioned HD6 cable?