[Heldaeus]

In terms of sound quality well, here's the thing, I only own one other headphone (I'm very new to Hi-Fi). Well, two others but the Bose QC 35 isn't very good at giving me an idea of what a headphone is supposed to sound like. I don't like anything about it other than the noise cancellation and comfort. Point is that I haven't listened to enough headphones or speakers to know really how good the Planar is in a quantifiable sense so, my impressions are going to be more "feeling" oriented.

I did hang out with @trellus for several hours a few days ago and he was kind enough to let me listen to a lot of his equipment (though I barely scratched the surface) and every time I listened to one of his headphones I kept feeling like I was missing out on something and putting the Planar back on was the solution to that problem.

I really enjoy my M1060s but I haven't felt compelled to listen to them since I've started using the Planar. Yes, we could chalk that up to me having a new toy that I'm obsessed with but I even find myself wanting to listen to YouTube videos with them. That is not really normal for me.

The sound is smooth and clear. I like to use the word "diverse" to describe what I'm hearing. I would say that diverse sound is a result of a lack of a veil.

Another point I'd like to make is the sound-stage and imaging. Not very wide but it's definitely open. Other people have already described the SS pretty well but I'd like to contribute with this: I never feel like I'm listening to the drivers themselves. I mean this as in the experience is more than just left/right while still being intimate.

 

[Heldaeus]

OH YEAH, not to mention that yes, my unit does have the bump in the middle of the headband and sometimes it does create a hotspot.

 

[KCXT]

OH YEAH, not to mention that yes, my unit does have the bump in the middle of the headband and sometimes it does create a hotspot.

Seems an odd design choice. Not sure why there wouldn't be some more padding at these spots.

 

[Heldaeus]

Seems an odd design choice. Not sure why there wouldn't be some more padding at these spots.

I'm thinking of modding the headband and wiring the way @SethMB said it could be done.

 

[Mink]

These Avantones rival or may well beat the HD650s in naturalness with vocals.
Besides that I have listened to more classical music recordings and there appears to a similar thing I generally have with my other headphones, some recordings sound worse than I am/was used to where others sound better. Smaller scaled classical music, chamber music and Baroque sound excellent.
And those recordings that sound slightly off in comparison with my X3s and HD650 could be because the Planars are more transparent? or it may well be because I don't play them with the recommended power? They have a minimum requirement of 100mW, but the recommended power is 250mW. My humble Teac UD-301 doesn't have a power output of 250mW. Still, I highly doubt lack of power is the issue. I have no issues with lack of dynamics, a slow and woolly bass nor a distorted bass at higher listening levels or shrillness in the highs. So I think the greater clarity, transparency or maybe their neutrality play a part. Or is it just the typical planar sound I still have to get used to?
Who knows. I will find out eventually

 

[Heldaeus]

These Avantones rival or may well beat the HD650s in naturalness with vocals.
Besides that I have listened to more classical music recordings and there appears to a similar thing I generally have with my other headphones, some recordings sound worse than I am/was used to where others sound better. Smaller scaled classical music, chamber music and Baroque sound excellent.
And those recordings that sound slightly off in comparison with my X3s and HD650 could be because the Planars are more transparent? or it may well be because I don't play them with the recommended power? They have a minimum requirement of 100mW, but the recommended power is 250mW. My humble Teac UD-301 doesn't have a power output of 250mW. Still, I highly doubt lack of power is the issue. I have no issues with lack of dynamics, a slow and woolly bass nor a distorted bass at higher listening levels or shrillness in the highs. So I think the greater clarity, transparency or maybe their neutrality play a part. Or is it just the typical planar sound I still have to get used to?
Who knows. I will find out eventually

I think it is transparency because I'm experiencing similar things with my pair.

 

[Mink]

Well sound stage wise these Avantones definitely are a step up over the HD650s. And apparantly without any recess in the mids. They don't have this strong left-right seperation, It is a nice rounded sound scape, similar to the NightHawks and Owls.
Very non-fatiguing with pop. Generally non-fatiguing with classical, but because they don't have this 1K dip the Fidelio X3s and the NightHawks have (the NightHawks less so), they can sound more fatiguing then those pairs. The bizarre thing is, that controversial pair of headphones that many people consider to be bright and sibilant (although most of those people never actually auditioned them) happens to be the most non-fatiguing with the majority of large orchestral, string-heavy music: the Fidelio X3s

 

[Mink]

I will have to note, objectively the looks of this headphone are of course completely ridiculous.
Retro? Yes. Retro cool? Nope, definitely not! They are dorky and nerdy. They fit my personality perfectly, so in that sense they are uber cool

 

[HardstyleLoco96]

In terms of sound quality well, here's the thing, I only own one other headphone (I'm very new to Hi-Fi). Well, two others but the Bose QC 35 isn't very good at giving me an idea of what a headphone is supposed to sound like. I don't like anything about it other than the noise cancellation and comfort. Point is that I haven't listened to enough headphones or speakers to know really how good the Planar is in a quantifiable sense so, my impressions are going to be more "feeling" oriented.

I did hang out with @trellus for several hours a few days ago and he was kind enough to let me listen to a lot of his equipment (though I barely scratched the surface) and every time I listened to one of his headphones I kept feeling like I was missing out on something and putting the Planar back on was the solution to that problem.

I really enjoy my M1060s but I haven't felt compelled to listen to them since I've started using the Planar. Yes, we could chalk that up to me having a new toy that I'm obsessed with but I even find myself wanting to listen to YouTube videos with them. That is not really normal for me.

The sound is smooth and clear. I like to use the word "diverse" to describe what I'm hearing. I would say that diverse sound is a result of a lack of a veil.

Another point I'd like to make is the sound-stage and imaging. Not very wide but it's definitely open. Other people have already described the SS pretty well but I'd like to contribute with this: I never feel like I'm listening to the drivers themselves. I mean this as in the experience is more than just left/right while still being intimate.

It's because you are hearing very close to what the recording is. This happens a lot, especially when you own iems or headphones that arent true neutral. The thing about the Planar is, it is very neutral, we all have become used to non neutral gear, so the Planar at times might sound dark, or very smooth. But once you become used to that "neutral tonality" everything else will sound strange and missing that "neutrality". You know why? Because that treble is elevated, oh mids or more back.... Oh, those mids are very forward, but the treble is tamed, oh that bass is enhanced but the mids and treble are a bit in the background. A neutral, especially when it's a beautifully tuned neutral headphone spoils you. The Avantone Planar and in some ways, Hifiman Arya have done that to me. When mids are dipped, that usually creates a sense of wider soundstage. But that isn't true to what you should be hearing. When mids are forward, it closes the soundstage and makes it more intimate. Sometimes you can get massive soundstage... HD800/HD800s but that sounds artificial sometimes, not natural. The Avantone will give you what the recording has to offer. If there is a lot of detail, it will give you heaps. If there is a wide soundstage in the recording, it will give that sense of that wide soundstage. It won't add enhanced bass, mids or treble. In simple ways, you are hearing what your music is giving you. Yes there may be some slight coloration from the Avantone Planar in some sort of way, but so so soooo much less then any other headphone I have heard. Trust me. The Planars wil seriously grow on you. Give it two weeks of listening, then go back to all your other headphones. Some might sound more funner/exciting. Some may sound more mid forward... And some more bass or treble forward. But those headphones will not sound whole again like the Planars do . You got TOTL tuning in the Planars

 

[HardstyleLoco96]

These Avantones rival or may well beat the HD650s in naturalness with vocals.
Besides that I have listened to more classical music recordings and there appears to a similar thing I generally have with my other headphones, some recordings sound worse than I am/was used to where others sound better. Smaller scaled classical music, chamber music and Baroque sound excellent.
And those recordings that sound slightly off in comparison with my X3s and HD650 could be because the Planars are more transparent? or it may well be because I don't play them with the recommended power? They have a minimum requirement of 100mW, but the recommended power is 250mW. My humble Teac UD-301 doesn't have a power output of 250mW. Still, I highly doubt lack of power is the issue. I have no issues with lack of dynamics, a slow and woolly bass nor a distorted bass at higher listening levels or shrillness in the highs. So I think the greater clarity, transparency or maybe their neutrality play a part. Or is it just the typical planar sound I still have to get used to?
Who knows. I will find out eventually

Try getting 500 mw or more to be safe . The low end will dig deeper and have more slam. Dynamics and transients will become faster. And the sound will feel more open and transparent. I use nothing less than 500 Mw on the Planar. 250mw may be enough, but the more juice you give the Planars, the more they scale.

 

[Heldaeus]

Try getting 500 mw or more to be safe . The low end will dig deeper and have more slam. Dynamics and transients will become faster. And the sound will feel more open and transparent. I use nothing less than 500 Mw on the Planar. 250mw may be enough, but the more juice you give the Planars, the more they scale.

I wonder what the Planar would sound like on the Magnius using the balanced HP out.

 

[HardstyleLoco96]

I wonder what the Planar would sound like on the Magnius using the balanced HP out.

I have no clue. But out of my SMSL M500 V2. It's one of the best headphones I have heard so far. The prensation really reminds me of the Arya but more neutral

 

[FullBright1]

I will have to note, objectively the looks of this headphone are of course completely ridiculous.
Retro? Yes. Retro cool? Nope, definitely not! They are dorky and nerdy. They fit my personality perfectly, so in that sense they are uber cool

Yes : they are indeed 1950's Czechoslovakian Sophistication regarding their build and aesthetic value.
However, they sound so good that its nearly impossible to believe that so little money can buy you such great sound.

We are all taught by Marketing "specialist" that more money is how you buy better sound, and in some cases, this is true.
But in the case of the Avantone's........just buy them Reader, and use everything else, and then come home to their sweet analog sound.
I'd say that they rank as the other "HD600" in terms of lasting sonic value provided for your money.

Recently, 3 Grt inexpensive HDPhns have hit the ground running.

1. Avantone's
2. Philips Fidelio X3
3. Sennheiser HD560S

These 3 will hang with your best..
As a matter of fact, they will provide the ultra gateway for the budding Audoiphile, and will provide a ton of satisfaction to the person who has everything, and has tried everything.
You know who you are....
Its us..

 

[Dawnrazor]

I have no clue. But out of my SMSL M500 V2. It's one of the best headphones I have heard so far. The prensation really reminds me of the Arya but more neutral

off topic but I ordered what I think is your avatar. Got the edition 11 on the way to complement the Sig Pro

 

[Heldaeus]

I think I'm going to have to order a custom headband cover because the bump in the middle is preventing me from fully enjoying long listening sessions. I can't part with this sound.