Still burning in these TD150s, but back to Tel Aviv, and I can listen on my Lehmann Rhinelander and HRT HD w/Chord interconnects. I will do a couple of unscientific tests, which unsurprisingly confirm what I've already learned about these phones.
Test #1: The sound is definitely more balanced than my DT990 pros. A quick comparison with some roots reggae from the late 1970s shows mids a bit more forward and highs tamed, but perhaps not quite as much as I would have thought. The highs are very clear and crisp, without being in quite as in your face. It is interesting because the high-hats were so hot with the DT990s that I didn't hear a whole layer of percussion right under that. Now with the 150s I hear a wooden stick hitting a cow-bell of sorts, and I can clearly make out the different types of high percussion, which of course is one of the things that makes acoustic reggae from that period so interesting. I imagine the same would go for good Motown recordings and large ensemble jazz, salsa, etc....
Yet, I would say, at least with this set up, the mids and highs are still a bit dry on this relatively bright recording. I actually don't find this to be a dark set up in the least, and actually wouldn't mind it to be a bit darker...
When I move over to some mid-sized ensemble classical, I find I need to turn the volume up a bit, and still the highs are quite tamed. (I think most recent classical recordings are actually quite careful not to overcook the highs.) ...Wow, so smooth for classical. I find myself just turning the volume up and up.
I will have to do a lot more listening to be able to say something coherent about the bass. I find the bass to be there, and full of body, without too much impact. At the moment I wouldn't say it was tight, though. It could be the recordings, or it could be my set up. The Lehmann is supposed to be a punchy amp, but I always thought it had less bass impact than my Schiit Magni, despite being five times as expensive. (Obviously, more $ doesn't mean more bass). I could be the relatively low current the Rhinelander puts out (+/-100mw at 250ohm, versus a lot more for the Schiit Magni).
Also, two nice things: one the isolation. They're building near my house and I don't hear that at all. Also I have A/C on (yes, compared to DC it's hot), and I don't hear a thing.
The other thing is at the moment I like the long cord. It's a bit tangly, but it means I can literally get up and make myself coffee without unplugging.... Cool
Test #2: From 1990s Dennon CD player to Onkyo Vintage receiver from 1974, listening to the Tel Aviv Session of the Toure-Reichel Collective and am very impressed. The bass is really strong, but the mids and highs come through so well. Again, wooden percussion at the high end I didn't hear previously are not masked by the metal highs of cymbals. The acoustic guitar on this album is still a bit more tinny than I would like, but I've come to the conclusion that Israelis just don't know how to record acoustic guitar like they do in Nashville. That said the guitar is where it is supposed to be in the mix, not way in the back as it was with the DT990 pros.
Here, I find that I can actually turn the volume way down and still hear everything in the mix. One of the things I dislike about the 990Pros, which otherwise are a good value headphone, is that when you turn up the volume you are either killed by the bass or treble, or both...The mids are there, but they're not loud enough. With the 150s, you can really hear pianos, guitars, and vocals right there on the same volume level as the high and low ends, so there's no need to turn the volume up to ear-splitting levels.
Going back to the original Reggae recording of the session, I find the sound to be a bit better on the CD-Receiver combo. It's not quite as sharp and detailed, but it's a bit more relaxed and easy to listen to. Though some people claim receiver HP jacks create bloat, I don't find that in this case. Or, perhaps, these phones handle bloaty sources well.
Also, again, the long cord means I can plug into my receiver and actually sit in a comfy chair, rather than squat on the floor or stand like a dork next to the home stereo.
Edit: Test #3, listening to rock (well, Neil Young, 1971 Massey Hall) through the HRT HD and Lehmann and I think my ears are less stressed out from 14 hours of flying. The sound is amazing. It's not quite as perky and biting as a grado, but the speed is great and the acoustic guitar has body and weight. Also Neil Young sounds good, still completely different than he does these days, but the voice is nice. It's a bit sibilant, but that's probably because it's an MP3 or the recording was just that way to begin with; the highs aren't annoying but they are present. I feel that the emotional energy is there, and yet, I can sit back and chose whether or not I feel like analyzing how it sounds.
Also, I compared A/B briefly, and I realize my integrated receiver is not as clean as the Lehmann. Also, for classical it does bloat the bass a bit, making it a tiny bit unrealistic. So I'm back to the DAC/HP Amp combo for now.
Also, Test #4, I hooked up my Fiio E10 to a Schiit Magni at the office and it sounds fine. Not crazy amazing, but listenable for enjoyment or for work, where I have to listen to carefully to certain things. (For sheer energetic music pleasure, the Lehmann/HRT HD is definitely better, with more energetic transients and micro-detail, but not exponentially way better.)
