[rdnkjdi2]

I had a PX8 for 3 weeks & it quit charging. Returned & got another from Amazon. After putting listening to my ATH-W1000X for the last few weeks, the PX8 sounds so much worse & I don't know why.

 

[Denkmal]

I had a PX8 for 3 weeks & it quit charging. Returned & got another from Amazon. After putting listening to my ATH-W1000X for the last few weeks, the PX8 sounds so much worse & I don't know why.

Maybe because they have competent different sound signature. Brain burn in is a thing. I love my PX8 but after spending a full day with more technical headphones (just got the Hifiman Arya Stealth), they sure sound bloated and muddy in comparison. Until I remember that they are a match made in heaven for female vocals, 70s rock and music sounds awesome on these. It is not a correct or neutral headphone. It is a musical headphone with lots of soul.

 

[Jazzophile]

Maybe because they have competent different sound signature. Brain burn in is a thing. I love my PX8 but after spending a full day with more technical headphones (just got the Hifiman Arya Stealth), they sure sound bloated and muddy in comparison. Until I remember that they are a match made in heaven for female vocals, 70s rock and music sounds awesome on these. It is not a correct or neutral headphone. It is a musical headphone with lots of soul.

And one that is voiced far from neutral or accurate. Heavily bloated deep and midbass that bleeds into the mids.

 

[jthomp72]

And one that is voiced far from neutral or accurate. Heavily bloated deep and midbass that bleeds into the mids.

Depends on what you like. Some people are into that signature and find it warm and pleasing. Don't yuck someone else's yum lol

 

[Jazzophile]

Depends on what you like. Some people are into that signature and find it warm and pleasing. Don't yuck someone else's yum lol

Fair.

I find them nearly unlistenable unless I back down the bass slider to -3.5. Then they sound pretty good. They are beautifully crafted and very comfy.

Definitely not stepping on others' enjoyment of them though. Many here like their factory voicing. It's just not neutral and is far from it.

 

[Womaz]

Maybe because they have competent different sound signature. Brain burn in is a thing. I love my PX8 but after spending a full day with more technical headphones (just got the Hifiman Arya Stealth), they sure sound bloated and muddy in comparison. Until I remember that they are a match made in heaven for female vocals, 70s rock and music sounds awesome on these. It is not a correct

Totally agree with this.

 

[jthomp72]

Fair.

I find them nearly unlistenable unless I back down the bass slider to -3.5. Then they sound pretty good. They are beautifully crafted and very comfy.

My conclusion is that people absolutely have differing tolerances to bass. Some people can't get enough some people hate it. Treble is mostly the same. Everyone has different tolerances and fatigue to frequencies.

 

[Womaz]

I am a bass lover but have to tone it down by a few decibles on the PX8, also the treble gets a little boost too. But they are fun!!

 

[Jazzophile]

My conclusion is that people absolutely have differing tolerances to bass. Some people can't get enough some people hate it. Treble is mostly the same. Everyone has different tolerances and fatigue to frequencies.

Agreed.

Lately I'm playing with the Denon Perl Pro in-ear buds.

They are pretty amazing compared to all of the other headphones / in-ear buds and software based adjustments I've tried. They take a read of your ear with software and sounds, and then create a frequency curve that is personalized for each ear. I am pretty amazed at how good these little buds sound....like good over the ear cans but in your ear. I wish the PX8 / B&W offered something similar. The simplicity of the bass and treble sliders is not enough.

The software takes measurements of each ear and shows which frequencies each ear is most sensitive to, and gives a graphic readout as such. I do not know how if at all Denon measures for hearing loss as part of these curves. Each attempt at measuring gives a bit of a different result but after a while you can pick from the best and keep that one. Fascinating.

 

[KopaneDePooj]

Definitely not stepping on others' enjoyment of them though.

(Cough) yes you are...
If I'd have 10 bucks for how many times you've told us that the bass is bloated and you dial back 3.5 db, I'd buy the new "PX8 Durable Headband Edition" I don't understand why you repurchased it if you find it such a flawed product.

I think everyone agrees that the PX8 is not and it's not trying to be a neutral headphone. It is also far from a basshead headphone. Most of us enjoy it exactly the way it is tunned.

I think it depends on what everyone's hearing perceives as "neutral"

For example many years ago I bought the Oppo PM3 portable closed back planar headphones, based on reviews alone which praised them a lot.
I have returned them the next day. For me they had no soul. The much praised "bass not bleeding into mids" tuning sounded off and disjointed to me. As something was missing in that range. I need "meat" and warmth in the vocals. That is "neutral" to my ears and brain. Hearing the vocals as in real life, not thin or nasal sounding. So to me the Px8 IS neutral because I don't need to touch the EQ, although technically it isn't.

 

[Jazzophile]

(Cough) yes you are...
If I'd have 10 bucks for how many times you've told us that the bass is bloated and you dial back 3.5 db, I'd buy the new "PX8 Durable Headband Edition" I don't understand why you repurchased it if you find it such a flawed product.

I think everyone agrees that the PX8 is not and it's not trying to be a neutral headphone. It is also far from a basshead headphone. Most of us enjoy it exactly the way it is tunned.

I think it depends on what everyone's hearing perceives as "neutral"

For example many years ago I bought the Oppo PM3 portable closed back planar headphones, based on reviews alone which praised them a lot.
I have returned them the next day. For me they had no soul. The much praised "bass not bleeding into mids" tuning sounded off and disjointed to me. As something was missing in that range. I need "meat" and warmth in the vocals. That is "neutral" to my ears and brain. Hearing the vocals as in real life, not thin or nasal sounding. So to me the Px8 IS neutral because I don't need to touch the EQ, although technically it isn't.

I hear you but don't begrudge others for liking a sound I don't. But I also don't really understand it.

I sent the first set back because I was stuck on not EQ'ing them, and re-purchased a second set because I got a great deal on refurbs and wanted to try them again. And I've also experienced with these and other headphones that upon a second go round, I sometimes like them more. With the PX8, my second go round included me experimenting with EQ, which I normally won't and don't. And they do sound quite good with the bass EQ down.

I also happen to own the OPPO PM3 headphone. Listened to it last week for a day or two after a long spell not using them. I like them quite a lot except for the shoddy headband and earpads that have worn away and require replacement. Sound wise, to me they are far more neutral and accurate out of the box than the PX8, but again that's a matter of opinion.

But I will take your point about my opinion about the bass and keep it to myself going forward.

 

[jthomp72]

I hear you but don't begrudge others for liking a sound I don't. But I also don't really understand it.

I sent the first set back because I was stuck on not EQ'ing them, and re-purchased a second set because I got a great deal on refurbs and wanted to try them again. And I've also experienced with these and other headphones that upon a second go round, I sometimes like them more. With the PX8, my second go round included me experimenting with EQ, which I normally won't and don't. And they do sound quite good with the bass EQ down.

I also happen to own the OPPO PM3 headphone. Listened to it last week for a day or two after a long spell not using them. I like them quite a lot except for the shoddy headband and earpads that have worn away and require replacement. Sound wise, to me they are far more neutral and accurate out of the box than the PX8, but again that's a matter of opinion.

But I will take your point about my opinion about the bass and keep it to myself going forward.

I don't think keeping it to yourself is what any of us mean lol you are allowed to have a valid opinion because all opinions are valid. I think sometimes people get sideways on this forum in particular in thinking that your opinion is the correct opinion and that if someone doesn't like it the way you like it sound wise that it is wrong and/or incorrect. That's what I think people take exception to.

 

[Jazzophile]

I don't think keeping it to yourself is what any of us mean lol you are allowed to have a valid opinion because all opinions are valid. I think sometimes people get sideways on this forum in particular in thinking that your opinion is the correct opinion and that if someone doesn't like it the way you like it sound wise that it is wrong and/or incorrect. That's what I think people take exception to.

Fair and agreed.

I don't look down on others for liking the out of the box tuning, I just don't understand it. I have two ears and one brain and a stupidly large collection of headphones and in-ear wired and bluetooth buds that tell me a lot about sound.

There are millions of others out there and each has another opinion.

 

[jthomp72]

Fair and agreed.

I don't look down on others for liking the out of the box tuning, I just don't understand it. I have two ears and one brain and a stupidly large collection of headphones and in-ear wired and bluetooth buds that tell me a lot about sound.

There are millions of others out there and each has another opinion.

I think what's different is you appear to think that sound is objective and that there is a right and wrong answer where a lot of people here think sound is subjective and that there is no wrong answer and it doesn't matter as long as you like it

 

[Jazzophile]

I think what's different is you appear to think that sound is objective and that there is a right and wrong answer where a lot of people here think sound is subjective and that there is no wrong answer and it doesn't matter as long as you like it

There is some truth to your statement. I don't think I'm the only one here who has some of that thought process. There are some objective standards in sound and sound quality. If there weren't, we wouldn't use curves such as the Harman Curve.