Insatiable One
100+ Head-Fier
- Joined
- Jul 19, 2014
- Posts
- 141
- Likes
- 20
I cannot hear a difference AT ALL between my DX90 and my iPod Nano 7th Gen, iPod Classic 5th Gen, and computer. I was shocked to find myself unable to tell the difference when my little brother did a blind test on me with Audio Technica ATH-M50 being plugged into a speaker with a headphone out. I was even more shocked to find that when I did the same blind test on him, he was able to tell me the DX90 sounded better without knowing which was which! He is 10 years old and I am playing songs from the HDTracks 2014 Free Samples. I would have him turn around and I would play music with the M50 connected to the cheap speakers, unplug it and then play the same file from my DX90. 9 out of 10 times, he was able to guess which one was the DX90 by telling me which one sounded better. He would describe the better sound coming from the DX90 as clearer and brighter and that the computer audio was a little muffled and dull in comparison to the DX90. In his words, the computer was 95% while the DX90 was the full 100% and that the difference was clear but small. I am not sure whether to be disappointed in the DX90 or worried about my hearing. I was not able to distinguish between the two AT ALL. I am really worried that my hearing is bad because a lot of people here on Head Fi say great things about the DX90 and all the ways that it is better than other players but I can't hear the difference and my little brother can. I need help to figure this out quick because I need to return it before 30 days have passed, and I've had it for a week. Is it me who has a problem? I usually listen to my iPod Nano and iPhone at 3/4 of the way full. Do I have poor hearing? Another big concern for me it that I am really interested in higher end audio, but should I even buy any Hi-Fi equipment at all if I cannot even hear the difference to be able to distinguish between a $400 iBasso DX90 and some $80 Sony speakers that were included with my old desktop that I actually no longer have. I was looking to buy a HiFiMAN HE-500 because as a student I cannot afford the HiFiMAN HE-560. But my inability to hear the difference makes me feel like my interest in audio is wasted.