The Third
100+ Head-Fier
Little update on how the Teak compares to the Zebra from memory.
On a side note I do want to say that I didn't listen to the Teak as long as the Zebra with the new SMSL-200 amp and Topping E30 combo, so the tonality improvements could still be due to me getting more familiar to my better gear and could have less to do with wood types. Never the less, I strongly suspect the Zebra wood having an even beter tonality than the Teak, or at least I prefer it. Between the Purpleheart, Zebra and the Teak so far I quite much prefer the Zebra wood. Again this could be because having paired the Zebra's longer to the newer gear. I will disassemble the Zebra wood later again from the E-MU's, and put the Teak wood on.
But I digress, the Zebra wood has this natural tonality in it's midrange that is a tad bit colder and more forward than the Teak. But it doesn't lose out on too much detail the Teak also has, though it does have a bit smaller soundstage. Essentially I find the Zebra wood has a lot of the best qualities of the Teak: it's tight, smooth and very detailed. Where things start to differ is that the Zebra has this more engaging and intimate signature that I really really like. It removes a bit of the laidback midrange and puts it more forward with it being ever so slightly colder. It rolls off the 10-20khz area earlier, and because of this the headphone is darker but not only that, gone is the slightly hot/spiky treble the Teak had in certain circumstance. This could be because the Teak is a less forgiving wood type, the Zebra definitely easier on compressed tracks at least. The highs are simply masterful here, they are the most natural highs I have listened to. Very smooth, impactfull and detailed. Bass volume, control, extension and impact relatively remains the same, though am quite sure the upper bass to lower mids are slightly raised here compared to the Teak. This adds the intimacy I believe. Lastly, it also closes in the soundstage, however to my ears the sound localisation is even better here. There is a stronger center image and I am quite sure I can pick out the layers within the soundscape better than the Teak.
Not trying to overhype the Zebra's compared to the Teak's just yet, because I again, will give the Teak's another round with the new gear and am sure to find surprises there too, but for now the Zebra's are the closest thing I have heard to a signature that is hard to criticise anything about, I am having a hard time finding a fault anywhere in the spectrum which in turn allows me to listen to them very loudly too with never reaching a point to where I feel a part of the frequency is bothering or fatiguing my ears.
On a side note I do want to say that I didn't listen to the Teak as long as the Zebra with the new SMSL-200 amp and Topping E30 combo, so the tonality improvements could still be due to me getting more familiar to my better gear and could have less to do with wood types. Never the less, I strongly suspect the Zebra wood having an even beter tonality than the Teak, or at least I prefer it. Between the Purpleheart, Zebra and the Teak so far I quite much prefer the Zebra wood. Again this could be because having paired the Zebra's longer to the newer gear. I will disassemble the Zebra wood later again from the E-MU's, and put the Teak wood on.
But I digress, the Zebra wood has this natural tonality in it's midrange that is a tad bit colder and more forward than the Teak. But it doesn't lose out on too much detail the Teak also has, though it does have a bit smaller soundstage. Essentially I find the Zebra wood has a lot of the best qualities of the Teak: it's tight, smooth and very detailed. Where things start to differ is that the Zebra has this more engaging and intimate signature that I really really like. It removes a bit of the laidback midrange and puts it more forward with it being ever so slightly colder. It rolls off the 10-20khz area earlier, and because of this the headphone is darker but not only that, gone is the slightly hot/spiky treble the Teak had in certain circumstance. This could be because the Teak is a less forgiving wood type, the Zebra definitely easier on compressed tracks at least. The highs are simply masterful here, they are the most natural highs I have listened to. Very smooth, impactfull and detailed. Bass volume, control, extension and impact relatively remains the same, though am quite sure the upper bass to lower mids are slightly raised here compared to the Teak. This adds the intimacy I believe. Lastly, it also closes in the soundstage, however to my ears the sound localisation is even better here. There is a stronger center image and I am quite sure I can pick out the layers within the soundscape better than the Teak.
Not trying to overhype the Zebra's compared to the Teak's just yet, because I again, will give the Teak's another round with the new gear and am sure to find surprises there too, but for now the Zebra's are the closest thing I have heard to a signature that is hard to criticise anything about, I am having a hard time finding a fault anywhere in the spectrum which in turn allows me to listen to them very loudly too with never reaching a point to where I feel a part of the frequency is bothering or fatiguing my ears.
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