[sexhero]

Hello,
 
A newbie here. I recently purchased DT 880, HD598 and Centrance Hifi-M8. Only DT 880 has arrived, the other two are on the way. I heard that DT 880 and HD598 are great for many genre, so my plan is to keep the one that I like and return the other one. 
 
At the same time, I am also looking for a basshead can that doesn't sound muddy. Both X1 and M-100 are on the wall of fame on innerfidelity, so I am sure either of them will be a great choice. The question is how X1 being open and M-100 being sealed will affect their sound quality. Soundstage is really important to me, so I think X1 will be better in that regard. However, I heard that a sealed can produces better bass tones.
 
How much better would M-100's bass sound than X1? How would X1's soundstage be better than M-100? They will be used in an office/home environment. I love R&B and rock. I enjoy hiphop and electronic.
 
Thanks!

 

[Me x3]

Hi,

If you finally pick DT880s, then you should consider DT770 80 Ohm version.

If you want powerful sub-bass (20-50hz) then open back headphones are not the way to go. If you want open back headphones with punchy mid-bass you should consider Yamaha HPH200.
My HPH200 have more mid bass impact vs. my Fidelios L1.

You could also read about Yamaha Pro 500 (Closed back headphones)

Best Luck!

 

[sexhero]

Thanks for your input! I know it's a dumb question, but what's sub bass? Would you say the lowest drum beats in typical R&B / hiphop songs are considered as sub bass? If not, could you provide some examples of sub bass...?

 

[Byrnie]

  Hello,
 
A newbie here. I recently purchased DT 880, HD598 and Centrance Hifi-M8. Only DT 880 has arrived, the other two are on the way. I heard that DT 880 and HD598 are great for many genre, so my plan is to keep the one that I like and return the other one. 
 
At the same time, I am also looking for a basshead can that doesn't sound muddy. Both X1 and M-100 are on the wall of fame on innerfidelity, so I am sure either of them will be a great choice. The question is how X1 being open and M-100 being sealed will affect their sound quality. Soundstage is really important to me, so I think X1 will be better in that regard. However, I heard that a sealed can produces better bass tones.
 
How much better would M-100's bass sound than X1? How would X1's soundstage be better than M-100? They will be used in an office/home environment. I love R&B and rock. I enjoy hiphop and electronic.
 
Thanks!

It's much deeper on the M-100.  Look at the frequency graphs of both (they graphs on inner fidelity), they can help tell a story of how these two headphones will sound.

 

[Me x3]

Thanks for your input! I know it's a dumb question, but what's sub bass? Would you say the lowest drum beats in typical R&B / hiphop songs are considered as sub bass? If not, could you provide some examples of sub bass...?

Here you have an example:
 
Exactly 54 seconds after the beginning you'll hear a 35Hz sound.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7NaJ-ePq_w4

 

[sexhero]

  It's much deeper on the M-100.  Look at the frequency graphs of both (they graphs on inner fidelity), they can help tell a story of how these two headphones will sound.

Yeah, it looks like X1 doesn't handle sub bass very well. Looking at the FR curve of M-100 , there is a big hump near 400 Hz. I guess it's what they call "recessed mid"...

 

[sexhero]

 
Here you have an example:
 
Exactly 54 seconds after the beginning you'll hear a 35Hz sound.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7NaJ-ePq_w4

Wow, that's a very nice piece of music! I am buying the CD. Thanks for hooking me up!
 
I listened to the track with both TF 10 and DT 880, and I can actually hear that TF 10 handles the sub bass tones much better. I guess the difference between M-100 and X1 will be similar to this...?
 
So M-100 will be better for sub-bass and X1 will be better for midrange and soundstage.  

 

[Byrnie]

Yeah, it looks like X1 doesn't handle sub bass very well. Looking at the FR curve of M-100 , there is a big hump near 400 Hz. I guess it's what they call "recessed mid"...

Not sure I would say recessed mids but "accentuated midbass" but i haven't looked at the X1 graph in awhile. Most open cans (like the X1) don't handle sub bass well but closed cans usually do (like the M100).

 

[ruthieandjohn]

 
Here you have an example:
 
Exactly 54 seconds after the beginning you'll hear a 35Hz sound.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7NaJ-ePq_w4

Good piece!
 
I use "Throwback" by B.o.B. to check subbass... 33 sec in is the first occurence of the low C ("C1" for those who speak that way) on the piano keyboard... 32 Hz.
 
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DHc1rtrOlSA

 

[Me x3]

  Wow, that's a very nice piece of music! I am buying the CD. Thanks for hooking me up!

 
You're welcome! Dance in the Moon is a great album. CD quality is noticeably better than youtube quality in this case.

 

[sexhero]

Not sure I would say recessed mids but "accentuated midbass" but i haven't looked at the X1 graph in awhile. Most open cans (like the X1) don't handle sub bass well but closed cans usually do (like the M100).

Oops I meant to say there is a dip near 400 Hz. 
 
On the other hand, Hifiman HE-400 has flat response in 40-200 Hz with a decent size hump near 1000 Hz. So HE-400 would be better for sub-bass response and accentuated female vocal..? Then HE-400 might be a better choice than X1...??
 
 

 

[Byrnie]

  Oops I meant to say there is a dip near 400 Hz. 
 
On the other hand, Hifiman HE-400 has flat response in 40-200 Hz with a decent size hump near 1000 Hz. So HE-400 would be better for sub-bass response and accentuated female vocal..? Then HE-400 might be a better choice than X1...??
 
 

If you're looking for a basshead set of headphones, I don't see how the X1 would suffice given the lack of sub bass.  The M100s would be perfect as a basshead can or even the Shure SRH1540 ($500), IMO.  As someone pointed out in another thread, the SRH1540s have a similar frequency graph to the X1 but with subbass (they're also closed headphones).

 

[sexhero]

  If you're looking for a basshead set of headphones, I don't see how the X1 would suffice given the lack of sub bass.  The M100s would be perfect as a basshead can or even the Shure SRH1540 ($500), IMO.  As someone pointed out in another thread, the SRH1540s have a similar frequency graph to the X1 but with subbass (they're also closed headphones).

SRH1540 seems like a nice choice,doesn't seem to have as much dip in sub-bass frequency. But costs twice as much as X1, and I am not sure if it's worth the cost difference? I guess it depends on how much I like sub-bass..

 

[Byrnie]

SRH1540 seems like a nice choice,doesn't seem to have as much dip in sub-bass frequency. But costs twice as much as X1, and I am not sure if it's worth the cost difference? I guess it depends on how much I like sub-bass..

Thats true they are expensive. I don't think you can go wrong with the X1 or M100. Good luck in your decision.

 

[sexhero]

Thats true they are expensive. I don't think you can go wrong with the X1 or M100. Good luck in your decision.

I am inclining towards HE-400, I heard it's on par with HD650 witb great bass response. If the bass quantity is not sufficient, I think I can always use EQ to boost bass. Is it not a good idea to buy headphones with a plan to rely on EQ to get the bass response you like??