[gabriely]

After trying out the Ananda Stealth, I've pulled the trigger on the Edition XS. Whew. I think I had my feet wet in the hobby before, but now I've really dived into it properly I think.

Trouble is now I need a DAC/AMP. I'm looking at the ifi zen dac v2, and the topping dx3 pro+ and can't decide. Decisions, decisions... but one step at a time

 

[vini97]

As I understand it, the power of the ifi zen can signature is not enough for these headphones?

 

[Fullbrewz]

Generally balanced is twice the gain but not usually twice the current. The xCan is 1000mw out at a 32 ohm load. that would translate to much less at 18 ohms which is the XS. So they actually are not claiming that the amp is good for such low impedance. The XS needs current a lot of it. I would look for an amp that has specs for low impedance headpones. I actually have some decent desktop amps that don't put out the current to drive the XS properly. They can get it loud but sound is bad. Amps that deliver lots of current sound wonderful on these headphones.

"I actually have some decent desktop amps that don't put out the current to drive the XS properly. They can get it loud but sound is bad. Amps that deliver lots of current sound wonderful on these headphones."

I totally agree with this.
I can walk around the house with the XS plugged into my S9+ and they get loud enough to enjoy but once you pump some juice into them through a decent amp and feel some bass through your jaw bone, that's when the 'holy $h*t' lightbulb goes off .

 

[giuseppe75]

Sounds well also lake people g111

 

[iFi audio]

I'm looking at the ifi zen dac v2, and the topping dx3 pro+ and can't decide. Decisions, decisions... but one step at a time

Please take your time, we'll wait for you

 

[vini97]

Please take your time, we'll wait for you

Can Zen Signature provide enough power for the xs edition?

 

[gabriely]

Please take your time, we'll wait for you

I did end up with the Zen DAC v2 as recommended by my good friends over at Zeppelin & Co!

I will say, my God, this setup has no right to sound as good as it does for this price point. Super happy with my purchases - just one problem, I have no idea exactly where the serial number on the DAC is!!! Hahahahahaha

Cheers and wishing everyone a brilliant rest of the week.

 

[iFi audio]

Can Zen Signature provide enough power for the xs edition?

It will make these cans go really loud, that's for sure, but they're not the easiest load out there

I did end up with the Zen DAC v2 as recommended by my good friends over at Zeppelin & Co!

I will say, my God, this setup has no right to sound as good as it does for this price point. Super happy with my purchases - just one problem, I have no idea exactly where the serial number on the DAC is!!! Hahahahahaha

Excellent, thank you. ZEN DAC V2 has a lot in common with of our Pro iDSD and we also think that it performs a fair bit above its retail price

 

[SomeGuyDude]

I am very, very close to pulling the trigger on these, can anyone let me know if an aune tk1 mk2 would be able to drive them well enough?

EDIT: I should say some of these reviews are baffling me because everyone seems to have wildly different opinions on whether these are "warm and impactful" or "neutral/bright leaning".

EDIT 2: Well I ordered. We'll see how it goes lmao

 

[pk4425]

I am very, very close to pulling the trigger on these, can anyone let me know if an aune tk1 mk2 would be able to drive them well enough?

EDIT: I should say some of these reviews are baffling me because everyone seems to have wildly different opinions on whether these are "warm and impactful" or "neutral/bright leaning".

EDIT 2: Well I ordered. We'll see how it goes lmao

Definitely lean toward "neutral/bright." These will not coat you in rich, warm bass like an Audeze LCD-2C or stab your ear canals with treble picks like some Beyers.

But the XS bass still has decent impact, and there's no aggravating sibilance on the top end. Nice, balanced tuning with good detail and soundstage -- no wonder the XS is a hit at $500!

Enjoy your new cans.

 

[SomeGuyDude]

Definitely lean toward "neutral/bright." These will not coat you in rich, warm bass like an Audeze LCD-2C or stab your ear canals with treble picks like some Beyers.

But the XS bass still has decent impact, and there's no aggravating sibilance on the top end. Nice, balanced tuning with good detail and soundstage -- no wonder the XS is a hit at $500!

Enjoy your new cans.

I saw a reviewer on YT mention that the bass drum/guitar on some Metallica tracks had serious meat to it (moreso than the usual HFM sig) and that was what gave me the confidence to at least give them a go. I've had the LCD-2/2f/X/3 in the past and I absolutely adored those but having compared them to a lot of gear I think their bass is often overstated despite being really damn nice.

Main thing is that I listen to a bunch of rock/metal with wildly different recording standards so as long as these hit kind of in the center of things I should be good. "Basshead" headphones tend to make the low-end focused metal blur together, and trying to listen to some black metal on bright headphones is absolute agony lol

 

[pk4425]

I saw a reviewer on YT mention that the bass drum/guitar on some Metallica tracks had serious meat to it (moreso than the usual HFM sig) and that was what gave me the confidence to at least give them a go. I've had the LCD-2/2f/X/3 in the past and I absolutely adored those but having compared them to a lot of gear I think their bass is often overstated despite being really damn nice.

Main thing is that I listen to a bunch of rock/metal with wildly different recording standards so as long as these hit kind of in the center of things I should be good. "Basshead" headphones tend to make the low-end focused metal blur together, and trying to listen to some black metal on bright headphones is absolute agony lol

Honestly, I think the LCD-2C is a better rock and hard rock headphone than the Edition XS because it's more forgiving of too-loud and poorly mixed and mastered recordings that are hallmarks of the genre.

Still, I think the XS is a better all-around headphone for many types of music. Your mileage may vary. Good luck!

 

[SomeGuyDude]

Honestly, I think the LCD-2C is a better rock and hard rock headphone than the Edition XS because it's more forgiving of too-loud and poorly mixed and mastered recordings that are hallmarks of the genre.

Still, I think the XS is a better all-around headphone for many types of music. Your mileage may vary. Good luck!

Certainly possible, but that's a $300 difference and I put a hard cap at $500 (thank the lord for audio64 coupons as well). I don't need it to be forgiving, per se, my ears are forgiving just because I know how a lot of extreme metal bands roll, my main thing is I want a headphone where the sharp albums sound sharp and the muddy ones sound muddy, rather than one that softens the sharp ones and makes the muddy ones even muddier and vice versa, you know? Since there's such a wide array, it needs to sit in the middle to avoid making a whole chunk of them unlistenable.

 

[TWerk]

You made an excellent choice with the XS.

This is a fantastic headphone with technical performance that destroys the category it is in. This is the kind of headphone you hear new things in your music with.

If anything is missing IMO it is just some body in the midrange. It can lean a bit lean at times (vs HE-500 / HD600) but that also gives it such clean clarity throughout.

I get that midrange body with HE-500/HD 600 so I'm fine with it.

I don't think one headphone can have everything at once, if you add midrange body you loose something else that it may obscure, etc.

The rest of the performance is stellar with exceptional clarity, detail, imaging, soundstage, precision, separation, speed, you name it.

It is a very impressive and enjoyable, technically proficient headphone.

 

[SomeGuyDude]

Good point about the midrange. I absolutely, 100% do not mind midrange scoop. Mid-centric headphones have their place but I'd rather some V (I think people are describing this as more of a U?), and it looks like these are gonna nail it. They're gonna be here tomorrow or Monday, so I'll definitely be giving my opinions.