Contrails
500+ Head-Fier
- Joined
- Jan 30, 2013
- Posts
- 988
- Likes
- 860
Yes, the Alpha Dogs are going to give the HE-500 a run for its money
Aren't the LFF Paradox meant to be better/more neutral than the he-500?
Yes, the Alpha Dogs are going to give the HE-500 a run for its money
Aren't the LFF Paradox meant to be better/more neutral than the he-500?
Aren't the LFF Paradox meant to be better/more neutral than the he-500?
I find the LFF Paradox to be more neutral but technically limited, probably better timbre, but worse in just about every other category. Plus they are a closed headphone and sound like a closed headphone. The paradox does not scale even close to the HE-500. If if you wanted to spend a little amount of money on a DAC/AMP the paradox would probably be better but the HE-500 does really well with good gear.
The texture that comes through with such high resolution is a highlight of the HE-500 for me, something that I could not get the T50RP to reproduce. It also offers better extension in both highs and lows, better detail across the board, better soundstage, better instrument separation. The drivers are faster too I'm pretty sure. So the paradox is less colored while the HE-500 offers a touch of warmth.
To me the headphones are not in the same league. I do enjoy the Paradox but I realize it has limitations, the HE-500's limits seem pretty extreme if you ask me kind of like when yo ugo from the paradox to the HE-500, you feel like the HE-500 can do anything you ask it to do. It's hard to say what's missing in the HE-500 because I feel that it has everything you want in a headphone as long as you agree with the signature, which is one that makes music very easy to listen to for a long time. I imagine that was a goal of the HE-500.
I would consider the paradox as one of the strongest contenders of Mid-Fi phones, as I would put it just on the edge because it does not offer the detail of all other TOTL headphones. For some people I imagine it is their end game headphone because it has a very realistic presentation of the music. The paradox excels in this category more than any headphone that I've heard.
So the Paradox might be "better" to some, but from a technical standpoint I believe it is limited compared to the HE-500.
I personally prefer my HE-500 but that's just my opinion. It brings to life the emotion of the musician from my perspective due to all of the extra elements as well as the way which they are tuned, which I realize is a very subjective statement but that's how I feel about it compared to the Paradox on a personal level. If you are interested in the sound I described from the paradox you should give it a try. I think it will impress most people even with the price tag.
Wow, thank you Sir for the detailed reply. The He500 are great headphones in that regard, they truly make you feel the music. I just wish they had the soundstage of a HD800 but I guess we can't have it all.
TH900 is so-so, 1 step below the big open cans in terms of sonic - but you got a closed can (doesn't isolate that much tbh) and a very nice lacquer finish. I'd highly recommend borrowing Staxes for like 1 month. Brief audition usually leave you with Stax honeymoon - or complete meh.
To me the headphones are not in the same league. I do enjoy the Paradox but I realize it has limitations, the HE-500's limits seem pretty extreme if you ask me kind of like when yo ugo from the paradox to the HE-500, you feel like the HE-500 can do anything you ask it to do. It's hard to say what's missing in the HE-500 because I feel that it has everything you want in a headphone as long as you agree with the signature, which is one that makes music very easy to listen to for a long time. I imagine that was a goal of the HE-500.
The He-6 or any other flagship minus the Ps1k works with every genre really - just not as good at certain genres compare to other.
If you want something different from the Lcd3, why not get a hd800 (or Staxes)?
I sold my he-500's because of comfort issues, and purchased the T90's after briefly auditioning them at my local headphone store. coming from the HE-500's, I must say the T90's really are quite spectacular.
In terms of comfort or sound? Or both?
In terms of comfort or sound? Or both?
Comfort is like day and night.....the T90's are probably the most comfortable can I have ever worn.
Sound wise I still maintain that HE-500 sound is amazing, which is why we all love them. The T90's are immediately different, they have a huge sound stage, a lot more detail, more air, treble is sparkling......but less "weight" to the sound and bass. I am preferring the T90's as my early impressions, especially with electronic music. They are like a T1, but more fun to listen too because they aren't so clinical.
I am using an Audiolab Mdac as source, and Meier Corda Classic amp, same as I had with the HE-500's
I really like Beyers but the DT770s used to leave my ears a little sweaty, perhaps the open T90s would keep a bit cooler. Would you consider them a true upgrade or more of a sidegrade? It sounds like the T90s are a little brighter and less intimate but good otherwise, I imagine they'd perform better with rock and classical genres from what you've described.
The Corda Classic would provide sufficient power, right Lloyd?