Can anyone give a comparison of the HEX V2 vs the Sundara?
I'm looking to upgrade from my Fidelio X2, so I've been auditioning a bunch of higher end models including the 800S, LCD-X, Clear, Elear, HEX V2, MHP1000, Pryma, Meze Classic (not high end). I initially heard the LCD-X and 800S at a local dealer and walked away thinking that I may not find a headphone that I liked enough to spend the money on. I was expecting to be impressed by the sound of them since they were the first pairs over $300 that I'd heard. I was surprised to find that I found the LCD-X to dark for my taste and the 800S too lean/bright. Between the two, I preferred the 800S, but to me the sound was to light on bass/body and I didn't find it satisfying. I certainly didn't feel the need to upgrade. I kept reading about how great the Focal offerings were and how the Clear was fairly neutral with better bass and overall tone compared to the 800S. I made it a point to locate a dealer that had the Clear and they ended up having all of the other headphones I listed. I spent hours listening to them through a Questyle CMA800i, my LG V20 and a Questyle QPR1.
Of all the headphones the Clear and HEX V2 were my favorites with the HEX V2 being my overall favorite by a larger margin than I would have ever guessed. I say that because the LCD-X was my first planar headphone experience and it was far from a sound that I desired. I read a lot of people talking about the "planar sound" and after hearing the LCD-X I was pretty sure the planar sound wasn't for me. That was, until I heard the HEX V2. I had first listened to the Clear for about 15-20 minutes before I put on the HEX V2. To be honest, I liked the Clear more than the other headphones and more than the 800S and LCD-X, but I felt like there was a sharpness to the sound that made me want to turn them down below a level that I would normally listen. I then decided to try the HEX V2 even though I already held a prejudice against planar drivers and was pretty sure I wouldn't care for them. My initial response was "wow, this sounds so open and lifelike without the sharpness of the Clear". I listened to many different types of music for a good 20 minutes and began to really fall in love with the sound. I put the Clear back on and although I liked the dynamic sound, I missed the larger soundstage of the HEX V2 and was growing even more tired of the sharpness of the Clear. The owner asked what I thought and when I told him my feelings he stated that he felt it was because the Clear were new and hadn't had a chance to "burn in", but the HEX V2 had many hours of play.
I read the Clear thread, so I know that many people felt the Clear lose the sharpness in time, so I may really like them once burned in. Of course, I read something similar about my X2, but if I'm honest with myself, I still have the same impressions of the sound since the first time I heard them (boomy bass, recessed mids and grainy treble with some sibilance). Having said that, I found the X2 to hold up very well with some of the more expensive cans that I tried.
So, the reason I didn't just go ahead and buy the HEX V2 when I loved the sound was because I didn't like the way they fit/felt. With the headband at it's smallest setting, it felt like it sat a little low on my ears. I also found the large yokes/pads to sit uncomfortably on my cheek bones. When I first put them on, I disliked the fit so much that I almost didn't listen to them, but I really wanted to hear another planar headphone. I'm glad I heard them because I really enjoyed the sound (more than any other headphone), but I'm also sorry I heard them because I found the sound I wanted in a headphone that I refuse to wear everyday.
I'm wondering how similar the sound of the Sundara is because it looks like a more comfortable design. If it sound similar with a large soundstage, good bass and lack of sharpness/sibiliance in the treble, then I would be very interested.
I apologize for the long post, I just wanted to explain how I got here.
I'm looking to upgrade from my Fidelio X2, so I've been auditioning a bunch of higher end models including the 800S, LCD-X, Clear, Elear, HEX V2, MHP1000, Pryma, Meze Classic (not high end). I initially heard the LCD-X and 800S at a local dealer and walked away thinking that I may not find a headphone that I liked enough to spend the money on. I was expecting to be impressed by the sound of them since they were the first pairs over $300 that I'd heard. I was surprised to find that I found the LCD-X to dark for my taste and the 800S too lean/bright. Between the two, I preferred the 800S, but to me the sound was to light on bass/body and I didn't find it satisfying. I certainly didn't feel the need to upgrade. I kept reading about how great the Focal offerings were and how the Clear was fairly neutral with better bass and overall tone compared to the 800S. I made it a point to locate a dealer that had the Clear and they ended up having all of the other headphones I listed. I spent hours listening to them through a Questyle CMA800i, my LG V20 and a Questyle QPR1.
Of all the headphones the Clear and HEX V2 were my favorites with the HEX V2 being my overall favorite by a larger margin than I would have ever guessed. I say that because the LCD-X was my first planar headphone experience and it was far from a sound that I desired. I read a lot of people talking about the "planar sound" and after hearing the LCD-X I was pretty sure the planar sound wasn't for me. That was, until I heard the HEX V2. I had first listened to the Clear for about 15-20 minutes before I put on the HEX V2. To be honest, I liked the Clear more than the other headphones and more than the 800S and LCD-X, but I felt like there was a sharpness to the sound that made me want to turn them down below a level that I would normally listen. I then decided to try the HEX V2 even though I already held a prejudice against planar drivers and was pretty sure I wouldn't care for them. My initial response was "wow, this sounds so open and lifelike without the sharpness of the Clear". I listened to many different types of music for a good 20 minutes and began to really fall in love with the sound. I put the Clear back on and although I liked the dynamic sound, I missed the larger soundstage of the HEX V2 and was growing even more tired of the sharpness of the Clear. The owner asked what I thought and when I told him my feelings he stated that he felt it was because the Clear were new and hadn't had a chance to "burn in", but the HEX V2 had many hours of play.
I read the Clear thread, so I know that many people felt the Clear lose the sharpness in time, so I may really like them once burned in. Of course, I read something similar about my X2, but if I'm honest with myself, I still have the same impressions of the sound since the first time I heard them (boomy bass, recessed mids and grainy treble with some sibilance). Having said that, I found the X2 to hold up very well with some of the more expensive cans that I tried.
So, the reason I didn't just go ahead and buy the HEX V2 when I loved the sound was because I didn't like the way they fit/felt. With the headband at it's smallest setting, it felt like it sat a little low on my ears. I also found the large yokes/pads to sit uncomfortably on my cheek bones. When I first put them on, I disliked the fit so much that I almost didn't listen to them, but I really wanted to hear another planar headphone. I'm glad I heard them because I really enjoyed the sound (more than any other headphone), but I'm also sorry I heard them because I found the sound I wanted in a headphone that I refuse to wear everyday.
I'm wondering how similar the sound of the Sundara is because it looks like a more comfortable design. If it sound similar with a large soundstage, good bass and lack of sharpness/sibiliance in the treble, then I would be very interested.
I apologize for the long post, I just wanted to explain how I got here.
I guess the drivers took time to break in.
