[viivo]

I understand that audio is subjective, so perhaps it's supposed to sound like this. I dislike describing what things sound like to me due to imprecise and vague terms, but everything - from games to music, high quality, high bitrate video/audio files to streaming media - sounds jumbled, blurry, front-loaded, and flat detail-wise. There are no variances in volume that I can detect, and unless I'm completely misunderstanding things, that's not how it should be unless some sort of dynamic compression/software EQ is affecting the signal, which for me is not the case.

Is this normal for relatively low-end gear, or is there the possibility of a hardware and/or source mismatch? Any help or suggestions would be appreciated.

Hardware:
Schiit Magni 2 Uber
Sony MDR-z7, Fostex T-X0
JDS Labs OL DAC connected to PC via USB (stereo, full range, 24/48) with DIP switch mod (tried all filters/delay settings) Source volume near 100% and using amp for adjustments. No volume chain variations make any difference to my issue.​

 

[binaryhermit]

Is it possible there's a bad connection, does it sound like what you get when you partially pull out a headphone plug from the jack, no mids, no soundstage, just really weird?


Or maybe unrealistic expectations.

 

[ProtegeManiac]

I understand that audio is subjective, so perhaps it's supposed to sound like this. I dislike describing what things sound like to me due to imprecise and vague terms, but everything - from games to music, high quality, high bitrate video/audio files to streaming media - sounds jumbled, blurry, front-loaded, and flat detail-wise. There are no variances in volume that I can detect, and unless I'm completely misunderstanding things, that's not how it should be unless some sort of dynamic compression/software EQ is affecting the signal, which for me is not the case.

There's the possibility that these aren't caused by a single issue but a combination of several problems.

The blurriness can be due to how they're mastered or excessive bass, which can be due to a number of things like very low damping factor (not a problem on that amp, so it won't be that one; also you can have low damping factor and it sounds like a tin can, but no distinct hard hit on the bass), or just from dense pads that are too tightly squished (ie try loosening the fit of the headphones).

There might be some kind of problem with the software here, either your player app is applying some kind of compression, or your high quality files might only be high fidelity rips with regard to the original file but that doesn't apply to the mastering of said files, which is why you don't hear any dynamic range.

Everything getting jumbled together can be due to many things. Either the recording didn't really have enough "air" between each instrument to begin which is made worse or is getting jumbled by one inherent problem with headphone listening where each ear hears only one driver that is too close to it unlike with speakers in a dampened room.

Speaking of speakers...there's your expectations as well if you're comparing this particular headphone system to, say, something with a Dynaudio Contour S5.4 driven by something like a Unison Research Secondo. While you'd have a similar problem if you took an entry line large speaker from, say Wharfedale, like the Diamond 9.3 driven by an 8-watt T-amp and then trying to listen to it loud slouching on a chair that's either too far away or too close (or wrong toe-in angles in a bad room), there's going to be an even wider gap in performance once you go into headphones.

 

[surfgeorge]

I understand that audio is subjective, so perhaps it's supposed to sound like this. I dislike describing what things sound like to me due to imprecise and vague terms, but everything - from games to music, high quality, high bitrate video/audio files to streaming media - sounds jumbled, blurry, front-loaded, and flat detail-wise. There are no variances in volume that I can detect, and unless I'm completely misunderstanding things, that's not how it should be unless some sort of dynamic compression/software EQ is affecting the signal, which for me is not the case.

Is this normal for relatively low-end gear, or is there the possibility of a hardware and/or source mismatch? Any help or suggestions would be appreciated.

Hardware:
Schiit Magni 2 Uber
Sony MDR-z7, Fostex T-X0
JDS Labs OL DAC connected to PC via USB (stereo, full range, 24/48) with DIP switch mod (tried all filters/delay settings) Source volume near 100% and using amp for adjustments. No volume chain variations make any difference to my issue.​

The way you describe what you are hearing certainly doesn't sound as it should, but I'd recommend going about it in a systematic matter.
You basically have a long chain of components:
File - source (digital processor) - DAC - Amp - headphone

First job is to find some high quality files, don't even have to be your favourite genre, but they need to be good recordings and high data quality (FLAC is enough)
A google search for (HiRes) Audiophile free download will give you a set of files to use.
"Long after you're gone" is one of them

Then you'd either have to start checking and changing individual elements in your chain, or, the faster method, go to a hifi shop with your gear and compare with what they have there. That would be the quickest way to find out if it's your expectations or your gear that are off

 

[viivo]

Thanks for the replies. I wonder if part of the problem is the z7s become too loud with less than an inch turn of the gain knob (gain switch is low.) For now I will go through the suggestions.

 

[PurpleAngel]

I understand that audio is subjective, so perhaps it's supposed to sound like this. I dislike describing what things sound like to me due to imprecise and vague terms, but everything - from games to music, high quality, high bitrate video/audio files to streaming media - sounds jumbled, blurry, front-loaded, and flat detail-wise. There are no variances in volume that I can detect, and unless I'm completely misunderstanding things, that's not how it should be unless some sort of dynamic compression/software EQ is affecting the signal, which for me is not the case.
Is this normal for relatively low-end gear, or is there the possibility of a hardware and/or source mismatch? Any help or suggestions would be appreciated.

Hardware: Schiit Magni 2 Uber, Sony MDR-z7, Fostex T-X0
JDS Labs OL DAC connected to PC via USB (stereo, full range, 24/48) with DIP switch mod (tried all filters/delay settings) Source volume near 100% and using amp for adjustments. No volume chain variations make any difference to my issue.​

You might try installing the free program Foobar2000 (with WASAPI components installed) and play some good quality music audio files (FLAC audio files?)
Foorbar2000/WASAPI will provide a very clean audio stream to the USB port, if that improve the audio, then you know you have an issue with the computer/OS
https://www.foobar2000.org/

You might also try replacing the USB cable and get a shielded RCA cable.

 

[ProtegeManiac]

Thanks for the replies. I wonder if part of the problem is the z7s become too loud with less than an inch turn of the gain knob (gain switch is low.) For now I will go through the suggestions.

If you move it less than an inch is there any imbalance? If none then for the most part that's still a viable workaround and not the cause of what you don't like about the sound.