So...late to the party. There has been some controversy about crinacles measurements on SR2. Thing about SR2's (also with SR1 but slightly less) is that iBasso is extremely sensitive about positioning. Both on how they're positioned on ones head, measurement device and how the earpads are angled on the headphones. Here is my measurement with earpads that have larger perforations. Measured with minidsp ears, HEQ and 1/12 smoothing.
Red and green are very different but position on the measurement rig was only slightly different. So I think Crinacles measurements are correct but show only one possible outcome. I've measured about 100 headphones and SR2 is only headphone that has such big frequency response changes with minor headphone/earpad position adjustments. Black line is average of the two and to my ears sounds most close to what I'm hearing...most of the times anyway. That peak in 4,5khz is real but did not bother me. I know for a fact that my hearing is not sensitive in 4-6khz region so someone else might find the low treble offensive. Crinacles measurements place that between 5-6khz which is propably more accurate considering he has a professional level measurement system.
Let's take a look of the other earpads that are very similar to PT1 pads but perforations on original PT1 are slighly more closed in. I think those are infact PT1 pads but pleather material has changed just a little during production. Or it could be just a matter of other pads being more worn out.
Same results as previously. Wild changes in frequency response with just small changes in position of the headphones. Black is again average and closest to what I'm hearing.
So how about compared to SR1 with PT1 pads?
When properly positioned and factoring in all the potential changes and measurement errors they're basically the same. In listening tests SR2 has slightly stronger bass but falls little behind in detail retrival compared to SR1. I think that is because SR2 is more closed than SR1. Internal acoustics are the same but SR2 has some foam behind the grille that SR1 does not have. SR1 cups are also basically open to all sides and making it more open than SR2. I think SR2 builds more pressure inside the cups which makes its bass more impactfull but also blurries the microdynamic abilities. Other than that SR1=SR2.
Overall I think SR2 is excellent headphone. Best bass and imaging I've heard in headphones of this price range. Insane macrodynamics too that can challenge Focal Elex. For me PT1 pads offer a nice smooth tuning, not that different from some ZMF headphones. Tonality with the larger perforation pads its bit weird. Midrange has some edgy hardness to it that shows clearly as a hump in the measurements. It's not bad though and sounds better than it measures imo. I wish there were third pads that had tonality between the two options. One issues is lacking treble extension past 13khz. Of course there is not much going on up there but it affects sense of air and is audible. That thing shows up in measurements with all the pads and with SR1 too. It's also present in other measurements so it's not just my rig acting up.
Pros:
- Build quality & Comfort. Cable is awesome
- Excellent textured bass with slam
- Macrodynamics that are close to Focal Elex level
- Well proportioned soundstage and class leading imaging
- 2-in-1: Earpads change the sound so much that it really is two headphones with the price of one.
On the Fence:
- Tuning with both pads is controversial. I would have preferred something in between the two.
- Soundstage is not big for open(ish) headphone
Cons:
- Mediocre resolution. Especially with live-albums SR2 leaves too much detail on the table.
- Headband adjuster keeps sliding up. Luckily it's easy to fix.
- Extremely sensitive on how the earpads and headphones are positioned on ones head.
Red and green are very different but position on the measurement rig was only slightly different. So I think Crinacles measurements are correct but show only one possible outcome. I've measured about 100 headphones and SR2 is only headphone that has such big frequency response changes with minor headphone/earpad position adjustments. Black line is average of the two and to my ears sounds most close to what I'm hearing...most of the times anyway. That peak in 4,5khz is real but did not bother me. I know for a fact that my hearing is not sensitive in 4-6khz region so someone else might find the low treble offensive. Crinacles measurements place that between 5-6khz which is propably more accurate considering he has a professional level measurement system.
Let's take a look of the other earpads that are very similar to PT1 pads but perforations on original PT1 are slighly more closed in. I think those are infact PT1 pads but pleather material has changed just a little during production. Or it could be just a matter of other pads being more worn out.
Same results as previously. Wild changes in frequency response with just small changes in position of the headphones. Black is again average and closest to what I'm hearing.
So how about compared to SR1 with PT1 pads?
When properly positioned and factoring in all the potential changes and measurement errors they're basically the same. In listening tests SR2 has slightly stronger bass but falls little behind in detail retrival compared to SR1. I think that is because SR2 is more closed than SR1. Internal acoustics are the same but SR2 has some foam behind the grille that SR1 does not have. SR1 cups are also basically open to all sides and making it more open than SR2. I think SR2 builds more pressure inside the cups which makes its bass more impactfull but also blurries the microdynamic abilities. Other than that SR1=SR2.
Overall I think SR2 is excellent headphone. Best bass and imaging I've heard in headphones of this price range. Insane macrodynamics too that can challenge Focal Elex. For me PT1 pads offer a nice smooth tuning, not that different from some ZMF headphones. Tonality with the larger perforation pads its bit weird. Midrange has some edgy hardness to it that shows clearly as a hump in the measurements. It's not bad though and sounds better than it measures imo. I wish there were third pads that had tonality between the two options. One issues is lacking treble extension past 13khz. Of course there is not much going on up there but it affects sense of air and is audible. That thing shows up in measurements with all the pads and with SR1 too. It's also present in other measurements so it's not just my rig acting up.
Pros:
- Build quality & Comfort. Cable is awesome
- Excellent textured bass with slam
- Macrodynamics that are close to Focal Elex level
- Well proportioned soundstage and class leading imaging
- 2-in-1: Earpads change the sound so much that it really is two headphones with the price of one.
On the Fence:
- Tuning with both pads is controversial. I would have preferred something in between the two.
- Soundstage is not big for open(ish) headphone
Cons:
- Mediocre resolution. Especially with live-albums SR2 leaves too much detail on the table.
- Headband adjuster keeps sliding up. Luckily it's easy to fix.
- Extremely sensitive on how the earpads and headphones are positioned on ones head.
Last edited:
I think what I perceive is an issue with background not being "black" enough. Think of it as sort of a noisefloor for the headphones. Propably just some noise residue that wont dissipate properly and it then drowns fainter sounds. Since it's allmost closed headphone there will be some acoustic amplification of noises going on. It's like there is slight haze in the soundstage that ties everything together. Sounds don't really pop out from the void of dark, since there is always that haze present. That droop of frequencies past 13hz is propably also a factor to some degree. It's not a major issue and mostly bugs me with well recorded live music that has high dynamic range. I'm also perhaps particularly picky about stuff like that. My curse is to be over overanalytical listener. If I wasn't so nitpicky over that sort of stuff and tuning would suit my personal preferences better SR2 would be hands down best €500 headphone I've heard.
….and auditory blissssssssssssss
