This thread has literally enlightened me. Hats off to all of you. I try to replicate in my head everything I read here, to decide if I should return the SR2 for the SR3. I did not like the Denon 9200 much, especially for the price. I auditioned dozens and dozens of headphones and not one of them was the WOW factor for me, even Utopia and Clear. The Meze 109 Pro with xDuoo Link2 Bal...awful. For EU guys, hi-fi passion.de has an incredible deal at 300 EUR shipped and I could not resist. It came literally like new. Now, the SR3 costs 500 EUR and that is quite a jump, almost double, for a guy on a budget. I liked the bass and the fun, musically engaging sound. Coming from HD599 SE and Focal Listen (PRO too, I have both Focal versions), I literally craved bass, despite not being a bass head. Tomorrow, a Fiio Q15 arrives. I also have Colorfly CDA-M1P, LG V60 and Yulong D200. I wonder if those sources could do justice to the SR3 and if it is worth the price increase? I listen to 1990s Eurodance, 80s-90s hard rock and power metal. All of those are known to be poorly mastered. I love the Focal Listen Pro for being incredibly forgiving, and the ESS DAC digging out tons of detail even from a 128kbps mp3. For example, some Eurodance mixes are Youtube-only, I wish there was lossless... I wonder what is reference grade...if that means the SR3 is more analytical and neutral with less bass, musicality and fun...I wonder if I should upgrade. Because I am still in the return window period and owning both headphones is out of the question. Looking at the reviews here, I see some complaints about the cable being microphonic on the SR3. To complicate things even more...the balanced cable for the SR2 costs at least 100 EUR, but I am not sure if I would like it. I bought a balanced cable for the HD 599 SE and I did not like it. Soundstage became narrower, sounding forward and more V-shaped. Please, help me...
iBasso SR3 — 150Ω version of the SR2
- Thread starter voja
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Mhog55
Headphoneus Supremus
If those headphones did not impress you, then why spend the extra money over the SR3. I have purchased and sold the 9200, 7200, Focal Radiance and Clear MG in favor of the SR3. The only other 1000 plus dollar headphone I've kept is the original Kennerton Gjallarhorn - no mods. It just has a very special sauce I haven't heard in anything else. Audio Technica has some great sounding cans too, so long as you enjoy and appreciate their general house tuning. I'm talking about dynamic drivers here only.
Death_Block
Headphoneus Supremus
I've never had an issue with the cable on the SR3. Brain burn has probably blocked any possible microphonics. But I don't hear or pay attention to it. And never complained about the SR3 bass. Has a session of some trance music yesterday. My brain got a good massage.
Death_Block
Headphoneus Supremus
Just bought the meze Empyrean, I wonder if they will dethrone the SR3.
Death_Block
Headphoneus Supremus
Haha. I really really am happy with SR3, but it would be nice to find something else
Death_Block
Headphoneus Supremus
Oh wait, so you are saying the empy 's are an easy upgrade?If not, then something is not right with your hearing!
Cheers!
fidgeraldo
Headphoneus Supremus
If not, then Meze should stop manufacturing headphones immediately!
I never bought a Meze...perhaps one day, but if you have decided to buy a D8000, I'd say it's a huge upgrade!
Anyway, congrats on new headphones, beautiful headphones!
Cheers!
Death_Block
Headphoneus Supremus
Considered the final's but I've had the empys short listed for longer. I get them tomorrow. All day will be A/Bing with the empys and SR3 with the D16.
Paul - iBasso
Sponsor: iBasso
it is a matter of opinion, I should restate that I have heard many headphones and compared them to many.If not, then something is not right with your hearing!
Cheers!
Death_Block
Headphoneus Supremus
Ok, and I'm curious now, you obviously probably own the SR3, what do you own alongside it, or better than your SR3? I know subjective, but I like opinions.
Kammerat Rebekka
Headphoneus Supremus
Basing sound quality on pricing is ridiculous imho. Mostly because I’ve compared many so-called flagships with much cheaper headphones and prefered the latter. Speaking of both the D8000 Pro and Empyrean, I vastly prefer both the HE500 and Sundara to either by a large margin…and that’s just in the planar world. I’d also take a variety of dynamic driver headphones over either like fx the Dahlia, Sierra, HD490 Pro, AR5000, Zeus Elite as well as the humble HD580 Precision.
But this is a highly subjective hobby that relies on our individual tastebuds. One man’s gold is another man’s trash. One thing I have learned though is that you can’t just throw money at the hobby and expect a sonic upgrade. I used to do so and ended up extremely disappointed *cough* Susvara *cough*.
I haven’t heard the SR3 though so cannot comment other than that it, on paper, looks like a dynamic driver take on old school Audezes, which sounds interesting to say the least
But this is a highly subjective hobby that relies on our individual tastebuds. One man’s gold is another man’s trash. One thing I have learned though is that you can’t just throw money at the hobby and expect a sonic upgrade. I used to do so and ended up extremely disappointed *cough* Susvara *cough*.
I haven’t heard the SR3 though so cannot comment other than that it, on paper, looks like a dynamic driver take on old school Audezes, which sounds interesting to say the least
I side with Paul on this one.
Unfortunately, too many people believe that something that's more expensive, more aggressively designed, or something with convincing (read deceiving) marketing, is better than X. Also, the argument that if X is better than that something I just described, the manufacturer of that something should stop manufacturing it, is silly. People have the freedom of choice, and it has been proven way too many time that people do not want what's the best. If you wish, you can read studies upon studies on this exact topic. A classic example, have you seen that study where a fake luxury store was built, and it was filled with cheap fashion items, but the price and the branding and marketing was that of a luxury brand. All the customers that walked inside this store went on to describe how fine the used materials were, how forward-thinking the designs were, and whatever other flowery language was used to describe the items. These store visitors fully justified the products' prices.
Apply this experiment to the audio field; take an average product, slap a fat sticker price on it, and you'll see how people will start to see and hear "magic" from that very product. It's true, whether you want to admit it or not. Our industry is full of such people. Regardless, I don't see a change coming anytime soon. Audiophiles will continue to drool over gear with eye-watering sticker price with nothing to back up that price. This works in this industry because sound is subjective, when you factor in our biology, more specifically our perception of sound and how much it gets altered by psychology and "stuff" that our brain makes up, you will perhaps understand why this behavior is so common. You can start with the easiest to understand: post-purchase rationalization.
You can look at any industry: watches, cars, bicycles, shoes, furniture, etc., and see that the most sought-after products aren't the best ones. What's more people are more inclined to purchase those inferior product. There are many reasons for this. It could be status, it could be brand loyalty, or they just cannot resist the marketing. A brand's or product's popularity especially drives the market.
iBasso is a leader and innovator in many fields in the audio industry, yet many audio manufacturers still exist. How educated one is to recognize and understand iBasso's offerings is upon them. This goes for other industries as well. Many consumers are just that, consumers. Few are actual experts and knowledgeable people in that field, people who understand what makes a product brilliant and great.
I will never stop bringing up @jamato8, who is an owner of the best of the best headphones on the market, yet he said that the SR2 doesn't lack anything that his TOTL headphones have. IIRC, he positioned the SR3 even higher than the SR2. I have listened to a fair number of headphones myself, and I can still say that the SR2 and SR3 stand out and have something special that other headphones do not. They still remain my two favorite headphones.
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Mhog55
Headphoneus Supremus
Where can I source new pads for my SR2? I'm after the stock pair that come installed on the SR2. I'm still using this headphone almost daily. Aside from a custom set I had built, these are still at the top of my arsenal, including cans that costed considerably more. I have the new closed back Aune on my radar.
That's a good question. Your best bet is directly asking Paul for recommendations. I believe they are called "PT1". There is one store in Europe that has them (https://www.audiophonics.fr/en/head...r-earpads-for-sr2-headphone-pair-p-15879.html), but I don't know about options in the States :/
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