gr4474
100+ Head-Fier
- Joined
- May 11, 2013
- Posts
- 251
- Likes
- 120
I have been on the hunt for headphones, trying a few recently. I bought the Fidelio X2hr, and they were nice and full sounding, but just to way dark in the treble for me. I realized want a bassy neutral sound. I think it's unrealistic to have anemic bass. I then bought the HE6se and really liked them. I thought $500 headphones would be end game for me. It has more detail than I'm used to, and sparkle, but not what I was imagining. It also has decent bass, but I was still wanting better, and wondering what else was out there.
I then downgraded to the Sivga Phoenix, to hold me over. I considered the Denon line, and Emu teaks. Everything seemed to have a compromise somewhere though even around $1000.
I decided I was going to sell an ebike that I lost interest in, and commit to spending $2000 on headphones. I was tired of compromising, and want to experience end game level, so I started looking at anything in that price range. I was listening to a random youtuber that made the comment that Gjallarhorn's had the best bass from the Kennerton's he heard. I checked them out and found this JM Edition modded version of the Gjallarhorn's. That got my attention...and led me to John Massaria. I started thinking of buying something, and just having him mod it. After talking to him, he mentioned that he also has some custom headphones. After talking to him though, I realized that I could have finally found my headphones. He was claiming his $700 creation could compete with anything. If I don't like them I could just send them back...so I bought them.
I got them a week or so ago, and am powering them with the vintage receiver, and an ASUS Xonar Xfinity sound card with upgraded op amps. (I need to overhaul the dac/amp situation) The first song I listened to with them just for 30 seconds, I could immediately hear detail and spaciousness that I've never heard before. I heard this reverb effect coming in so sparkly, and airy. I handed them to my wife, and she noticed the same thing, but she described it better. She said it was a choir! I listened and realized the choir sounded like a cool reverb. Anyway she agreed that the choir was "less muffled and louder". It's like it went from the background to closer with the female lead singer, but in a really good way. After letting them burn in and using them for a week or so, they have come more alive. I'm now waiting for an SMSL SU-10 to arrive in a couple days. I'm also thinking of getting a Soloist 3Xp soon.
I've never heard end game headphones. If there is anyone in the Dallas or surrounding area, I would be willing to drive to compare these to something nicer. Call it a headphones challenge! Are mine equal or better than yours? I'm honestly curious.
I then downgraded to the Sivga Phoenix, to hold me over. I considered the Denon line, and Emu teaks. Everything seemed to have a compromise somewhere though even around $1000.
I decided I was going to sell an ebike that I lost interest in, and commit to spending $2000 on headphones. I was tired of compromising, and want to experience end game level, so I started looking at anything in that price range. I was listening to a random youtuber that made the comment that Gjallarhorn's had the best bass from the Kennerton's he heard. I checked them out and found this JM Edition modded version of the Gjallarhorn's. That got my attention...and led me to John Massaria. I started thinking of buying something, and just having him mod it. After talking to him, he mentioned that he also has some custom headphones. After talking to him though, I realized that I could have finally found my headphones. He was claiming his $700 creation could compete with anything. If I don't like them I could just send them back...so I bought them.
I got them a week or so ago, and am powering them with the vintage receiver, and an ASUS Xonar Xfinity sound card with upgraded op amps. (I need to overhaul the dac/amp situation) The first song I listened to with them just for 30 seconds, I could immediately hear detail and spaciousness that I've never heard before. I heard this reverb effect coming in so sparkly, and airy. I handed them to my wife, and she noticed the same thing, but she described it better. She said it was a choir! I listened and realized the choir sounded like a cool reverb. Anyway she agreed that the choir was "less muffled and louder". It's like it went from the background to closer with the female lead singer, but in a really good way. After letting them burn in and using them for a week or so, they have come more alive. I'm now waiting for an SMSL SU-10 to arrive in a couple days. I'm also thinking of getting a Soloist 3Xp soon.
I've never heard end game headphones. If there is anyone in the Dallas or surrounding area, I would be willing to drive to compare these to something nicer. Call it a headphones challenge! Are mine equal or better than yours? I'm honestly curious.
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