[Desmohifi]

This matches my impressions.

I was just listening to ‘Rainy Day Women...’ from Blond on Blonde. Starts with a couple bars of just bass & percussion, then horns kick in. Those first bars sound ‘fat’, like the song is going to lack impact. But the the horns kick in and they are powerful and energetic.

Two-word comparison of Empy vs E2 is lush vs spare. Both have excellent imaging.

NUC ==> SU-1 ==> Pontus ==> Hattor preamp ==> BHA-1 ==> Empy
NUC ==> SU-1 ==> Pontus ==> Hattor preamp ==> LP ==> E2

I am very interested in your comments as I currently own the E2 and am considering an Empyrean purchase to put them head to head.

I have never heard the term "spare" to describe a headphone before. Would you mind expanding on that description a bit ?

 

[LCMusicLover]

I am very interested in your comments as I currently own the E2 and am considering an Empyrean purchase to put them head to head.

I have never heard the term "spare" to describe a headphone before. Would you mind expanding on that description a bit ?

Fine, you got me, I made it up

I actually played with several different word pairs to try to convey the contrast I hear between the two sets. I toyed with lean vs fat, but both words had negative connotations for me — lean suggested thin, while fat suggested bloated — neither of which I hear.

For me, ‘lush’ is intended to convey a sense of a rich, full sound where no aspect of the frequency spectrum seems recessed. It might reflect a bit of mid-base elevation. In addition, the headstage seems dense, with instruments and voices cozying right up to their neighbors, leaving no gaps on stage. Lush.

Meanwhile, ‘spare’ is intended to convey an economical sound where no part of the frequency spectrum is elevated, but all are well-represented, although it could reflect a bit of slightly recessed highs. And the E2 headstage also contrasts with Empyrean stage. Instruments and voices are more localized and separated in all three dimensions, Spare (maybe sparse).

I can’t say to what extent the lush/spare tonality impacts my perception of the staging vs how much the lush/spare headstage impacts my perception of the tonality. But I think there’s a clear relationship between the two aspects.

Hope that didn’t just muddy the water further.

 

[dleblanc343]

"unwanted bloating"

Thank you so much for introducing this priceless new sonic qualifier...

You don’t have to be a douche about it! Very reasonable descriptive I figured. I’m french so maybe you can help me with a better term, thanks

I thought he was talking about his stomach.

Not nice guys, I have Crohn’s disease and very much suffer of these symptoms on the regular

There is a way around that.

Ahaha

 

[Pharmaboy]

You don’t have to be a douche about it! Very reasonable descriptive I figured. I’m french so maybe you can help me with a better term, thanks



Not nice guys, I have Crohn’s disease and very much suffer of these symptoms on the regular


Ahaha

Damn, sorry to hear about Crohn's. I've written about meds for it several times, familiar w/the symptoms (which are very unpleasant)...

Actually, "unwanted bloating" is a pretty good way to describe overdone bass/mid-bass. Though some bassheads might call it "wanted bloating" (!)

As for douche--again, thank you for using this priceless word (C'est magnifique!). I do believe it's the 1st occurrence in this thread.

 

[dleblanc343]

Damn, sorry to hear about Crohn's. I've written about meds for it several times, familiar w/the symptoms (which are very unpleasant)...

Actually, "unwanted bloating" is a pretty good way to describe overdone bass/mid-bass. Though some bassheads might call it "wanted bloating" (!)

As for douche--again, thank you for using this priceless word (C'est magnifique!). I do believe it's the 1st occurrence in this thread.

It’s all good! Sorry if that came across as defensive.

The bass is actually insane, the “unwanted bloating” is just slightly unwanted in some symphonic stuff or double bass in some jazz recordings. Again, for rock and electronic music (70% of what I listen to), it’s quite impeccable of a headphone, and for that I may pick one up. Especially if they make a copper colored one like the prototype!

 

[domho7]

I be heading down to local store to listen and see if it's better than lcd2 ha ha

 

[Currawong]

With the stock cable, I will say that the sound is a bit thick for taste.

 

[domho7]

I just heard briefly on the empyrean briefly with the ifi black dsd on imac with stock cable. I think the headphones not burn in yet.

 

[Imusicman]

With the stock cable, I will say that the sound is a bit thick for taste.

Same here. Different cable & the leather pads much more to my liking. Brings it a lot closer to my 4Z this way

 

[LCMusicLover]

Same here. Different cable & the leather pads much more to my liking. Brings it a lot closer to my 4Z this way

Interesting. I agree regarding the cable swap -- I'm using my Silver Dragon. However, I hear the leather pads as 'thicker' (warmer, bassier) than the velour.

Overall, my preferences are my SS amp (Bryston) driving Empyrean via Silver Dragon, rocking the velour pads. To me, pad swap made the most difference, then amp swap (vs Liquid Platinum), then cable swap.

My cable preference for the Silver Dragon is vs several other cables, including Lazuli Reference. Sadly, my WyWires Platinum was sold/gone before Empyrean arrived. I suspect I would like it very much with Empy.

 

[kumar402]

Interesting. I agree regarding the cable swap -- I'm using my Silver Dragon. However, I hear the leather pads as 'thicker' (warmer, bassier) than the velour.

Overall, my preferences are my SS amp (Bryston) driving Empyrean via Silver Dragon, rocking the velour pads. To me, pad swap made the most difference, then amp swap (vs Liquid Platinum), then cable swap.

My cable preference for the Silver Dragon is vs several other cables, including Lazuli Reference. Sadly, my WyWires Platinum was sold/gone before Empyrean arrived. I suspect I would like it very much with Empy.

I only have Valhalla 2 and Liquid Platinum at my disposal right now. I am using LP(with Amperex NOS tubes) with Empyrean. What changes should I expect if I switch to SS. I have joined the drop for Massdrop THX 789 but it will only be delivered around mid May. I am using Chord Mojo as DAC and have Qutest coming my way.

 

[Imusicman]

Ive just swapped to the velour pads again just to see if my memory was playing tricks on me. Still no change for me as I find the leather pads to be the more neutral, reference sounding of the two. Go figure!

What I do find remarkable is the amount of difference the pad swapping actually makes. I don't think I've ever experienced such a variation from any other headphone including IEM's (tip rolling).

In all honestly I really pleased this is the case, because for me, for my sound preference if I only had the sound signature of the velour pads with the stock cable I think I would end up having to let it go.

 

[LCMusicLover]

...I don't think I've ever experienced such a variation from any other headphone...

Well, try swapping Ether Flow from stock pads to e-stat pads

Adding something not tongue-in-cheek:

Agree that pad swap is a big change. Bigger than Auteur change from Eikon to Auteur pads. As big as Utopia change from stock to Elex pads.

 

[matp86]

I agree with those stating that the velour pads are warmer and bassier. The leather pads are much more neutral.

 

[matp86]

I am very interested in your comments as I currently own the E2 and am considering an Empyrean purchase to put them head to head.

I have never heard the term "spare" to describe a headphone before. Would you mind expanding on that description a bit ?

I think that rather than using the word “spare” the E2 should be described as neutral. The Empyrean is warmer and mid-bass forward.