Lol yes my luck hasn't been great recently. Since I had taken the Planar drivers out of the TH500RP shell to investigate the reason for the channel imbalance, I thought why not also try the TH-X00 drivers in the TH500RP shell. I'm glad I did as the experience has now opened my eyes as to the potential of Fostex Biocellulose drivers in an open-back design. Based on my experience, where I now stand is that Biocellulose drivers in an open-back design, might just be the best of the best option for sheer, maximum sound quality. The TH-X00 Biocellulose drivers outperforms the TH500RP planar drivers with those same cups/shell, mostly in the bass (more sub-bass), but also the 3d sound field aspect is more noticeable. Biocellulose drivers by nature also have an incredibly visceral, emotive sound, the TH-X00 drivers in the TH500RP shell took that realism to a whole other level.
I did make an open biocelly on a budget once. I had the back off and played with the venting sticker as per Tyll's recommendation, because he thought it had potential. And I used some Philips SHP 9500 discs (which are build into the stock pads) and can be used as an add-pn structure to accomodate sheepskin xl round pads., Yes XL! So it was basically a "cheap" ish project in the $100US range, but man i tell you this, this beat a stock th-x00 (not a modded th-x00) per say. The 40mm was fast, lively, and it was musical with deep bass.\\
So I initially aspired to make one with the th500rp shell. That was the plan!
BUTTTTTT once i had the pieces together, they both performed well. The 610 is an all rounder, and the th500rp... well...
... is about the weirdest headphone ever to grace my beautiful ears. It plays 9 out of 10 songs completely wrong. But when it finds the right song, I think to myself, STEVE GUTTENBURG didn't let me down. He used the word sublime, and man those mids when the song is right.
I would never recommend the th500rp to anyone looking for a primary, but maybe as a 4th or 5th can.
As for mids, I know when they sound right to me, and I use dt48A 5 ohm, dt480 (both 200ohm and 25ohm), dt100 (2000ohm made for BBC).
I will say the problematic roll offs on both ends and this overall haze bleeds into the mids, but that is what seems to make it musical when the right song is on.
I cannot describe the sound of this thing, it is like when you go to the zoo, and you enter the tropical pavillions and there is this "thickness" in the air with the humidity.
I remember how much Z hated this phone, and how much Steve loved it, and they are both right. These sound horrible with most tracks. Not EQ friendly IMO... YMMV
I knew all this before investing beans into this thing (mostly convincing myself if all else fails, I will have the cups, those magical cups) ; btw, the prototype cups look better IMO as the anodized ones (though probably cleaner looking) don't look as beefy.
So yeah, if you like music from 50s,60s,70s, like Dolly Parton, Emmylou Harris, Roy Orbison,etc. these work well, as if you're going on some date in cadillac to a diner level comfort, magical mids experience. I will say more romantic accurate than accurate-accurate natural. Natural sometimes is more "boring" than romanticized, smoky, thick bacon mids. IMO natural is better, because the emotion comes from the singer and not the headphones themselves. A romantic signature can make some voices which don't deserve to be magical magical, like when you hear someone with a cool mic, and you go "wow your voice is saxxy" but in real life it isn't. Some modern music is good like 3-4 band members in live setting in small space. If the performance is in BIG venue, problems occur , it seems compressed. In other words a big venue will sound like marshmellowy squished in, whereas a small venue will bring out that coziness. I tried listening to some Violent Femmes and it was hit miss, depending on track but the
performances I enjoyed. Classical on the other hand is hit or miss. Lots of timbral issues with roll offs on both ends.
this was a unique experience to say the least. Some people can handle this Loveless album, most can't. The laid back nature and FATNESS adds to its magic, rather than add to its disturbing distortion quality. Those who get me will get me if they've heard this album.
I had a bit of an emotional reaction to this song, even though it sounds "rough,off, and messy" The best way I can put it is it was as if they were performing LIVE but on a stage with some crappy speakers. Still enjoyable, and it brings out the punk'iness nature out of the song.
Music of the 90s in similar genre areas were about just chaos exuding from boom boxes which had a musicality in an unrefined way. Punk Rock / Grunge/ Alternative with an edge lovers of 90s era know.
ANyway enough rambling, I n conclusion, these as an overall do not beat the mid-fi trio kings, EXCEPT when you find the right songs, then they are about equal. I would say this floats in mid-fi land and not top of the food chain land. Weirdest cans ever!
IMO YMMV!
