eeyssjr: Actually, I think Tomcat is right here - I don't believe, this could be a "Sony in disguise", either. For example, the K501 also features 50-mm-drivers and 3 m cable length - is this a disguised Sony, too? I think not. No offence meant, though.
Tomcat: I'm confused, too.
But in fact I think that Philips found the futuristic design of the HP910 not so good, either. So the more conservatively styled HP890 might be the top-liner in disguise - even if it's listed 80 DM cheaper than the HP910. Btw, you might have noticed my statement, that the highs of the HP890 seem just a tad to bright and shrill for me. But I don't know, if the HP910 are even worse. Maybe they are - because of the added 2 kHz... Well, as I'm going to phone up their press spokesman, anyway, I could just ask him, what they regard as their top-of-the-line product themselves. And maybe he also knows, if and when the HP890 is going to be introduced in the US - in order to unscrew KR...
jerikl: Absolutely right - even if I take it as a compliment, that my review has aroused some interest.
But as I gave it back to our new editor trainee for his mp3-player tests, today, I'm already curious what he thinks about the HP890. I'll add his statements, if there are interesting additions or deviations to/of my opinion. At least, I already saw him wearing and obviously enjoying it, though that's all I can tell, yet.
all: I'd like to collect some feedback. Do you think, I have included all of the important info, or did you miss anything I should pay attention to next time? I better not ask about the style, though, because I find my English a little clumsy myself.
And what do you think about my concentration on testing not too expensive headphones that look promising to me? Is that useful for the community?
Greetings from Munich!
Manfred / lini
P.S.: Just for your interest, I phoned with Mister Schmitt at Ultrasone, today, and gave him some feedback about the HFI-2000, which I didn't like that much. He seemed very interested - especially when I compared it to the HP890, K501 and DT531 (he owns the latter himself and also finds the mid-bass a little too dominant...).
So even if Ultrasone might have disappointed me with the HFI-2000 (especially for 459 DM list price), they apparently want to make things better. I also encouraged him to get the K501 and the HP890 to check for himself, so they could see, feel and hear what I mean for themselves. So maybe they can and will evolve the HFI-2000 to a serious contender sooner or later.
I just wish all companies would react to feedback like this, even if it's negative feedback - though I think Mister Schmitt noticed that it was meant as constructive criticism. Nevertheless I have a little bad conscience, now - because when he asked me, what part of Ultrasone would fit in my personal "ideal blend", the only good thing from the HFI-2000 was detailed presentation in low volumes, though it's my true opinion.
