[banda]

I mean, that is literally the point of this thread... to offer suggestions. I didn't see it mentioned and those are the two best "drop" headphones available (price/performance) that haven't already been done (HD6xx) - The list of headphones given are all mostly gimped models that have been given a drop treatment, but ultimately are mid-fi and lower. The ESP950 and Elex at least get you close like the HD6XX with an AIO unit.

I don't think that a development like this could possibly be feasible.

 

[M3NTAL]

I don't think that a development like this could possibly be feasible.

You're probably correct, but I'm letting Drop know that I'm not voting for any of the phones listed above. I'd focus on just making a good product instead of catering to gimped headphones. Do the RME-ADI thing.. Throw all the digital bells & whistles in there and program all the Drop headphones and IEM's into it. Seems like it would be stupid simple if Radsone and Quedelix and other people are jumping on board. Create the "Drop" tuning and give it usb or ethernet to update the EQ profiles or save your own.

 

[ajm87]

I have been using the Ifi Zen Dac Zen Can Stack for my HE400I 2020 and my Fostex THX00 along with some Grados and i could not be happier. but a special edition amp for the HE400i would really be nice and would love to hear Ifis tuning for that can.

 

[banda]

You're probably correct, but I'm letting Drop know that I'm not voting for any of the phones listed above. I'd focus on just making a good product instead of catering to gimped headphones. Do the RME-ADI thing.. Throw all the digital bells & whistles in there and program all the Drop headphones and IEM's into it. Seems like it would be stupid simple if Radsone and Quedelix and other people are jumping on board. Create the "Drop" tuning and give it usb or ethernet to update the EQ profiles or save your own.

What's "gimped" about all these headphones? I know how people feel about the Beyerdynamic's treble, but I'm not familiar with the others' problems.

 

[M3NTAL]

They are all mediocre headphones tweaked to get a little more selling power out of them. This isn't about drop - this is about iFi making a dedicated amplifier for a group of headphones that don't even really scale that well.

4 dynamic headphones with different impedances and a planar are the options. They each vary on what the actual needs from the amplifier are. So if you make a one stop amp for all of those, you've already left things on the table elsewhere.

 

[iFi audio]

I have been using the Ifi Zen Dac Zen Can Stack for my HE400I 2020 and my Fostex THX00 along with some Grados and i could not be happier. but a special edition amp for the HE400i would really be nice and would love to hear Ifis tuning for that can.

Please vote and like so let us know about it

headphones that don't even really scale that well.

We'll see about that

 

[Wladimir]

a group of headphones that don't even really scale that well.

Dunno about those other 3, but my 99C scaled surprisingly well with the source/amp I threw at it Also with other mods - foam swap, pad swap, cable upgrade and custom EQ - they're now beating Empyreans with their stock cable.

 

[Sebastien Chiu]

Original post updated with a bit more information for you all

 

[iFi audio]

Just to chime in with extra info,

We are asking you guys to choose which EQ Curve you'd like us to build into the next edition of the ZEN CAN Signature. For example, the ZEN CAN Signature 6XX is specially tuned to work with the Massdrop x Sennheiser HD 6XX headphones. Check out the graph below: Insert graph image.

The HD6XX have a spectacularly balanced mid-range BUT it's commonly thought that the bass under 100Hz is rolled off, the upper treble is a little attenuated and the upper presence region has a significant 'hole' in frequency response.

Our ActivEQ tailors the curve to address the above. It contains active and passive components, it's all performed in the analogue domain with no alteration to the midrange, no worsening of SNR and distortion is NOT increased.

So, for the next edition of the ZEN CAN Signature, we're asking you to chose from 5 headphones - HIFIMAN HE4XX, Fostex TR-X00, Meze 99 Classics, Beyerdynamic DT177XX and AKG K7XX.

Which headphone's EQ curve should we tailor the next edition of the ZEN CAN Signature to?

You can vote here - https://us5.list-manage.com/survey?u=6607f3ac6b09465840419622f&id=9286873bdb

Thanks

 

[ajm87]

If a zen can signature for HE400 was made would there be a way to try it out and compare it to my current Zen can launch edition ?

 

[ajm87]

Another idea I had and would love to see is a hybrid tube zen can with swappable tubes under $300 that would be amazing.

 

[iFi audio]

If a zen can signature for HE400 was made would there be a way to try it out and compare it to my current Zen can launch edition ?

The fastest way would be to contact your local iFi reseller and ask

 

[InvisibleInk]

Just to chime in with extra info,

We are asking you guys to choose which EQ Curve you'd like us to build into the next edition of the ZEN CAN Signature. For example, the ZEN CAN Signature 6XX is specially tuned to work with the Massdrop x Sennheiser HD 6XX headphones. Check out the graph below: Insert graph image.

The HD6XX have a spectacularly balanced mid-range BUT it's commonly thought that the bass under 100Hz is rolled off, the upper treble is a little attenuated and the upper presence region has a significant 'hole' in frequency response.



Our ActivEQ tailors the curve to address the above. It contains active and passive components, it's all performed in the analogue domain with no alteration to the midrange, no worsening of SNR and distortion is NOT increased.

So, for the next edition of the ZEN CAN Signature, we're asking you to chose from 5 headphones - HIFIMAN HE4XX, Fostex TR-X00, Meze 99 Classics, Beyerdynamic DT177XX and AKG K7XX.

Which headphone's EQ curve should we tailor the next edition of the ZEN CAN Signature to?

You can vote here - https://us5.list-manage.com/survey?u=6607f3ac6b09465840419622f&id=9286873bdb

Thanks

Of that selection group I'm pretty sure the HE-4XX has the largest user base and it is still actively sold. Second place goes to the AKG, also still sold. The Fostex is no longer sold by Massdrop. The Meze's have their fans, except for the ones that received theirs covered in mold. The Beyers are love/hate with their purchasers, and are probably the ones that need this product the most.

 

[VicPickles]

Of that selection group I'm pretty sure the HE-4XX has the largest user base and it is still actively sold. Second place goes to the AKG, also still sold. The Fostex is no longer sold by Massdrop. The Meze's have their fans, except for the ones that received theirs covered in mold. The Beyers are love/hate with their purchasers, and are probably the ones that need this product the most.

Hey, thanks for your feedback, Just to make clear that this new version of the ZEN CAN Signature will not be sold via Drop or actually have anything to do with them at all. We simply picked these headphones out as we know that they have sold in numbers and there should be an audience for such am amp. Let's hope so, anyway. We're looking forward to seeing which of these first five comes out top. Cheers, Vic from iFi (also known as Hedgehog39) Normally a lurker, not a poster!!!

 

[banda]

Dunno about those other 3, but my 99C scaled surprisingly well with the source/amp I threw at it Also with other mods - foam swap, pad swap, cable upgrade and custom EQ - they're now beating Empyreans with their stock cable.

Of that selection group I'm pretty sure the HE-4XX has the largest user base and it is still actively sold. Second place goes to the AKG, also still sold. The Fostex is no longer sold by Massdrop. The Meze's have their fans, except for the ones that received theirs covered in mold. The Beyers are love/hate with their purchasers, and are probably the ones that need this product the most.

These are the sort of comments I need to see. I'm not familiar enough with these headphones to choose on my own, I need people to share their thoughts to make up my mind for me!