Czilla9000
10 Year Member. Still no custom title.
- Joined
- Feb 26, 2002
- Posts
- 2,238
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Boy, has it been a long time since I've posted here.
I bought the Nuraphone. I was curious about the really weird technology involved. It's a Kickstarter-backed wireless headphone that has two very weird features:
1. A hybrid headphone-earphone design. It's a headphone, but it has two earphone nodules you stick in your ear. The tactile bass, however, is delivered via a haptic feedback motor in the ear cup. You can dial up and down the involvement of the haptic bass motor ("Immersion Mode") using the iOS and Android app. The best way to describe it is as the headphone equivalent to turning up and down a home theater subwoofer.
The rationale is that tactile bass level can be controlled without mudding up the highs and lows.
2. The headphones, via a mandatory iOS or Android app, self-calibrates to your ears using a variety of test tones. Your eardrum reflects some of the test tones back and a very sensitive microphone picks it up. It then changes the sound based on that. Your custom profile is saved to the Nuraphone for use with any device.
So I've been using the headphones for the past two days:
Pros -
1. Sound signature is shockingly neutral. Despite the heavy DSP action involved, acoustic instruments sound like acoustic instruments. I was worried they wouldn't.
2. The "Immersion Mode" haptic feedback feature works really well. These headphones produce an amazing amount of tactile bass and the level can be controlled via the app. It's like adjusting the subwoofer level in a speaker system. It's weird experiencing tactile bass with earphones, however.
The canons on the 1812 Overture are amazing with haptic feedback.
3. They shine particularly with movies, in part because of the "Immersion Mode" feature. I've been meaning to try them with PSVR and games.
4. Support for AptX HD.
Cons -
1. The treble could use some work. Can be harsh.
2. The soundstage is similar to earphones. i.e., small.
3. The headphones are HEAVY. There is a lot of metal here. Build quality is excellent, however.
4. I wear glasses, and it makes getting the right fit a bit tough.
5. List price is $399.
Now, here's the main problem -
It's been years since I've been into hifi. I used to own the Sennheiser HD600, Grado SR325i, JVC DX1000, and a Stax Classic 2 system. But I sold them all and haven't heard them in years. Thus my reference is a bit....lacking. I do attend classical music concerts on a regular basis, however.
I'd love to pick up a pair of HD600s and see how they compare.
EDIT: I can give you a 20% discount (e.g., $80 off) if you want to try them. I'm a bit mad I paid full price.
I bought the Nuraphone. I was curious about the really weird technology involved. It's a Kickstarter-backed wireless headphone that has two very weird features:
1. A hybrid headphone-earphone design. It's a headphone, but it has two earphone nodules you stick in your ear. The tactile bass, however, is delivered via a haptic feedback motor in the ear cup. You can dial up and down the involvement of the haptic bass motor ("Immersion Mode") using the iOS and Android app. The best way to describe it is as the headphone equivalent to turning up and down a home theater subwoofer.
The rationale is that tactile bass level can be controlled without mudding up the highs and lows.
2. The headphones, via a mandatory iOS or Android app, self-calibrates to your ears using a variety of test tones. Your eardrum reflects some of the test tones back and a very sensitive microphone picks it up. It then changes the sound based on that. Your custom profile is saved to the Nuraphone for use with any device.
So I've been using the headphones for the past two days:
Pros -
1. Sound signature is shockingly neutral. Despite the heavy DSP action involved, acoustic instruments sound like acoustic instruments. I was worried they wouldn't.
2. The "Immersion Mode" haptic feedback feature works really well. These headphones produce an amazing amount of tactile bass and the level can be controlled via the app. It's like adjusting the subwoofer level in a speaker system. It's weird experiencing tactile bass with earphones, however.
The canons on the 1812 Overture are amazing with haptic feedback.
3. They shine particularly with movies, in part because of the "Immersion Mode" feature. I've been meaning to try them with PSVR and games.
4. Support for AptX HD.
Cons -
1. The treble could use some work. Can be harsh.
2. The soundstage is similar to earphones. i.e., small.
3. The headphones are HEAVY. There is a lot of metal here. Build quality is excellent, however.
4. I wear glasses, and it makes getting the right fit a bit tough.
5. List price is $399.
Now, here's the main problem -
It's been years since I've been into hifi. I used to own the Sennheiser HD600, Grado SR325i, JVC DX1000, and a Stax Classic 2 system. But I sold them all and haven't heard them in years. Thus my reference is a bit....lacking. I do attend classical music concerts on a regular basis, however.
I'd love to pick up a pair of HD600s and see how they compare.
EDIT: I can give you a 20% discount (e.g., $80 off) if you want to try them. I'm a bit mad I paid full price.
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