megabigeye
Headphoneus Supremus
I am kind of interested in hearing the Cascade, even though I don't need them and I don't want to spend so much on a "portable" headphone. And it goes against my policy of not listening to things that I don't want or need that might also make me want to spend money.After buying the Campfire Audio Cascade I don’t look back to the PM3s. The cascade is double the price, but it also delivers a technical upgrade. But I kept the PM3s for my girlfriend. Still good headphones, just not the best (portable) closed backs any more
Huh. That's an interesting and probably better way of thinking about it. One problem, of course, is that people don't understand value, see the word "best," and jump on the hype train. Another problem is how value is measured.I don't think they ever were the best portable closed back headphone, they were the best value portable PM headphone available and perhaps still are.
That's another good point. Where I used to work I'd see people walking around wearing the HD 650 and HD 800 S. The lady wearing the 800 S was wearing them by a busy bus depot at rush hour; so while I thought, "Cool. Nice headphones," I also thought, "What the hell are you listening to? 'Cause I know it's not the music."I can't think of a "TRULY" portable closed back headphone released prior to the PM-3 that was better. Even now with the arrival of the Campfire Audio Cascade and the Mr. Speaker Aeon Flow it would be difficult to name a "TRULY" portable closed back phone that outperforms the PM-3. Despite Campfire Audio's claim that the Cascade is portable I argue that in the true sense of the word, it is not. To me a TRULY portable headphone is one the was purposely designed for mobile use as its primary function. The Cascade and certainly the Aeon Flow can not say that. Let's be honest the very nature of headphones allows for the portable moniker to be applied to virtually any and all headphones, with the exception of certain electrostats that require an externsl energizer. We need to more properly define the term "suitable for portable use".
Similarly, I don't find the PM-3 to be all that portable. I generally never want to take them with me unless 1) I've got a bag I can put the case in (that I can put the headphones in after I've taken out the cable and collapsed the headphones), and 2) it's not sunny (so I can wear my sunglasses) or 3) raining or 4) too cold to not wear a hat or 5) so hot that my ears get sweaty. Which is approximately three days a year around here. I much prefer IEMs for on-the-go because none of the above are a problem.
To me, the value of the headphone goes waaaaay down when I take into account their ability to be used for their intended purpose, chiefly portability.