Orthodynamic Roundup

[leeperry]

yet another forum goer vouching for the HE5LE over the HP-1, especially for vocals(that sound out of this world on the latter IME): http://www.sgheadphones.net/index.php?showtopic=11036&st=30
 
gonna have to clear this dilemma off my mind soon or later

 

[tzjin]

What do you guys think of the SFI drivers for sale right now? Looks like the 32 ohm one is a headphone driver as well, but it's only one.

 

[DefectiveAudioComponent]

Quote:

yet another forum goer vouching for the HE5LE over the HP-1, especially for vocals(that sound out of this world on the latter IME): http://www.sgheadphones.net/index.php?showtopic=11036&st=30
 
gonna have to clear this dilemma off my mind soon or later

I haven't heard either of those two. But, my LCD-2 rev1 sounds better than any of my modified vintage orthodynamics. Clear, yet with deep bass that gives a full bodied sound.
 

 

[gurubhai]

 
Quote:

I do think that HP1 of yours sounded better than it should have though .
 

You didn't have a chance to compare it with a regular HP1, did you?
 

 

[leeperry]

 

You didn't have a chance to compare it with a regular HP1, did you?

is it of the latter "black box" anisotropic flavor? 
 

I haven't heard either of those two. But, my LCD-2 rev1 sounds better than any of my modified vintage orthodynamics. Clear, yet with deep bass that gives a full bodied sound.

Oh...I'm a bit confused about the LCD-2(whose used rev1's sells for rather cheap) because T50RP fanboys/modding shills call it 80/85% of the LCD2, some even dare calling it better once its cups are filled w/ rainbow dust and magical secret absorption materials...and I believe I read quite a lot of negative feedback from vintage ortho lovers too

 
And tbh, I'm really enjoying the light weight of those over-the-ear Yam's...killer headstage, good bass and very light on the head(the bellini headband helps a lot of course).

 

[gurubhai]

^Yup. I got the aniso version.
Congrats on the purchase, pretty good price as well.
I'll be looking forward to your side-by-side comparison of them both.
 
@ DAC: while the LCD2r1 is the better headphone technically, there are plenty of things that I enjoy more out of a modded HP1.
Of-course the LCD2 has the potential to be improved by modding as well....
 
Today I revisited my HP50 transplant (in PMB80 shell) & finished working on them. The initial impressions are great. Soundstage is huge & overall balance is excellent. There is slight loss of bass quantity compared to stock shell but everything else is a clear improvement.
I'll follow it up with some pics later.

 

[leeperry]

Well, maybe the one I currently own is also aniso...not sure. But I wanted to have a spare in case my transplant into a Takstar TS-671 shell would go wrong. I'll crack both open soon and report back on the transplant and SQ difference.
 
Now that the new toy syndrom has worn out, I realize that this HP-1 is indeed bass shy, but it's still light years ahead the pimped T50RP no matter what...and as Kabeer said in this page "my personal sound tastes seems to be rather different than most (I prefer a warm laid back sound)."
 
I'm rather shocked to almost always see the pimped T50RP on the top of everyone's list in this page and the HP-1 in the middle or the bottom. But yes, I also very much enjoy a "warm laid back sound"...70's music on the HP-1 via a discrete DAC is pure bliss to my ears, it's basically what I had been seeking all along

 
From what I understand, the newer Yam designs after the HP-1 provide better bass but less "magical" mids? Compromises as usual

 

[dBel84]

Quote:

I'm rather shocked to almost always see the pimped T50RP on the top of everyone's list in this page
 
From what I understand, the newer Yam designs after the HP-1 provide better bass but less "magical" mids?

Not everyone feels that the T50RP is where it's at. I no longer own mine, in fact it went soon after it was pimped. Come to think of it, I can't think off hand who actually owns and uses one. 
 
Here say or heresy   , the yamahas after the originals were the small driver YHD's and there mids are every bit as magical as the older drivers. Funnily enough, I had always favoured the YH2/HP2 over the HP1. The YH100 was however very special and the magic of the YH1000 ..... this is what you need leeperry. It will knock the 70's sox off. 
 
..dB
 

 

[joelpearce]

I'm still using my Thunderpants on a regular basis, which really are great all-rounders.  The T50RP that I modded are getting some use, but I am reaching for dynamics as often as not these days.  If the Yamahas weren't on-ear, I would pick up another pair in a heartbeat, but comfort really is important too.

 

[leeperry]

 

 
Not everyone feels that the T50RP is where it's at. I no longer own mine, in fact it went soon after it was pimped. Come to think of it, I can't think off hand who actually owns and uses one. 
 
Here say or heresy   , the yamahas after the originals were the small driver YHD's and there mids are every bit as magical as the older drivers. Funnily enough, I had always favoured the YH2/HP2 over the HP1. The YH100 was however very special and the magic of the YH1000 ..... this is what you need leeperry. It will knock the 70's sox off.

 
Hehe OK, nothing's written in stone as usual...and the T50RP new toy syndrom wears out quickly

 
Well, the YH100 seems very rare and the YHE1000 goes for ridiculous amounts(the last one I saw went for $400 w/ a busted driver)...I just got this NOS aniso HP-1 instead.
 
Wouldn't a HE5LE be a more sensible choice than a YH100? I've seen used 5LE's go for less than $500 and tbh I'm mostly interested in those vintage Yam's as drivers donors. There are a few ppl who claim it to have even "better" mids than the vintage Yam's.
 
OTOH, I could also put my hands on a YHE-50a, would that be an upgrade over the HP-1? I'm not sure what to do w/ its 38mm drivers, though...as I can't think of any über-comfy 40mm dynamic shell foster

 
YH2/HP2 over the HP1? The wiki says that the "1" models are always the more detailed higher end models

 
PS: Oh yah, the HP-2 has smaller and lighter drivers than the 1 indeed: http://wiki.faust3d.com/wiki/images/8/85/Yamaha_4_doc.jpg
 
I missed on a $100 used HP-2 last week.
 
PPS: I see that iQEM put the HE-5LE as number two on his ortho ranking list.

 

[rhythmdevils]

Quote:

 
Wouldn't a HE5LE be a more sensible choice than a YH100? I've seen used 5LE's go for less than $500 and tbh I'm mostly interested in those vintage Yam's as drivers donors. There's a few ppl who claim it to have even "better" mids than the vintage Yam's.

I've never read that.  My YH3 has equal if not better mids than even the HE500.

 

[leeperry]

Well, iQEM put the HE-5LE at the very top of his ortho ranking list and I already posted two links on the previous page w/ ppl stating that the HE5-LE had "better" mids than those vintage Yam's...but oh my, oh my...I'm quite jaded at how mind boggling this 1975 song sounds on the 1975 HP-1: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zY7f5nxuKts

 
I think the upgraditis monster is gonna have to shut it for a little while, at least until the next single figure Hifiman using those cheaper to produce new drivers shows up

 

[gurubhai]

Yammies are the kings of mid-range, there is no denying that.

 

[rhythmdevils]

I think the RP18 is the one to aim for if you want the ultimate 70's sound. 

 

[vid]

Finally got a pair of shoes in the mail! Anti-stress and all, cool.
 

 
Just open the box and... what the ¤%# is this?!
 

 
(Well, that was my attempt at humor. Though seriously, the person did send orthos in a shoe box.)
 
The phones themselves look brand new, even the pads are relatively soft and holding together, despite some superficial cracks. Comes with a würfel plug, which has an extra notch on it and won't fit into my newer converter plug. Luckily I had another würfel converter which, even though it looks to have been someone's ancient DIY with black tape and all, fits.
 
Phones work fine too, so all in all a successful extraction of HOKs out of Germany.