aha, now you mention it nick then i'll share my impression bout em based on my experiences and pref..
as you all knew, i too have 2 pairs of T30s both version, the silver fork/jpn version and the regular/blk version..i got it both from our copy ninja kakashi..
back in the old days, i only have the jpn version..my goal that time, copied everything i have achieved on my previous cans, NAD RP-18 kapton..several roll the damping schemes, several swapping pads, i settled on the silver one for several years..grab YH1 aniso for my son and then replaced it with modded fostex T10..but then the blk version shown up, so i let go the T10..definitely both YH1 aniso or even T10 are not on the same level any of the duo T30s..
i gave my son the jpn version T30, and i switch the pads from XB500 to V700 +use the stock cable from the blk vers..
OTOH, i place the XB pads on the blk version, and use the silver copper germania from the previous modded T10..
with all the changes i've made here and there, i'm starting from scratch again on the damping scheme inside both..
i switch the stock mineral wool from the blk version, which is still fat, thick and fresh to the jpn version, and vice versa..
both with the bass lens that i have remove from the baffles of their own and put it between the driver and mineral wool..
several weeks then, i visited USF 2014, and visited Mook 2014 several weeks before they both ready with their own condition now..
so, what i've get from there?
compare the jpn vers to Abyss and modded T50RP a.k.a Alpha Dog..well i'm not too impress with Abyss, why? with their price tag, too bad its not far away from my jpn version..I wouldn't say its on the same league just yet, but i'm sure the differences not more than a single hair..both compare with my setup, on SQ wise..offcourse, Abyss won from the jpn version because of the comfort, the look/model&the openess..
the Alpha dog? ah, not my cup of tea..or let me just say too much trouble to get it sound rite..LOL
now, bout the blk version..
on USF, i bring my setup&T30s blk vers. and after several hour auditioning all the participants booth there, i settle down sat on the Audeze booth..i really impressed with Fidelio X2 and TOTL Sony, but its non ortho so i'm not gonna share bout them both here..
on Audeze booth, i have heard an audition all line that available there..which is LCD2 bamboo, LCDX, LCDXC, LCD3..cmiiw
with my setup, i like the LCDX better than the rest..so my opinion base on several hour listening is:
LCDX > LCD3 > LCDXC > LCD2 bamboo
i have share bout this before on USF thread discussion..
http://www.head-fi.org/t/736275/ultimate-sound-fair-2014-jakarta-indonesia-impression-and-report-on-26-and-27-september-2014#post_10915788
with their setup or my setup, i'm pretty sure that my rank there are suit for em..
so, then i compare them one by one to my T30 blk version WITH my setup..many of ppl there on the Audeze booth looked curious seeing me so serious compare one to each other..
even they ask weither i'm allow em to make a listen what my cans are, i'll share bout the opinion about the comparison later..
but you know what, base on my pref, my setup, the blk vers here (again, not stock!) are not far away from even LCDX..but are the T30s surpass the other types of the Audeze there? i wouldn't dare to claim bout that just yet, but i'm very very grateful i have these T30s..the Audezes won from T30 on comfort, look/models but not much on the SQ wise..
my result here:
Abyss > Audezes
so, i notice the jpn vers > blk vers..
note:
ppl there on the Audeze booth claimed that after auditioning my cans, the blk version are sounding the same/on the same league and even one of em dare to say it better than all the audezes there, on his own setup&pref offcourse..and i kinda satisfied with their opinions/impression, they said why would the modern ortho have so high on their price tag BUT in SQ wise not bring too much improvements from their fellow vintage orthos..lol well its them, not my personal statement, even i kinda agree that i'm not too impressed with their price tag vs SQ wise..
There, nick_n..sorry for misspelled or incorrect grammar or so on, english are not my native language..i'm hope my post here are easy too understand..