[Hachiko270296]

The Vali is a hybrid. It doesn't really have that tubey sound but it is smoother than the magni which is harsh and lean. If you want a more tube like experience then look into the Littledot 1+ which is also a hybrid but it sounds more tubey and you have more tube rolling options to play with the sound.
 
The X2 sound good out of pretty much anything and their potential can be reached with the Vali or similar I found. When it comes to scaling I have only found the HD650 to scale but that's because they have be underestimated in terms of driving. 

 

[Music Path]

  The Vali is a hybrid. It doesn't really have that tubey sound but it is smoother than the magni which is harsh and lean. If you want a more tube like experience then look into the Littledot 1+ which is also a hybrid but it sounds more tubey and you have more tube rolling options to play with the sound.
 
The X2 sound good out of pretty much anything and their potential can be reached with the Vali or similar I found. When it comes to scaling I have only found the HD650 to scale but that's because they have be underestimated in terms of driving. 

The HD650 where never underestimated in terms of driving. It depends more on the transparecy of the gear, like the X2. But i think a bit tube sound can help the fidelio a bit, i tried with the ifi tube buffer connected to an SS amp (micro ican) and it sounded good. IMO

 

[Hachiko270296]

  The HD650 where never underestimated in terms of driving. It depends more on the transparecy of the gear, like the X2. But i think a bit tube sound can help the fidelio a bit, i tried with the ifi tube buffer connected to an SS amp (micro ican) and it sounded good. IMO

They have been underestimated for many years by the majority. Many people still think amps like the E12 and 02 are good amps for it when in reality, they are not really enough. When you pair them with the right amp the depth and imaging is top notch and the sound is high end. The HD650 do sound good out of anything because they are forgiving but they really do need something along the lines of the Valhalla 2 at the least.

 

[Music Path]

  They have been underestimated for many years by the majority. Many people still think amps like the E12 and 02 are good amps for it when in reality, they are not really enough. When you pair them with the right amp the depth and imaging is top notch and the sound is high end. The HD650 do sound good out of anything because they are forgiving but they really do need something along the lines of the Valhalla 2 at the least.

Yeah, they scale pretty much, especially with tubes. On the same setup, when i hear them with tubes and without it. Its quite a diference. 

 

[Uberclocked]

 
i tried the driver matching at first yah its centered(i think low sounds) then at high sounds(or high pitched) its more favor on the right actually before the sounds fade its more on the right

Yes, then you should definitely return it asap.

 

[Uberclocked]

  So here's where I'm at right now - the Schiit stack is looking like my best bet and there are a ton of positive impressions out there about pairing it with the X2. HOWEVER, I am torn between the Vali and the Magni 2. Headphone Guru has some extremely positive Vali+X2 impressions, but then if you go to a site like Audiobot9000 and pair the two together, it shows a damping factor of 4.6 and warns, "headphones with higher impedances may be a better fit for this amp." I'm also hesitant about the microphonic "ting" noise that occurs when you first plug in the headphones or tap the box. And some users have commented that X2's bass on the Vali sounds "uncontrolled" compared to the Magni 2.

But then you read the Headphone Guru review and they mention the X2's bass sounding "more emphasized, but more rounded and fleshed out. It extends a hint deeper with more body," and the treble "a more fluid, and organic tone to it’s sound, extending to it’s treble presentation. The treble is still quite lively on the X2, but there is an extra hint of smoothness, and less aggressiveness when paired with the Vali," --which is exactly the kind of thing I'm looking for!
 
What do you guys think about using the Vali with X2?

If you want a warmer sound, get the Vali.  If you want a more neutral sound, get the Magni.  And if you're a high roller, get the Headamp Aristaeus.  I wouldn't worry about impedance matching in this case.

 

[State Of Trance]

Just when I was fixing to buy the Sennheiser 598's I hear about these. Looking for a recommendation one way or the other.
 
Stuff about my tastes and setup:
 

1. I like Trance / Chillstep
2. I also like acoustic stuff and vocals
3. Orchestral soundtracks are also good
4. I have the Fiio E10K
5. I'm not a basshead, but I have a slight preference for bass
6. I really really want a good soundstage
7. I'll use the cans for gaming as well
8. COMFORT MATTERS. I returned the Audio Technica M50x's because they pinched my ears. I need room for the tops and bottoms of my ears

 
Here's some music that must sound awesome on whatever cans I get:
 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g6pbU9zjJEc
 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X4ovZiQTKXQ
 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BAVUPu7URbc
 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F3PGmWCWh7c
 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=voBz2Y0nQXU
 
Any thoughts appreciated.

 

[rovopio]

Bumping this...
 
"I've read about fidelio x2 ink bleed issues. Is that common?? and if it is common, will that be harmful for my health and ears....?
thank you in advance...

"

 

[Uberclocked]

  Bumping this...
 
"I've read about fidelio x2 ink bleed issues. Is that common?? and if it is common, will that be harmful for my health and ears....?
thank you in advance...

"

It will kill you as it has to dozens of Head-fiers.  It's extremely toxic and the ink contains highly radioactive Polonium, which will kill you in an agonizingly slow, painful death.
 
You know how the consumers who have defects with their products are MUCH more vocal than those who are satisfied?  Yeah.  I'm guessing that's the case with the Fidelio pads.  I've never personally had any issues with ink bleed, but that's just my experience.  Yours may be completely different, but I would assume the issue only affects a small percentage of X2 owners, or else this thread would have another 100 pages with all the Head-fi members who've owned the X2 complaining about them.  Also, why the heck would they use a toxic substance in something that's designed to come in contact with skin when there're completely harmless alternatives?
 
Remember, even if there's a small chance you'll get a pair of with ink bleed, it's not zero.  The only way to find out if you're going to get a pair with ink bleed is to buy a pair yourself.

  Just when I was fixing to buy the Sennheiser 598's I hear about these. Looking for a recommendation one way or the other.
 
Stuff about my tastes and setup:
 

1. I like Trance / Chillstep
2. I also like acoustic stuff and vocals
3. Orchestral soundtracks are also good
4. I have the Fiio E10K
5. I'm not a basshead, but I have a slight preference for bass
6. I really really want a good soundstage
7. I'll use the cans for gaming as well
8. COMFORT MATTERS. I returned the Audio Technica M50x's because they pinched my ears. I need room for the tops and bottoms of my ears

 
Here's some music that must sound awesome on whatever cans I get:
 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g6pbU9zjJEc
 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X4ovZiQTKXQ
 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BAVUPu7URbc
 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F3PGmWCWh7c
 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=voBz2Y0nQXU
 
Any thoughts appreciated.

Well, uh, first of all, you probably are a basshead.  All of this music is bass-oriented.  The general consensus (and my opinion) is that a smaller, more intimate soundstage works better for bassy, electronic music like this.  
The pads are fairly large, so you probably won't have a problem with the size.  They're also extremely comforatble and wearable for long periods of time, although the velours are a bit itchy at the start.  You get used to them over time, though.  
If you want a great all-rounder that does bass excellently, the X2 is probably one of the best cans you can get atm.

 

[Sundown]

  It will kill you as it has to dozens of Head-fiers.  It's extremely toxic and the ink contains highly radioactive Polonium, which will kill you in an agonizingly slow, painful death.
 
You know how the consumers who have defects with their products are MUCH more vocal than those who are satisfied?  Yeah.  I'm guessing that's the case with the Fidelio pads.  I've never personally had any issues with ink bleed, but that's just my experience.  Yours may be completely different, but I would assume the issue only affects a small percentage of X2 owners, or else this thread would have another 100 pages with all the Head-fi members who've owned the X2 complaining about them.  Also, why the heck would they use a toxic substance in something that's designed to come in contact with skin when there's completely harmless alternatives?
 
Remember, even if there's a small chance you'll get a pair of with ink bleed, it's not zero.  The only way to find out if you're going to get a pair with ink bleed is to buy a pair yourself.

For the same reason why our food is contaminated with ingredients that shouldn't be in there. The same ingredients that can cause problems in the long run? Who knows, unnecessary ingredients in food =/= Philips Fidelio X2 earpad ink. Is it organic? Is it gluten free? Does it have high fructose corn syrup? Does it have potassium sorbate, BHT, corn syrup, or food coloring? Oh wait.

 

[Uberclocked]

  For the same reason why our food is contaminated with ingredients that shouldn't be in there. The same ingredients that can cause problems in the long run? Who knows, unnecessary ingredients in food =/= Philips Fidelio X2 earpad ink. Is it organic? Is it gluten free? Does it have high fructose corn syrup? Does it have potassium sorbate, BHT, corn syrup, or food coloring? Oh wait.

The pads are designed by engineers who know what they're doing and are using materials that probably have been used before in other products.  Also, the X2 is a premium product.  Not sure if you'll see those ingredients in more expensive, higher quality foods.
Also, not sure what you're trying to say here.

 

[The Lamonster]

Just when I was fixing to buy the Sennheiser 598's I hear about these. Looking for a recommendation one way or the other.

Stuff about my tastes and setup:

• I like Trance / Chillstep
• I also like acoustic stuff and vocals
• Orchestral soundtracks are also good
• I have the Fiio E10K
• I'm not a basshead, but I have a slight preference for bass
• I really really want a good soundstage
• I'll use the cans for gaming as well
• COMFORT MATTERS. I returned the Audio Technica M50x's because they pinched my ears. I need room for the tops and bottoms of my ears

Here's some music that must sound awesome on whatever cans I get:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g6pbU9zjJEc

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X4ovZiQTKXQ

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BAVUPu7URbc

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F3PGmWCWh7c

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=voBz2Y0nQXU

Any thoughts appreciated.

We have the same taste in music, and I love listening to it on my X2s. I love ASOT.

If you were a basshead, I'd recommend the V-Moda Crossfade M-100s but since you like acoustic music and want to use these for gaming, I think you've done a good job on your research to lead you to the X2s.

 

[434157]

Just put some Brainwavz HM5 velour memory foam pads on my Fidelio X2's.

http://i.imgur.com/joCBlXO.jpg

Wow, these blow the old pads out of the water in terms of comfort. They were a pain to get on, you have to be very careful and stretch them a lot. Unfortunately the elastic around the pleather part of the pads ripped off one of the earpads. Still fits fine, just slightly looser grip. The other pad started getting a very slight tear from over stretching. If i were a bit more careful and took my time I'm sure I could have avoided both of those. I might try to find a more creative way to mount these so that I can take them on and off as easily as the originals. Someone really should start 3d printing the plastic rings inside the original pads to be used with other pads. 

My ears have much more room to breathe and no longer touch the dust screen. The velour is softer than the original pads and does not feel itchy after a few hours like the stock pads sometimes can. Since they're thicker, the headband stretches more and fits better/more comfortably on my smallish head. They do affect the sound a bit. As others have said, the bass seems to be slightly softer. I'd say 94% sounds the same. They still sound great and balanced. These pads also seemed to fix my issue of what I perceived as a slight imbalance. I'm guessing these seal better to my face and the extra space in the pads help. Overall 9.5/10 would recommend HM5 velour pads as replacements.

 

[Uberclocked]

We have the same taste in music, and I love listening to it on my X2s. I love ASOT.

If you were a basshead, I'd recommend the V-Moda Crossfade M-100s but since you like acoustic music and want to use these for gaming, I think you've done a good job on your research to lead you to the X2s.

Pretty sure he is.  Also, I don't hear any acoustic music in those youtube videos.  If he could link what acoustic tracks he likes to listen to, that would be great.
But yes, the M-100 probably wouldn't be too great for gaming.  The X2s are great for light bassheads.

 

[State Of Trance]

  Pretty sure he is.  Also, I don't hear any acoustic music in those youtube videos.  If he could link what acoustic tracks he likes to listen to, that would be great.
But yes, the M-100 probably wouldn't be too great for gaming.  The X2s are great for light bassheads.

 
The tracks I posted represent my bass needs, but I also like stuff like this:
 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PcKnlhL97rs
 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AoHFCLxTkE4
 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Jxw_NAKUn0
 
Also some rock / metal type stuff:
 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zvdbDw5bXnQ
 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qzm_1Tuor1A
 
Now that I think about it, I probably listen to tranc-y stuff, rock-ish stuff, and acoustic-y stuff in equal thirds.
 
By the way, my original concern was how the Fidelio compares to the Sennheiser 598. I've heard the 598 has a really good soundstage. After my frustration with my Audio Technica M50x's, which I sent back after a few weeks, I've decided that soundstage is really important to me, not just bass.
 
Bottom line: I love a good beat, but I want a spacious sound as well. Am I trying to eat my cake and have it too?