RPGWiZaRD
Headphoneus Supremus
- Joined
- Jan 31, 2010
- Posts
- 6,422
- Likes
- 460
I just got these but I already felt like having to write something about them.
These are what I'd call "refined" basshead headphones. Big punchy well controlled and accurate bass that's well separated from mids. The mids and highs are very neutral sounding except for a slight peak around 8kHz or maybe aprox 3~4dB or so.
The soundstage is unexpectedly large from a fully closed design with drivers sitting so close to the ears. I'd say soundstage size is slightly better in comparision to imaging which is about average, they aren't as "in-your-face" sounding as I expected, the HTF600 and XB500 for example are slightly more so but they aren't "distant" sounding either, pretty much in-between or a bit closer to "in-your-face" / forward sounding stage.
Build quality seems very good to me, I spot metal hinges thank god. Clamping is a bit above average but despite the shallow pads which are unfortunately low quality pleather pads (I don't think these will have any probs with sweating though so that's a plus) these aren't that uncomfortable to me and this brings fairly good (not superb) isolation, about average from a closed can and certainly blocks out people talking (or higher frequencies) nicely.
What I wanted to try almost instantly was to put some paper towel piece underneath the pads to make the distance to the driver further away from the driver, it turned out that a half piece of paper towel per side were about adequate. I also noticed the pads actually have holes on the underside so I also thought this would tame the just very slightly bright area around 8kHz and I was right, it did, the outermost circle of holes were left uncovered but the middle and innermost were covered and now it sounded more along the lines I wanted it to as well as possibly doing slight good change to soundstage as well (less in your face sounding, bigger). The bass respone also got a bit stronger as the fit got better now too thanks to the paper towels acting a bit like "suspension" and according to a FR curve it should have roughly 11dB boost in the bass at its highest peak which I didn't quite hear before the mod but after doing the mod this sounds pretty much about right.
I haven't let these burn-in and I still like the way these sounds like, will obviously see if it changes anything with burn-in.
Comparision before - after (click to zoom in)
EQ settings before padmod:
After padmod:
UPDATE:
Now after having thinkered with it some more / burnt in a bit:
= No EQ needed! (brings no improvement at all)
UPDATE 2:
Changed my mind:
These are what I'd call "refined" basshead headphones. Big punchy well controlled and accurate bass that's well separated from mids. The mids and highs are very neutral sounding except for a slight peak around 8kHz or maybe aprox 3~4dB or so.
The soundstage is unexpectedly large from a fully closed design with drivers sitting so close to the ears. I'd say soundstage size is slightly better in comparision to imaging which is about average, they aren't as "in-your-face" sounding as I expected, the HTF600 and XB500 for example are slightly more so but they aren't "distant" sounding either, pretty much in-between or a bit closer to "in-your-face" / forward sounding stage.
Build quality seems very good to me, I spot metal hinges thank god. Clamping is a bit above average but despite the shallow pads which are unfortunately low quality pleather pads (I don't think these will have any probs with sweating though so that's a plus) these aren't that uncomfortable to me and this brings fairly good (not superb) isolation, about average from a closed can and certainly blocks out people talking (or higher frequencies) nicely.
What I wanted to try almost instantly was to put some paper towel piece underneath the pads to make the distance to the driver further away from the driver, it turned out that a half piece of paper towel per side were about adequate. I also noticed the pads actually have holes on the underside so I also thought this would tame the just very slightly bright area around 8kHz and I was right, it did, the outermost circle of holes were left uncovered but the middle and innermost were covered and now it sounded more along the lines I wanted it to as well as possibly doing slight good change to soundstage as well (less in your face sounding, bigger). The bass respone also got a bit stronger as the fit got better now too thanks to the paper towels acting a bit like "suspension" and according to a FR curve it should have roughly 11dB boost in the bass at its highest peak which I didn't quite hear before the mod but after doing the mod this sounds pretty much about right.
I haven't let these burn-in and I still like the way these sounds like, will obviously see if it changes anything with burn-in.
Comparision before - after (click to zoom in)
EQ settings before padmod:
After padmod:
UPDATE:
Now after having thinkered with it some more / burnt in a bit:
= No EQ needed! (brings no improvement at all)
UPDATE 2:
Changed my mind:
