Pioneer SE-MONITOR5 - Pioneer's high-end closed-back

[Chris Kaoss]

I got a question for you @Chris Kaoss

How does the Denon D9200/D7200s compare to the Pioneer SE-M5?

I've been really wanting the Kennerton Gjallarhorns for a while now but I need to demo it and I just wanted to get an idea of some other stuff out there.

I don't have alot of experience with high end stuff and to be honest, the Pioneers are the best I've ever heard and I can't imagine it getting any better unless its the same thing with more bass.

Hello my friend.

Did this comparison already.

https://www.head-fi.org/threads/pio...ers-high-end-closed-back.845527/post-16093803

This pictures my impressions of both great headphones.

 

[dougms3]

Hello my friend.

Did this comparison already.

https://www.head-fi.org/threads/pio...ers-high-end-closed-back.845527/post-16093803

This pictures my impressions of both great headphones.

Nice, I missed that post

I've come to notice that in the beginning, I liked neutral sound but find myself now finding it boring and like the amps that add color, especially bass.

I respect your opinion and I'm curious what amps would you recommend pairing with the SE-M5?

Currently using the Loxjie p20 and SMSL SP200. Sounds great on the SP200 but a bit too clinical. The P20 with the stock tubes just sounds like a slightly lesser version of the SP200 for the SE-M5. Ordered some Russian tubes thats probably gonna take a couple weeks to get to me.

I've been becoming more and more interested in tubes. Probably would have already bought the cayin ha-1a mk2 if it were in stock.

 

[Chris Kaoss]

I don't have that much experience with different amp.

What i can say is, although my R28 has tons of power and is a (different) class a amp, the Mojo, as little as it is ^^, slams harder.

Well, 2 different dacs in play, but i'm kinda surprised in that regard.

On the other end of the freq spectrum, the R28 is superior with a mellower presentation on the SEM5, not as "clinical" as the Mojo.
This helps the SEM5 not to sound somewhat "sibilant," without showing sibilance.


Curios how a Hugo (TT) will support that great headphone.

Never thought about tubes yet, maybe bc of the R28 which sounds really great to me in NOS mode.

 

[dougms3]

I don't have that much experience with different amp.

What i can say is, although my R28 has tons of power and is a (different) class a amp, the Mojo, as little as it is ^^, slams harder.

Well, 2 different dacs in play, but i'm kinda surprised in that regard.

On the other end of the freq spectrum, the R28 is superior with a mellower presentation on the SEM5, not as "clinical" as the Mojo.
This helps the SEM5 not to sound somewhat "sibilant," without showing sibilance.


Curios how a Hugo (TT) will support that great headphone.

Never thought about tubes yet, maybe bc of the R28 which sounds really great to me in NOS mode.

From the reviews I've read, I can already tell I probably won't like the Audio-gd house sound. I needs da bass.

I'm thinking that the dac has a bigger influence on the coloration of the sound or seems to be more options vs price in that regard. Of course I discover this only after I purchased the SMSL SU-9. Its a really nice dac but just neutral, I think a burrbrown or R2R dac like the Denafrips Ares probably would have been a better choice for me if I could go back in time one month.

Chords are nice but out of my price range.

Maybe I can find a used Mojo...

 

[Chris Kaoss]

Yeah.
It comes down to the pairing, i think.

The SEM5 loves the little Mojo, imo.
Bought it used here on head-fi for 300€.
As a mobile solution (coupled with my Surface) it's simply great.

Note to myself:
Make a serious comparison between the R28 and the Mojo with the SEM5. ^^

It'll be a tough task, i guess.

 

[dougms3]

Yeah.
It comes down to the pairing, i think.

The SEM5 loves the little Mojo, imo.
Bought it used here on head-fi for 300€.
As a mobile solution (coupled with my Surface) it's simply great.

Note to myself:
Make a serious comparison between the R28 and the Mojo with the SEM5. ^^

It'll be a tough task, i guess.

I've been looking at the NFB-1AMP, I believe its the same amp thats combined in the R28.

I really like the features it has, lots of options.

What do you think about that amp?

 

[Chris Kaoss]

It's a straight neutral amp, i'd say.
Nothing is added or left out.
The somewhat mellow character comes from the R2R-Dac, not the amp.

I'll pair the Mojo with the R28 to hear what it could bring to the table.
Maybe the Dac of the Mojo is generating this kind of slam/kick i hear with the SEM5 in comparison to the R28.

I still have the Atoll HD100 to use it as a pre-amp to hear what it's like.

Will report back.

 

[dougms3]

Cool, I'd like to hear your conclusions on that.

I feel like I'm going to buy that audio-gd nfb-1amp at some point, its a really good deal and theres nothing comparable for the price.

Got my custom made cable for the SE-M5. 6 ft cable with an xlr connector, made with Mogami 2893 wire which is the mini quad. Purchased from FlexOhCables on Etsy, the owner Jordan was really nice, would highly recommend purchasing from him. $65 shipped for the cable and I was allowed to choose the color scheme.

I was hoping that there would be a significant improvement in sound quality but I guess the stock cables are pretty well made and good quality so its more of a lateral step. Maybe this cable has a touch more bass but everything else seems the same.

I also purchased cables from Audiophile Ninja on etsy, really nice guy too. Unfortunately, the cable didn't work on the SE-M5 and he let me return it for a full refund. I have to say though the cable was really thick and very well made. He said he uses Canare l4e5c wire which I now know I prefer over the Mogami because I like the thick cables.

 

[arturro13]

I have rolled some more pads on SE-5's with some unexpected results.

I tried Dekoni Elite pads in solid lambskin and hybrid intended for Beyer DT and AKG, as well as the much cheaper Brainwavz XL round sheepskins. All of these fit fine, with the latter being quite huge in both the outside diameter and the ear opening.

Yet despite what seemed at first like a gargantuan pad, it is the Brainwavz that definitely reign supreme over all pads I have tried. The end up giving a huge soundstage, providing just enough reflections for the natural sound with beautiful body and detail, without upper register sibilance. They are not too thin and not too thick, with a decent fit and finish. The Dekoni's are better finished, but cannot match the SQ.

Basically, the SE-5's have such beautiful tuning that one should simply use the pads that just "get out of the way", and these Brainwavz do just that.

Of course the Brainwavz are very large and while they distribute the clamping force much better, they can slosh around a bit with sudden movement, which can at times happen involuntarily, caused by a good recording of a sound suddenly coming from behind (this has happened to me more than once!). The SE-5 will make you feel like someone is truly behind you, and your head will jerk, if you are surprised. This sloshing is minor and is not a problem at all.

I have noticed that with wear, because of the large baffle the pads shift into an optimal position for one's head shape, which is a big plus in my book. I have big ears and having enough room for them has reduced the fatigue.

If you want to test the imaging of your pads on SE-5, try Adrianne Lenker's Music For Indigo. What you get with the Brainwavz pads on that track will convince you, as it did me, of their awesomeness for the SE-5's.

When my SE-5 arrived I liked them immediately But just after short listening I started looking for an improvement in sound.. Bass for me was little too soft affecting slightly midrange. Luckily I had Dekoni sheepskin for TH-900 (these are similar size as stock and also angled). Yeah! That was it More natural sound with better bass response - from very good on stock to excellent now imho.. Low end seems for me tighter and quicker. Overall sound opened a little.

I like experimenting with different pads - but Brainwavz XL to SE-5? Interesting idea I own also these ones and I checked it immediately I saw here..
However for me it is not perfect. Indeed it opens soundstage and imaging even more, but creates tonal unbalance. Some vocals and instruments sounds strange. But great it works for you!

 

[Pendel]

I guess I have not been back to the thread in some time. During my absence I have settled on an end-game combo that IMHO makes SE-5 sound truly amazing, and I mean truly. I am using ZMF Oval Cowhide pads and IFI iDSD Micro BL with Bass boost and 3D on. Cowhide's stiffness boosts the air pressure and thus gives more bass. The Bass Boost makes it perfect for me. Not muddy, but full and precise. The cowhide does mute some of the highs, but IFI's 3D switch returns them to perfection. The imaging is incredible. I got rid of my Elegias and Elears because they sounded cramped and bass-light, even on IFI. I wonder if there are any cans out there, apart from the stratospherically priced boutique ones, that would entice me away from my SE-5's/IFI set-up on a basis of performance.

 

[dougms3]

https://www.aliexpress.com/item/33057605882.html?spm=a2g0s.9042311.0.0.4d0b4c4ddZy148

I bought these $15 pads on aliexpress for my Sony z7m2 and found they fit perfectly on the Se-m5 as well so I bought another set for them. Worked out really well, increased bass and soundstage, didn't seem like it lost anything at the top end to me although it does require more power now to reach the same level of volume as the stock pads.

Also, luckily for me the se-m5 and the sony z7m2 have the same pinouts and terminations so I'm able to swap cables between them.

Starting to amass a collection of cables.

 

[arturro13]

https://www.aliexpress.com/item/33057605882.html?spm=a2g0s.9042311.0.0.4d0b4c4ddZy148

I bought these $15 pads on aliexpress for my Sony z7m2 and found they fit perfectly on the Se-m5 as well so I bought another set for them. Worked out really well, increased bass and soundstage, didn't seem like it lost anything at the top end to me although it does require more power now to reach the same level of volume as the stock pads.

Also, luckily for me the se-m5 and the sony z7m2 have the same pinouts and terminations so I'm able to swap cables between them.

Starting to amass a collection of cables.

Interesting. These pads looks very good quality in attractive price. They seems to be thicker - I believe the soundstage is wider thanks to it.

For me SE-5 have great soundstage and imaging but only Topping A90 + my DAC with high-end opamps shows it fully (comparing to my other sources). It is not extremely wide, but very well balanced in all directions - round and holographic with exceptional stereophonics (-> check beginning of the song dvsn hallucinations .

Imho mojo or cobalt are limiting SE-5 quite a lot. It is not obvious from beginning, because they sound good from almost everything.
However personally I like to achieve with them good tonal balance and even soundstage. I guess I like to keep their pro-style and ability to use as monitors if I would like to.. Despite I am not a pro!
For example mojo is pushing some instruments forward messing with soundstage and timbre (I prefer mojo rather with Oppo PM2).

These are probably one of the best headphones with cellulose driver. If someone likes its natural richness and smoothness with punchy, full bodied low-end it would be hard to replace them. Denons D7200 or Nighthawks are far away in terms of dynamics, soundstage, detail retrieval or clarity. I didn't try yet D9200 but I doubt it could achieve this level of dynamics and holographic soundstage.

 

[arturro13]

Also, luckily for me the se-m5 and the sony z7m2 have the same pinouts and terminations so I'm able to swap cables between them.

Starting to amass a collection of cables.

What is your opinion about these cables? Where did you buy them?

 

[dougms3]

What is your opinion about these cables? Where did you buy them?

Each cable sounds a little different, have their own characteristic.

I ordered them from aliexpress, theres a seller named xinhs that will customize anything you want.

 

[demodan23]

Hi everyone I have been a fan of Pioneer for some time since my first "good" headphones years ago.

I am wondering if it would be worth getting these for $650-750 new.

I just purchased some JVC HA-SW01's I am breaking in now and also own Oppo PM-2's and Audioquest Nightowls all on an Aune S6 Pro DAC.

I am a little worried that I may be overextending myself and relying on financing for unnessecary purchases, but I can't help but think I will never see these new again.

I am also worried about the lack of bass and prefer not to use EQ. My biggest draw to these headphones is the sound stage and unique history with the Pioneer brand. My Aune is super resolving and good at augmenting soundstage, but is not soft. It is however super smooth. I would likely look at a bass improving pad swap for these Pioneers and nothing else.

Let me know what you all think! Pull the trigger, or save my money? Perhaps I could keep them boxed until I am done messing with my JVCs.