liujun050612
100+ Head-Fier
After doing side by side comparison to t5p 2nd gen. I want to say, for me, if I can only keep one music headphone, I will keep t5p 2nd.
Both headphone sound really good. Both headphone sound very engaging.
t5p 2nd gives more punch, airy and space, vs SEM5 is more smooth and liquid sounding.
The bass on both are pretty good. On SEM5 it sounds exactly what it should be. The t5p extend lower. Especially subbass. It gives the music more feeling.
The mids are equivalent on both. Both headphones are very clear. SEM5 is a tad better than t5p. I like female vocals on SEM5 better than t5p.
The highs on t5p is slighty roughed off compare to SEM5 makes it more relaxed to listen.
For the soundstage, t5p is wider on both width and depth. If you listen to live concert, t5p is way better.
Both headphones are very balanced. SEM5 is close to completely neutral and t5p is a little warmer.
I would say t5p is very musical but not analytical, very easy to listen, much forgiving headphone. It don't require beter source.
SEM5 is much more analytical than musical. Although not hard to drive, It require good sources to make it sound better. Poor sources will make it sound bad.
Compare to studio headphone like dt 1770, 1990, and shure 1540.The mids on 1990 is cleanner than SEM5, as good as 1770. But both 1990 and 1770 extend lower, 1770 even lower bass. Overall sound signature is similar to 1540 but with more clear mids and soundstage. I would say SEM5 is an upgrade from shure 1540.
If I can only keep one studio headphone, and closed back is not an issue, I will choose 1990. 1990 is not only analytical, but also more musical than SEM5.
All in all SEM5 is a very good headphone. I purchased it at 700. At that price, it is not a steal. Consider its exquisite built, good accessories. I think it is still worth it.
I am not writing reviews every time so bear with me some words. Thank you.
Both headphone sound really good. Both headphone sound very engaging.
t5p 2nd gives more punch, airy and space, vs SEM5 is more smooth and liquid sounding.
The bass on both are pretty good. On SEM5 it sounds exactly what it should be. The t5p extend lower. Especially subbass. It gives the music more feeling.
The mids are equivalent on both. Both headphones are very clear. SEM5 is a tad better than t5p. I like female vocals on SEM5 better than t5p.
The highs on t5p is slighty roughed off compare to SEM5 makes it more relaxed to listen.
For the soundstage, t5p is wider on both width and depth. If you listen to live concert, t5p is way better.
Both headphones are very balanced. SEM5 is close to completely neutral and t5p is a little warmer.
I would say t5p is very musical but not analytical, very easy to listen, much forgiving headphone. It don't require beter source.
SEM5 is much more analytical than musical. Although not hard to drive, It require good sources to make it sound better. Poor sources will make it sound bad.
Compare to studio headphone like dt 1770, 1990, and shure 1540.The mids on 1990 is cleanner than SEM5, as good as 1770. But both 1990 and 1770 extend lower, 1770 even lower bass. Overall sound signature is similar to 1540 but with more clear mids and soundstage. I would say SEM5 is an upgrade from shure 1540.
If I can only keep one studio headphone, and closed back is not an issue, I will choose 1990. 1990 is not only analytical, but also more musical than SEM5.
All in all SEM5 is a very good headphone. I purchased it at 700. At that price, it is not a steal. Consider its exquisite built, good accessories. I think it is still worth it.
I am not writing reviews every time so bear with me some words. Thank you.