k3oxkjo
500+ Head-Fier
- Joined
- Jul 26, 2006
- Posts
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Quote:
Your comments are mostly fair enough. But please note, nowhere did I attack you personally in my reply. And I only worry about how people who know me personally judge me, so judge away if you like!
I intended no condescension in my statements, in fact I think the basic premise is fair game for discussion. That some don't like the feel or fit or would rather more high tech materials were used in their construction is a matter of taste and opinion, fine.
To me, the issue is the premise that the HD-800 was some kind of cynical rip-off, that Sennheiser was "too cheap" to do better and that people who buy them are "marks" (not your opinion, I understand). I don't think they are. I think they are an honest attempt to build a top-drawer phone that is not priced out of contention.
It is an economic/engineering problem. We don't know, perhaps they tried different materials and found what they used optimum or found that using higher tech materials that would have sounded as good/better would have inflated the price unacceptably. And I don't think the solution is to slap a piece of wood or a hunk of metal on for cred...
Perhaps they looked at a Qualia-like solution and rejected it on economic terms. Qualias sold for $3300 and were made by Sony, a gigantic company better able to absorb the design costs etc. It's a circular problem, some would prefer a more luxurious presentation, others would feel that the manufacturer wasted their money on esthetics. It would be ideal if, say, Sony re-started Qualia production, the consumer could make his choice.
My projection comment was based on your assertion that the HD-800were "pretentious". I am just not sure where this idea would come from but from within. And if you feel they are pretentious, that's OK too...
My comments involved no personal issue, just a (hopefully) reasoned reaction to some of the hysteria on this thread.
| Originally Posted by jesse_w /img/forum/go_quote.gif It's a turn of phrase. The idea behind which is that the folks at Sennheiser chose to make the headphone look as if it were made of a material it is not. I think it's poor design, especially on such an expensive product, that's all there is to it. Unlike some people in this thread, I would consider buying an HD800, and I don't think it foolish to buy one at all. I feel it could have been designed better for the price, but nothing is perfect. I'm sure it sounds beautiful and that IS what's important. But we CAN talk about design, and that's all I'm trying to talk about. We can want it to be even better than it is. We don't have to justify and defend everything about it. How else do things get better? I'm sure it's well built. My personal headphone of choice is the HD650 and it's made of plastic, it's not very handsome, and it has a faux-metal finish (although not in silver). It's well built and I'm confident the HD800 will be even more sturdy. I appreciate that you don't mind the looks. Perhaps I was ambiguous. When I said that about the HD800 I meant beautiful and outstanding sonically. I feel the HD800 could be more beautiful, especially for it's price. Again, that is all I'm saying. I am not saying anything about anyone's choice to buy the headphones. I understand the desire for better than "good enough", this is head-fi after all. I didn't mean to be ambiguous about that. I'm only talking about the design, and not trying to warn people off headphones I've never owned or judge people who have bought them. I don't know why you feel the need to attack me. If you felt attacked by my judgement of a headphone, it was not my intention I can assure you. I feel the headphone should not have a fake finish at that price. That is all I am saying. This is not a judgment on your decision to purchase the headphone. Condescending and ignoring the point I'm trying to make. I am merely discussing the DESIGN and the appearance of the product. Not the sound, which I have not heard. Not the people who have purchased it. I don't doubt that it is a great headphone. Condescending again. But then again it seems like you feel judged through your headphone. Projection or something. I never insinuated anyone bought the HD800 for less than well considered reasons. Your headphone is not you. I think your headphone is ugly. So what? I've bought ugly headphones because I liked the sound. I just wish they were prettier. I wish the HD800 was prettier. |
Your comments are mostly fair enough. But please note, nowhere did I attack you personally in my reply. And I only worry about how people who know me personally judge me, so judge away if you like!
I intended no condescension in my statements, in fact I think the basic premise is fair game for discussion. That some don't like the feel or fit or would rather more high tech materials were used in their construction is a matter of taste and opinion, fine.
To me, the issue is the premise that the HD-800 was some kind of cynical rip-off, that Sennheiser was "too cheap" to do better and that people who buy them are "marks" (not your opinion, I understand). I don't think they are. I think they are an honest attempt to build a top-drawer phone that is not priced out of contention.
It is an economic/engineering problem. We don't know, perhaps they tried different materials and found what they used optimum or found that using higher tech materials that would have sounded as good/better would have inflated the price unacceptably. And I don't think the solution is to slap a piece of wood or a hunk of metal on for cred...
Perhaps they looked at a Qualia-like solution and rejected it on economic terms. Qualias sold for $3300 and were made by Sony, a gigantic company better able to absorb the design costs etc. It's a circular problem, some would prefer a more luxurious presentation, others would feel that the manufacturer wasted their money on esthetics. It would be ideal if, say, Sony re-started Qualia production, the consumer could make his choice.
My projection comment was based on your assertion that the HD-800were "pretentious". I am just not sure where this idea would come from but from within. And if you feel they are pretentious, that's OK too...
My comments involved no personal issue, just a (hopefully) reasoned reaction to some of the hysteria on this thread.
