[takato14]

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So after lurking in this thread, anyone  feel like the "adventure" aspect of headphone design and function has gone out the window?

I agree with GREQ; no. Sooner or later there will be a headphone with more detail than the SR-Omega, or more euphony than an HE-90, using some crazy technology like nanotitanium diaphragms, 7N silver voice coils, unobtanium magnets, etc. 
 
Or perhaps an entirely new transducer type. Maybe some company will try a piezoelectric diaphragm. Maybe someone will manage an acoustic resonator. Who knows what could happen.

 

[DefQon]

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 Maybe some company will try a piezoelectric diaphragm. 

That's already been done. The TakeT H2+, been out for quite a while now.
 
http://www.taket.jp/h2/h2.html

 

[takato14]

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Quote:

 Maybe some company will try a piezoelectric diaphragm. 

That's already been done. The TakeT H2+, been out for quite a while now.
 
http://www.taket.jp/h2/h2.html

Derp? I mean another company. Pioneer did it in 1975 as well.
 
And the H2+ doesn't really count. The driver is an air-motion transformer (AMT). It only uses piezoelectricity to avoid needing heavy magnets (which would render the set unwearable due to its skeletal design). 

 

[vid]

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Waiting for more info on that SS-100 I mentioned, which is actually in MINT CONDITION and comes with the original box. I'm gonna be paying quite a pretty penny for this one...

 
Legend tells of a guy (called wualta, actually) who paid a literal pretty penny for the SS-100 and walked away somewhat disappointed.

 

[takato14]

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Quote:

Waiting for more info on that SS-100 I mentioned, which is actually in MINT CONDITION and comes with the original box. I'm gonna be paying quite a pretty penny for this one...

 
Legend tells of a guy (called wualta, actually) who paid a literal pretty penny for the SS-100 and walked away somewhat disappointed.

He said that to me. 
 
Then refused to let me borrow it from him. We live in the same state and I was going to pay for the shipping back and forth. I was also gonna give him money for it while I was borrowing it.
 
Which is why I think he wasn't as disappointed as he let on. 

 

[DefQon]

Quote:

Derp? I mean another company. Pioneer did it in 1975 as well.
 
And the H2+ doesn't really count. The driver is an air-motion transformer (AMT). It only uses piezoelectricity to avoid needing heavy magnets (which would render the set unwearable due to its skeletal design). 

You need to change your tone.

 

[GREQ]

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You need to change your tone.

I believe the "derp?" is referring to himself, not anyone else. I don't see any ill tones here.

 

[p a t r i c k]

 
Here are my Sennheiser HD 540 Reference Gold headphones which I bought new in the 80s.

 

[nmxdaven]

 

 
Amazes me how good these lambdas still are after 30+ years.

 

[DefQon]

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Amazes me how good these lambdas still are after 30+ years.

Yep and they still best some of the flagship can's out there too.

 

[nmxdaven]

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Yep and they still best some of the flagship can's out there too.

Totally. I've been reaching for them over my lcd2's most days.
 
Heres a pic of another one of my vintage setups from a rainy new years trip. I usually have a headphone rig in it so I guess it counts.
 
 

 

[DkossZoSo]

My new 600-Ohm 1984 Sennheiser HD-430

 

[takato14]

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My new 600-Ohm 1984 Sennheiser HD-430
 

 

God, the old Senns are gorgeous...

 

[GREQ]

My Watson Mod. 930 now has a SIBLING!
*FANFARE*  Introducing the Universum... err... SFI... uhm... there's absolutely no model number on this thing! 

 
 

 

 
So first thing you notice is the slight visual difference. Universum doesn't have 'HIFI-STEREOPHONE' written on the side, nor does it have a TONE control, only a large volume control.
The most important difference is that the Universum has a different venting scheme. Watson just has a line of grills, but the Universum has 4 circular ports and another set of grills slightly off to one side (see photo).
Also, an even more important difference is that the double foam layer you see IS STOCK - I didn't add that! 
This makes the two sound quite different (although they share the same driver and are also similar in many respects).
 
The Universum has far better bass response and extension, and the treble is more tame. This makes for a somewhat less 'detailed' sound, although the resolution is about the same. The bass is a little out of control at times on electronic tracks, but for an old SFI ortho it's rather good even by modern standards (compared to most consumer stuff up to $200). The mids are sometimes a little thin sounding, which combined with a medium width soundstage and slightly too much bass makes for a slightly more crowded sound, but it is still a very enjoyable 'dark' sound. 
 
Both of these models easily have the best 'crunch' I've heard from any headphone. It must be the combination of smallish drivers, smallish soundstage and ortho-awesomeness that makes these so much fun. Queen's 'We Will Rock You' just has the most engaging crunch and guitar solo tone. 

 

[takato14]

Quote:

My Watson Mod. 930 now has a SIBLING!
*FANFARE*  Introducing the Universum... err... SFI... uhm... there's absolutely no model number on this thing! 

 
 

 

 
So first thing you notice is the slight visual difference. Universum doesn't have 'HIFI-STEREOPHONE' written on the side, nor does it have a TONE control, only a large volume control.
The most important difference is that the Universum has a different venting scheme. Watson just has a line of grills, but the Universum has 4 circular ports and another set of grills slightly off to one side (see photo).
Also, an even more important difference is that the double foam layer you see IS STOCK - I didn't add that! 
This makes the two sound quite different (although they share the same driver and are also similar in many respects).
 
The Universum has far better bass response and extension, and the treble is more tame. This makes for a somewhat less 'detailed' sound, although the resolution is about the same. The bass is a little out of control at times on electronic tracks, but for an old SFI ortho it's rather good even by modern standards (compared to most consumer stuff up to $200). The mids are sometimes a little thin sounding, which combined with a medium width soundstage and slightly too much bass makes for a slightly more crowded sound, but it is still a very enjoyable 'dark' sound. 
 
Both of these models easily have the best 'crunch' I've heard from any headphone. It must be the combination of smallish drivers, smallish soundstage and ortho-awesomeness that makes these so much fun. Queen's 'We Will Rock You' just has the most engaging crunch and guitar solo tone. 

God, I wanna live in Germany, that's where all the awesome vintage cans are. 
 
My guess is you wanna keep both don't you xP