I think it's time I made a post about the R10! Though it's not always so binary, I have found that often the pursuit of perfection in audio is a balancing act between technical prowess and the essence of music. This is particularly evident in the case of the R10 headphones. In my view, the R10 stands as a constant beacon, reminding us that at the heart of every technical endeavor lies the true purpose: the music itself.
If we measure headphones by their Eargasmic Factor (EF), R10 has got to be at the top! I've had this headphone for about 5 months now, but have refrained from talking about it because of how much more effusive with praise I would have been! I had read about the king's legendary status many years ago as a young teenager browsing head-fi. Nothing prepared me for how much I would have gravitated to the sound they produce. In my mind, and from my experience this has got to be some of the most beautiful rendition of music out there. This headphone has a way of just getting to the core and soul of the music. It's almost like the note of every sound produced is tied with a bow at the end. It offers an unparalleled gateway into the depths of musical engagement.
To jump in on the foam discussion, my experiments with various foams, including those from Vesper Audio and ESLabs, have been insightful. The ESLabs HK foam, in particular, has significantly enhanced the bass response of my R10. The quality of the foam from ESLabs HK is of much better quality, no question about it. The bass on my R10, supposedly bass light, is now more pronounced than the bass on my Stealth. Prior to the refoaming this was not the case. Some type of chemical reaction makes the old foam disintegrate over time, and it is my hunch that foam degradation over time is one of the primary reasons for the variability of R10s sound profile.
While the Vesper Audio foam maintains the R10's enchanting midrange, it tends to accentuate the treble and does little to bolster the bass. In contrast, the ESLabs foam not only enriches the bass but also adds a tangible sense of intimacy and corporeality to the music. Instruments gain body, though at the cost of slightly diminished clarity and openness with respect to the original. I reckon this trade off might be a decent compromise for many. The ESLabs foam seems non porous and more dense to me. It has a firmer shape though still soft. The Vesper Audio foam is too malleable, tenuous, and too porous. It is not substantial enough. I cannot recommend it, but YMMV. I do however, think they do an great job on the replaceable pads. The replacement mechanism is neat, but I found it a tad complex to setup and simply clipped them off to use the pads the traditional way. Someone with more patience, or perhaps if clearer instructions are provided, one might better reap the promised results.
I must commend Benson from ESLabs for his exemplary work in foam replacement. His expertise and dedication are evident, and his service is commendable. I have no affiliation with him or his business, but he's a treasure trove of information and knows a lot about the history of specific headphones.
The HM1 amplifier, with its versatility in fine-tuning treble and bass, has proven to be one of the best companions for the R10 in my experience. Interestingly, the R10 doesn't synergize well with the WA23, a surprising revelation given the amp's otherwise stellar performance with other headphones.
The honeymoon period with the R10 shows no signs of waning. This is not the headphone to dissect for its bass, mids, treble, or soundstage etc. It's a headphone that resonates with one's emotions, speaking directly to the soul. I say this as I lose myself in the melodies of Schubert’s "Sonata in B-Flat Major, D. 960 (Op. Posth.): Molto moderato".
This moment of musical bliss evokes a scene Alex Ross depicted in The New Yorker, where Leon Fleisher, during a master class, urged a pianist to play "prayerfully, as a penitent lifting his eyes towards heaven." The pianist, embodying this advice, frequently let his eyes "drift penitentially toward the rafters," revealing only the whites of his eyes to onlookers. In a similar trance, here I am with the R10, albeit with my eyes closed.
