003
Headphoneus Supremus
- Joined
- Oct 4, 2005
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[size=medium]NOTE:[/size] "K1000 KILLER" is included in the title to draw attention to this thread and help keep it alive. I have not yet heard them and I do not know how they compare to the K1000.
I have officially placed an order for the new Sony PFR-V1 headphones! They are brand new, the shipped price was under $500 and I do not have to wait for pre-order or anything like that!! I got them on this e-bay auction (still one left for anybody interested):
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...m=190162339132
Here's a nice shot of them from the auction:
All right then, once again I feel the need to clear up some controversial information regarding the specifications of these headphones for anybody new to them or anybody who has not seem my previous posts on them.
THE MAXIMUM INPUT POWER:
Many people are put off by the maximum rated input power of 60mW. THAT IS FALSE. 200mW is the real maximum input power. 60mW is just when you are using it's battery powered class D amp, called the booster, which brings me to my next point.
THEY ARE BATTERY POWERED!?!
A resounding NO!! The only part of them that is battery powered is the optional portable amp, the booster. You CAN INSTEAD plug them into a high end headphone amp without the booster! And I don't know what the huge issue about the booster being battery powered is. Many of the highly regarded portable amps discussed on head-fi are battery powered themselves. I personally think it is great of sony to include an option of using these headphones in a portable situation, which leads me to my next point.
What? IMPEDANCE ONLY 16 OHMS? THESE MUST BE CRAP!!
Another resounding NO. Since when does impedance determine sound quality? Since never. In fact, a well designed headphone amp has a much easier time putting out voltage than it does current, and voltage is what you need to drive high impedance headphones. Low impedance headphones need more current than voltage, and headphone amps have a much harder time with current. Generally, solid state amps handle current output much better than tube amps, and tube amps handle voltage output much better. There can be exceptions to this, for a price of course.
And take a look at the sensitivity of these headphones. 93dB/mW. Thats pretty darn low, especially when you look at the low impedance. This is the hardest kind of headphone for an amp to drive, low sensitivity AND low impedance. So don't sit there saying this thing is like a toy made to be hooked up directly to an iPod. It's not, folks.
ONLY DOWN TO 35Hz BASS RESPONSE?! THE BASS MUST SUCK!!
Actually, no. The K1000 also has a rated frequency response of down to 35Hz, and it is highly praised, several people prefer it to the Orpheus. And the K1000's rating of 35Hz is pretty darn hyperbolic if you ask me. It rolls off sharply closer to 45 or 50Hz. My guess is that the rating on the PFR-V1 is much more realistic. It dosen't have an acoustical short like the K1000 does. An acoustical short is when the front of the driver is not isolated from the back of the driver, and this very effectively puts a damper on the bass response. It does not mean it has to sound bad, it just means the bass is not going to go down as low as a headphone without an acoustical short. Plus, the PFR-V1 has the bass tube, which channels the low frequency sound directly to your ears instead of just letting it disperse in the air.
And frankly, what most people fail to realize is that many of the high end headphones talked about here on head-fi roll off at around 35hz anyway.
-----------------------------------------
All right then, I hope I've managed to clear up people's doubts about the design of this headphone. When I get it I will for sure post lots of pictures and offer the best review I can. To say I'm excited is an understatement. I hope they live up to my expectations!
Oh yeah, if you want to know more about these headphones, feel free to e-mail Sony Japan. They speak English and are very helpful and know what they are talking about. E-mail is:
info-cic [at] sony.co.jp
I have officially placed an order for the new Sony PFR-V1 headphones! They are brand new, the shipped price was under $500 and I do not have to wait for pre-order or anything like that!! I got them on this e-bay auction (still one left for anybody interested):
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...m=190162339132
Here's a nice shot of them from the auction:
All right then, once again I feel the need to clear up some controversial information regarding the specifications of these headphones for anybody new to them or anybody who has not seem my previous posts on them.
THE MAXIMUM INPUT POWER:
Many people are put off by the maximum rated input power of 60mW. THAT IS FALSE. 200mW is the real maximum input power. 60mW is just when you are using it's battery powered class D amp, called the booster, which brings me to my next point.
THEY ARE BATTERY POWERED!?!
A resounding NO!! The only part of them that is battery powered is the optional portable amp, the booster. You CAN INSTEAD plug them into a high end headphone amp without the booster! And I don't know what the huge issue about the booster being battery powered is. Many of the highly regarded portable amps discussed on head-fi are battery powered themselves. I personally think it is great of sony to include an option of using these headphones in a portable situation, which leads me to my next point.
What? IMPEDANCE ONLY 16 OHMS? THESE MUST BE CRAP!!
Another resounding NO. Since when does impedance determine sound quality? Since never. In fact, a well designed headphone amp has a much easier time putting out voltage than it does current, and voltage is what you need to drive high impedance headphones. Low impedance headphones need more current than voltage, and headphone amps have a much harder time with current. Generally, solid state amps handle current output much better than tube amps, and tube amps handle voltage output much better. There can be exceptions to this, for a price of course.
And take a look at the sensitivity of these headphones. 93dB/mW. Thats pretty darn low, especially when you look at the low impedance. This is the hardest kind of headphone for an amp to drive, low sensitivity AND low impedance. So don't sit there saying this thing is like a toy made to be hooked up directly to an iPod. It's not, folks.
ONLY DOWN TO 35Hz BASS RESPONSE?! THE BASS MUST SUCK!!
Actually, no. The K1000 also has a rated frequency response of down to 35Hz, and it is highly praised, several people prefer it to the Orpheus. And the K1000's rating of 35Hz is pretty darn hyperbolic if you ask me. It rolls off sharply closer to 45 or 50Hz. My guess is that the rating on the PFR-V1 is much more realistic. It dosen't have an acoustical short like the K1000 does. An acoustical short is when the front of the driver is not isolated from the back of the driver, and this very effectively puts a damper on the bass response. It does not mean it has to sound bad, it just means the bass is not going to go down as low as a headphone without an acoustical short. Plus, the PFR-V1 has the bass tube, which channels the low frequency sound directly to your ears instead of just letting it disperse in the air.
And frankly, what most people fail to realize is that many of the high end headphones talked about here on head-fi roll off at around 35hz anyway.
-----------------------------------------
All right then, I hope I've managed to clear up people's doubts about the design of this headphone. When I get it I will for sure post lots of pictures and offer the best review I can. To say I'm excited is an understatement. I hope they live up to my expectations!
Oh yeah, if you want to know more about these headphones, feel free to e-mail Sony Japan. They speak English and are very helpful and know what they are talking about. E-mail is:
info-cic [at] sony.co.jp
