marone
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These are so cheap, I may just order the line and listen to them all.
Superlux Express Train
- Thread starter tyoung8
- Start date
Hairspray
100+ Head-Fier
that's what i did, haha...
check thomann.de. for example, the HD681 is only 19,00 euros... Evo is 27,00 euros, 662F 29,00 euros, etc. Crazy...
(avoid the DJ can, imo is sucks)
plus, they have a 10 days return policy: order them all at once (free shipping on orders over 199 euros)
marone
100+ Head-Fier
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that's what i did, haha...
check thomann.de. for example, the HD681 is only 19,00 euros... Evo is 27,00 euros, 662F 29,00 euros, etc. Crazy...
(avoid the DJ can, imo is sucks)
plus, they have a 10 days return policy: order them all at once (free shipping on orders over 199 euros)
Nice prices for .de
I am in .ch, buy on TaoBao. Prices are 95 to 130 CNY per HP. €11.50-€16.
The Evo is €24, 662F €27 when CNY is converted to EUR.
It's a great line of cans, buying all of them not a bad way to go.
Hairspray
100+ Head-Fier
HD664 and HD662 EVO are now listed separately:
664: http://www.superlux.com.tw/productInfo.do?pdctid=230b5971-7905-43bf-bb5f-98abc05a418d&pdkid=3a182f85-9464-41bf-b4c7-d618102f84ac&level=2&lv0=1#skill_zone_li
662 EVO: http://www.superlux.com.tw/productInfo.do?pdctid=985f48e4-635f-411a-a9ae-971c8f89b828&pdkid=3a182f85-9464-41bf-b4c7-d618102f84ac&level=2&lv0=1
anyone knows the differences/similarities? i don't get the MKII vs. EVO difference.
hope those will be available at thomann soon (and that the prices will stay in the $30-$40 range)
664: http://www.superlux.com.tw/productInfo.do?pdctid=230b5971-7905-43bf-bb5f-98abc05a418d&pdkid=3a182f85-9464-41bf-b4c7-d618102f84ac&level=2&lv0=1#skill_zone_li
662 EVO: http://www.superlux.com.tw/productInfo.do?pdctid=985f48e4-635f-411a-a9ae-971c8f89b828&pdkid=3a182f85-9464-41bf-b4c7-d618102f84ac&level=2&lv0=1
anyone knows the differences/similarities? i don't get the MKII vs. EVO difference.
hope those will be available at thomann soon (and that the prices will stay in the $30-$40 range)
CoiL
Member of the Trade: Wood Audio Accessories & Modifications
Weird. In chinese superlux gives different specs (664 = 68Ohm, 662EVO = 32Ohm). In english they are with same specs.
mahmoud
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So, is the Superlux HD-668 B still the best? Or is there no best and mostly different tastes?
I was going to get a 681 evo, but then i saw this thread. I was also wondering if an amp does anything with those. Like Fiio E6
I was going to get a 681 evo, but then i saw this thread. I was also wondering if an amp does anything with those. Like Fiio E6
k00zk0
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I received my HD681 (regular, with the red rings) in the mail. The headroom graphs are correct - this headphone suits my ears perfectly, as does the K271 mkII. I discovered my personal preference after sitting in many audio stores and trying on headphones, finally finding the K271. What I was looking for was subjective flatness - no peaks or troughs in frequency response. A behavior such that if you were to listen to a sine sweep, there would be no sudden ups or downs in loudness. The theory was that good speaker systems always behave this way when I test them, and the presence of any area suddenly too loud to quiet meant when an instrument played there, the audio dropped out or became intrusive. For some examples, the K240, relative to the K271 has a wide peak at 100hz which makes it sound moo-ey to me and the SRH1440, having a similar curve except for a wide peak at 3khz, makes it such that when, for example, a guitar plays a note in this area, it is suddenly painfully loud and honky (8db louder than everything else!)
As such, the major factor in your decision as to whether you'll like a specific model may be FR graphs. Find the superlux which approaches the headphones you already have which you like the most. Headroom's "Build a headphone graph" tool allowed me to decide on the HD 681, as opposed to the 668B, which would be closer to the K240 in response. Superlux's website has FR graphs for every model, and makes comparisons to well known headphones in only the frequency response curve.
Review of the HD 681 (0-1 hours burn in
Very clear, clean sound, great extension both ways, no peaks or troughs. Rather sensitive and would work well for portable unamped listening. The cord is very long however. The only way it differs from K271 is the bass does not roll off too early. Not boomy or muddy in the slightest, and appropriate in quantity. The K271, reportedly very bass-light, could use a little more bass if listening for enjoyment versus purely analytically. Depends on your perspective.
It is interesting that many phones considered to be the best, happen to have a FR near this one. Even the T50rp - Thunderpants mod and a few others, are almost the same as the K271/HD681. Some thousand dollar IEM's also have this same FR curve; can't name any off the top of my head but you should find them if you scroll through the 500$+ offerings' FR graphs on innerfidelity or headroom. These report to be the most "balanced" across the board.
The fact that these HD681 are open vs the closed K271 doesn't change the FR, but they probably react better than if they were closed. Despite the physical external design resembling like the k240, the HD681 don't sound too close to it and is very close to the k271.
The drivers are regular looking 50mm diaphragms and are not in any way like the ~30mm varimotion diaphragms the k271 has. They probably don't resolve as well, but sound amazing and are some of the clearest phones I've heard.
The headphones, being packaged in a weird cardboard cutout, have indents on the soft surfaces from the edges of the cardboard. The pads for example, resembling SRH840 pads in shape, have two lines pushed into them due to crummy packaging/shipping (free shipping from China - purchased on eBay). I am sure they will quickly smooth out. They are a stiffer rubber but make a good seal that isn't uncomfortable. These phones may benefit from SRH840 pads (model HPAEC840). Shipping from China to Canada took approximately 20 total days. The order was shipped 5 days after I paid.
The 1/4" to 1/8" adapter is screw-on and appears to be of decent quality. There is no auto-mute and the clamp force along with headband expansion stiffness seems good. When I first got them, there was some white power manufacturing residue near the edge of where a pad meets the headphone. This is easily wiped off but still I took the pads off and quickly rinsed/dried them.
I personally will not be applying the filter mod as I prefer the speed and detail. Highs register and temporally position the remainder of the spectrum for me and I find I am too sensitive to mids to enjoy any honky sound headphone. All subjective though. I can only imagine things will get better with burn-in. I'll write about any drastic FR changes if they occur.
All in all, for 35-40 CAD shipped this is an AMAZING unit. Great disposable phone for when you don't want to worry about losing high end units; or, these may be a real budget panacea for some.
TL;DR: Look at frequency response graphs comparing the two superlux, with headphones you know well, to find which you'll prefer more.
As such, the major factor in your decision as to whether you'll like a specific model may be FR graphs. Find the superlux which approaches the headphones you already have which you like the most. Headroom's "Build a headphone graph" tool allowed me to decide on the HD 681, as opposed to the 668B, which would be closer to the K240 in response. Superlux's website has FR graphs for every model, and makes comparisons to well known headphones in only the frequency response curve.
Review of the HD 681 (0-1 hours burn in
Very clear, clean sound, great extension both ways, no peaks or troughs. Rather sensitive and would work well for portable unamped listening. The cord is very long however. The only way it differs from K271 is the bass does not roll off too early. Not boomy or muddy in the slightest, and appropriate in quantity. The K271, reportedly very bass-light, could use a little more bass if listening for enjoyment versus purely analytically. Depends on your perspective.
It is interesting that many phones considered to be the best, happen to have a FR near this one. Even the T50rp - Thunderpants mod and a few others, are almost the same as the K271/HD681. Some thousand dollar IEM's also have this same FR curve; can't name any off the top of my head but you should find them if you scroll through the 500$+ offerings' FR graphs on innerfidelity or headroom. These report to be the most "balanced" across the board.
The fact that these HD681 are open vs the closed K271 doesn't change the FR, but they probably react better than if they were closed. Despite the physical external design resembling like the k240, the HD681 don't sound too close to it and is very close to the k271.
The drivers are regular looking 50mm diaphragms and are not in any way like the ~30mm varimotion diaphragms the k271 has. They probably don't resolve as well, but sound amazing and are some of the clearest phones I've heard.
The headphones, being packaged in a weird cardboard cutout, have indents on the soft surfaces from the edges of the cardboard. The pads for example, resembling SRH840 pads in shape, have two lines pushed into them due to crummy packaging/shipping (free shipping from China - purchased on eBay). I am sure they will quickly smooth out. They are a stiffer rubber but make a good seal that isn't uncomfortable. These phones may benefit from SRH840 pads (model HPAEC840). Shipping from China to Canada took approximately 20 total days. The order was shipped 5 days after I paid.
The 1/4" to 1/8" adapter is screw-on and appears to be of decent quality. There is no auto-mute and the clamp force along with headband expansion stiffness seems good. When I first got them, there was some white power manufacturing residue near the edge of where a pad meets the headphone. This is easily wiped off but still I took the pads off and quickly rinsed/dried them.
I personally will not be applying the filter mod as I prefer the speed and detail. Highs register and temporally position the remainder of the spectrum for me and I find I am too sensitive to mids to enjoy any honky sound headphone. All subjective though. I can only imagine things will get better with burn-in. I'll write about any drastic FR changes if they occur.
All in all, for 35-40 CAD shipped this is an AMAZING unit. Great disposable phone for when you don't want to worry about losing high end units; or, these may be a real budget panacea for some.
TL;DR: Look at frequency response graphs comparing the two superlux, with headphones you know well, to find which you'll prefer more.
mahmoud
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Looking at graphs, it looks like the HD201 i have are bad compared to the superlux
I also noticed that at the 5Khz range the sound is lower using sinegen
What about glass wearers? How uncomfortable are the 681 EVO?
I also noticed that at the 5Khz range the sound is lower using sinegen
What about glass wearers? How uncomfortable are the 681 EVO?
golgi
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I wear glasses and use the 681 evo's daily at work. I typically have my 681 evo's on for anywhere between 3-6 hours per day during weekdays. I have not had any problems with comfort with my glasses on. One thing I did early on was to unhook the rubber bands that control tension on the headband.
mahmoud
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Ok thanks. Would an amp help get better sound, and if not, would a 20€ amp still be usefull with future headphones? Or should i just get real gear in the future and be content with a 681 evo for now
Supertoaster
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I wouldn't get an amp for the 681's or any of the lower tier Superlux's unless you plan to upgrade in the future.
CoiL
Member of the Trade: Wood Audio Accessories & Modifications
Don`t agree. I have 2x HD-681 with different mods + HD-662F and they all benefit from AMP/DAC in case of Aune T1. 32Ohm is not just a number to exclude from amp-plan list.
mahmoud
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CoiL
Member of the Trade: Wood Audio Accessories & Modifications
Honestly I don`t know what to answer... it`s not just about sufficiency.
mahmoud
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well i got them this morning
the sound is definitely a step up from sennheiser HD201
but that head band is not comfortable, too much pressure is applied on the top of my head, i should have asked if people with big heads weren't at discomfort... does the headband loosen with time?
edit: i changed to velour pad (more comfortable), and i'm getting used to the headphone's weight
the hd201 still remain more comfortable because it's lighter
the sound is definitely a step up from sennheiser HD201
but that head band is not comfortable, too much pressure is applied on the top of my head, i should have asked if people with big heads weren't at discomfort... does the headband loosen with time?
edit: i changed to velour pad (more comfortable), and i'm getting used to the headphone's weight
the hd201 still remain more comfortable because it's lighter
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