The Neutral / Balanced Thread

[Brooko]

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I've heard the SE425, SE535, SRH-840 and SRH-940.
 
 
I recommend you only consider SE425 and SRH-940. 
Which one you'll prefer is more of a preferrence of IEM sound versus headphone sound, they are both extremely good in their own respects, I think in a fair competition of sound the SRH-940 will most likely win though, with more true to life sounding sub-bass, a further extended high-end, more focused and realistic vocals, better layering, etc...
 
The SE425 on the other hand will sound more intimate, have more specific and increased imaging, and be less fatiguing (not quite as sharp as the 940, probably good for a stage performer, so they don't get tired of the 425 during long sessions, you know, you don't want a treblehead IEM up there on stage, shrieking distortion at you all night lol.
 
These are just my theories, also I never really compare headphones and IEM's, it's not really fair, since they offer a different experience, however I do recall listening to the SRH-940 after I heard the EX1000 and I was very impressed with the SRH-940, only had a 10 minute session though, will revisit it soon.
 
P.S. You can also check with user "MacedonianHero", since he thinks the SE535 and SRH-840 are better.
 

Interesting POV Kiteki.  I sadly haven't heard the SE535 - but I owned and spent extensive time with the SE425, SRH840 and SRH940.  I also owned the DT880 (recently sold) and now own the HD600.  From the first couple of pages of this thread, I get the feeling that although the title says "analytical", the general requirement so far has been a balanced or neutral signature.
 
All in all, I'd totally agree with your thoughts on the SE425 (although mids are a little forward), and also the SRH840 (despite the mid bass hump).  Both are generally balanced.  But I just couldn't call the SRH940 balanced.  To me it is overly warm, too geared toward the upper mids and highs, and the missing mid bass made it one of the least balanced cans I'd heard.  It would be like calling a grado balanced/neutral.
 
Detailed - for sure.  Analytical/neutral - not to me.
 

 

[nikp]

Quote:

Interesting POV Kiteki.  I sadly haven't heard the SE535 - but I owned and spent extensive time with the SE425, SRH840 and SRH940.  I also owned the DT880 (recently sold) and now own the HD600.  From the first couple of pages of this thread, I get the feeling that although the title says "analytical", the general requirement so far has been a balanced or neutral signature.
 
All in all, I'd totally agree with your thoughts on the SE425 (although mids are a little forward), and also the SRH840 (despite the mid bass hump).  Both are generally balanced.  But I just couldn't call the SRH940 balanced.  To me it is overly warm, too geared toward the upper mids and highs, and the missing mid bass made it one of the least balanced cans I'd heard.  It would be like calling a grado balanced/neutral.
 
Detailed - for sure.  Analytical/neutral - not to me.
 

So what are your thoughts on an analytical IEM?
 

 

[Brooko]

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So what are your thoughts on an analytical IEM?
 

Haven't heard enough to really give to any pointers.  SE425 is quite balanced/neutral - slightly forward mids.  I now have the Brainwavz B2 (dual BA), and I also find that quite balanced - with a slightly sparkly top-end.
 

 

[R-Audiohead]

I think the title of this thread is too deceiving.
 
It should clearly be "The Analytical IEM thread"

 

[nikp]

Quote:

I think the title of this thread is too deceiving.
 
It should clearly be "The Analytical IEM thread"

I'm not limiting it to IEMs. It's just that no one discussed anything else other than IEMs. 

 

 

[Ishcabible]

Well, the AKG KX0X, (as in 400, 401, 500, 501, 601, 70X) are mid-centric and tend to sound either realistic or quite detailed. The Beyerdynamic DT880 is pretty detailed; the DT48 is super detailed too. As with the Sony SA5000 (is the SA3000?) and Qualia 010. 

 

[rawrster]

Would the DT880 600 ohms and Hifiman HE-4 qualify for this thread? Those are 2 headphones with similar sound signatures although slightly different but much more close to each other than different. The detail with a good amp and source from those 2 headphones is definitely very high and they both work as great all rounders imo

 

[nikp]

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Would the DT880 600 ohms and Hifiman HE-4 qualify for this thread? Those are 2 headphones with similar sound signatures although slightly different but much more close to each other than different. The detail with a good amp and source from those 2 headphones is definitely very high and they both work as great all rounders imo

Yeah, I'll make an analytical headphone list. Although the DT800 is mid centric, it's used for monitoring so it should reveal a lot of detail. I don't have any headphones so you guys will have to help me make a list of analytical headphones.
 

 

[nikp]

What do you guys think if I modify the thread into an analytical + balanced/v shaped thread?

 

[Brooko]

Quote:

Yeah, I'll make an analytical headphone list. Although the DT880 is mid centric, it's used for monitoring so it should reveal a lot of detail. I don't have any headphones so you guys will have to help me make a list of analytical headphones.
 

Actually the 880 is not really mid-centric.  More balanced with a slight emphasis on lows and highs.  If anything I'd say that the mids are ever so slightly recessed.  Definitely detailed though.  Great idea on adding a list of full sized cans.

 
Quote:

What do you guys think if I modify the thread into an analytical + balanced/v shaped thread?

 
Agree - but isn't the idea analytical/balanced/neutral - ie relatively evenly proportioned across the frequencies, rather than V shaped (which I would say is not overly balanced).  Eg DT990 is quite v shaped (big emphasis on highs and lows) which makes it more fun than neutral/analytical.
 
If you're looking for 'relatively' balanced  > my suggestions for full cans to add based on what I've heard to date would be HD600, DT880, SRH840.
 
BTW - great idea for a thread nikp

 

[dyl1dyl]

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Actually the 880 is not really mid-centric.  More balanced with a slight emphasis on lows and highs.
 

 
Thats true. Imo, the akg k701/2 are the most analytical in this price range.

 

[sulkoudai]

Anyone here is welcomed to join the dark side.

 

[nikp]

I'm a little confused here. The ER4S is neutral, cold and analytical but I wouldn't call it balanced. When people say balanced, it's more like the Westone 4 and the Triple Fis. I have a feeling the word analytical/neutral is not the same as balanced.

 

[Brooko]

Quote:

I'm a little confused here. The ER4S is neutral, cold and analytical but I wouldn't call it balanced. When people say balanced, it's more like the Westone 4 and the Triple Fis. I have a feeling the word analytical/neutral is not the same as balanced.

To me analytical simply means detailed - not necessarily neutral.  EG SRH940 is analytical - but it's definitely not neutral or balanced.
 
Neutral to me means no part of the spectrum is over emphasised - eg it is balanced.  I thought that was what the thread was more about - rather than the "analytical" description in the thread title.
 
Or maybe I've got it all wrong 

 

 

[nikp]

Eheh, that's why I thought of modifying the thread into a analytical/balanced/neutral thread. Everyone have different perceptions of what analytical might mean.