SymphonyX7
Head-Fier
- Joined
- Feb 13, 2014
- Posts
- 74
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- 18
Hi to everyone. I'm a long time lurker at Head-Fi and I'm posting now because it's the first time I've been let down by a budget-fi recommendation here. I just acquired a Somic MH463 today. As far as hype is concerned, I wouldn't say it's bad but I believe it's not as good as many here make it out to be. I believe this is particularly a matter of taste.
First off, I have bias towards resolution, and a balanced and analytical sound. My MH463s have been burning in for about 4 hours now as I'm typing this. Mids aren't as recessed anymore which is to my liking. But the highs remain harsh (i.e. Pioneer SE-EX9, Grado SR80i) and the bass, while adequately bodied and detailed, doesn't extend deep as say a Superlux HD669. This thread made me get the MH463 and some of the comparisons done in this thread, I feel, seem exaggerated because the MH463 really hits the spot in terms of sound signature. It does sound like the more expensive open-aural Senns, the airyness is there as well as the vaunted HRTF, but it's more energetic, husky. Basically, it's a more fun imitation of the open-aural Senns. Note: imitation, not replication.
But they don't quite do it as studio monitors so far. I'll give them another go after I complete my burn in and probably after I change the pads (too shallow!), but so far my expectations of "revealing" sound have not been met. As far as resolution is concerned, these still cannot touch the Superlux HD668B or even the Takstar Pro 80 for monitoring purposes. The HD668B may be very boring for music but its HRTF and neutralness is unrivaled as far as <$50 is concerned, and it's receptive to EQing. The Takstar Pro 80 is a better comparison, but they're more expensive (I got mine for the equivalent of almost $70), yet they can still be used for monitoring purposes despite being rather fun and closed (more fun than the MH463, that's for sure).
My main concern is that the MH463s are colored and sound very good with particular genres like blues and metal. But it's selective and doesn't exhibit resolution as good as the HD668B or Pro 80 in a wider range of genres. Balanced and neutral sets shouldn't have detail bias with certain genres. I just hope that by 50 hours of burn-in I finally get the "poor man's Senn HD600". That is, after all, what convinced me to purchase these in the first place.
Just my 0.02 cents. I'll post again once I find any improvements from the burn-in.
First off, I have bias towards resolution, and a balanced and analytical sound. My MH463s have been burning in for about 4 hours now as I'm typing this. Mids aren't as recessed anymore which is to my liking. But the highs remain harsh (i.e. Pioneer SE-EX9, Grado SR80i) and the bass, while adequately bodied and detailed, doesn't extend deep as say a Superlux HD669. This thread made me get the MH463 and some of the comparisons done in this thread, I feel, seem exaggerated because the MH463 really hits the spot in terms of sound signature. It does sound like the more expensive open-aural Senns, the airyness is there as well as the vaunted HRTF, but it's more energetic, husky. Basically, it's a more fun imitation of the open-aural Senns. Note: imitation, not replication.
But they don't quite do it as studio monitors so far. I'll give them another go after I complete my burn in and probably after I change the pads (too shallow!), but so far my expectations of "revealing" sound have not been met. As far as resolution is concerned, these still cannot touch the Superlux HD668B or even the Takstar Pro 80 for monitoring purposes. The HD668B may be very boring for music but its HRTF and neutralness is unrivaled as far as <$50 is concerned, and it's receptive to EQing. The Takstar Pro 80 is a better comparison, but they're more expensive (I got mine for the equivalent of almost $70), yet they can still be used for monitoring purposes despite being rather fun and closed (more fun than the MH463, that's for sure).
My main concern is that the MH463s are colored and sound very good with particular genres like blues and metal. But it's selective and doesn't exhibit resolution as good as the HD668B or Pro 80 in a wider range of genres. Balanced and neutral sets shouldn't have detail bias with certain genres. I just hope that by 50 hours of burn-in I finally get the "poor man's Senn HD600". That is, after all, what convinced me to purchase these in the first place.
Just my 0.02 cents. I'll post again once I find any improvements from the burn-in.