Got both the Somic MH463 and the Technical Pro HPT990. The MH463 were new from China last week, had a used pair that were very loose fitting, wings streached out by provious owner, the new MH463 have a much better clamping, and with velour pads, stay in place nicely, they don't move at all bending forward, backward, whatever. So, I have similar velout pads on both, but I took the cloth out of the stock MH463 pads and put it on behind tthe velour pads. I have the same exact wire on both pairs, made the HPT990 dual entry, using DHC Peptide Hybrid wire, litz type 2, silver plated copper, but not your common SPC. I have this same wire on my HD600, and I am getting the same great results with all three headphones. I am using Parametric EQ settings, the same on all three headphones, +3 db at 20hz, +4 db at 30hz, -4 db at 90hz and 125hz (this gets rid of the midbass that drowns the mids), to my ears this balances out the sound very nicely making the mids and highs more neutral with nice sub bass, tight without being overdone. I only use a few EQ settings, because when using more that that the volume changes significanly throughout, pre amp settings help with that though if you have that capability.
Separation, imaging and soundstage realism wins on the MH463, 3D stage depth and with are it's strong points, nice full sound, like it very much. Bass is very deep and tight with good layering. Overall the sense of actually being in an arena listening to a live performance is just fantastic.
The HPT990 is also a very good sounding headphone! But to my ears the imaging is just not there like it is in the MH463, the soundstage is 2D, and not nearly as interesting as the 3D soundstage of the MH463. The bass on the HPT990 has more quantity than the MH463, but is not as tight maybe slightly boomy depending on the music, IMO. The highs with the velour pads on both headphones is very good and sparkly, I have that equal on both the MH463 and HPT990. Mids are also very, very good on both headphones. Clarity on the HPT990 is stunning, and acurate. Tone on both phones is similar probably because of the velour pads, which I have gotton to like with my Sennheiser, and both headphones, IMO, compete yet compliment my HD600 and HD580, as I have the capability to use the same wire in all of them. I have five different cables for my Senn's, and I can definately say that the DHC Peptide Hybrid wire has the same signature in each different headphone.
I live both the HPT990 and the my new MH463, hard to choose between my headphones and cables, as they are all very capable. I like neutral sound, and I believe they all deliver. I think with the Peptide Hybrid wire on the HPT990 and MH463, they top the Sennheiser's in clarity, maybe even more neutral the way that I have them set up. The Sennheiser's do have more warmth than the two budget cans, that can be heard in vocals. I am liking the open 3D type sound of the MH463 best right now for most of my listening, it does really well all round, but then again they all do. There is just enough variation between all of my headphones to justify them. It has been real interesting DIYing the wires that I have made myself over the last months, and listening to the differences it can make. Self satisfaction is what this hobby is about, and it is remarkable just where the technology have come, reference the picture of the Takstar HI2050/Technical Pro HPT990 sitting on top of the very high end MacIntosh D100 gear at a recent CES show. Now, does that say the MacIntosh D100 gear can make any HP sound good, or does it meam the budget phones are worthy!
