Alright guys, quick review of the ISK HF2010 semi open headphones.
SO! Been producing a lot and I am very sensitive and careful of choosing my audio equipment, always striving for good sound. In my home studio I have the Focal Alpha 60's which have a good punchy bass (if treated with isolation pads like the isoacoustics), great mids and great hf's.
Still a student somehow and saving up for a better computer, I wanted some boost to my relatively untreated room and AKG K240s lacking in the bass region-they are better with the sound card amp but still, need more boost.
To me, the HF2010 sound more like a closed headphone with some "extras" from an open headphone.
I was amazed by the sound quality, everything is there perfectly glued together. The bass is there, tight and with a nice punch and boom, just like if you'd be on a concert watching Axwell Ingrosso or the mau5. Sound wise, it's like you're in a sound proof / treated room or a studio - well treated - and you're in the middle of it.
Listening to EDM it has a nice punch with great lows and great highs. Listening through high volumes, the hi's are there to almost the level that they are too much but at the limit where it's too much.
I would almost compare them to the Genelec M-series (M030 and M040). Nice punch, mid is cool but could be a little boosted, and the hf are there almost too high but still OK.
A mix between Adam A7X or A8X or the M-series would be a good description. Yes guys, the HF2010 sound is fantastic.
They absolutely sound like an expensive pair of cans, but they're not. Bought them via AliExpress for 40 bucks, a no brainer just for trying out the sound.
The good thing I like, is that they are very transparent, just like 1clearhead said. I know some tracks that I always have as reference tracks, and with the ISK's they sounded Fab!
I'd wish for one thing tho, more emphasis in the low mids, some male vocals sounded a little bit "behind" and could be increased, the HF's female vocals and strings and other HF stuff sounds terrific, but the Lows/bass plus the HF's together mashes the mids and low mids a little bit, why I thought they sounded a little bit like Adam's, very punchy (not muddy) but, a little boomy.
Metal and rock is greeat, listening to Jessie's Girl by Rick Springfield (love Boogie Nights) and yes, the vocal is there and they're great. Iron Maiden, likewise, everything is there. Run to the hills was a little bit thin tho, although it was long time ago since I listened to them.
Well, when I put on some 80's music especially Depeche Mode with a lot of bass, vocals and synths is there and wow, again, back to the treated room. But not tonight was a phenomenal translation in the ISK's. Loved it. Changing genre to EDM and house music, Dirty South's Find a way, terrific sound! What a boost in the bass, low bass, airy vocal, now they feel like an open can but with a LOT of bass!! City of dreams, great track with a lot of elements, it's great. Listening to Walking Alone and the Piano rendition, damn, what a feeling.
Well, how's Avicii or Alesso? Hey brother was terrific. Alesso's Years takes me to an open Tomorrowland stage and an airy party, but still keeping the image great and it's tight and glued.
Angels and Airwaves The adventure, sounds good, nothing special but good. Sweet Disposition by Temper track, sounds great too.
Changing to a little 80's again and Electrich Youth's album Innerworld which I have been listening to a lot, the vocals are fantastic (female vocals), bass is there with a good punch and the air is there too but still with a studio feel. Last genre, classical music: Overall great! The roomy feeling is there, I'd love to have a more cleaner sound like my AKG K240's which sounds like a pair of open cans compared to the ISK's have better clarity and soundstage, but the ISK's are not that far behind actually. All Hans Zimmer tracks sound awesome and...I really can't complain. The Dark Knight theme is great and the horns are majestic.
Overall, they sound like a much more expensive pair of headphones, mostly they are great on many genres and types of tracks! I have listened a lot to the soundtrack of Drive, Kavinsky and Electric youth - A real hero, the track has such an amazing bass and wamth and still have this open feeling to them, a nice soundstage, like a room reverb mixed with a plate reverb haha, or something like that. They are perfectly glued and if you'd do a blind test you'd think they are like a DT880Pro or something. To me they totally beat the DT770, but that's just me.
Ofc the Beyers are good but, I just think for the price you get an AMAZING pair of headphones, which translates well which is good if you're a producer and only produce by your headphones.
Some frequencies became more present and you hear every detail if you just listen carefully.
Oh snap! I just realized that my "quick review" was a bit longer haha! Anyways, I really like to get value for the price and with the ISK's I got everything and a little bit more.
You could definitely mix and produce some top lists track, because everything is there for you. Now it's just up to you. Learn them and use them and enjoy the great price.
Shipment was about 2-3 weeks, box was 90% solid hehe but you got a nice package and it's really great they're in aluminium too. I will listen to some TImecop and The Midnight and evaluate some more tracks with male vocals, but overall, great pair of cans and super recommended!
Now I'd like to find, just a pair of these but which are even MORE open ! Perhaps the Takstar's or some other headphones?
Maybe people here would rate the Pro 80's and HP2011 as the best Closest one, I'd rate these like some of the best semi-open ones. And let's find the best open ones.
These ones are definitely great for mixing and have the feeling of sitting in the well treated room with some air but overall tightness. But would be nice to have a reference pair of headphones which are open (like the Q701, K7XX, K712 etc). Really tempted in getting a Q701 or the K7XX massdrop and buy a Schiit amp to them since I don't rely on my K240's anymore, or I'd need to amp the crap out of them.
Good hunting guys!
ps. They'll benefit more with a real amp that's for sure and could be what I am missing from them.
Not Takstars or ISK's but they listed the Superlux one, perhaps nice to investigate a little bit more in these cheaper options:
http://headphonecharts.com/best-open-back-headphones-under-100.php