Levaix
100+ Head-Fier
- Joined
- Jan 5, 2013
- Posts
- 414
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- 89
I started to use the Oyaide cable because to my ears they were not bright enough with the stock cable. But then again I have had (and still have) the HD800, the Stax SR 404 LE, and the Beyer T1, so I have a sense of what else is available - and all of those are brighter than the SP, even when fed with mellow sources, probably because they have comparatively less bass than the SP. I do also have (as my favourite non-portable headphone) the Stax Omega II, and that, when fed a really clean sound, is in some ways comparable to the SP with the Oyaide cable. So, I say that the SP is not bright at all. I have, however, been listening to music (including at loud rock concerts when I was young) for well over 40 years, so my hearing is probably a bit less sharp than that of many. And I have slight tinnitus. But even so, when listening to live piano playing (a true test of what live music sounds like) - when my daughter plays the piano at home - I hear sharp highs. So, maybe my hearing is reasonably accurate.
I think the fatiguing quality is less about the treble and more about general impact. Sig Pros (and Ultrasone in general) are very punchy, which is super fun to listen to, but they're not really a headphone for just chilling out. They involve you.