- I would argue many accolades regarding the Verum are backed up by science. these measure incredibly well in FR, decay & distortion. - They absolutely do, not contesting that, but there are many headphones that measure well. There are also many measurement systems and procedures and the results can be different enough so that remains an unknown. When I see Jude and some other heavy hitters with crazy rigs and years of measurement experience get the same results that will lend more weight. As it stands now, in terms of measurements, there are only a few data points and in scientific inquiry, the more data, the more confidence. Additionally, visually inspecting frequency responses has limits in the sense that how sensitive our hearing brain is may not really be captured visually, it is a rough depiction and when something becomes audibly significant is not actually always well represented by a graph. They may under or over-emphasize potential differences.
- far fetched? why? I cannot believe how many $500+ headphones from big brands have significant flaws that make them incredibly fatiguing to wear/use for an extended period of time - Absolutely, I would never say otherwise, but this also does stray into the realm of personal preference as some people will love the same attributes about a signature that you find fatiguing. Horses for courses as they say.
- every time a new small-scale outfit produces a nice piece of gear? sorry, I can't speak for others but most of my experience is from big brands and I would argue the only other small brand I was excited for recently was a flop with the Vokyl erupt - Yes, clearly I was being a little intentionally dramatic/generalizing, but I have been around here quite some time, and almost always there is at least an initial surge of enthusiasm for and people hoping that a small outfit will somehow find that magic everyone else missed (which is the far-fetched expectation in my belief and previous post). It really makes no sense to think that all of the other companies with years of experience, decent R&D, testing and production gear, budgets, processes were unable to find the secret that was just eluding them. Possible, but unlikely. This is after all not a new technology, there are not new special materials, simply variations on a theme. Still round cups, padding materials, magnets, array flows, tracings, wires etc. Now if the new theme is particularly strong in some areas or matches somebodies preferences better, no problem, I can get behind that and even expect that, but a wholesale belief that everybody else just misses these easy to find elements of better sound, or that they all lack ability in tuning their offerings musically, that is where I start to say a little caution and temperance in claims and expectations are warranted.
they are not perfect. the headband needs a ton of work. They also are fairly lacking in sound stage (along with most planars) and they are only okay at imaging (along with most planars). The Edition XV2 has incredible soundstage and I am sure there are other examples.
you have clearly been around awhile. pick up a pair, they will surprise you. sonically they are great. ergonomically, they need some work. don't let the fact that it's a small outfit and an affordable price tag give you all kinds of preconceived notions without trying them. - Despite my tone I actually don't feel price tag or who made something is the most important factor in a high quality end result. They are factors, and simply discounting them is equally problematic, but I do have a very open mind and will likely try this headphone. I think at the end of the day I react to people seemingly ignoring what being a giant killer really means. Sure, there are no dealer mark-ups so in theory the lower price might be said to be making delivering a product for less that would typically cost more due to mark-ups is possible. I am very confident that scale of economy would nullify this as a significant factor. Audeze, HiFiman, Mr. Speaker etc all have significant scale of economy advantages that really should neutralize the concern raised about dealer mark-ups being part of the dollar value of high end headphone prices (and they are factors no doubt).
The next assumption that needs to be accepted is that this individual has somehow transcended ability and has such an advantage with his ear that the tuning is just beyond what other people can manage. Possible of course, but again, simply accepting that at face value is problematic. Most humans barring major structural anomalies have very, very, similar hearing brains, evolution has assured that and unless people are making the case that certain individuals have special abilities, again possible, but incredible claims require incredible evidence. So we are then left with explanations for the giant killing abilities found in the production/design/testing process and here again I see no compelling reason offered what is so different that none before have manage to do as well.
Personally it sounds like the headphone is very well designed and tuned, and that people are responding to a fantastic sound signature that clearly they find is more than full-value for the cost. I have no issues at all with such claims, why would I? It is the notion that is being floated here (at least a little) that all the really expensive stuff is basically pure unadulterated profit margins with none of the price differential going into R&D, materials, or production. While again I am sure there is some truth, it isn't likely to be globally true or significant enough to account for all of the price variability. I think a $400 headphone can sound very, very good and there is no reason to think that it can't compete, and depending on personal preference, even best more expensive designs, but again, assuming some kind of incredible design and tuning difference that makes something a proverbial giant killer is a pretty high bar to get over. I am extremely curious about this headphone and it seems very likely that I will try it and I have quite high hopes that I will enjoy it. In order to enjoy it; however, I won't need it to be a giant killer, just be good value for the money spent.
