What does "recessed midrange" mean? (e.g. A900, DT 770-80)

[saint.panda]

The A900 supposedly have recessed mids as does the Beyerdynamic DT 770. However, I find their midrange signatures to be of almost opposite nature.


(1) I would appreciate if you could briefly describe what about the A900 or DT 770-80 or any other 'midrange-recessed' headphone sounds recessed or what criteria qualify a headphone as having a recessed midrange.

(2) Also what causes a headphone to sound "nasal"?

(3) And can harshness be partly attributed to problems in the midrange?

(4) Finally, where in your opinion is the midrange and where do the highs begin?


If possible, please be as precise as possible. Sorry for imposing myself on you as I'm very curious about this issue so thank you in advance.

 

[txa]

A recessed midrange means the bass and treble fequencies are at greater volumes with respect to the mids. This could be for two reasons: the mids are lower than the recording intends, or the bass and treble are greater than the recording intends. Either way, the can's frequency response is not flat, and thus not producing the frequency spectrum the way the recording intends.

Also, two cans can be more prominent in the bass and treble (recessed mids), and yet have a different 'color' to the midrange.

 

[iancraig10]

I have found the 'recessed' midrange to be useful if I want to listen to music at a healthy volume.

On some phones with louder midrange (recessed high's and lows?), if you turn them up a bit, they can turn harsh. With Beyer DT 770 pros - I turn up until the mid sounds are as close as I want them to be and the result is truly great.

Loud, weighty music that doesn't sound harsh or distorted. When I turn them down to mouse volume, they do sound as if if something is missing, but at higher levels, they are the most entertaining phones to listen to. (and I find them quite revealing)

Makes you wonder, do some phones work better at higher volumes and others at the low end? DT770 definately asks for the volume to be upped before they truly take off.

 

[Gigabomber]

Quote:

Originally Posted by iancraig10 Makes you wonder, do some phones work better at higher volumes and others at the low end? DT770 definately asks for the volume to be upped before they truly take off.

On that note, I have found that I listen to the alessandro ms-2i's at a volume that undermines their legendary bass. When i turn them up, they sound better, but my ears eventually acclimatize to the detailed listening and ask me to turn it back down, resulting in a much brighter and noticeably sibilant sound.

 

[Enverxis]

Recessed mids to me is when I think the midrange sounds behind the rest of the presentation. I had a pair of Audio Technica EM7s and I thought that the upper midrange was not recessed but infact quite alive and even forward, as for the vocals "sorry WHAT WAS THAT? I COULDNT HEAR YOU"
bass and treble were nonexistant on those cans, well the bass was there when you got somewhat of a seal against your ear.

 

[iancraig10]

The DT 770's have a 'recessed' mid, but when I turn the volume up to bring the mids forward, the amount of slam and high sound doesn't seem to increase at the same rate so that they sound more balanced at slightly higher volumes. (To my ears)

For that reason, whatever I'm listening to, I adjust for presence (the mids) and for my ears sake, just back off slightly. The 770's feel more balanced when adjusted this way.

At low volumes, the mids do indeed sound sucked away and the bass and treble feel exceesive for the volume. (I'm soon to be receiving an 80 ohm version of these phones and from what I have read, the mids are a little more prominent on them)

 

[nickchen]

Recessed mids are not an inevitable bad thing. My DT 770 '250 might have this, but it is finally the sound I prefer anyway - Before i got the 770s, I equalized whatever I used to listen towards that "permanent loudness-sound" the 770s have "built-in". This is not natural of course ----

but did anybody ever compare John Wayne's original croaky Mickeymouse-voice with his meatier foreign synchronisation voices? That is the "unnatural effect".