MayaTlab
1000+ Head-Fier
- Apple's next over-ears, regardless of whether they're Apple or Beats branded. Passive headphones should have gone the way of the dodo years ago (like speakers) and active headphones with feedback mechanisms and real-time FR adjustments to compensate for seal, positioning or anatomical variations are the future of high-fidelity. Of all the tech brands Apple is the best placed to achieve something interesting in that area for various reasons, so anything they come up with I'm interested. After using the AirPods Max which have a rather unique combination right now of somewhat sensible FR curve, at least below 3-4khz or so, low noise electronics and real-time FR compensation below 1khz + ANC I find it increasingly exceedingly difficult to listen to any other pair of closed back over-ears, between seal and pad issues, frequent L/R matching issues, poor linearity below 1khz, low frequency microphonics coming from your now body, etc...
I'm quite curious to see also how the APM will influence other brands, for better or worse (Sonos, Bose, Sony, etc.).
- Sundara 2020 : I haven't listen to the most recent planars on the market and the engineering on these seem quite solid without too much of the usual shortcomings one can often see with them. I've actually ordered them.
- Any pair of Focal open backs : I'm interested to hear what a pair of headphones with an open front volume and very good low end extension with low THD sounds like... if it actually matters compared to other headphones EQed to taste. But I'm pretty certain that I won't ever be tempted to purchase one as long as Focal's repair and spare parts capabilities are so terrible. Highly skeptical that I'll enjoy them above 1khz or so.
- AKG N90Q : only pair of headphones in existence to my knowledge that made an attempt to correct the FR curve past 1khz to tailor it to the user's anatomy, using two microphones and test tones inside the cup. I'm just curious for these, I'm not expecting miracles.
- Meze Empyrean.
I'm quite curious to see also how the APM will influence other brands, for better or worse (Sonos, Bose, Sony, etc.).
- Sundara 2020 : I haven't listen to the most recent planars on the market and the engineering on these seem quite solid without too much of the usual shortcomings one can often see with them. I've actually ordered them.
- Any pair of Focal open backs : I'm interested to hear what a pair of headphones with an open front volume and very good low end extension with low THD sounds like... if it actually matters compared to other headphones EQed to taste. But I'm pretty certain that I won't ever be tempted to purchase one as long as Focal's repair and spare parts capabilities are so terrible. Highly skeptical that I'll enjoy them above 1khz or so.
- AKG N90Q : only pair of headphones in existence to my knowledge that made an attempt to correct the FR curve past 1khz to tailor it to the user's anatomy, using two microphones and test tones inside the cup. I'm just curious for these, I'm not expecting miracles.
- Meze Empyrean.
