sennsay
1000+ Head-Fier
When I got to hear a set of 300 ohm HD540 IIs, I found that they had some musical similarities with my Ref 1s, but it was that upper mid/lower treble peak that got to me on some music, even though it's always there, just less noticeable on some music. From memory, I remember a slight mid bass hump that is not there on my Ref1s, which are quite a bit more linear in extension both ends of the spectrum until the very top end roll off. I used the Mogami cable on both and while I mostly enjoyed the Ref IIs, the Ref1s are a wider open window, I find. Having owned them since new in 1989, I still utterly love what they bring to a musical event, nothing else I've heard allows such organic immersion into the performance, despite not being as ultimately detailed as say, the HD6XX (although only in some areas) and the Mogami'd HE 400 S cans with A pads, the latter having it's own little lower treble peak and less 3D soundstage. The Ref1s disappear on my head, as if they physically play no further part than project the soundstage of musicians. With everything else, I know I'm actually wearing a device, regardless of sound quality. I have not, however, heard the likes of the top end HifiMAN, Audeze and Focal etc. The lower models I did hear did not make me lust after them and want to put the Ref1s away. I like the HD250 Linear 1s from the mids on up, where they truly are linear! As for that bass though ..... sigh. I cannot live with it after the Ref1s, I much prefer my Sony MDR-1Rs (Mogami'd) if I want closed cans, tuneful little fellas.Oh btw, the only thing that underwhelmed me was the bass (both extension and midbass impact) with the 300 ohm version