MrSpeakers ÆON Flow Open - Early Impressions and Measurements

Discussion in 'Headphone Measurements' started by Hands, Oct 14, 2017.

  1. Luckbad

    Luckbad Traded in a unicorn for a Corolla

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    Take this as blanket advice: do not mix music and gaming when you consider headphones.

    I tried and learned that they do not mix. You're handicapping one of the options by doing so.

    For positional audio, there are a few great options. My personal preference is Sennheiser HD598 for competitive FPSes. I used to use a dedicated gaming sound card for them, but my onboard audio is currently quite good for gaming.

    If you need my street cred for these recommendations, PM me.
     
  2. ductrung3993

    ductrung3993 Facebook Friend

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    how does this compare to HE X V2?
     
  3. Jerry

    Jerry Friend

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    What about HD800 and TH900? I found these 2 to be the best headphones for both gaming and music.
     
    Last edited: Nov 19, 2018
  4. donunus

    donunus Friend

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    I am getting some cans for a transportable setup with an ipad and iDSD micro Black Label. I am on the fence whether to get the AFO or the LCD2C. Since no one really knows my taste to a tee, I don't expect one to know which of the two cans I will prefer but would just like to know if anyone has noticed a particularly good synergy between the AFO and the idsd BL. If someone can also compare the former with the LCD2C idsd micro BL synergy, be my guest.
     
  5. Ice-man

    Ice-man Friend

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    I have not tried the lcd2c. But, the pairing with AFO and idsd bl is quite good. Good authority and punch...very nice tonal balance. I enjoyed it very much.
     
  6. geniekid

    geniekid Facebook Friend

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    I've been eyeing these headphones for several months now, but the statements about seal sensitivity have held me back since I wear glasses. I'm curious - just how bad is it? How does the bass level compare to the HD600 (or 650), for example? Or is it more than just bass response that's affected by seal?
     
  7. Ice-man

    Ice-man Friend

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    AFO offers better extension at both ends. With bass being tighter (less bloom than 6xx) and with more extension. I'd give overall quality of the midrange a slight nod to the 650, but it's close.

    I wear glasses occasionally...readers mostly when I'm at the computer. So much of my time with AFO was with glasses and I was able to get a good seal with no loss of bass quality.
     
  8. Hands

    Hands Overzealous Auto Flusher - Measurbator

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    AFO sounds like ass when I wear my glasses. I am adamant they basically need a perfect seal to sound good. And they are quite good when you do so. Let's call it really hit or miss if it'll work for folks with glasses.

    I much prefer the HD650 when wearing glasses. Lighter, more comfortable, less clamp when you stretch them out, and little to no impact on sound.

    I think the HD650 has more dynamic sounding bass with the right amp, but the AFO is cleaner and extends deeper despite having a similar mid-bass emphasis.
     
  9. TMRaven

    TMRaven Friend

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    With a break in seal, the AFO loses a good bit of its bass, but having said that it still might have more bass than the HD650 even without a perfect seal. Tough for me to say unless I've compared the two side by side.

    I've tried HD650 on a couple of different amps, never found its bass to be particularly strong sounding-- only thick out of a dark-sounding OTL tube amp, but that was an extreme case, and the bass still wasn't powerful.

    Might try looking into Hifiman planars. They're so open-air and don't really require a seal at all. In fact I dare say they get bassier with less than optimal seal.
     
  10. geniekid

    geniekid Facebook Friend

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    My Clears went defective so I decided to get the AFOs while the Clears go through the return process. Some thoughts:

    Seal
    With careful placement, I can get to the point where I don't hear a difference between glasses-on vs glasses-off, but I can easily see someone with a different head/glasses having problems. FWIW, my glasses frame size is 55-14-140, to give some impression of my head size.

    Comfort
    They're very comfortable. I generally like clamp pressure more than top-of-head pressure. The HD6XXs are my most comfortable headphones. The AFOs are second. Other headphones I've owned are AKG 7XX, Hifiman 4XX and 400S, and Focal Clear.

    Sound
    I listened to these on 1) Modi Multibit->Magni 3 and 2) ADI-2 PRO (built-in amp). I kept the default filter (white felt, one notch). My primary point of reference was my HD6XXs. I listened to some pop, some electronica, and some choral/orchestral (Christopher Tin).

    I agree with the general consensus that bass is deep and strong. I found vocals (upper-mid?) to be a little blurry. On the Magni 3, it felt quite muddy. On the ADI-2, it was just slightly less resolving than the HD6XXs. The AFOs have significantly more isolation from outside noise than other open cans I've used. I don't feel qualified to assert anything else at this time, except to say that after rereading their reviews I think Tyll's impressions are spot on and I generally agree with everything @Hands said in the OP.
     
  11. Skyline

    Skyline Double-blindly done with this hobby

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    @geniekid For whatever it's worth, I hate the AFO through the Magni 3. A lot.

    Also, try it without the filters. I enjoy the filters when I need to tone things down, I'm tired, etc. But, while they effectively tame the treble, they also tend to dampen the sound and make it a bit more claustrophobic. Removing the filters adds some energy and clarity (in my opinion, of course).

    With the 1-notch white filter, they actually remind me a lot of the 650s.

    With the filters out, it feels like a completely different animal to me.
     
  12. redrich2000

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    Aeon 2 released and the brand is now Dan Clark Audio. Very cool looking folding mechanism.

    [​IMG]

    I bought the AFO last week, heavily discouted ex-demo model from an official re-seller in Aus. They are still advertising the ex-demo price. Mine seemed unused. Is it possible that the store is selling stock as ex-demo knowing Aeon 2 was coming because of a prohibition on discounts?
     
  13. jexby

    jexby Posole Prince

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    Exit stage left....
    wanted to give a dislike to the post above, but realized being the messenger of mediocre headphone news from Dan isn't your fault.
     
  14. mscott58

    mscott58 Friend

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    For some reason this made me think of a classic Bloom County strip...
    (but with foldability taking the place of the tint control)

    [​IMG]
     
  15. netforce

    netforce MOT: Headphones.com

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    MrSpeakers gave us the heads up on the rebrand and Aeon 2 yesterday. It is entirely possible other overseas dealers got the heads up or may have just wanted to sell off their demos around the same time. Still getting a heavily discounted demo ain't terrible.
     
  16. zerodeefex

    zerodeefex SBAF's Imelda Marcos

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    Dan's a butt but your post is also butt.
     
  17. starence

    starence Facebook Friend

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    Why is Dan a butt? I get that some people have a problem with him, but I haven't been able to figure out what it stems from.
     
  18. zerodeefex

    zerodeefex SBAF's Imelda Marcos

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    His poop has never stunk. Oh, a review unit measured not great? It's that unit, not my headphone's fault. I'll give you a handpicked one.

    Oh you BOUGHT a unit secretly to review and it wasn't great? It's that unit's fault! I swear, it's not that my headphones aren't for everyone.

    Oh, I lost the competition at the meet to guess the frequency of the ringing bowl? I didn't lose, you guys just read my entry wrong. I swear it. I know @CEE TEE and @Questhate will always remember this one, too.
     
  19. Armaegis

    Armaegis Friend

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    Or how about the early days of T50rp modding and somehow convincing his customer base to be a testing ground for unfinished headphones then charging them again and again for each successive "upgrade"? Or how about that debacle when he just coincidentally released a waveguide mod shortly after another dude (I apologize that I forget his name) had published some CAD drawings on the concept.
     
  20. Ice-man

    Ice-man Friend

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    Not to cause any trouble whatsoever, but aren't you beating a dead horse here, over and over? I mean, I get it. Dan did some things to piss you off. And I don't doubt that he did. In fairness, we all screw up on occasion, right? For God's sake, I know that I certainly do. And under certain circumstances there is not really an appropriate forum for me to clear the air and set things right. But we all screw up for time to time and hopefully someone you've wronged is willing to have a little understanding and move on.

    I've known Dan for almost 10 years. He's never been anything but gracious and a good guy anytime that I've dealt with him. And he is making some very good products for the community these days. The ETHER 2 is exceptional, as Marv has testified to this, as well Gover Neville (one of our own at Innerfideility). https://www.innerfidelity.com/content/mr-speakers-ether-2-review-–-my-favorite-flagship

    The new Aeon 2 closed is also wonderful and one of the very best closed headphones that I've owned or heard. Point being, Dan makes the kind of stuff we like. At least that many of us enjoy. Can't we find some common ground here and make a little peace?
     
    Last edited: Nov 17, 2019

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