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Discussion in 'Leaderboard, Overboard, and Deals' started by purr1n, Dec 8, 2015.

Page 15 of 22
  1. JewBear

    JewBear Almost "Made"

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    We are on the same journey it seems. I too have just bought Blackwoods and am searching for the holy grail of closed headphone. I may pick up some PM-3s to go along with them at some point.
     
    JewBear, Dec 15, 2015
    #281
  2. thegunner100

    thegunner100 Hentai Master Chief

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    I almost got a GTX 970 but then I remembered that all I played were older PC games and doujin games. The GTX 960 is doing pretty well for me and actually runs The Witcher 3 around 50-60 fps so I'm happy. Get the HD650!!!
     
    thegunner100, Dec 15, 2015
    #282
  3. EraserXIV

    EraserXIV Friend

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    I used to own the Alpha Dog and thought I had found an ideal T50RP variant, it's definitely an upgrade over the original T50RP, but it has many inherent flaws I never really noticed until I got a Blackwood.

    The Blackwood is a lot better IMO, a much more natural sound. I was always surprised how little love it got on HF and CS (now SABF). I wrote some comparisons about it back on CS or HF and I'll try to dig them up and update this post.
     
    Last edited: Dec 15, 2015
    EraserXIV, Dec 15, 2015
    #283
  4. rayfalkner

    rayfalkner Not to be confused with Roy Fokker - Friend

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    No, no no no no! A man needs only one good schlong in his life, any more and I'll have to start questioning my sexuality.
     
    rayfalkner, Dec 15, 2015
    #284
  5. Boops

    Boops Friend

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    I have a pair I will sell you for $375 shipped to CONUS. Purchased in July, great condition, with all accessories/packaging (except for the cardboard box). PM me if you are interested.
     
    Boops, Dec 15, 2015
    #285
  6. EraserXIV

    EraserXIV Friend

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    Shit lol, can't find it, I must have made the comparo in the Shout Box on CS (one of the downsides of the Shout Box). Basically, the Alpha Dog always had this artificial sound to it that I couldn't really put my finger on. Its highs were many times also very shrill and piercing (it was a way of providing artificial "detail"). The doggie treats tried to fix it, but you would lose a lot from other parts of the spectrum if you used more than 1 of them, making it sound muffled.

    The Blackwood has a much more natural timbre and tone, with a smoother top end. May not be as "detailed" as the AD, but the AD had its detail artificially boosted (think of when you turn up sharpness a ton on your TV or photo editor).
     
    EraserXIV, Dec 16, 2015
    #286
  7. purr1n

    purr1n Desire for betterer is endless.

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    I hear you. The Alpha Dogs sounded like they were tuned to mimic the HD800, complete with glare and hardness of the HD800's peak. The Blackwoods are like an ortho HD650.
     
    purr1n, Dec 16, 2015
    #287
  8. fraggler

    fraggler A Happy & Busy Life

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    Hmm. Maybe I have to take my Kenwoods over to Zach's after all and do some listening. Having an ortho HD650 as my closed headphones sounds good to me. Maybe I can help him build stuff for a few hours for a discount...
     
    fraggler, Dec 16, 2015
    #288
  9. purr1n

    purr1n Desire for betterer is endless.

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    Added Schiit Vali 2 to G.
     
    purr1n, Dec 16, 2015
    #289
  10. Hands

    Hands Overzealous Auto Flusher - Measurbator

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    I dunno, I heard the Blackwood as somewhere in between the HD800 and HD650, due to a treble peak, and the Vibro closer to the HD650 myself. I can't speak for every unit out there, but I know Zach tries really hard to match each pair for consistent sound.
     
    Hands, Dec 16, 2015
    #290
  11. EraserXIV

    EraserXIV Friend

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    I've never heard the Vibro, but the Blackwood in terms of character/tone could fall between the HD800 (modded) and HD650.. maybe more towards the HD650 in overall character though. Keep in mind, this is character and not technical ability.

    FWIW, the Vibro seems like its supposed to be a bit more V-shaped by design. Here's Zach's FR:

    [​IMG]
     
    EraserXIV, Dec 16, 2015
    #291
  12. Hands

    Hands Overzealous Auto Flusher - Measurbator

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    I'm speaking from experience on the Vibro and Blackwood I heard, granted this was the Mk1 Vibro. But that's all I can speak for, no Mk2s or other units floating around.
     
    Hands, Dec 16, 2015
    #292
  13. MarcoGV

    MarcoGV Acquaintance

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    Having the output in back is more convenient for many users. However, having the input and output in the front can be more convenient in some applications. In my case, I have two headphone amplifiers, and I like having input and output in front to switch between amplifiers more easily. Also there is a report that the Massdrop version of the O2 is not built to spec: http://linustechtips.com/main/topic/414441-massdrop-objective-2-headphone-amp-70/. I do not want to spread rumors, so please comment if this has been addressed elsewhere. (I have done only a limited search.)
     
    MarcoGV, Dec 16, 2015
    #293
  14. SSL

    SSL Friend

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    From nwavguy's blog:

    So that suggests the massdrop version is not built to spec, one way or another.
     
    SSL, Dec 16, 2015
    #294
  15. purr1n

    purr1n Desire for betterer is endless.

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    OK, Mayflower Electronics (who makes the O2) bitches that the MD O2 is not up to spec and therefore breaks the CCL, but offers no details. Evidently the LED should not be blue or red?
     
    purr1n, Dec 16, 2015
    #295
  16. SSL

    SSL Friend

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    According to the progenitor of the O2, nwavguy, who is a perfect genius.
     
    SSL, Dec 16, 2015
    #296
  17. ultrabike

    ultrabike Measurbator - Admin

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    The Massdrop O2 is build fully to spec AFAIK.

    There was some concern in the Massdrop discussion comments that the LED and perhaps some resistors were out of specs. Those issues were resolved. Interestingly, it was I think also Mayflower who started complaining about this in the Massdrop discussions.

    As far as having the input and output in the front, I also have two headphone amplifiers, and I do not like the input and the output in the front. It's pretty crammed in the front. Lot's of space in the back. It abolutely makes no sense to me from usuablity perspective.
     
    ultrabike, Dec 16, 2015
    #297
  18. ultrabike

    ultrabike Measurbator - Admin

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    The LED is red and in agreement with NwAvGuy's commandments. All the way to having all inputs, knobs, and switches in the front.

    The red LED is supposed to help detect when the batteries are about to go flacid so that transcients don't damage this or that. I can say from experience that indeed when the batteries are about to loose all their juice, the device shuts down.
     
    Last edited: Dec 16, 2015
    ultrabike, Dec 16, 2015
    #298
  19. purr1n

    purr1n Desire for betterer is endless.

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    1. It's not going to be an issue unless batteries are used (and no one I know uses batteries with his O2).
    2. Knowing Will, he probably insisted on a blue LED, and thus forced his designer to go on a minor goose chase on Mouser to find the right LED with similar forward voltage and current suckage as the mandated red LED.
     
    purr1n, Dec 16, 2015
    #299
  20. ultrabike

    ultrabike Measurbator - Admin

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    Nah. The LED is red in the Massdrop O2. I know cuz I have one of those Massdrop O2 thingys.

    For better or worse, Will went through a lot to insure the device was built to specifications.
     
    ultrabike, Dec 16, 2015
    #300
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