General Headphone Advice

Discussion in 'Headphones' started by Walderstorn, Mar 20, 2016.

  1. a44100Hz

    a44100Hz Friend

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    I don't have the level of gear or listening experience you guys are accustomed to, but man, the HD650 with just the back driver foam removed sounds freaking amazing on Bifrost Multibit/Lyr2 with vintage tubes. In comparison the HE-400i (stock, old style with screw-on connectors) on the same rig sounds more closed in and less... the word I want to use is majestic, not just in terms of soundstage width though, also in terms of the frequency response, maybe this effect is part of the "planar blob" you guys have referred to on this forum.
     
  2. Kon Peki

    Kon Peki Friend

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  3. BioniclePhile

    BioniclePhile The Terminal Man - Friend

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    Tyll uses different measuring equipment and compensation. The raw data below the compensated graph shows the treble the mic is picking up. I guess SBAF compensation takes out less treble, despite Tyll's warm headphone preference.
     
  4. Kon Peki

    Kon Peki Friend

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    That 12-14db peak in the 3-4kKz range of the HE-560 raw data looks a lot like what I'm seeing in the raw data from the HD600: http://www.innerfidelity.com/images/SennheiserHD600.pdf

    I can fit my thumb under the notch in each case. The main difference looks to be at 2kHz, where the HE-560 transitions a lot like the HE-6: http://www.innerfidelity.com/images/HiFiMANHE6.pdf
     
    Last edited: Mar 23, 2016
  5. Hands

    Hands Overzealous Auto Flusher - Measurbator

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    Welp, I just went and misremembered something. My bad. :) Let me correct myself by saying the 3 in the room at the time found the modded HD650 superior. I think? I don't know if anyone else, including myself, can trust me now. Garbage brain. Starting to doubt my memories and now my past life as a whole.

    Different setups, though if you know how to read Tyll's measurements, you can often find correlations. The 3-5KHz spot on Tyll's HE-560 measurement is elevated, as is the rest of the treble response above that. Why his bass and mids are flat whereas my results show a bit of a bass tilt, that I do not know.

    FWIW I found the HD600 too hot in the 2-5KHz range as well, though it was better integrated with everything else and better balanced due to the HD6X0 mid-bass love hump.
     
  6. jexby

    jexby Posole Prince

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    no stress at all Hands, I do believe there are rigs that would present your mod'd HD650 as superior (over 400S).
    that's what I need to hear/realize myself one day.

    so take a vacation sometime and drop off your mod'd HD650s at my place for a two week loaner ok!?
    ;)
     
  7. Hands

    Hands Overzealous Auto Flusher - Measurbator

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    I only take staycations. :drunk:
     
  8. purr1n

    purr1n Desire for betterer is endless.

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    Would you guys like me to reactive the "dislike" button?
     
  9. jexby

    jexby Posole Prince

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    wow a Dislike button just because Hands and I can't agree what happened at our clandestine Denver meet!?
    :D:D:D
     
  10. purr1n

    purr1n Desire for betterer is endless.

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    Go for it. Friends can now dislike non-Friends.
     
  11. velvetx

    velvetx Gear Master West/Vendor Spotlight Moderator

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    I'm waiting for you to ask @MisterRogers to take a vacation so he can drop the Studio off at your place :)
     
  12. a44100Hz

    a44100Hz Friend

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    Bring it on, bitches

    Wait, I just looked and I'm a friend now?

    PLANS: FOILED
     
  13. Hands

    Hands Overzealous Auto Flusher - Measurbator

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    Hey now, I agree with you now what happened after you pointed out my brain fart!

    Also yes.
     
  14. BioniclePhile

    BioniclePhile The Terminal Man - Friend

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    I'm incredibly dissapointed that I can't unlike friends posts. The closer the friends, the more insults you need to give to show them your love.
     
  15. TwoEars

    TwoEars Friend

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    I'm not a friend yet.

    [​IMG]
     
    Last edited: Mar 24, 2016
  16. therealjay

    therealjay New

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    I tried to love Planars. Jumped in with both feet into a pair of HE-560's. So bright it was like the sun melting my ears off. I've since heard about a pad change that may have made this a lot better but I didn't know at the time and quickly resold them. Recently bought HD 800's and even with them unmodded I don't find them nearly as overbearing the the treble. Although I am running tubes.

    My real issue with Planar's though is they lack any kind of soundstage to my ears. People use the term wall of sound to lovingly describe them and I can't say I disagree. The 560's sounded airy and big but there was no kind of coherant imaging going on. My old HD 598's were better in that aspect.

    Don't think I'll ever go back to them for this reason.
     
  17. keanex

    keanex Martian Bounty Hunter - Friend

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    Gutb finally did something good for a community, the dislike button.
     
  18. TomNC

    TomNC Friend

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    I disagree some of what is just said. Planars like HE6 and HEK can produce very vivid soundstage and precise imaging if properly driven. For instance, AURALiC VEGA+Taurus Mk2 driving HE6 did produce some of the best soundstage (not the largest though) and imaging presentations I have experienced so far. This combination may be inferior to a good Stax 009 system or HD800 driven by a Moth 2a3 amp, but it is downright hi-fi grade.
     
  19. Hands

    Hands Overzealous Auto Flusher - Measurbator

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    Planar and soundstage is more generalizing. I've heard them do really well, but they need to be tuned right, driven right, and usually have the right types of pads. There are always exceptions to generalizations on any type of headphone. (Though the HEK is not one I'd consider to be an exception with planar staging, IME.)
     
  20. Priidik

    Priidik MOT: Estelon

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    You have found that you like planar as a compromise better. I uderstand your pov. Wait until you hear some modded HD800 (or even 650) from a proper 2A3 tube amp, then your generalization might have some weight behind it.
    Even Studio uses neg feedback. It helps with noise and distortion, right?
     

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