Headphone Connect - India

This was the third headphone meet in Bangalore (India). Small group of around 40 people. Most of them came for the first time and were wowed by the HD800.



Headphones : DT770,1770,1990,T5P,HD800,HD650,LCD3,LCD X, Meze99,Grado SR225, Hifiman HE400i,HE400s, Some other senns, Vmodas and stuff I didn't care about

DAPS - AK70,AK Jr,AK300,AK120,Fiio X1/X3/X5

Amps/Dacs - Chord Mojo, ALO Continental dual Mono, Schiit Magni 2, Schiit Modi 2

Conclusion:
None of the headphones(!HD800) were able to outdo HD650 in terms of resolution and microdynamics esp. What a shame, a 10 yr old headphone still ruling them all.
HD800's mid treble peak sucks. HD650's decay is more natural than the 800.
Wish 650 was as clean as the 800. There is too much bass distortion and grain in the stock form.
ALO Continental dual Mono is a fine amp for $500 not $1500. Bass is good, rest is bright.
Schiit Magni2/Modi2 had the most convincing sound of all.
AK300 WTH! . Actually all daps sucked, AK300 a bit more.
I'll buy the HD650 someday

The event was organized by Headphonezone India. Free to attend,eat,drink.

 

Its nice to see that such events are being organized in India. I regret missing the one they did in Delhi last year but I had too much on my plate back then.
So, are the members allowed to bring their gear or is it more of a vendor show?
You didn't care for any Audeze/ Hifiman at all then?

 

@gurubhai - Another meet is going on right now in Hauz Khas, New Delhi

Members can bring anything they like. For a desktop setup one has to inform the organizer in advance so as to arrange a dedicated space. The headphonezone guy is cool even if you express your dislike towards the products he markets. This meet had venders from RHA, Klipsch and Beyer.

For Audeze, LCD3 is the only one worthy of talking about resolution, dynamics and such. LCD X had big dynamic bass but uneven mids and tiny/artificial treble. Technically not that bad, it does bass quite good (a bit too much though). Next to HD650 it misses on low level details and even dynamics mid range and above. And then $1600.
HE400i was bright and screwed timbre. HE400s had fine FR but was unresolving. Both were almost bad sounding for the price.

What I've come to understand is ,for enjoying music there are many available, for connecting to music very few.

 

Abhishek, how was the crowd in terms of receptivity to "high-end" headphones? Its my take from the few folks that I've met in Chennai that surround sound is their thing. Stereo is considered old-fashioned. Headphones are almost non-existent.

 

No speaker guys in the meet. For most of them it was their first encounter with $100+ headphones. While they appreciated headphones from audeze and senns, they'll be reluctant when it comes to buying.
People see better value in Logitech z623 than ATH M50.

 

I suppose we would be branded loony to consider over $200 headphones then. Anyway, I notice there were no good tube amps (at least from your list). IMO, that's a prerequisite for the Senns (stock or modded).

 

There was this ALO continental dual mono. It's a decent portable tube amp. Was bright with HD800. Paired well with HD650 though.
Actually I've heard the HD650 to content on my setup and that is how I think it is a good headphone . Thinking of buying it just to see to what what extreme can the mods take it to.

 

And that is why the 800 (apart from needing mods) needs an amp like the ZDS. On the 650, don't get me wrong...it is a great HP that simply scales...I started with the Vali, then the Project Ember, then the BH Crack and finally stopped with the ZDS for lack of, among other things, real estate space. The SBAF mods have changed its character in a none-too subtle fashion. And what the Jotunheim gives is a nicer forward placement of the stage and less veiling without sacrificing the lovely warmth that is its chief characteristic.

 

Wow, they don't do stuff like that here in Chennai! And they have a shop or two, too. Haven't been to them, as I heard stuff was not available to audition, and there doesn't seem to be any point in shop v Amazon in that case. It would be good to know if that has changed!

Plenty of stereo in Chennai. If you can stand the audiophoolery (and the fact that the word is banned!) on hfv, you can find them out. Last HFV meets here, no surround in ear shot.

There's a couple of guys with vintage speakers out of cinemas. I think you know at least one them. Amazing sound.

Yes, there is plenty of what our American friends call "two-channel." But not that many headphones.

 

HD650 does scale a lot. From Lehmann BCL to my own amp , the 650 scaled so drastically that I am considering buying one for myself. Although irrespective of the setup two issues still remain with the stock 650, bass quality and overall grain. I found the HD800 to sound a lot cleaner on the same setups.

 

I think they had planned Chennai meet last year, but the floods washed the plans.

 

Where do they advertise this stuff if it happens?

When was the meet, by the way? I wanted to be in Bangalore for a concert yesterday and meeting a friend today, but cancelled the idea of driving for obvious reasons, left it to late to decide to train, and don't like the idea of buses.

 

Did you get to try hd650 and hd800 on your own setup?
Would be really interested in a detailed comparison of the two then.

 

I think they announce the future events here
https://www.headphonezone.in/pages/headphone-connect-event-calendar

you would have to periodically check this page for upcoming events in your area

 

Thanks!