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Massdrop x Hifiman Edition XX

Discussion in 'Headphones' started by Panohm, Oct 29, 2018.

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  1. Panohm

    Panohm Friend

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    Panohm, Oct 29, 2018
    #1
  2. Magnetostatic_Tubephile

    Magnetostatic_Tubephile Friend

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    "...For outstanding clarity and resolution, it uses the newly developed Neo Super Nano Driver..."

    Visualization of the above in a practical listening scenario:
    https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/1551/9867/products/Heart-Beats-Cardiogram-Illustration-Middle-Finger-f**k-You-Neon-Sign.jpg?v=1536162210

    Therefore let me say this with an outstanding clarity: "F*ck you, Bian."
     
    Magnetostatic_Tubephile, Oct 29, 2018
    #2
  3. Taverius

    Taverius Smells like sausages

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    Neo Super Nano ZW Ultra Genki Dragon Magical Princess SS Advance Fighting Robot Driver.

    Edit: the HEX, HEK and HE6K$ and their successors are great sounding headphones, but if you've been around any amount of time and you spend money on the more expensive HFM stuff you need your head checked, we all know what the build quality is now.
     
    Taverius, Oct 29, 2018
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  4. Hands

    Hands Overzealous Auto Flusher - Measurbator

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    I guess the cat is out of the bag.

    I got a sneak peak at these during RMAF. They sounded pretty good even off my phone, as best as I could tell in the relatively loud environment.

    Nice tone, fairly neutral, plenty of heft in the low-end, slight bit of upper-mid and lower-treble aggression (tasteful, not fatiguing), but overall quite agreeable. Quite similar to the Edition X. Not many headphones tuned to be balanced and relatively neutral like this.

    My only caveat is that if you like to listen LOUD, these aren't the best option for that. Like the Edition X, they still kind of fall apart (collapsed stage, rougher sound, etc.) at the upper end of safe listening levels. But for everything up to that point, they seem quite good.
     
    Hands, Oct 29, 2018
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  5. Magnetostatic_Tubephile

    Magnetostatic_Tubephile Friend

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    You sure about that? Edition X / Edition X V2 dont quite reach the deep bass region like some other planars do based on my experience. Also their bass had a bit soft nature to it. Not really hard hitting. Is this Edition XYZNeoSuper somewhat different?
     
    Magnetostatic_Tubephile, Oct 29, 2018
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  6. Panohm

    Panohm Friend

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    Agreed on the bass, I heard the HE6SE Edition XV2 and the Arya and the Edition X didn't have the slam of the other two.
     
    Panohm, Oct 29, 2018
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  7. Hands

    Hands Overzealous Auto Flusher - Measurbator

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    @Magnetostatic_Tubephile I don't suspect they hit as hard as, say, the LCD-2C, but the extension seemed there, and I never found myself wanting for a thicker, more powerful sound when paired with my phone. They just sounded fairly neutral overall. But I can't promise we'd definitely be on the same page, you know?

    Regardless of HFM's marketing gobbledygook, I do think this driver is a notably different design than that of the Edition X and V2, just tuned very similarly (as evident in measurements). I don't give two shits about driver thinness or whatever, but I think some assumptions will have to be tossed out the window.
     
    Hands, Oct 29, 2018
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  8. Negura

    Negura Friend

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    Can I safely assume still SoftFiMan like almost everything they released since HEK?
     
    Negura, Oct 29, 2018
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  9. Clemmaster

    Clemmaster Friend

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    What's with the shitty headband?!
     
    Clemmaster, Oct 29, 2018
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  10. Panohm

    Panohm Friend

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    They used the same one on the HE-5 Reissue that i have, really getting there moneys worth i guess.
     
    Panohm, Oct 29, 2018
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  11. M3NTAL

    M3NTAL Friend

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    Can anyone confirm/deny that the Arya was supposed to be a HFM x MD collab? An all black HE-1000K at a reduced price. The Moon Audio website had a picture of the Arya and the headband markings stated "HE1000X"
     
    M3NTAL, Oct 29, 2018
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  12. Ti_Leo

    Ti_Leo Almost "Made"

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    Have to say I get that Massdrop has thought about durability issues on Hifiman like using old headband and stronger connectors. But the "neo nano thin driver" looks like big problem to me... Just look at how many pairs of HE560 with broken drivers selling as parts on ebay...

    Danger!
     
    Ti_Leo, Oct 29, 2018
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  13. ufospls2

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    Another new Hifiman headphone?

    [​IMG]

    Jokes aside, this could be a good entry point into higher end headphones for someone new(ish) to the hobby. Their constant releasing of new headphones is annoying, especially for early adopters, however if this is actually $599, then thats a great deal. Yes the build quality won't be great, and yes, they have released too many options recently but The Sundara is $500. If this is essentially an edition x v2 at $599, thats a lot of sound for the money.
     
    ufospls2, Oct 29, 2018
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  14. Hands

    Hands Overzealous Auto Flusher - Measurbator

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    FYI, my proposed name for this product was: Massdrop x HiFiMan Edition X Edition HiFiMan x Massdrop.

    But I guess Edition XX works...
     
    Hands, Oct 29, 2018
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  15. Elnrik

    Elnrik Super Friendly

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    I like your name better too.

    I heard these at RMAF as well. We kind of passed them around at the table. They weren't bad at all. Comfy. Light. Extremely thin.

    Not my cup'o tea though. I like a little more meat on the bones of my tones. I would agree with Hands, they're quite nice for the neutral sound loving peeps. For the price, it's a pretty big no brainer.
     
    Elnrik, Oct 29, 2018
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  16. crenca

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    Massdrop is saying 20ohm impedance but no sensitivity. Hifiman reports 25ohm and 103db for Edition X V2, so I assume it will be close...
     
    crenca, Oct 29, 2018
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  17. Captainsubtext

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    @Hands (keeping in mind the limitations of an audio show) any thoughts on how it compares to the HiFiMan Ananda? A bunch of us heard the Ananda quite recently at a headphone connect so it will be useful to have your perspective.
     
    Captainsubtext, Oct 31, 2018
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  18. Hands

    Hands Overzealous Auto Flusher - Measurbator

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    Have not heard the Ananda, sorry.
     
    Hands, Oct 31, 2018
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  19. nickwin

    nickwin Acquaintance

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    Im very curious to see how these pan out.

    Question for people who have heard them already, would you say they are a REAL upgrade from he500s? Or are they better in some ways but mostly just different?

    Im still loving my he500s that Ive had forever but I'm feeling some upgraditus coming on. So far Ive yet to find anything that I feel is better across the board under $700 (but I really haven't looked that hard because at the end of the day I have no real complaints with what I have). There seems to be some cool stuff coming out over the last year or so that has me thinking.
     
    nickwin, Nov 1, 2018
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  20. Pillars

    Pillars Embarrassment to Colorado crew

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    I just can't quite justify upgrading from the HE-560. Hifiman has this kind of (this is completely IMO) light detailed plasticy sound. Once my ears adjust a bit don't get me wrong I enjoy it but it is what it is. When I visited the table at RMAF I do agree with @Hands about keeping volume levels low. This has been my experience with most of their single sided planars, they seem to be a more suited listen at a low to moderate volume level. This is a good thing, depending on your environment.

    On a side note I'm all about HFM releasing all kinds of headphones. They've killed their own prices doing so and $599 for this headphone looks like a good deal for those who take the plunge.
     
    Pillars, Nov 1, 2018
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