Pioneer SE-Monitor5 - A new $1000 headphone

Discussion in 'Headphones' started by AllanMarcus, Jun 19, 2017.

  1. AllanMarcus

    AllanMarcus Friend

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    US Listing
    UK Listing

    From the product sheet:
    From the UK Site:
    Three cords included. Nice
    • Cord 1: Unbalanced Cord (OFC Litz Wire) 1.6 m (5 ft.), φ3.5 mm (1/8 ̋ ) Stereo Mini-plug (Gold-plated)
    • Cord 2: Unbalanced Cord 1
    • (OFC Litz Wire) 3.0 m (9 ft.), φ3.5 mm ( /8 ̋) Stereo Mini- plug (Gold-plated)
    • Cord 3: Balanced Cord (OFC Litz Wire) 1.6 m (5 ft.), φ2.5 mm (3/32 ̋) 4-pole Stereo Super-mini Plug (Gold- plated/Balanced Connection-compatible)
    Closed "high-end" headphone for $999.99. Hopefully this brings some more nice competition.

    Product info sheet, including specs

    Head-fi page link

    [​IMG]
     
    Last edited: Aug 26, 2017
  2. 9suns

    9suns [insert unearned title here]

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    If Master 1 sounds awful at 2500$, can't imagine how awful this one sounds at 999$
     
  3. a44100Hz

    a44100Hz Friend

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    Given the recent price inflation trends, I would expect this to be sonically competitive with $200 headphones.
     
  4. gixxerwimp

    gixxerwimp Professional tricycle rider

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    I think they copy/pasted the wrong feature bullet.
     
  5. AllanMarcus

    AllanMarcus Friend

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    I think you are right. There is a reference to a mic in the bullet on the US site.

    But according to the UK site, "Make a telepathic connection to music with the SE-MONITOR5" !!!!
     
  6. gbeast

    gbeast Mighty Moral Power Ranger

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    It's okay to be a little hopeful.

    These could be decent.

    Each new headphone that comes out should be given the benefit of a doubt.
     
  7. gixxerwimp

    gixxerwimp Professional tricycle rider

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    What caught my eye was Over the ear cable design. Would be interesting to see with an over-the-ear cup.
     
  8. gixxerwimp

    gixxerwimp Professional tricycle rider

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    That's what Hi-Res AudioFormats are for!!!!
     
  9. Thenewerguy009

    Thenewerguy009 Friend

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    The impression from one guy who has it on the HF thread isn't building inspiration.
    He gave the impressions that there is a peak in the upper mid range, bass quantity seems low & highs are rolled off.

    Sounds like a recipe for failure.
     
  10. qetadg

    qetadg New

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    and this: Ultra Wide Spectrum 9.7 mm (3/8˝) Dynamic Drivers

    EDIT: heck all the bullet points are probably not for this headphone but some other IEM

    "Machined Brass Nozzle and Aluminum Housing"

    Their description mentions a magnesium alloy housing not aluminum, and obviously there isn't a nozzle in the headphone. I should take the job of the guy who's responsible for this mess instead considering that I'm looking for one currently.
     
    Last edited: Jun 20, 2017
  11. Thad E Ginathom

    Thad E Ginathom Friend

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    Well, there's a page of bullshit if ever I saw one. How is it that corporates don;t realise how offputting their highly-paid marketing men are? Or am I one of just a very small number of people who want to vomit over text like that whilst the masses open their wallets?

    I suppose. If one can ignore the marketing. Otherwise... the benefit of a lot of doubt!
     
  12. Deep Funk

    Deep Funk Deep thoughts - Friend

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    At CanJam Europe last year I was told about this headphone. Pioneer can pull it off to make a great sounding headphone.

    I do not like the price tag a priori as the headphone market is showing dangerous trends. What kind of dangerous trends? Well marketing and hype can cost a lot of money so price hikes per unit or batch happen. Something that sounds HD600 good might be price for two times a new HD600.

    f**k that shit. Buy the vintage Pioneer 10 I or II and tell the representatives and shills that a 1970-ties headphone sounds as good as the once 1500 Euro HD800.

    You do not need to birdwatch to notice that bird...

    P.S. Mini rant is over. Prince is playing.
     
  13. GelockS

    GelockS Friend

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    Wouldn't surprise me.
    Something I've noticed about "Hi-Res Audio" headphones is that they are bright AF to me!
    (Audio Technica MSR 7, JVC HA-SW01, JVC HA-MX100-Z, etc.) The only ones that have been pleasant are the Sony MDR-1A and 100AAP, and they are borderline... (some peaks here and there... measurements of these two should be somewhere in here).

    At $1000, that's a tough sell, especially with ZMF and the Aeons which seem to be priced well.
     
  14. SSL

    SSL Friend

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    I guess we'll know when more people have actually heard it.

    cough cough
     
  15. Thad E Ginathom

    Thad E Ginathom Friend

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    To make the masses think they are hearing over 20K? Do we have a conspiracy here? |\/|
     
  16. wnmnkh

    wnmnkh Friend

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    I had some relatively long and quiet time with this headphone during my visit in Germany.

    While it is not as bad as Master1 (which was also available during my listening time), this headphone is still very thin sounding headphones.

    Think it as an alternative version for AKG K701 and you get the idea. Whether paying 1k USD for it..... I have to say it is not worth it at all.
     
  17. Deep Funk

    Deep Funk Deep thoughts - Friend

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    So Pioneer has not learnt? Too bad, the Master 1 sounded okay, just not 2K okay.
     
  18. LauriCular

    LauriCular Acquaintance

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    I've just tried these; we need to know which reviewers are wearing glasses when they are trying the SE-Monitor 5. With glasses, the broken seal/bass drop does make them sound thin and crappy with new earpads. So the choice is whether to hear or see properly until the pads loosen up. There are leatherette pads in the box along with the fitted velour ones, so there's that too.

    They are quite competent headphones (if a bit heavy) and I've been enjoying them. Whether it's a grand's worth of enjoyment is another matter though!
     
  19. Deep Funk

    Deep Funk Deep thoughts - Friend

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    Are these headphones HD600/650 good or HD800(stock/S/modified) good relative to their price?

    That is the main question for me. For 500 to 700 Euros hmmm. For 1000 Euros I can build an audio system that sounds the business.
     
  20. gandhisfist

    gandhisfist Aurorus Audio - MoT

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    Tried these at TSAV last week. Very short time with them, but they sounded very dead. Tuning was bass heavy but had no impact. Hope I get another chance to hear them for more detailed impressions.
     

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