Joe from Gadgetrytech was kind enough to send his unit my way for me check out and do some measurements.
This one is quite interesting, but in general it’s a very midrange focused sound, and one that I very much enjoy. Here are the results:
B&K 5128
Raw:
Calibrated:
HpTF Variation (B&K 5128 and GRAS 43AG):
This is a particularly important new comparison we’re able to do. HpTF variation is effectively how the headphone’s behavior changes from head to head. Some headphones behave more consistently, while others change more drastically.
You can see here that the Aune AR5000 is a bit brighter on the B&K 5128 head, and a bit warmer on the GRAS 43AG. Part of this may be due to the GRAS being a flat plate and not having the contours to the side of the head like the B&K does, but another part of it is that the 5128 has more accurate acoustic impedance. This means that low frequency information in particular is likely to propagate more accurately.
As far as the ears themselves, and for information above 1khz, we should think of these as being representative of individuals rather than ‘the average person’. So for someone with ears like the GRAS, they may get less mid treble and more upper treble, for someone with ears like the 5128, they may get the inverse. In reality, the response for individual people can vary substantially, this is just a helpful visualization for getting a sense of in what ways it could vary for a given headphone.
Comparisons
Vs Sennheiser HD 600
Vs HiFiMAN Edition XS
Vs HiFiMAN Sundara
Vs Beyerdynamic DT900 Pro X
note this is the GRAS data since that’s all I had for the 900 Pro X
EQ
As always, every headphone can be improved with EQ. It’s by no means required for this one, but if you want to get the most out of it, as with all headphones, it’s worth making some adjustments.
Here’s my EQ profile
The peak filter at 8.5khz is quite optional since this area is likely going to vary from person to person. So adjust this to how you hear it. You’ll note I didn’t factor it in below, but I personally like it with a bit less energy there, you just have to listen for yourself and decide if it’s worth it to curb that range.
Harmonic Distortion:
100dB @ 1khz
110dB @ 1khz
Impedance Curve
Notes:
- Really lush and euphonic mid-focused tonality. Works great for acoustic music in particular.
- Just a hint of glare in the lower treble, maybe around 4khz. But it’s not really offensive
- No issues with detail or sense of clarity for finer nuances in music, just lacks a bit of ‘air’ in the upper treble subjectively.
- Timbre is also quite good, with a generally natural presentation to it.
- Ergonomically excellent, with a wide suspensions strap, not too much clamp pressure.
- Feels solid and well-built for the price.
Full Review:
