For my first 20-30 hours with the Elex, violins and female voices sounded as if they were amplified through a trumpet. Everything had been dipped in metal like a baby’s shoes. Trumpets and brass also sounded as if they were 2x or 3x more metallic than a trumpet normally is.
I’m feeling better reading that others are having a similar experience with orchestral music, although with perhaps better ‘compromise’ results than I’ve had.
It’s looking like for me, future expenditures have a much better chance at a positive payoff with a speaker setup than additional headphone gear.
Yes, absolutely. I’d opt for speakers if I could; my apartment just doesn’t make it feasible right now. Good luck!
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Oh oooh oh oh, rant time!
Its a conspiracy… well, no, but personally, and again, personally, I think its overblown and driven by pre conceived ideas. You know, someone says it has a metallic timbre, perhaps incorrectly, so another person, perhaps inexperienced, hears the can and says “oh, so this is a metallic timbre” and that opinion just keeps on amplifying even though there is nothing metallic about it.
Not that I would have any idea what a metallic bass response would sound like but I would think that if there was something unnatural about the timbre of these “metallic sounding cans” you would hear complaints throughout the FR and not just the higher frequency regions. Just a thought not backed up by anything.
Also, in regards to the U, or any high end can, it is very reflective of its chain. So you combine maybe a glared up chain with a can that has a proper treble response (most cans seem treble recessed IMO based on FR and probably wouldnt detect crap treble response) and all that awful mess is magnified.
Ive said this before but Ive seen a lot of Utopia’s for sale online and when I look at the pics and am able to catch a glance at the chain being used Im not surprised they didnt like the can. I got my Utopia from a guy who was running it off an entry level Schiit stack - my gain.
Ive really tried listening for it as I was wondering if my hearing was off, as I just wasnt perceiving it. As I become more confident in my ears I started to think it was a misnomer or reflective of other factors. I often wonder how much it matters that we lose high frequency hearing as we age. If gear and recordings are made by older folks they may have no idea if there are treble issues simply because they cant hear it. It came up on the forum recently that hearing tests should accompany any of the more popular reviewers, if you can’t hear above 8K then I’m going to adjust my perceptions.
The so called natural sounding ZMF Verite has made me cringe with treble issues that the Utopia has never approached.
But to put things in perspective the first thing I look at in a FR graph is the treble region and I have little use for bass emphasis out of balance with everything. I’ve taken off cans in disgust due to being overly bassy, not for having too much treble.
Just my thoughts on the metallic madness.
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Wasn’t Chrono able to effectively reduce this “metallic timbre” by adjusting the frequency response on the Focal Clear?
Hi!
I’m looking for a new wireless headphone. I have the Sennheiser RS 175 and i think they sound perfectly fine for my taste but i would like to buy a new headset with Bluetooth connectivity and hopefully something that doesn’t look as “bad” as the RS 175. It doesn’t need to have a mic and be able to answer call from a phone. I’m looking for a closed-back headphone with noise reduction. I’ve never tried active noise reduction i’m open to try but i’m not sure i’ll like it. Noise reduction is more a plus value than a requirement. My budget is 400$ CAD so roughly 320$ USD. I had bad experience with Bluetooth headset in the past so that’s why i’m asking for advice. I’ll be using them mainly with my Samsung Galaxy S9 while stationary and my computer both have Bluetooth 5 (my computer via the Asus USB-BT500 dongle). I’m mostly listening to rock music. Smashing Pumpkins, Offspring, Rammstein, Linkin Park, … i like to not have too much bass but still enough of it so rock music sounds like it is actual rock music.
I’m not very picky when it comes to headphone and certainly not a connoisseur (hence why the RS 175 is fine for me) but i really can’t stand the cheap ones where it sounds like the music is coming from a tin can or the ones tuned for bass lovers. I’m looking at the V-Moda Crossfade 2 Wireless Codex Edition, Sony WH-1000XM4, Sennheiser HD 450BT and Sennheiser Momentum 3 but all of them have bad reviews. So if anyone have experience with one of those models and rock music i’d like your opinion about them. I’m also open to other models not listed here i’m looking at those mostly because i’ve been satisfied by those companies in the past. Ty in advance for the help.
Not bass because that’s too low to hit the dominant natural resonance of a headphone driver. Drivers are tuned to span the entire FR and resonate much higher up.
To my ears every dynamic driver carries over the natural resonances of its construction materials. I’m a believer in metallic timbre, plastic timbre, paper timbre, and Mr. Timbreenman too. The construction material is hearable in the mid-to-high music range (e.g., the midpoint in the potential frequencies a driver can generate). Metal exaggerates narrow frequencies akin to brass instruments, plastic results in a hollowness and boxiness, while paper can sound dampened and soft.
Here’s the resonance curve of a trumpet:
Just a few narrow and consistently resonating peaks from a headphone driver could push the timbre in this direction. To my ears this involves consistent deviations from the [neutral] timbre of known musical sources. I can hear the metal, plastic, or paper characteristics more distinctly when listening to the same set of headphones for several days in a row.
If you play guitar, the 12th fret is the mid point of the stings and it doubles the frequency of the lowest note possible on each string. Plucking an open guitar string at the 12th fret produces a distinct natural resonance that’s different from plucking it at all other positions on the string: the movement starts at the natural resonance point.
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I have my share of pocket and outdoor knives. They hold their value well. Electronics, not so much. They aren’t horrid like computers, but watch out. Some brands are better than others.
@elliot is a very fast learner!
If you play a musical instrument, the where of how a sound is produced becomes more obvious. I had no idea until I started messing with electric guitars 5-10 years ago. One can generate the same sound a bunch of different ways, and it’s not always clear where it came from during playback. Many production details get lost during recording too.
The equipment parade is a hobby and as much about technology and novelty as sound. I like music production and listening, and have no illusions about the absolute #$@* that sounds go through before you hear it. Often this involved degrading quality for an effect, and then a tube playback amp doubles down on the degradation. Do what you enjoy…
Well thank you! When I enter a hobby (of which I only have a few), I tend to absolutely immerse myself and learn as quickly as I can. It’s a character trait or flaw depending on how you look at it.
I have ruled out Abyss and find myself zeroing in on maybe two additional purchases of headphones in the near-ish term: closed back and high-tier planar.
Contenders for closed: Verite Closed, DCA Noire (in the lead…may make a great one-two punch with the Clear from what I am reading)
Contenders for planar: Rossman, various HFM
Lastly, I find myself really wanting to try a ZMF of some kind. Currently learning the differences.
I know I’m in the minority but I was seriously underwhelmed by the DCA Closed. I found the sound quality detailed but flat and uninspiring. I’m told you have to burn them in for an enormous number of hours for them to bloom but by that time I’d be in a position where I couldn’t return them.
I have the VC arriving tomorrow and will report at that time, but for my taste, the Focal (I’ve had Clear, Celestee, Utopia) and ZMF (Aeolus) house sounds are so much more appealing.
I’m like you - I went from zero to insane immersion in less than a year, but like you, have found this community enormously helpful.
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Very cool! I am tempted by the VC drop tomorrow actually and may just be completely unable to resist!
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Bummer that you didn’t get too much time with them, but priorities are priorities.
It looks like I’m going down the speaker path since I measured the room. It’s about 13’ x 17’ with a sloped ceiling (9’ to 12’) across the long end.
I know from history that I end up way happier by going for “respectable budget” gear and being happily surprised rather than going for high-end gear and being frustrated that I didn’t get my money’s worth from it.
Also I’m now constrained by how much weight I can move around so no more hauling around 50lb monoblocks or speakers. I’m ok with doing the best I can within my limits.
In that context I think mid-size bookshelf units would work. Rational or not I dislike front-firing ports.
I could also steal a small sub from the ht.
That sounds like a solid plan. You could also look into a sealed subwoofer - should be plenty for that sized space.
i think i’m going to pull the trigger on one of these cards. for reference i like the burr brown in the ifi entry level products but have had a couple of akm centered dacs (modi, topping) and wasn’t enthralled with either. modi multibit is my preferred entry point dac but they are forever out of stock due to the chip shortages.
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Yeah, same for Belgium. But I contacted Hififman to ask if they could ship from Poland and they responded that this is possible. With a lot of patience … You’ll have to wait about 2 months for them.
Price should stay the same as advertised on their website/shop (+shipping).
I have no issue with the ear gain on the HD6XX or B2D. But also the DCA, with less ear gain, sounds nice to me (although different). Lately I even like the DCA over de HD6XX. That is one of the reasons I’m looking for an open back with planar magnetic drivers. I’m not certain about it but there could well be a certain quality to the planar sound that I find enjoyable.
I’m looking for more bass extension and a little more air, compared to the HD6XX. Also a wider stage would be welcome.
Gotcha.
Well, regarding the three you previously mentioned, the Ananda will have the more forward upper mids presentation of the HD 6XX, while also extending a little lower in the bass; it also has more treble energy but it doesn’t have much bass punch/slam.
The HE-6SE v2 is a headphone I haven’t heard, but based on the reviews of those I trust, it’ll have the bass slam that the Ananda is lacking and more middle midrange presence. Seems to be an upgrade over the Ananda.
Finally, the Audeze LCD-2 classic is a mystery at this stage, as apparently is has received new pads. With the old pads, it didn’t have nearly enough ear gain in the presence region to sound natural. That may have been somewhat fixed with the pad change, but who knows. The same can be said for the LCD2-F (fazor), but I’ve read that the pads have significantly improved things.
If I was in your shoes, I’d personally pay the extra coin for the LCD2-F; it’ll provide a different sound than what you’re getting with the DCA and Sennheiser headphones, and it takes EQ very well.
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Hello everyone, l’m very interested in the Senn. IE300 and the Moondrop BLESSING 2 DUSK, especially their bass and mid frequencies. Which one is better for listening QUARTET MUSIC? And is there a comparison review? Thank in advance for your expert advice and opinions. PastorMat
I can’t answer your question but I can share you this deal happening as I type:
First time I’ve seen a price drop on the IE 300.
Cheers. 
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I’d go Dusk, as the more “correct” ear gain in the upper mids will better flesh out the piano and brass instruments. They won’t have the proper bite on the IE300 in my opinion.
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Thanks for your input. Much appreciated!
Looks like the HE-6se v2 is the biggest upgrade within my budget.
Seems the Audeze LCD-2F would be the most interesting but above my current budget.
Summary: (also from info I got from reviews and measurements I found)
- Ananda: + sound, price, comfort / - cups too large for my head=no seal , build?
- HE-6se v2 (OB): + sound, price, build / - weight, comfort, not enough clamp for my head
- LCD-2F: + build, easthtics, sound / - sound(?)=needs EQ, price, weight
The budget thing is a difficult one. I’m building a whole new system for my home office. So, it’s not only the HPs I need to take into account.