My understanding of transformer coupled designs is that there is as you say a tendency for them to sound a bit warmer and more ‘full’ (although I’m less familiar with single ended triode designs). I can actually see that sounding really good with the HEDDphone, because it can use a bit of that extra body around 100hz - provided it doesn’t change the frequency response too much. Really that’s the only thing I’d worry about.
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Oh yes I also tried the HEDDphone on an OTL amp there and it sounded awful and was driven quietly even at full volume, vs. the exquisite results I had with two separate SET (transformer coupled) amps so you must be right. Not to mention tube amps quite often do amazing things with soundstage.
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Well, just some thoughts on the HEDDphone as an IEM guy. I had a short 30min listening session with it (it was a store demo).
-First thing that struck me in the first 20 seconds was the presence of lower mids. Some people can consider it a tad bloated in its presentation.
-Fantastic texture. I can hear the grit on cymbals (partly also because the lower and mid treble is emphasised) and texture on well recorded snares.
-Id describe the signature as being lower mid, lower and middle treble lifted.
-Uppermids sounds dipped and portrays vocals a bit suppressed/choked out. The moderate lack of uppermids makes electric guitar solos sound too polite and lacking in energy.
-Bass is not bad. Rather hard impact, phat and thick due to the lower harmonics of the bass being emphasised by the lowermid gain. I’d prefer less lower mids for a tighter snap on tom/snare drums.
-Lift in lower and middle treble makes for great metallic texture on cymbals (like it should) but can be too much and aggressive in its portrayal of cymbals. In Steve Vai’s tender surrender (Where the Wild Things Are), the cymbals dominate the track with the lead guitar being behind because of the upper midrange dip.
-Presentation can be a deal breaker for some. It’s very closed in IMO. The lower mids and treble clearly dominate the stage sometimes.
Overall decent. But definitely not to my taste. I think the texture is the best part about the headphone. I do think it has ways to go with its staging/presentation though. FR is a tuning choice so if HEDD like the tonal balance, I won’t dispute that
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OTL amps tend to work best into high-impedance loads (100-150 Ω can be considered a useful minimum, more is often better - depending on the design/tube) as the tube needs to be loaded appropriately. If there’s a transformer after it, then the transformer provides that loading, if not then it’s the headphone itself that does.
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Hey, nice to see you here! i do follow you’re review list in head-fi quite a bit for quick impressions. I have been meaning to see someone from the IEM community to test it out and give their experience! I know aminus loves heddphones, so you’re impression is interesting!
If you had a choice between this and Fir M5 (universal) what would you choose?
Thanks!
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Hello 
Tough question really. I think it’s hard to compare a headphone to a earphone. Both have their place and purposes. With regards to FiR I really don’t like their ethics. I’ve posted in my thread a few times to discourage people from buying them. I choose to boycott because they kept insisting in retuning their whole UIEM line over and over again without informing their customers. I feel that is simply malicious and misleading of the company and it does nothing but make your own dealers and customers lose brand loyalty/trust.
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Thank you 
Been a lurker here and these Hedd’s are sure interesting.
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I corrected the power requirements for the HEDDphone that I posted here. The impedance was incorrect (I had it at 47 ohms instead of 42 ohms).
This only changes the relationship between voltage and current, not the actual amount of power required for any given SPL.
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While I understand my V280 will run the HEDD to a sufficient volume level I just can’t keep myself from wondering if I should change the amp out to a Phonitor X or XE. Has anyone had a chance to compare the Violectric and the Phonitor directly with either the Verite Closed or the HEDDPhone? Are there any significant enough differences to warrant the change? I would have to buy the Phonitor to try it out and I hate to abuse return policies just for trials if I can avoid it. Thank you.
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It wasn’t with the Vérité Closed, nor the HEDDphone, and it was the V281 not the V280, but I found the Phonior X to be more engaging, dynamic and resolving than the Violectric amplifier.
Which is why I bought a Phonitor X (still the best solid-state headphone amplifier I’ve heard) and not a V281 (or anything else) at the time.
Spend some time here, and you’ll qualify for the Community Preview Program, and there’s a Phonitor XE in the program you could have on loan to audition properly (for a couple of weeks) in your own system.
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Truly interested in these. I’ve been debating purchasing these over the RAAL SR1a’s. I know I would have to use at least a 100w Amp with the RAAL’s but that’s fine. Currently using the OG HD800’s (about 6-years old now) and just recently (just today actually) upgraded my DAC/AMP to the newest RME ADI-2 (4493 Chip) and just purchased the Monoprice THX AAA 887 headphone amp, both will arrive before end of week. Any input or thoughts would be much appreciated in my coming decision.
Side note; I haven’t found suitable replacement (at least to my ears) for the HD800’s since purchased over 6+ years ago. For reference, I currently own HD660s at my office, I purchased the Focal Utopias a few years back but returned them after about a month of use as I could not justify the price to performance, especially when my HD800’s pretty much did most of what it did but better. I have/had many headphones in between those as well (mainly mid-fi stuff). But here I am, slightly excited at the thought of a possible “upgrade” to my HD800’s after many years of use. Any input on my decision would be greatly appreciated, I’am completely new to this forum.
Thanks in advance!
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Thanks, that would be great. I have a line on a XE with DAC (that I don’t need) for a really good price so I thought I would ask.
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Has anyone heard anything about the first batch of preorders? Have they even left Germany yet?
@eJamz since you are used to featherweight Sennheiser phones are you concerned at all about the 718 gram weight of the HEDDPhones? Welcome to the forum.
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The first batch of pre-orders have left Germany. If you were part of the initial group of pre-orders you should have received an e-mail update.
The HEDDphone will be in quite a few more hands very soon so there will be a lot more impressions out in the wild.
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Weight is not an issue. I’ve owned (now sold) Audeze LCD-X and LCD2 (Fazor), and thank you for the welcome.
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Thanks for the update!
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If I missed some information on my order I apologize, but how do I tell what batch of pre-orders I’m in? I assume since I haven’t received the email I’m not in the first batch? I had thought I was, but I must be mistaken.
We’re excited about the HEDDphone too and understand that everyone’s anxious to get it in their hands. However, this community is about discussing headphone gear not logistics. To keep the thread focused on the HEDDphone please e-mail us at info@headphones.com or send myself or @andrew a direct message if you have questions related to your order.
The first batch has shipped from Germany and we also have our demo unit on the way to @TylersEclectic. I am looking forward to seeing what he thinks of the HEDDphone!
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