There is a reason BLONs are found in many collector's kit - they offer a benchmark signature that is the perfect balance between analog warmth and live sound presentation.​

This was going to originally be a post on the Blon impressions thread, but it meandered long-enough to warrant being a review. This is less a structured review but will be useful to those who are wondering how a budget iem like the BLON stacks up.



In addition to my earlier posts here is some more praise for the BL-05S.

Using this IEM I was reminded of how important tips are. For a while I had been using my BL-05S with some Sony hybrids, but still wasn't quite happy with the fit and seal. Recently, I bought a Fiio FH5S that came with a great set of tips, and the Fiio Bass tips with large nozzle diameter work fantastically with the BL-05S. The tips have an effect on sound, but more importantly I am getting a really good seal with these. I feel like I'm finally getting everything out of the 05S IEM and they are wonderful.

Let's jump into some comparisons.

The Bl-05S bass quality is better than the Mini with rich texture, warmth and a decent amount of detail. It has more dimension overall in sound than the Mini thanks mostly due to frequency presentation but also it's larger CNT driver seems to be a bit more expansive with a larger dynamic range. The upper mid-to-treble on the 05S is similar to the 03 and really they are the only BLONs that share this. The Mini, A8, and 01 all have a signature that is deeper, more 'v-shaped, fun but less realistic. The 05S, with a good set of tips still gives you ample amount of low end bass for modern genres, and its mid-range and top-end balance is excellent and able to render instrumentation and vocals with sufficient realism. At the same time, the very top-end of the treble is rolled off so it never is harsh. The 05S I found can be a touch resonant, and you may notice this on finely recorded piano. Lastly, the 05S is not missing sub-bass providing you have a good seal. Pretty easy to test this via test tones and bass-oriented genres.

In comparison, Fiio FH5S has some similarity in tonal curve, but brings the upper-mid range and treble into greater prominence (arguably perhaps just a touch too much) and is able to render the best dynamic recordings with greater precision, detail and realistic air that is missing on the 05S. However you wouldn't necessarily miss it on the 05S, unless you had something to compare it to. Also if you want, you could use a touch of EQ.

Ultimately, the signature of an IEM can impact how you listen to music and even make certain music more enjoyable. The 05S strikes a very good balance - perhaps one of the best - in accessible sound, that at the same time is lively and present. The 05S is very versatile as a result.

For similar type of presentations, I could also see the Moondrop Aria and some of the Tanchjim IEMs (ie. Hana) being candidates though I haven't heard them as of yet. All of these are still a bit too warm imo to be considered truly 'accurate' imo, as they all have a bit too much bass and could use a bit more extension. However, you may find that this type of tonal presentation is emotionally accurate.

That low-end emphasis helps convey emotion and note weight that we would typically experience in live sound - concert or high-end speaker setup - as a physical sensation. However, for IEMs, this added warmth can also muddy up the sound of instruments like piano. The Heart Mirror has a more neutralish bass than the 05S which would make it more suitable for orchestral, classical, and may just be preferred depending on how you perceive bass. The FH5S for that matter also has just a touch warmer bass than neutral (though less than the 05S), so it still conveys the low-end emotional weight with a measure of accuracy. The Fh5S is still coloured and can be a bit strident. A less uncoloured sound would be more akin to the Etymotic ER4SR (which can sound downright flat at times but that is also it's strength) or the Focal Utopia (which is somehow a touch warm while remaining breathlessly transparent and never strident).

Now how important all this is really depends. Our brains quickly adjust to these sound profiles. For myself, I like having a range of signatures. I look at each one as being able to render a certain presentation, room space, and bring it's own emotive qualities.


As pictured, BLON BL-05S with aftermarket NiceHCK C16-3 16-Core High Purity Copper Cable which costs as much as the IEM and worth it for aesthetic reasons just for the hell of it. Also, cables may make you think your IEM is more awesome through promoting cognitive bias of a improved perceived experience as well as keeping your regular.

So with all this said, coming back to the 05S. It is still a fantastic budget IEM, and the CNT driver is actually quite good at rendering detail and depth with low distortion where it matters. The sound has a degree of sonority. There is a touch of bloom and lack of high-end refinement at the very upper registers, but that in part gives it an organic character.

If someone wanted an upgrade to the 05S, with much great sensation of space, air, and liveliness the FH5S would be an option. But it is less accessible as it take a path of a more true mid/treble presentation that isn't dialed back. If you are listening to classical, jazz, orchestral, instrumental and vocal performances the FH5S is well-suited whereas the tunings of the 05S and similar, are more approachable and work well for modern genres. I think the FH5S might appear harsh to some listeners, but imo, it is closer to the real in-the-room brilliance of a high-end speaker setup or live performance. The bass is also incredible on the FH5S. It all comes at a cost, but you get a much better overall package, tips, cable, and beautiful housing.

That I'm even comparing my 05S to a Focal Utopia or Fiio FH5S may seem like an unfair comparison, but in doing so I hope it underscores how good the 05S actually is. In a lot of ways, the 05S is so easy to sink into, that any of its slight failings won't matter. This is the same reason why the BL-03 is still loved and may still be preferred over the BL-05S for those who want a warmer emphasis.

Also consider how you are using your IEMs. If it isn't for critical listening, then the 05S really is all one really might need in an IEM. If you are walking around, doing other tasks, the 05S won't grate on your nerves, and it's actually quite a small housing that is very comfortable.

If you are feeling confident that you have a good selection of tips, the 05S is incredible value. I only mention the tip issue as the nozzles are a touch short and fit may not be perfect for some without the right tips. The silicone tips provided may work fine for most, but even the largest size wasn't large or extended enough for my ears.

The BLON Mini I would recommend over the 05S and other Blons if acoustic accuracy isn't paramount. They have a deeper sound to them, with accented bass and more distant sounding instrumentation. But it is a tonal sound that you can adjust to, and I recommend the Mini as a 'beater' set because you can be almost assured to get a good fit and seal with them. They also have a better cable than the 05S. However, the 05S will be more comfortable for long-term listening as they don't intrude as much into your ear canal.

The real competition for the BL-05S comes from IEMs that offer similar tonal signatures as well as more complete accessories. I can't imagine the Moondrop Aria of being leagues better sonically (if at all, but someone feel free to correct me as I'm interested in them) but it still may a better choice for a single-dynamic driver iem especially as a first purchase with its range of tips and cable. The fit may also be a bit better with a slightly longer nozzle than the 05S. Another recommendation would be the Etymotic series (ie. ER2XR) which are classics, and also a good recommendation at this price range providing you are okay with their intrusive fit (which sometimes can be uncomfortable and other times something you could wear them all day). The Ety has a different signature though, and I think the Blon type of signature is going to be more enjoyable for most.

But really, for anyone who is on a budget or is curious about low-cost IEMs the 05S are superlative for their price. Ignore the 'C+' reviews as these are only in comparison to much much more expensive sets. I can assure the budget buyer that the BL-05S - and by extension the older BL-03 - are going to provide you with pretty much all you might need for sound quality. It is easy to get carried away with the obsessive aspects of this hobby and in my experience tonal signature matters more than esoteric technicalities, as ultimately our brains perception can fill in a lot of the gaps when you are just enjoying music and not just listening to gear.

Disclaimer: I received the Hugo 2 as part of a the Canadian Hugo 2 Tour put on by Moon Audio and organized by Relix. So thank you first off!

Reviewer Background & Bias

My intentions and where am I coming from: first off, I think its important that I give you a brief on my own biases. I’ve heard great things about Chord, and have read a number of Chord's posts including those in the Sound Science forum that have made me take interest. I have heard top of the line DACs and amps before but mainly for floor-standing 2-channel setups. Mostly Classe and Rotel, but only for periods of hours here and there over a span of years.


In my experience, I feel obsession and gear can get in the way of creativity and enjoyment. Not just for music listeners, but also for the musicians themselves. The long and short of it, if someone was to come to me and want to know what the best audio experience can be had on a budget I would just point them in the direction of a JDS Labs O2/ODAC + HD660S, tell them to listen to quality files (lossless or high bit-rate) and most importantly quality recordings across many genres. I’d also tell them to stay away from these forums and just enjoy the music. I’d assure them, that they would be getting pretty much the best experience in headphone audio possible and that they are best to not go down the rabbit-hole.


Of course, I read similar advice over a decade ago, and here I am.

Overkill

The Chord Hugo 2 is pretty much an outstanding, full-featured unit, that is made to what appears to be very high-standards, by a boutique electronic manufacture. This is reflected in the cost.


I have a friend who is an incredible intelligent electrical engineer. He can build pretty much anything, but mostly makes controls for HVAC systems for skyscrapers. Custom hardware and software. His stuff is more costly than off-the-shelf, but is made to the highest spec. To me that’s what the Hugo 2 is.



Down to the Sound



Well, truth be told, its effortless, and I feel like I can listen to it continuously. It’s audibly transparent as far as I can tell. I feel like comparing it to a known reference like the O2/ODAC will invite either scorn or contempt for my post so I’ll leave it there and I think that says enough


Again, I’m a skeptic, but I’m open minded to say that although I may not be able to entirely discern or distinguish all the differences, it doesn’t mean that an overall effect is not transmuted to the brain. That would be very difficult to measure. I feel like with the Hugo 2, perhaps I’m drinking the cleanest possible water. Yes, I have water sources that are healthy, but with the Hugo 2 it is near the purest possible. For an audiophile, drinking from the Hugo 2 may bring lifelong benefits. Or not…





It’s Not About the Sound



What? Isn’t this how its marketed? Well, yes, and I won’t pretend to really understand the very basics of electronics. But I do understand marketing quite well. I would say that on sound alone, you may be able to find less expensive or perhaps even more ‘pristine’ options - perhaps even Chord’s Dave. Really, it’s the entire package that is on offer here and is what I think can justify it's expensive. Whether you need all these functions is up to you.



Crossfeed Options


The crossfeed functions are well implemented and I had no trouble distinguishing between the different settings. For those having difficulty, just listen to some earlier jazz recordings where you have some hard-panning. One of my test pieces for this review was John Coltrane Blue Train 24bit 192 khz and all the settings worked very well. This is one of the best crossfeed implementations I’ve heard. In some software based implementations, I’ve heard issues with the bass becoming to overblown and other artifacts.


Wireless

I did have a bit of issue with the wireless setup and my iPhone, it didn't quite sound right. :/ But really, why would one bother with wireless with a DAC like this?

Final Thoughts

For those who need the most functionality for desktop and portable, may find the Hugo 2 hit the sweet spot.

This review is an expansion of my comments in the D2000/5000/7000 thread. I wanted to spend a bit more time with them, and ultimately these have become my daily driver. I've gone through many headphones, and these honestly are among my favourite. I love how they sound like an open set of headphone thanks to the Acoustic Optimizer (you'll see the space between the cups). This is one of the hallmarks of the Denon AH-Dx000 series (and by extension the Fostex TH-x00/600/610/900, E-mu Teak). Not only do you get an incredibly spacious sound, but the advantages of back pressure for the bass range gives this series some low-end punch. The bio-cellulose drivers are quick. not as quick as the planar magnetic but quite close. There is definitely a sonic character to these that I haven't heard elsewhere (well the AH-D600 also had this but I prefer the AH-D2000).
 
 
Here are some comparisons to the HD650, Sony MDR-7520, and Audeze LCD2.
 

 
 
Comparisons to HD650
 
These make my HD650 sound very sleepy. And its easy to see why by looking at the  frequency graphs. In comparison to the HD650, the Denons mid-range around the 1khz level is quite lifted. The reason for this is prior to 1kHz the 650 has an elevated mid-bass and lower mid-range hump, whereas the D2000 is considerably flatter. Also the upper frequencies of the D2000 are more in line with its lower and mid range frequencies. The result is that the D2000 is much sharper sounding. The 650s sounds a bit cloudy - not congested - just darker. 
 
No doubt, the HD650s are much easier on the ears and you just sink into them after a couple minutes of listening. The 650s could be listened to ad infinitum without fatigue. I also may prefer the 650s upper mid-range over the Denon.   The HD650 delivers that velvety-lushness while still retaining some detail which makes it such a classic. Comfort, the 650 still wins.
 
One thing that makes a massive difference for any testing, is listening volume. The D2000 isn't a headphone I'd want to crank up without eq. The HD650, you could crank up. The D2000 can produce listening fatigue centred right in that 512Hz-1khz range at louder volumes. The D2000 is brilliant at a lower/average listening volume, and its there that they sound more realistic. It probably can replace my 650s functionally for what I use them for - movies, gaming, lounging about, direct listening from iPod, piano practise. 
 
Update: 
The D2000s actually replaced my HD650 as my daily driver. The HD650 is an excellent headphone, but I felt that the D2000 beat it out for practicality (easy to drive, closed design brought more privacy) and sonically (the Denon had more tactile bass extending further, and the highs on the Denon brought clarity that was just too blanketed on the 650). I've owned the 650 twice, and feel that I'll be reunited with them at some point again. They are one of my favourite headphones, and even more than the LCD2, make everything easy to listen to. I didn't need two open headphones and between the LCD2 and the 650 I felt I still need to spend time the LCD2. Hoping Sennheiser updates the 650 design in a better build in the future. Perhaps I should be looking at the HD800S.
 
Comparisons to Sony MDR-7520
 
Compared to the Sony MDR-7520 the Sony sounds much more closed yet still impressively detailed. Some may find it 'boxy' but for those of us used to listening to studio cans, this is a familiar effect of their signature. The brain acclimates to them pretty quickly, and soon you start listening to the depth of the music even though it doesn't seem as wide as the D2000. It is much less spacious than the Denon, particularly as it isn't doing any 'tricks' with its frequency range. And it shouldn't, as its designed as a proper studio headphone for mixing purposes. The 7520 has very good bass, and is definitely more accented. The D2000 has a bit more sparkle and sizzle, whereas the 7520 is flatter. 
 
Comfort wise, the Denon is a winner here, and that is one of the main reasons I picked it up - I was looking for a more comfy closed can. Its more because of my large ears, otherwise I think the 7520 is actually a very good fit. The Sony is a lot more portable and also has a removable cable. Build-wise the 7520 is more rugged - with magnesium cups and a very simple but sturdy  headband.
 
I'm going to try not to be biased with 'new toy syndrome' and I'll say that the 7520 gives the D2000 some competition. It seems that somehow the Sony is smoother in the upper mid-range. I do feel that the 7520 is more faithful to what is being recorded but the D2000 is more faithful to what is intended on being reproduced. 
 
However, the 7520 can be largely listened to without fatigue. Those highs aren't nearly as sharp as the D2000. In my review of the 7520 I felt its performance was incredible, even against the HD650 and my LCD2. 
 
Going back to the D2000 from the 7520 instantly opens up the sound. Everything separates and becomes more spacious. Overall, I'd put the D2000 ahead for music enjoyment, and the 7520 has its place as a studio tool or street headphone.
 
Comparisons from memory
 
I used to own a Denon AH-D600 and I don't recall it being as spacious as the D2000. I believe its bass was elevated a bit more, but overall the D2000 sounds a bit more linear, and less artificial in the upper registers. That said the D600 was still a very good and even more comfy. The D600 could also be said to have a friendlier signature. 
 
Logitech Ultimate Ears UE6000 - The UE6000 have much more bass than the D2000 and overall have a dark tilt to their signature. The D2000 have a much more refined sonic presentation. You can listen to classical on the Denons, whereas its mush with the UE6000 (still a good can, just more for pop and bass music).
 
Beyerdynamic T5p - I really liked that headphone. There again is a headphone that some thought was too bright but I really enjoyed them. Didn't feel they were too bass light either. The fit on the T5p was very good, same with the build. Still, from a price perspective, I picked up the D2000 for a 1/4 of the price, and I really feel they compete sonically with the T5p. Funds permitting, I'd love to try out the DT1770, T5p 2nd edition, and T1 2nd edition. 
 
Some LCD2 comparisons
 
I remember listening to a TH900 at an event and being impressed. Not replace my LCD2 impressed (though close). Now I feel that I have a bit of that magic, of course, for much much less. 
 
The LCD2 are some serious head gear compared to the rest. I've grown accustomed to their fit. But, the D2000s are ultimately easier to deal with. Even though the D2000 cable isn't perfect, it isn't stiff like me early LCD2.1.

Sonically, the LCD2 seem to mix the best from both the 650 and the D2000. They also have the edge on overall clarity. Yeah, they aren't going anywhere. Impressively, I'd say the D2000 is quite close to LCD2 in presentation, with a bit more added presence. The LCD2 have a bit more 'meaty' sound to them. Oh, and with the D2000 soundstage isn't even that much less than the LCD2!  LCD2 on a budget? Honestly, I feel the bio-cellulose drivers compete very well with the planar magnetic drivers of the LCD2. I also find the LCD2 could use a lift in the high-end and the low-end and the D2000 has a presentation that I prefer for most listening. 
 
Put it this way. The D2000 has made me consider parting with LCD2, HD650 (gone), possibly my MDR-7550 in-ears. I'd keep the 7520 for studio reasons and outdoor portability. For open I might get an HD800 to replace the rest. Not quite sure, and when I put on the LCD2 I appreciate them. I'm not going to rush that decision. Either way, the D2000 is getting the majority of my listening time right now. 
 
 
Binaural audio test (using Naturespace app on iOS)
 
Lastly, I tested the D2000 with some binaural recordings of nature. My HD650 has always been the best in this test. The D2000 while not quite as natural and relaxed sounding as the 650 faired well and in some ways better in binaural listening tests. They bring some of the energy on the top-end that the 650 lacked. They are quite realistic, again due in large part to the linearity of the D2000 through most of the frequency range. Would need to test more before declaring a victor but I'm edging towards the HD650 - something sounds more complete.
 
Final verdict
 
 
In a lot of ways, this inexpensive headphone is kind of endgame for me. In many ways this is what I've wanted from a headphone, especially a closed headphone. You can lock the outside sounds of the world away,  be encompassed by your music with all of its details, and admire the overall design. 
 
I guess I'll have to check out the Fostex models and will especially be keeping an ear out for the new Denon AH-D7200. I have a feeling I'd find the D2000 largely give you the performance of many of its siblings without the expense.

Well I have the UE6000s on my head and the 7520s in front of me and I've been switching back and forth. 
 
I purchased the UE6000s for about $65 CAD shipped! That is like, what a can of beans in the US? Definitely a great deal and lower than what I usually see them go for.
 
This review is also in comparison to a the Sony MDR-7520 which is one of the best studio closed cans I've had the pleasure of using. The MDr-7520 is like a very refined and balanced MDR-1R
 
Recently, I let a coworker listen to my 7520s , and immediately he was like "ugh, I don't like that its really hollow'. Then he went on to praise the music app on my Iphone saying he has never heard music so clear.  I just looked at him and smiled wryly, trying to explain there was little difference in the music app, what he really was hearing was the upper harmonic detail of the 7520s that is just rolled off on so many consumer devices. The thing is we all get so used to our preferences. 
 
Sound Comparison.
My quick assessment of the UE6000, oh my, these are not neutral at all, yet still clear. The bass is definitely dominant and loose. The high end is also rolled off. Again, clarity or the perception of clarity  is there, but information is missing. The result is pretty warm phone. 
 
Overall, the 7520 is a massive upgrade over the UE6000 as far as balance, clarity, bass solidity, mid-range presentation. I put its dynamic driver technicalities up there with the HD650, maybe a bit higher. 
 
Also, I don't think the amp or NC on the UE6000 has any real benefit. It does bring more excitement to the higher-end and the low-end. Can be fun for a bit on some genres. It's not as overblown as say something like the MDR-XB950BT.
 
Passively, the UE6000 is nowhere near the efficiency of the 7520. You have to crank it a fair bit.
 
The UE6000 has plenty of rumble though, and its pretty fun. The 7520 will still go very low, pay no attention to some graph measurements that show it rolled off on the bass, that is the Z1000, the 7520 has plenty of bass. The UE6000 sounds tubby in comparison. Drum 'n' bass, dubstep that is well-produced just tears it up on the 7520.
 
Frankly, really surprised that a number of reviewers have said the UE6000 is flat or neutral. I mean in a way it is, it is just  a downward ski slope. 
 
If it sounds like I'm completely dumping on the UE6000 I'm not entirely. It is more of a 'fun' headphone. You can even listen to acoustic music and I've thrown on some classical pieces, but its still like listening with cotton balls in your ears. 7520, vocals, and a whole range of instrumentation come alive. If the UE6000 is your reference, it may be a bit of shock going to the 7520 or another monitoring can. They are more forward than both my LCD2 and HD650 but still sound natural and organic. Somehow the highend of the 7520 is never piercing, but it also is not as smooth as the 650.
 
Hope my friend like these  was hoping for a bit more tonal neutrality. 
 
Comfort:
From memory I thought the dimensions of the ear pads were bigger, hoping these would be comfier than my 7520s. Surprisingly, while the 7520 is not as plush, it has more space to fit your ears. Still the UE6000 is soft enough that even being on top of your ears, it sits well. The 7520 seals very well and stays on your head. 
 
Build quality:
Well the UE6000 has some loose plastic bits, and is a little clattery. The 7520 has magnesium cups and a solid simple metal band. The 7520s flaw is that the cup holders are plastic and their housings can be downright squeaky. You can easily open it up and lube these components if its an issue. Otherwise, the 7520 is an awesome portable.
 
Isolation: I think the UE6000 is pretty good, and might isolate a bit more than the 7520.
 
The UE6000 is still a good headphone. The bass has a very good quality. I'm listening to it right now and you can kinda sink into them. They are pretty easy listen. 
 
BTW - I can EQ the UE6000 and it responds very well. Enough to push them into a much higher quality. The 7520 just start out that way without any adjustment needed.
 
Edit: and the UE6000 leak quite a bit more than the 7520. Which is weird as it seems like the isolate a bit more. weird but confirmed by girlfriend sitting nearby.
 
Update: I increased my rating of them a smidge, But still feel these are overly dark. This was after spending some quality time with them right out of an O2 / ODAC. These are consumer headphones done right. For the small purchase price these go used, they are steal. After you adjust to their somewhat murky dark signature, they really do have a lot of depth. Still a little coloured and a bit cloudy, but really, if someone isn't too picky this can be their end-game closed headphone. Diminishing returns could start around here, and depending on what you paid for the UE6000 it could be $50 USD! 
 
Definitely a fun headphone, and I may be tempted to get one myself.

This is my second-time owning the HD650, and I've taken a bit of this review from a post I made in the HD650 impressions thread.
 
I have some detailed analysis of findings my first time around of the HD650 in comparison with an LCD2 that can be read here:
http://www.head-fi.org/products/audeze-lcd2-planar-magnetic-headphones/reviews/13729
 
I'm going to keep it brief as by now you've probably read gushing reviews, and for the most part they are true. This is a great headphone. Perhaps all one ever may need.

Save yourself and your wallet, get the HD650, a decent amp / DAC and run far away from head-fi and never speak of it again. 

But if you are still here, you may need a bit more convincing. So I have a set of excellent classic LCD2s that measure and perform very well. In my second time owning the HD650, I've pitted them up against these high-end headphones for this review.  
 
The HD650 in my possession, a silver driver variant, is very very close in signature to my LCD2 classic, just a bit more mid forward, and lacking that extreme low-end extension. 
 
My LCD2 have more clarity, and you can really tell with bell tones.  There is a more separation between sounds, the HD650 takes on a slightly bit more of blurred sound in contrast.

But really, I'm splitting hairs. These are exceptional headphones, and damn they are much more comfy and lightweight. 
 
One test I was excited to put them through again was listening to binaural nature recordings, particularly rain, canyons, and deep thunder. Many people talk about sound stage with headphones, but its a mute point to me as the majority of music will have a proper stereo field only with 2-channel speaker setups. Both the HD650 and the LCD2 are capable of rendering 'holographic' spatial reproductions of binaural recordings - with the LCD2 taking the prize in reproducing the low ranges, but the HD650 just edges it out in naturalness on the upper registers, it just seems smoother on the high-end while still retaining detail. LCD2 has more depth though, you can hear 'further' into the soundfield. I've mentioned this in my comparison on these two headphones before, but the 650 has the edge here (it may have a bit to do with the distance of the drivers to the ear, with the 650 being a bit closer than the LCD2). It says a lot for their presentation. Yes, the 650 may lose in some technicalities, but for the most part its presentation is incredibly life-like and natural. Switching, back and forth between the 650 and the LCD2, the 650 just has a bit more 'air' on the top-end that when listening to sounds of wind rushing through a valley, leaves rustling around you, it just creates spine chilling realism. Listening to a recording of  the pitter patter of rain hitting the roof of a tent, something we've all heard at one point, the 650 has the right treble tilt to make this recording a bit more lifelike and 'above your head' than the LCD. Combined with its better ergonomics and light weight, and I'd have to say that the binaural experience on the 650 - the headphones just disappear. 
 
I would love to get a chance to listen to Stax SR007 again or even 009 and run them through some of the above tests. I'm sure I'd be impressed. But one has to marvel at high-quality, especially at the bargain price you can get these headphones for used. If you can afford new, they are still worthy as its hard to find this quality and comfort in its class-range. If you want to spend less, the HD598 is not bad, but lacks the resolution, doesn't quite display audio as natural as the HD650. There are many great and excellent headphones, but myself and many head-fiers, the 650 just fits. I find myself just sinking into these. 

Getting these back again is a real ear opener. They are everything I remembered and even more so. Absolutely (still) world-class. 

My initial impressions of this headphone were good, but it has taken a week for me of careful listening to really appreciate their qualities and purpose. Ultimately, I love these headphones and their sound signature. The 7520 doesn’t sound like ‘consumer’ cans. This isn’t the smoothest ride and can be a bit taxing. The headphones are designed as tools for studio first and foremost.  I think they been a bit misunderstood because of their tuning.
The main characteristics of the MDR-7520 are a detailed, dense sound field yet with excellent clarity and separation. It has a fairly accented tight bass and sub-bass range that doesn’t bleed into the mids. It sounds a bit closed in and rolled off on the high-end, however, thanks to its superb detail and neutral mid-range, it still manages to convey proper reverberation and psycho acoustics. You can really delve into the sound, no frequency is left unturned.

Many may be put off by its initial tuning. You would be hard-pressed to find a headphone with this type of flat sound signature yet have such a prominent bass range. In fact many bassier headphones don’t even have this type of signature, one that sharply rises after the lower-mid-range. Typical you’ll see a gentler curve that also bleeds into the mid range.
 
With the 7520, what is remarkable about them is that they have little bass bleed into the low-mid-range. This can even be seen on the frequency charts on Innerfidelity. Instead of a broad bass curve that bleeds into the mid-range, the 7520 is tightly focused. So even for many acoustic recordings you will get superb reproduction of sound.
 
Low-mid and Mid-range on the 7520 is practically ruler flat and neutral. Upper mid-range has a slight boost at 2kHz which I’m not sure what the reason is. This may be a result of some chamber resonance. I imagine it was intentional to give great vocal presence and detail. 

The Reasons for Accented Bass (aside from it sounding so damn good).

 
There has been a long debate on what neutral or ‘flat’ sound is. Many people have their idea, but really this is an evolving thing. Objectively, we should be able to generate frequencies in a room space, capture these on mics, compensate frequency curves to match what is recorded and being generated, and then tune a headphone to play back the room space perfectly - and accommodate for head-related transfer function. It seems that sound reproduction and audio capturing will increasingly move in that direction. 
 
But for most of us, we have to use our ears and experiences. With the 7520 not only do I feel like I’m listening to a set of flat tuned studio monitors in a room space, but that this room (for better or worse) contains an active sub-woofer with a good cross-over.
 
The low bass end on these headphones acts in a couple ways. In one sense, they help recreate  the pressure and impact that bass creates within a room space. Many modern productions especially those engineered for movies, pop, electronic, and many other genres will make deliberate use of bass/sub-bass impact. Many headphones traditionally considered ‘flat’ or neutralism are just plain anemic in the bass range and the more I listen to things, while this may sound ‘airy’ - it is also just wrong. I can certainly say this for the genre of electronic music. beyond your club-fare over-compressed productions, this music has an emotional body and weight that bass is critical for. I’m listening to Tipper right now on the 7520, and honestly, I’m enjoying this production more than I would on my LCD2s - generally speaking, but I’ll get to where the LCD2 trumps the 7520 (spoiler: it does in almost all technicalities, but not necessarily on tuning). 
 
The other reason the bass is accented on these headphones is for critical listening for engineers and studio production. If you want to listen to bass on your traditionally flat headphones - let’s use the LCD2 in this case - you are going to need to crank the headphones to high-volumes or EQ the bass. Neither of those are preferential. Obviously, it will be difficult to hear bass details while everything else is blasting into your ear, and for EQ you may not always have access to this on individual pieces of gear, plus EQ may produce distortion or additional resonances that weren’t accounted for in the original headphone design.
 
Already, I can listen to raw mixes of tracks and can picket problem bass instruments of tunings, that would have been hard to hear with the LCD2. I wish I owned an HD800, and it was what I had initially set my sights on before getting my LCD2. Some owners of the HD800 that also have the 7520 have compared both favourably against each other from a detail retrieval perspective. I think the HD800 would win out here, but again the 7520 is useful in a studio environment for it tuning - primarily its bass prominence and flat mid-range.

Cosmetics, Construction and Comfort
 

Let’s just start out with an admission. I bought these in mint condition. They are no longer in mint condition as I dropped them 6-feet onto concrete. 
 
Resulting damage: incredibly minor.

Somehow the magnesium cups received no scratches, just one small flake the size of a pin-head near the seam. The arms holding the cups have a few small indentations, and there is another indentation above one of the arms on another plastic piece. These are only noticed on close inspection. I have to stress that no other headphone outside of HD25 would have survived such a fall so well intact. It isn’t pristine anymore, but its armour is relatively unscathed. Ah well, I wasn’t planning on giving these up anytime soon
 
These headphones are very light for closed backs. The magnesium cups are very strong and feel great and the headphone arms are solidly built. The headphone isn’t designed for luxury, rather it is a premium practical build. Any plastic on it is of the quality variety. The all-black look is also distinctly pro, a look that has been the hallmark of venerable Sony studio headphones such as the MDR-V6. 
 
The ear cups are rotated to align with your ears. Very simple and makes you wonder why older headphones never caught on to this in larger fashion. 
 
Now the comfort of these headphones almost killed the whole experience for me. I was ready to pack them up the first day. I have large ears (see my profile pics), and the tips and lobe kinda squished into the cups. I’m not sure what has happened, but over a week these are pretty comfortable. I’m still considering getting plush ear pads (Beyerdynamic DT250 or Shure 840), but if I had to live with this I could. I had similar issue to my LCD2 to a lesser extent and after a while I acclimated to them. The most comfy headphones I’ve ever worn - aside from IEMs, are the Denon AH-D600s, followed by the HD650 (after bending the metal arms to reduce clamp). For me the 7520 is a 6/10 for comfort. My headphone pain tolerance is pretty high though, but be forewarned. The other headphones I was eyeing as studio closed backs, notably the Focal Spirit Professionals didn’t seem much better in this respect for my large eared brethren.
 
Oh and another issue, they are a bit of a creaky ship. Read the 7520 thread and you’ll see many  people complain about it. It doesn’t bother me just sitting down listening or composing music. Starting shovelling food into your mouth or eating chips and its a different story. Same with walking around, as each up and down movement of a step seems to elicit small sounds. So this may not be the best portable for that reason. Even still, I wore it out today and it didn’t bother me that much.
 
Also, those bass ports on the top of each cup, not so great for wind rushing over them. Charmingly, I have the same issue with my MDR-7550 - which happen to be from the same series of Sony studio headphones. But again, they weren’t designed for the street. If you love this type of sound, you’ll put up with it. 
 
The cord is perfect for studio environments. The classic coiled cable is not susceptible to microphonic sounds, and has plenty of give if you happen to get snagged on something. However, you’ll need an aftermarket cord if you want to use these walking around - unless you don’t mind stuffing a wad of 10ft of coiled cable into your pocket. Thankfully, another sign of a professional headphone, removable cable with a standard jack-size! Right now, I’m rocking them with quality a cable from an MDR-1r but you have plenty of choices out there. 
 

Bandwidth Isolation Testing (direct comparison with an Audeze LCD2 rev 1)
 

One thing I’ve been doing to test headphones given my limited equipment and software, is to isolate bands of frequency to listen to. It can be helpful especially in the high frequency ranges.
 
Bandwidth Isolation 15kHz and up
 
Amazingly with the 7520 you can cohesively hear the harmonic partials as clear oscillating sine waves.
 
The LCD2, who in the past beat out my other headphones such as the HD650 in this test, sounded a bit more diffuse and smoother.
 
This test isn’t volumed matched, and these high-frequency details are quiet, you can turn your amp to hear them relatively (caution: be very careful in doing so, as accidentally deselecting the band and playing the full-spectrum could be ear-damaging). In large part due to the efficiency of the 7520, but also because of its frequency curve, these details can be heard at very low volumes comparative to the LCD2. 
 
On the bass side of things, the LCD2 are more transparent, but the 7520 aren’t close behind. 
 
You don’t really need to have measuring equipment to know that both these cans have excellent sub-bass response. It is one of their strongest aspects. Generating a 20Hz sine wave, both of these cans responded well. Important to note, that with the LCD2, it took comparatively more volume to get a similar bass response. On the Sony, with a 15z response it was much easier to hear than with LCD2. Part of this again is the efficiency of the 7520 but also its boosted bass range.
 
With a 40Hz modulated waveform, there was quite the difference in tonality between both. With the LCD2, sounding a bit thinner and transparent, the 7520 robust and full. The 7520 is a bit of a bass detail monster. It is incredible for low-end percussion - acoustic or electronic. I’ve read a wide range of impressions from users remarking on the excellent quality of the bass to others saying that it lacked sub-bass impact or presence.
 
I can only imagine that with the latter, there were fit issues or something was off, because even just listening to the right material (test tones or tracks with significant bass and sub-bass elements) it is obvious the 7520 is no slouch in this area. 
 

Binaural Tests

Naturespace application running from iPhone6 -> line to O2.
 
‘Sheltered’ - LCD2 is expansive, thunder a bit brittle at times, but we could be hearing the limitation of the mic or potential clipping on the recording. For the most part the low rumbles sound very realistic. It is easy to pick out close water droplets and pitter patters. 
 
With the MDR-7520 the high end seems a bit muted. At least initially, but you have no problem picking out the details. 
 
‘Odin’ this track has incredible recordings of a thunderstorm.. This is extremely complex bass to reproduce properly. Oddly, with the 7520 The low-end almost seems to be coming from beneath you rather than above. Bass feels too present here, like it is right against your ear rumbling away on the verge of distortion. Very closed in. Bass is a bit boomy or ‘chuffy’ in comparison to the LCD2. The headphones don’t really disappear.
 
With the LCD2 - the soundstage just opens up, and low bass lifts up to be heard in the clouds above your head. Vastly different reproduction of the low-end details and transients here. Bass is more textured, and never too pronounced, and more realistic for this recording. You can hear crickets, and bird calls realistically in the distance.
 
‘The Cloud Engine’ - this is a recording from a passenger car in a steam locomotive. The low rumbles of the train and all the vibrations are captured by the mic and translated through the 7520s very present low-end. What may give the sense of impact for music is being felt too much here. The sense of space within the passenger car is smaller than it should be. As you go over the tracks, the bass is being ‘heard’ rather than felt. The trains whistle is accurate and amazingly clear along with the sounds of the trains pistons.
 
Switching to the LCD2 again being an open headphone helps here. However, it also the presentation of the LCD2. The bass sounds from the wheels rolling over the tracks and other mechanical sounds are pushed back, the space of the car feels more realistic, as if you could reach your arms out. The LCD2 just opens up more on the top-end and its low-end is accurate and not overly prominent. The whistle is even more realistic and dimensional. As the train moves by building structures, you get an uncanny sensation of objects moving close to the window.
 
 
 
‘Transcendance’ - Listening on the 7520, bird calls, bees buzzing around you are all very accurate tonally and convincing. This track doesn’t have any low end rumbles like the others. Recorded in Rocky Mountain National Park, these sounds are familiar to me. The mid-range of the 7520 is very good. While I am not transported to the location I am, for the most part immersed. 
 
With the LCD2 the same birdsongs are for the most part identical to the 7520, but are now pushed back into the environment. Sounds moves around your ahead. With the 7520, the sound appeared more directional as if two cones projected from each ear. With the LCD2, it feels more encompassing.
 
‘Sailing’ - this track is  a recording of a 40ft boat on medium seas. With the 7520 I feel like I’m in a goldfish bowl with water being splashed against my ear. 
 
With the LCD2, riggings sound more realistic, the waves sound like they are outside, or at least  a distance from your head by a few feet. Not only can you hear gulls in the distance, you can hear them separately from each other. 
 
One thing interesting in this test, is that tonally, the 7520 does get it right; its clarity and detail is right up there. It’s close to the LCD2, but lacks that extra bit of high-end detail, and its over prominent bass does not translate as well for binaural recordings as it does for music. With real-world sounds, your brain is not tricked into thinking the extra bass it is hearing is what you might be feeling. There is a psychoacoustic effect for binaural recordings that does not work nearly as well for the 7520 as it does for the LCD2.

I don’t want to say the 7520 failed here, as it is still much better than many headphones. Putting it up against the LCD2 is not perhaps the fairest fight. You still get a holographic image with the 7520, just not as convincing. Tonally the 7520 is impressive and very balanced. On bass heavy tracks, its emphasis detracts from the overall effect. Still, after a while of listening you acclimate and start sinking into the illusion of each recording. 
 
As an aside, if someone is looking for a great headphone for binaural recordings, I should mention that the HD650 does an incredible job. It even edges out the LCD2 at times with its more airy presentation, though the LCD2 has even more detail and reproduces low-end environment sounds like thunder even better than the HD650 (which already is superb). So if someone is looking for an incredible dimensional binaural experience I would first recommend the HD650. That the 7520 even approaches these greats is telling.
 

Movies

I’ve watched a couple movies on the 7520 and it is a great choice. You get the bass reproduction that many movies require, plus that notch in the 2kHz range helps makes speech a bit more audible. It doesn’t hurt that the 7520 can be powered easily by a mobile or tablet.

Music Listening Session (with comparisons against the LCD2)

I’ve listened to a wide-range of music with these, but I am pretty preoccupied listening to electronic music on these cans, as well as classical, ambient, and jazz. Here are some notes on a few tracks.
 
 
Jefferson Airplane - guitar sounds stunning and nuanced with the 7520. With the it LCD2 just has that extra bit of life plus also is more spacious. 
 
 
Sarah Vaughan ‘Lullaby of Birdland’ SACD 
The 7520 brings all the instruments and vocal right up front, while retain excellent separation and clarity. With the LCD2, the bass and hats gets pushed back, the vocal is more upfront and smoother. 
 
Nina Simone ‘Mood Indigo’ 
Bass may be a bit too bloomy and strong on the 7520 for some listening tastes. LCD2 smooths everything out and presents very similar to the Sarah Vaughan track. 
 

Electronic Music Genres

 
Ott - Fairchildren - 7520 has superb mid-range. Excels with electronic music. Handles acoustic instruments with aplomb. Will get you tapping your foot and nodding your head. 
 
With the LCD2 - more spacious.  Tamer in the bass. Not quite as clear as the 7520 on vocals. A bit brighter. 
 
 
Maceo Plex ‘Life Index - driving full bass paired with that flat accurate mid-range. With the LCD2,  the bass is clear, but never reaches the impact that these tracks deserve. You can turn it up a bit with the LCD2 to get more impact, and it does flesh out, as well you could add some EQ for the low-end.
 
 
Marsen Jules ‘Empire of Silence’ - this textured ambient recording sounds better on the LCD2 with its greater sense of space and its excellent detail. The 7520 is more claustrophobic and dense in its presentation. The sounds are thicker with less air, it is a completely different effect. Still, on the 7520, the string sections on ‘Tlaslo’ are incredibly rich and flowing. 
 

Classical

 
Bach Suite No. 1 in G - Janos Starker - LCD2 - jaw-dropping good. You can hear the breath of the performers. 
 
Happy to say the 7520 render this superbly. The mid-range balance is actually somewhat close to the LCD2, it just doesn’t have quite the same resolution. Can still hear all the articulation, the breathing of the performer. The 7520 is a little rolled off on the top-end. The 7520s accentuated bass does not interfere with the cello timbres hear, perhaps just a smidgen on the lowest notes. While dry, the instruments all have body. The closed nature of the headphone does create some internal resonance which can be more easily distinguished on pieces such as this. 
 

J.S. Bach - Mass in B Minor - The 7520 are very good for classical. On some closed cans such as the HD25, I found classical rather flat and lifeless. With the 7520 you are getting great dynamics and resolution. Voices and string sections are finely balanced. It could be argued that the bass section is too accented, and use of EQ is brilliant here to remove a bit of the bass, accent treble and create a richer soundstage. The 7520 is a tool first for engineers but as a tool for the audiophile listener it can be adjusted to taste. It responds incredibly well to EQ as it is starting out very flat in its lower-midrange and mid-range sections. It is also easier to tame the bass on a phone that has been engineered for bass reproduction than to try to coax it out of a bass-light headphone.
 
Still, putting on the LCD2 is slightly revelatory, I won’t deny it. Similar tonality in the mid-range, but everything just extends and opens up. 
 
Going back to the 7520, still impeccable, and accurate. Vocals are very well controlled and dynamic. In my listening to classical the 7520 is great choice for chamber music ensembles, solo piano, but will still scale to larger works but may need a bit of EQ. It may not be your ultimate choice for a classical headphone (look towards Stax and HD800), but for a closed easy-to-drive headphone, it is quite exquisite. 
 
Bach - European Brandenburg Ensemble & Trevor Pinnock  - Strings, harpsichord and horn sections are superb.This recording is known for its deep bass and I am happy to report the 7520 renders this with the weight of a concert hall. It was clear on listening to this recording that the 7520 was among the finest closed backs I’ve listened too. 
 
On the LCD2 I’m noticing an interesting effect, that even though you achieve a greater soundstage it also becomes a bit less life-like - the soundstage sounds more panned to left and right. But after a while you acclimate.
 
Going back to the 7520, you don’t feel you have missed much in terms of detail and instrument clarity. The fact that I can go from an LCD2 to the 7520 and say that is pretty incredible. It was also easier on the 7520 to pick out the subtle player sounds of breathing and picks on their instruments. 
 

Rock and Metal

 
With the LCD2 it is one of the top choices for classic rock and I imagine the finer recordings of metal. The 7520 of course is going to bring the bass elements up closer, but it also renders the percussive elements in a way that gives a lot of solid body to recordings. Vocals can perhaps bite just a bit hard, but that is recording dependent. Guitars can get a bit hot on solos as well. The 7520 is capable of deep, engaging and psychedelic rendering of your favourite recordings. 
 

 

Dance / EDM and DJing use.

 
The 7520 just slam with electronic dance music. I do find that many of the top 100 Beatport tracks are so overly compressed that it is a less-dynamic sound that is going to sound harsher on the 7520. Turning it up will hurt you ears. Good news is that low level listening will still provide a full experience as bass quality + quantity is among the best of closed headphones. I’d still recommend it if this is your main genre as it will help you be able to distinguish which tracks are really well produced. The 7520 may just push you away from the four-on-the-floor hits to more nuanced productions - which may have gone unappreciated with a lesser headphone. For engineers and producers this is the phone. I may even use this for DJing though I think I prefer my old HD25s for this task for a number of ergonomic reasons. The 7520 is designed so that you can cue with one ear and does so comfortably while staying firmly on your head.
 
 

Closing Thoughts

 
Despite the above praise, this isn’t going to be the first headphone I recommend to most people. For my background of playing around with electronic music gear, listening to studio monitors or enjoying my car subwoofer system this headphone gives me ‘that sound’. It is hard to describe to others that haven’t delved into that part of the sonic world, and I think it is an acquired taste. The 7520 is a bit sharp, and has some edge, it isn’t going to be the most comfortable listen - both physically and sonically. For studio closed backs you have other good choices such as the Yamaha HPH-MT220, the Focal Studio Professionals and Shure SRH-1540. 
 
For some people, a Sennheiser Momentum, Denon AH-D600, HD630vb, MDR-Z7, or TH600 may be in order.

None of these are going to give you the unique signature that the MDR-7520 presents which is ultimately flat yet strong in the bass range.
 
Then you have the expensive stuff like the Mr. Speaker’s Ether C, Audeze LCD-XC, and Fostex TH900. The only one I’ve heard (briefly, and my opinion might change) is the TH900, which I really liked. It would be great to compare the two, and I think the 7520 would hold its own in some departments considering how well it did against my LCD2 (which I ultimately preferred to the TH900).

The phone retails for approximately $300-399 USD. It is without a doubt worth it as a professional tool, but also if it meets your criteria for a closed headphone. 

Liquid organic audio - the LCD2

Been meaning to get around to a full review of these for a while. I have attached some of my early impressions from a comparison thread in which I was able to isolate specific frequency ranges and found the LCD2s performance superior.
 
Since the time of that writing I acquired a Mayflower O2/ODAC which is a better match for the LCD2 than the JDS Labs C5D used in my initial tests. The C5D is still a credible performer but the the O2 felt just a bit more balanced, especially in the mid-range. For the sake of the tests, however, the C5D was able to help spot the differences in the various headphones.
 
Also, I've managed to go to another Head-Fi meet in Calgary where I was able to listen to a set of LCD3 (pre-fazor) on a Woo Audio setup that was smoother with even better bass than my LCD2s. It sounded heavenly with a price to match. Still, my LCD2 shared many of the same qualities and for a fraction of the price. I listened to Mikoss' LCD3Fs (now sold) and thought they were good but sorta preferred the pre-fazor and didn't feel my LCD2 were that far off. He preferred his HD650 of which he is now a ravenous fan (so am I!) and I was able to compare these headphones. I still think the HD650s are amazing though not technically superior, may be the better choice for some ears (and heads) and certain amp pairings.
 
The LCD2 I have are the pre-fazor rosewood versions with the old style cable connectors and foam headband. By a number accounts these have the most bass, and the most rolled off treble of all the versions. I'm sure I would appreciate the qualities that the fazor versions bring, but I am very happy with the overall presentation of the 'classic' LCD2s. 

These are completely non-fatiguing headphones. They do demand that you listen to high-quality works, and do their best on the most dynamic of recordings. They are simply incredible for classic rock, jazz, acoustic, vocal, small orchestration classical, and piano. For electronic and pop they are excellent, specifically with the LCD2's bass reproduction, but in this genre they will do their best with very dynamic electronic pieces, rather than 'club-style' EDM productions, which are best relegated to a 'v-shaped' dynamic headphones. 
 
Given the somewhat cumbersome nature of these headphones, they are not a casual affair. No lying down on your pillow for late night listening. They also require an amp which will likely tether them to a listening-station in your home. They are serious headphones and demand some periodic care and proper handling. Their comfort has either improved with the headphone band loosening and/or I have really acclimated to them. I have no problem just wearing them for hours with a bit of adjustment now and then. Still, they will always have a bit of clamp, they do not disappear, and it has to be said that this can be a major downside of these headphones, enough to turn someone off completely. 
 
Audeze's new EL-8 is really comfortable, leagues better than the LCD2. If one didn't need the robust bass reproduction of the LCD2, the EL8 would be a good choice. Very easy to drive too, and so consider that part of the overall package. 

I have tried and really like the HE-560. It sat somewhere in the middle of the LCD2 and HD800. It kinda throws you off at first, but it may be one of those headphones that grows on you overtime as just a solid performer. Also, was very comfortable, much better than the LCD2 in that respect.

The HD800s I love every time I try them. Completely different sonic signature than the LCD2, and I don't mind it. More treble tilted, with articulate bass range. 

Still, the LCD2 has its own thing going for it and stands alongside the HD800 and HE560. Depending on one's preferences, it could even be preferred. If you want something beefier, that is not muddy, but has a solid weight to its presentation, yet still feeling tonally balanced - the LCD2 is for you. In fact, the LCD2 has an organic presentation that is more akin to actually listening to real-world instruments and sonics - especially the lower-end and mid-range timbres. There is a caveat, the LCD2 is rolled off on the upper end, even more-so than my prior HD650s. It just needs a bit more elevation to give some recordings a bit more 'air' on the top end. Make no mistake, it has exceptional treble detail as discussed in my comparison, but it is rolled off a bit. This appears to be what Audeze has sought to adjust in later versions and in their latest models. That said, a slight bit of EQ works, but most of the time I couldn't be bothered and enjoy them as is. Your brain adjusts.

If one isn't looking to spend a ton and wants a headphone that doesn't require a dedicated amp I would look into the Fidelio X2. Was really impressed with them at a recent meet. The owner, a fellow head-fier, and I compared them back and forth with my LCD2. He was quite taken with the LCD2 and it was clearly a notch above in all sonic aspects. We both agreed, however, that somehow the Fidelio X2 still accomplished being as enjoyable and well-balanced. It was also well-crafted and really comfortable. Quite an admirable achievement by Phillips and a competitor to the HD650 - especially so considering it doesn't require an amp and has a bit more bass heft than the 650.

The HD650 is another consideration and even a replacement for the LCD2 if one needs a more comfortable headphone and is okay with loosing the bass extension. 
 
I wouldn't necessarily recommend the LCD2 right off the bat if you are new to this hobby or high-end headphones. If new, I'd look at the Fidelio X2, the AKG 7xx, ATH-M70x, HD-598. The reason for starting with these is it will help you identify if you really need something more and decide whether it's worth it to take that step forward. Neither of them have significant amping requirements either.

I lucked out, and my used LCD2, were a 1/3 of their new price. I have never seen that type of deal before or after, so I'm glad I jumped on them. They were damaged, with split wood and loose connectors. All of which I fixed with wood glue and filler.

Aside form music listening, which in the first month-or-so of ownership is all I did every evening, I've been using them for some music production and gaming. I've had a friend test these out who is an audiophile beyond most on this planet. He works in the industry and has owned top flight 2-channel setups. For whatever reason, he never had experience these headphones. I watched him just sink into his couch listening to Mozart with his eyes closed, paying attention to every detail. He was in awe, and said 'yup, these are incredible'.

My other headphones compliment it pretty well, though I still wouldn't mind the HD800 for listening to binaural field recordings and other works that need more spatial depth. Also, the HD800 is so comfortable I wouldn't mind owning it just to see if it is my end-game headphone for that reason. Still it doesn't have the visceral low-end of the LCD2 and I'd likely miss that. 

My Sennheiser Amperior is the only headphone not included in the following comparison. In brief, the Amperior has some audiophile aspects to it but has no where near the transient detail nor instrument separation. The bass is not as controlled, and is a bit too mid-bass accented (even more so after exchanging the pads to pleather pads which increase the seal). The treble can be a bit much for some or even strident. Still it is a very good headphone for $110 CDN that I purchased it at, and is great for street use, music production and work. The HD25 I-II is a more balanced headphone and closer to the presentation of the LCD2.
 
 
Comparing a new favourite with some studio classics.
copied from my thread here (5/7/15):
http://www.head-fi.org/t/765538/bandwidth-isolation-tests-with-lcd2-hd650-mdr7550-hd25-comparisons-and-review


I wanted to get my impressions down on these headphones, primarily as I recently sold the HD650 to a friend. In doing this comparison and listening test, I found that the headphones showed their strengths and flaws uniformly. While there may be the occasion where I might prefer one presentation over another for a certain track, for the most part, the headphone with the better technicalities sounded better no matter what the genre. 
 
 
Gear used:
 
Audeze LCD2 revision 1 - recently acquired, just under a week. 

Sennheiser HD650 - owned for almost an entire year. Didn’t think I’d be moving on so early.

Sony MDR-7550 - owned for about a year. Previously owned a Sony MD-EX600 for about a year

Sennheiser HD25 1-II - owned for about a decade. Loaned to a friend who travelled the world and these never left his side. They went through a motorcycle accident, fire and rain. Got back to me in complete disarray. Still using the original drivers, cups and headband. 
 
MacBook Retina 2012 running Vox and Adobe Audition - Vox is a great player for OS X and can synchronize sample rate and obtain exclusive access to the DAC.
 
JDS Labs C5D - this is a capable DAC/amp for use with IEMs/ sensitive headphones and it has enough power for the HD650 and LCD2. Some may scoff at this little amp as it isn’t super pricey, but I found it had sufficient power  for both the 650 and the LCD2. Part of this review uses bandwidth isolation to listen to specific frequency ranges. In this respect, the C5D performed perfectly. If there are benefits I could get from a higher end dac/amp, I would expect it to increase the respective performance of both the HD650 and LCD2. That said, I feel the key technical differences can be sufficiently identified with the components I’m using. Both the HD650 and LCD2 could be driven at equal volumes from the C5D even at 2.5x gain. With the higher gain setting of the C5D there is plenty of room to spare and they can reach ear damaging levels. I’m heading to a head-fi meet soon, so I should be able to listen to some pricier DACs and amps and can update this review if my jaw hits the floor. I’m open minded to re-evaluate, and interested to hear higher end components especially with the LCD2. 


Bandwidth Isolation Tests
 
Why Bandwidth Isolation? When you are comparing headphones traditionally, listening to the full spectrum of music, it is easy to get swayed by the overall subjective experience of what you are hearing. By selectively comparing specific frequency bands, typically the high-end and the low-end, it can become very evident how these ranges are handled. I used my ears for this test, but measuring equipment would be helpful to see distortion and other artifacts.
 
Test track used: Tipper ‘Ambergris’ Fathoms EP - 44.1kHz / 16bit
 
I picked this track for bandwidth isolation testing because of its high-fidelity in both high and low extension and its consistency throughout allows you to listen over a period of time to hear the full frequency range. This track is impeccably produced by David Tipper. Here is a man who knows how to create bass music. His background started in creating tracks for car audio subwoofer tests and he has grown into musical talent. Where some artists in the electronic spectrum are squashing their tracks for the dance floor, Tipper is meticulous in his production. He is known for his SurroundSound production, digital audio mastering, and providing content for DTS Inc. 

 
General Listening Impressions with Test Track
 
HD650 - This is electronic music with modulating waveforms that runs the entire frequency range while retaining integrity. I’m a bit worried how the 650 may perform here on the sub bass. The attack of the bass is there on the HD650. It does extend all the way down, but rolls off with perhaps a hint of distortion on the bass notes. 

LCD2 - This one of the first EPs I played on the LCD that woke me up to what they are capable of. The full spectrum of detail from the electronic instruments is represented very well. The somewhat darker tilt of the LCD matches this genre of music perfectly. Precise, spacious, with full weight on the lower tones. 

MDR-7550 - The 7550 presents itself with more treble bite than the LCD2, and with more bass punch. The 7550 is remarkably clear and powerful sounding. I’ve been continually impressed by it and its sibling the MDR-EX600. I would say if you like the LCD2 and want a portable and extremely comfortable IEM version, the 7550 may take the prize.
 
HD-25 1-II - Probably the ‘fun’ sounding headphone of this bunch. It has an addictive signature. Punchy bass. It doesn’t have the same clarity as the 7550, and has less separation. The bass rolls off, and although extending deep, is not near LCD2 levels. This headphone is not going anywhere, though. It fits extremely well, seals perfectly, and is excellent for so many applications. 
 
 
Bandwidth Isolation using Test Track 
 
Low Frequency Range

Using Adobe Audition to isolate the lowest frequencies of bandwidth in the test track, it is clear where the LCD2 has the advantage with its deep uniform bass extension. The HD650 cuts off early and does not hit as low. The 7550, its bass is great, but does not extend as deep and has some distortion. The HD25, again like the 7550 audible distortion, and in this case doesn’t extend as far as either the 7550 and nowhere close to the LCD2. 
 
 
High Frequency Range

On the highest frequencies 15k and up, you can hear transients clearly on the LCD2. They are coherent and more information is presented than the other headphones for this test. Harmonics in this range sound like a very high pitched and rapid glissando. With the LCD2 the glide in the harmonics was more continuous and there was just more harmonic information.
 
 

Comparing between the LCD2 and the HD650, there is significantly more information at these extreme ranges being reproduced by the Audeze and I suspect this goes for the entire audible range. I made sure to match the volume ranges, and honestly even if I turned it up on the 650, this information is just not present at the extremes. 
 
I tested the MDR-7550, and it too, did not reproduce these upper harmonics like the LCD2. The harmonics that were present were quieter and subdued, perhaps just a bit more audible than the HD650.
 
The HD25 - again, quieter transients. They were there, and perhaps a touch more audible than the 650.
 
I was surprised by the HD650 not being to translate these high frequency ranges. Its possible that these frequencies are somewhat attenuated. If it wasn’t for the LCD2, I might assume this is the limit for typical dynamic drivers and they pitter out at this point. I'm sure if I had an HD-800 on hand this probably would not be the case! I also have to say, for all of those listening to high sample rate music, you’ll be surprised to see just how little is in the upper ranges, and even more so, how your transducers may not even produce these upper harmonics, never mind our ears inability to hear them past a certain range. The range displayed in Audition will be completely dependent on the file.

Music and Genre Comparison 
 
For the following critical listening test I didn’t stick to an order of preference. I enjoyed the complete piece with each single headphone and occassionly went back to swap back and forth.
 
 
Avro Part & Latvian Estonian Riga Tallinn Choirs - Adam’s Lament
 
HD-25 - Well, it almost sounds like I’m listening to a mono recording. Listenable. No sense of space.  Nice timbre though. The HD-25 has a nice presentation but here it is severely lacking.
 
MDR-7550 - Wow. Night and day difference. The soundstage opens up in comparison to the HD25. Suddenly, strings and chorus, now have nuance and emotion. The 7550 is much more refined than the HD25 and less meaty in the mid-range. Great transparency, and you can hear room ambience and reverberations. Bass is delicate and controlled. You could lose yourself listening to this. Voices are perhaps a bit sharp on the higher octave ranges though.
 
HD650 - It may be just the nature of open headphones versus in-ear monitors, but there is more coherent soundstage with the 650. The 7550 has a wide sense of space, and has more transparency, it just doesn’t present itself as realistically. The 650 though, is softer, relaxed and gentle. Bass notes are not as discernible, and are taken out of the equation emotionally compared to the 7550. There is ‘air’ in the room space with the 650 though. You hold your breath when listening to this piece in quieter segments, almost as if you don’t want anyone to hear you! I have to say though, the 7550 was pretty remarkable in comparison. The 7550's extra detail and transparency edging out the 650. Higher range vocals might be a bit strained with the 650. Overall, with the 650,especially in the mid-range there is a natural, relaxed presentation that is very enjoyable.
 
LCD2 - There is weight and emotion. I feel like the transparency from the 7550 and the naturalness of the HD650 have been blended together. Combine that with overall superior transient reproduction and the LCD2 is clearly preferred. To be fair, the HD650 mid-range is very seductive, and with the whole presentation not being as weighty as the LCD2 some may prefer this presentation. Again that ‘air’ that the 650s deliver just helps give a certain realism to the presentation. The LCD2 has more realism in timbre, but I can see where some may prefer the LCD2 to have a higher treble response. I do have the LCD2 rev1, and have not heard the Fazors or rev2 editions so perhaps this is what has been addressed. I’d give my second choice to the 7550.
 
 
Bach- European Brandenburg Ensemble & Trevor Pinnock - Sechs Konzerte für den Markgraf von Brandenburg (2007) [FLAC]16bit 44.1
Koncerto Nr.1
 
LCD2 - Similar to the previous piece, the LCD2 offers a peerless window into the heart of the performance. It is effortless (aside from the weight of the LCD2!) to listen to all six concertos in one sitting. I feel truly spoiled, as this is the first time I’ve had such fidelity and the ability to listen so intimately to a performance. I haven’t had the luxury of attending many live concerts, and this is real treat. This level of performance makes me want to share this experience. I’ve read articles on websites where people rag on audiophile equipment and ‘over-priced’ headphones. Well, I truly hope performance like this becomes more affordable as I feel it will allow people to appreciate performances and compositions that they otherwise may have ignored in favour of pop-material that translates easier onto their ear buds. I have read that some people feel the LCD2 soundstage closed-in, but that is not what I am hearing here. It is wider and more expansive than the 650. What I hear is the greater realism and detail defines the recorded room space.
 
HD650 - Immediately the performance opens up - literally up. You get the impression that perhaps there was a low ceiling before with the LCD2, not quite oppressive, but the 650 is so effortless a listen. I’m going to miss these. The instruments blur together a bit, whereas they were more separated and defined with the LCD2. Even with the lack of detail the presentation is so great that you just relax and listen. Switching back to the LCD2, there is a range and extension both on the low end and the high-end that ‘completes’ the presentation. The 650 is still very close to the LCD2 in its rendering of this piece. Technically the LCD2 is better and you can hear it. But the 650s mid-range prowess is undeniable and therefore you still get an excellent rendition of the performance. 
 
 
7550 - Again, it is easy to notice that the soundstage of the 7550s, although wide, is not as realistic as with the LCD2 or the 650. As noticed on the Avro Part piece, the low-end of the 7550 helps translates the emotion. While clear, the instruments don’t have as much separation as the LCD2, and the soundstage feels a bit compressed vertically. I feel this has may have to do with the sound waves not hitting the outer ear. Aside from this, you have plenty of detail and fast transient response. The presentation of the 7550 may just be a bit too bass heavy for this genre, and this is where the EX1000 probably would shine. Indeed adding a bit of highend EQ helps. Definitely the bass feels a bit over-represented.  The sound is in you head and sounds panned hard right and left. Still great clarity and performance.
 
HD25 - working all the way down to this sturdy headphone. While not as wide a soundstage, it is more acoustically realistic than the 7550. The stereo phase however is more narrow, the instruments somewhat flat. If you were just strolling around you’d be certainly content. However, if these were your only headphones, you may not reach for this music. The recording is just too dynamic and nuanced for the HD25. I’ve always loved classical and even enjoyed it in the waking hours listening to mono AM radio. The arrangement on its own is a language, but the difference is like reading a lovers' note and having them in front of you. They are still enjoyable and some of that natural timbre comes through, just without the finesse. I’d characterize the deficiencies of the HD25 similar to most dynamic consumer cans. You’ll never know what you are missing but you’ll probably enjoy what you are hearing. Often I’ll be listening to the HD25s, and even now with such a dynamic piece think “these are great!’ And its true. They are classics. I’d choose them as a desert island headphone as I know they’d last and if a part broke i could get Sennheiser to airdrop in a replacement. 
 
 
John Coltrane A Love Supreme 24 bit 88.2 kHz
 
HD-25 - I’m starting to form an impression here that is pretty consistent. On the HD-25 pianos are flat. There isn’t nearly as much detail in the higher and lower transients. 

7550 -  From the opening of the piece, the percussion is more spacious and detailed with more body on the bass. Piano with a bit more dimension. Trumpet much more vividly realized than the HD25 (and almost as good as the LCD). There is a higher-end extension on the percussion and overall sound. A little boxy sounding on the lower-end, not tubby, just a bit boxy. 
 
HD650 - Overall presentation of all instruments just seem to open up. Everything fits together, even if the imaging gets a bit blurred. Is the HD650 too soft though? Moving on.
 
LCD2 - Just on another level of clarity. Percussion more realistic. Trumpet is life-like, you can hear its natural reverb tail and extension - something I wasn’t getting with the other headphones. Bass nicely textured and responsive. Bass never overtakes or interferes with the mid-range. Without such a reproduction, I could see how certain jazz pieces could be passed over. With the LCD2, I get a feeling that there is a better sound out there for a certain head-fier, but I also know I’ve reached a new height as a music listener. I can now begin to really listen to pieces, that until now, were locked away under a haze, veil, and lack of technical performance. 
 
Pink Floyd - The Dark Side of the Moon
 
LCD2 - Smooth and deep, though a bit dark. Great depth and space. ‘Money’ just straight-up rocks.  Excellent depth in reverb ambience and you can hear those reverberation transients clearly in the room space. Just wow. I need to start listening to more classic rock. 
 
HD650 - A lighter listen. You can still hear those reverb transients but they are bit ‘cloaked’ and diffused. Vocals are still fantastic. I’d say the HD650 make excellent headphones for rock music. Similar issues to the other tracks tested, in the imaging not being as good, and everything just blending together. 
 
HD25 - Wow. These are doing great for rock. Very enjoyable. Not far behind the HD650 here. Great set of headphones.
 
7550 - A little too much bass emphasis. I’d take the HD25 over the 7550 on this one just because of the HD25s more natural presentation. Saxophone sounds great on the 7550. Guitars are pretty dimensional but compete with the lower end somewhat. 

Final Thoughts
 
I wasn’t planning on upgrading headphones. I really thought I’d have the HD650 for years. The opportunity came up to get a revision 1 LCD2 at an unbeatable price. The wood had cracked near the jacks, but it is very minor and barely noticeable - but hence the discount. This was a headphone that was completely out of my price range several years back. Truth be told though, I could have afforded it, I just didn’t know I’d want it! Now having listened to headphones on the level of both the HD650 and the LCD2 there is no going back. They become your audio standards. Next step, I’m going to explore DACs and amplification. Right now, the LCD2 seem like my perfect headphone. It has a similar tonal quality to the HD650, which makes parting with the 650 much easier. The comfort isn’t near the HD650, and what I found was that initially I was wearing the Audeze too loosely. Adjusting the fit, the ear cups are now more perpendicular and the weight distribution is more balanced. I can now wear these for hours with good comfort.
 
For the music I enjoy, a mixture of ambient, drone, binaural field recordings, electronic, jazz, fusion, experimental, orchestral, ensemble and solo piano with the occasional rock, and vocal pieces I couldn’t be without these. Interested to hear the LCD3, LCDX, Alpha Dogs, HE-560, HE-500, and Stax headphones.
 
Regarding the 650, they are excellent, and I respect that many have chosen them as their end-game headphone. It does sound like a bit more can be squeezed out of them with higher-end equipment. For me, the technicalities evident in my listening sessions pointed to the LCD outperforming the HD650 in key areas. Comfort and tonal signature of the HD650 could be a preference over the LCD2, however. I am fan of the 650 and I’d recommend them to many people as an affordable way to get into audiophile sound. The LCD2, are just taking me to a place I’ve never been though. Even having listened to expensive Bowers & Wilkins floor standing speakers (with Classe amplification), this audio rig is just awesome - its mine to listen to and didn't cost a fortune.  
 
Typing up this review I listened to the LCD2 the entire time. Just as I was about to submit this I got a text from my friend who bought my HD650:
 
 
For me, this is what makes this little hobby so enjoyable. Sharing the experience of music and sound with people.

I've had these headphones now for over a couple weeks and feel like I have a very good sense of what I like about them.

First off, a bit of background. I have been using closed headphones for almost two decades, starting with Sony's venerable MDR-V7506 and have owned many pair mostly geared towards studio monitoring purposes such as AKG K271, Sennehiser HD280, HD25, Shure SRH-840, as well as others designed for consumers such as Denon AH-D600, MDR-1r and Amperior.

I also have owned a smaller amount of open headphones with my HD650 being my favorite of all the headphones I have owned to date. I've listened to the HD800 on highend gear, and I'm looking to taking that next step eventually.

I also don't want to have a whole slew of headphones, and would rather have only a handful. I do require headphones for different reasons -home listening, office, outdoors, active, and professional (as a DJ and for editing work).

Recently I came across the Sony XB950AP at a local London Drugs store and tried it out. I was immediately struck by its very firm, and excellent low end. I do listen to a lot of electronic music. But their quality was one that struck me based on experience, as in "there is something to these".

I ended up heading to the Sony store a week later and bought the Bluetooth version I now have.

In the first couple days of ownership, I have to say I was a bit disappointed. These first impressions are important, because I think many here at head-fi.irg might feel the same on listening to these. Out of the box, the can sound downright murky. The bass from the 300hz range and down is so pronounced, that it can drown out the rest of the frequency range.

In this period, I was starting to use them at work, but was babying them in case I needed to return them, which I surely would have had I not read some posts by other members mentioning that they'd burn-in and open up. Others had started modding these and basically having tamed the bass claimed they had an excellent pair of cans that punched above their weight.

It could have been 'burn-in' or my mind became more used to their presentation. Either way, these have become one of my favourite headphones Sony has made - for the sum of all its parts.

The most important thing to remember is that these are part of Sony's Expanded Bass series. The frequency curve is designed to allow the listener to crank up the headphone (or even at low volume) and enjoy the impact of the bass. If the mids and highs were more forward, it could be both loud and a fatiguing listen. So while this presentation will work fantastic with many electronic music genres such as dubstep, hip hop, techno, trance, etc. - it will sound positively wrong with more acoustic based music such as classical, rock and jazz.

But the default frequency curve can be very enjoyable for the right genre, and providing your ears are not tired, it will sound wonderful and immersive to have that much bass. I have now saved some profiles in CanOpener that cut the bass below 300hz with a fairly steep curve by more than 6 decibels. Depending on the music I'm listening to, I can easily switch to this setting. Doing so brings out the mids and highs of these headphones which are actually quite good.

Imaging and is good and appears to be aided by the angled drivers. Detail is good, but no where as detailed as the HD650, but respectable. Perception of soundstage improves with a reduction of bass.

I loved the bass performance on my AH-D600 and buying those was almost purely guilty pleasure. While that headphone has by default a better balance, it too is also considered bass heavy for some genres, but to a much lesser extent. I wasn't able to make an extensive comparison, but it feels to me that Sony really did a good job with the bass on these headphones. While in some ways a downgrade, I don't feel I'm missing anything from the low-end going to these headphones coming from the D600. Which is some praise, as a number of owners of Denon's well regarded D2000 series have felt the D600 matched or exceeded the D2000 in performance.

As for comfort, I'lll still put the D600 above the XB950. Sony has put very thick pads on these, and while sweat never seemed like an issue with my Denons, these will produce some sweat. On the other hand, these clamp to the head better, and the cups stay on your ears keeping the seal. As such, they make a great pair of headphones for commuting and strolling around in cooler weather.

As for styling, these are the first headphones I have ever seen in my peripheral vision but the simple shape and finishing somehow make them more forgivable and you'll just look like another urban basshead. Some nice details such as the textured finish on the cups, the red accent, and the rotary cup arms add some polish to the overall look. Again, especially for its price very nice construction. It doesn't come with a case so that is a factor to consider.

If it was just another wired headphone, I probably would have just kept my Denons. But having wireless is really enjoyable and one of the main selling features. the wireless codec implementation is very good supporting high quality APTX and AAC Bluetooth. The headphones can be plugged into wire, and the quality is cleaner.

About the Bass Boost - it is mostly overkill, but some very bass focused genres such as dubstep it actually works with. The bass boost is disabled in wired mode. If you are interest primarily in wired, check out the AP version of the headphone. In the AP it seems the default bass range is a tad stronger than the BT. This could be becuase the AP version does not have a powered Bass Boost mode - and so the frequency curve is compensated.

These have taken over from my HD25s as my preferred headphone for walking about. the HD25 is still better for djing, and the hd650 for a wider genre range and more natural, open sound.

Basshead on the move need to try these out. I'd recommend these over Sony's MDR7506, V6 and MDR-1r series for those whose preference is electronic music. The dynamic driver in the XB950 is very capable.

Lastly, I listened to Sony MDR-Z7 which I felt was comparable to my Denon AH-D600 with just a bit more mid-range balance. Bass was comparable to the D600 if not a bit less controlled. The Z7 was not as neutral as either my MDR-7550 in-ear and not up to the performance of the 650s. I liked them but not at that price tag.

So on the opposite end, here is a headphone that is well worth it price (I got them for $150) and I'd even recommend these over the Z7 for bass specific genres. The Z7 will have more clarity and overall resolution will be better, but it still can't hit the low end range like these can.

Edit: No longer have these and ultimately was just too unbalanced and uncontrolled on the low-end for my tastes. I ended up with a MDR-7520, which beat my AH-D600 hands down, as it gives more of a studio reference sound with excellent accented bass. Pretty much near perfect for a closed can for my tastes, with the next level probably being a Beyerdynamic T5p v2 one day.