Build Quality:
Simple. Small. Compact. would be the words to describe it.
Thujan talks more about the ease of customization and such in this video
Sound quality:
Thujan did not believe me when I told him that this tiny speaker packs a punch to the face.
Now remember, if you do not know thujan, he is an avid speaker collector who has heard many headphones
and speakers. He is also the DIY freak at our studio.
Build Quality:
If you look at companies like Beyerdynamics and Sennheiser, they have few things in common.
The most obvious is that they like dynamic drivers and are Germans.
The next obvious thing after owning a several pair from both companies? They know what they are doing.
That leads to the build quality being one of the best if not THE best. No complaints were found with the HD1
and I go into what I love so much about their design and attention to detail in the video.
Sound Quality:
Have you ever had a cheese cake with coffee? The taste of elegance. The creamy buttery smoothness.
unless of course... you don't like cheese cake. Cmon ! Who doesn't like cheese cake?
In case you are one of those rare people, let me put this into a different perspective...
If you are wearing a suit versus a hoodie, Psychologist have found that people generally act more
professional when wearing a suit (EVEN IN NON PROFESSIONAL SETTINGS !). Guess what, this headphone
does not only sound like an elegant well tailored suite, it looks like one as well.
yea... next time you go on a date, take this headphone with you. You can perhaps put it on when he/she gets annoying.
I talk about the sound quality in more detail in the video.
Cons: you may **** up your headphone if you have clumsy fingers.
Build Quality:
I can probably think of maybe 5 companies that comes close to Aune's well thoughout build quality.
Absolute beauty. This is not something that you put inside you pocket and forget about. this is something
you keep looking at it until it burns from eye beams. I talk about each aspect of why I like it so much in the video.
Sound Quality:
have you ever eaten out at an all you can eat and was so full that you were about to vomit but you just had to
keep going because it was so good and you wanted more of whatever sensation you were getting?
Thats what feels like to own and hear through the B1s. Of course, it does have flaws and shortcomings
like all devices. But at this price point?
I go into each aspect of why I like the sound so much in the video.
Sound Quality:
Based off the fostex headphone that is known to be modded vigorously. This is massdrop's modded version of this
famous headphone that I am sure everybody knows by now.
Sound quality is reflective of its price. I go into more on the sound in the video, but basically it is a great headphone for people looking for their first headphone.
Build Quality:
Leather, comfortable, and build to last.
These are the words that comes to mind and I mention this in more detail in the video. Nevertheless, I had
no significant complaints with that way headphone was built. It is very well thought out.
Cons: downgrade from edition x v2 in terms of build
Sound Quality
My previous review of the Hifiman edition x v2 shows very well how I feel about the sound quality on this headphone.
Is there any sonic difference? not that I can note of but I go into more detail about the differences in the video.
Build Quality
The build quality is where it changed from the edition x v2 and I go into the details, again in the video but
to put it simply, it has changed and debatable for the worse.
Build QUALITY
Like I state in the video, I absolutely love the build quality for the money on this in ear monitor.
It is comfortable and this type of design is what I would recommend to all my viewers and readers that are
just starting out. Presentation is great with many tips to try as well. I talk about these stuff in-dept in the video.
Sound QUALITY
I love the sound quality but was not so impressed at first. I go into my experiences and first impressions in the video
but in short, the bass was not that impressive at first and there is a dilemma in reviewing these things side by side because something you reviewed 2 days ago excels in one region that you find whatever you are reviewing next to be less of quality when it really is not. Anyhow. I found the M6 pro to be exceptional for the money. If you would like , find out why in more detail in the video.
Sound quality
Like I mention in this video, the flare jet 2 is very similar in terms of sound to the jet 1. I go into more depths about this and how my listening experience confirms this. Whatever I wrote for the jet 1 almost always refers to the jet 2 as well. Bass is absolutely the best quality for this in ear monitor.
Build Quality
Build quality differs from the jet 1. The jet 2 is made of aluminum and contains more "quality" parts.
I talk about this in the video as well but to summarize, it is basically the same thing but made in aluminum,
please refer the the video for more in-detail descriptions and usages.
Sound Quality
the sound quality of this sub 100 dollar in ear monitor is truly astonishing. Even straight out of the phone.
The reason I stress the importance of in ear monitors sounding descent straight out of cell phones is discussed
more in dept in the video. Bass mids and highs are all discussed in more dept in the video but bass is what captured me to fall in love with the jet 1
Build Quality
build quality of the jet 1 is slightly cheaper in feel than the jet 2 but the differences are mild between the two. I discuss more about the problems you may encounter in the video but to say the least, it has some quirks.
Build Quality
Past Audeze headphones generally sounded very good but I had problems with the headband and weight.
Now the new design is much more appealing and LCD2 Classic is no exception. I in more detail about
this design and why I like it so much better in the video but it is much more comfortable in summary.
Sound Quality
Certainly, every Audeze headphones I have tried sounded very good nonetheless some people argued that
the fazors made all the difference in the world either for the best or for the worst. For those of you who did not get to try the non fazored versions of the LCD series can get a taste right here and now with the LCD 2 Classic headphones. I go in much more detail about the sound in comparison with other headphones but to say the least, it certainly may be appealing to some while some may hate it.
Sound Quality
I have been lucky enough to hear and review the HD6 family in the past and when I heard that the HD58x came out,
I thought it was basically the HD580 revisited. This was not the case. The HD58x has a sound of its own,
closely related to the HD600 and HD6xx/650. I go into more detail about the comparison in the video, but
basically, I was very impressed. Also, this is a great gaming headphone for those interested in using it for that purpose.
Build Quality
I do not think the HD58x falls behind in build quality especially when you look at it amongst $150 headphones.
Again, I talk more about this in the video but I really love the looks and the build quality is the usual "sennheiser build quality," (whatever that may mean to you).
MODS
There is a simple mod that came up as a question from my viewers. I address it and demonstrate it in the video. Simple mod but very big effect.
Cons: Only balanced inputs and outputs. not really portable
I am so freaking excited today because today is the day I get to review something I bought and owned for a while now and I had planned to review it but never got to for the longest time.
And that is the Venture Electronics RunAbout 2.0 B, B for balanced.
So the VE runabout 2.0B is a fully balanced headphone amplifier that is battery powered. So right off the bat, if you are not into balanced then this might not be for you. But if you ever have plans to go balanced or just want to stick around to learn what balanced is then you are most welcome to do so.
Outside of the ve runabout 2.0B, features 2 rectangular boxes enclosed in an all metal chassis that is painted black. One of these boxes is called the WARP CORE PLUS and it is basically the power source for the other unit. Once charged, it will last your anywhere between 24 to 48 hours or longer depending on how much you use it, I definitely did not have the courage to sit down and listen until it ran out of power.
So in the front, you will see the WARP CORE plus printed clearly in white, a volume control that rotates in a smooth fashion, a recessed 2.5mm balanced connection, and last but not the least, the 4 pin xlr for your headphone connection.
In the back, you will see two switches to turn on each of the units, DC in to charge your WARP CORE PLUS, DC OUT from the warp core plus to DC in the other unit and of course you will see two 3 pin xlr inputs for your right and left channel.
Phew… that seems like a lot but once you start using the unit, it will be easy as making your girlfriend or wife yell at you.
There are mainly three advantages when using the VE runabout 2.0B.
First is that it is a gift sent from the gods for those who want a fully balanced headphone amp.
Okay so why or what in the world is balanced and why do you need it? Well, it is highly up to you if you want to do this, but basically, balanced connections like XLRs are commonly used in studios and this is generally for two reasons,
1. Balanced gives out more power because it is handling each channel separately
2. It ultimately helps reduce ground noise
It does this by having a separate ground for each channel.
Second Advantage is that it is using DC power instead of AC. This means no need for power filtration or dealing with any of those dirty AC noise problems. This ultimately saves you a lot of money and headache.
The third advantage is POWER. This thing is hell powerful, I would be surprised to find a headphone that this amp cannot drive. Venture electronics was not messing around when they designed this. It has serious juice built into it.
So how does this all translate into sound? Well, first two advantages I just talked about translates into lower noise floor and a purer sound. A common problem with using DC powered devices like these is that it may be lean sounding, meaning no body, no fullness, no bass.
However, Venture electronics really tweaked it here to bring that bass, body, and fullness into this unit.
I tested with planar magnetic headphones like LCD3 & 4, Hifimans, planar magnetic iems like LCD i4 and isine20. Dynamic headphones and earbuds like sennheisers and zens. And whatever I threw at it, it sounded pure with great amount of detail and a huge soundstage with bass and impact. It really kicks some serious ass.
So, what is the downside? Well, this was originally marketed as the world’s first portable balanced headphone amp, hence the name “run about.” But trust me you are not running with this thing, maybe Jog. So, although the attempt is great, this is by no means small enough to fit in my pocket for portable use and it does not have a dac built into it so taking this around with a dac that has a balanced output in your backpack may also be a limited choice. So, I recommend this to be used for your desktop setup. I heard that they have a more portable option now, so I am excited to check that out next.
Also, the 2.5mm input sounded less impressive to me than the XLR input. Another potential downside might be that you have no idea how much power is left because there is no indication like your cell phone does. This means that you are better off charging this every night or every other night just to be safe.
But once you get over these downsides, this amp kicks some serious ass above and beyond its price point in terms of performance.
Hey! I’m new in this community. I’m gonna set up my small home studio. I’ll get Focusrite 2i4 as an interface. Unfortunately, these won’t be able to drive my Sennheiser HD650. So, I was also looking for these amps. Will these be enough to drive 650s, and if yes, how could I connect these to my interface?
If I told anyone that I were to spend $1850 usd on a budget speaker set up or a movie theater system, people will most likely be okay with that if they understand the passion for audio quality.
If I told anyone that I were to spend that much money on a piece of instrument, mic, camera or even a cell phone for my personal use at the soulsik reviews' studio, people would most likely nod their heads with approval.
How about if I were to tell them I were to spend this money on a pair of in ear monitors? Despite the fast advancing technology that has changed the way we perceive and understand music, the most likely response will be "your crazy" or "are you rich or something"
In this review, I will change the way you perceive music systems and how technologies have advanced to warrant a price of $1850 usd on a mere pair of in ear monitors.
DISCLAIMER
This unit was won on a headfi giveaway that noble audio had graciously put out. I have built a quite a bit of reputation for my honesty, and I intend to keep that way. I thank all my youtube viewers and website readers for the trust and support.
ABOUT Noble Audio
It is fair to say that if you do not know Noble Audio has built great reputation over the years with their great sounding and well built in ear monitors.
This all comes down to the designer and co-founder of noble audio, John Moulton. John has created some masterpieces in the past that the community has named him the Wizard. Indeed, he does some magical work when it comes down to in ear monitors. As an audiologist and as a hardcore enthusiast, he is one of the few that actually uses in ear monitors that he made on daily basis and take great pride in his work.
Rightfully, Brannan Mason who is the co-founder of noble audio, overlooks the more business side of the things. Brannan is a fair gentleman who I can say with confidence "is a fan of the wizard's work himself."
With their team, they have created some great in ear monitors that left the community mouth dropped for many years even after the products have become discontinued and replaced with newer/improved revisions.
Noble audio mainly makes custom in ear monitors with universal models for those who prefer non-invasive listening experience.
Updated Noble universal form factor and geometry featuring creative precision machined aluminum housings
Sensitive enough for use with smartphones as well as portable amps and DAPs
Hand-assembled and matched
Detachable cable with industry standard 2-pin configuration (0.78 mm diameter
BUILD QUALITY
The noble kaiser encore's build quality is something that cannot be described as "good" or "excellent." It is what you would describe as "art."
When I first showed my noble kaiser encore to an old timer audio enthusiast, his first response was "oh that is more art than an earphone ! didn't have anything like that in my time !"
Indeed, the noble kaiser encore and all the other line of noble's offerings are made of full aluminum housing for the universal models that have been carefully machine crafted to look sharp and gorgeous. It also has the noble audio's logo laser etched to show off the brand.
The in ear monitors are larger than normal compared to low or midfi in ear monitors due to the the fitting of 10 armature drivers. Yes, that was not a typo, it holds 10 armature drivers, carefully configured to give a specific sound signature that John has catered for you.
It is pretty mind bobbing when you realize how light and small it is for a 10 driver configuration.
In terms of accessories and what comes inside the box;
[gallery ids="1778,1777,1776" type="rectangular"]
it comes with a owner's card, two noble audio stickers with the WIZARD signs, two noble's elastic digital audio player bands, lots of tips, and a case with a cleaning tool inside. It also comes with a real pelican case to keep your in ear monitors safe from any pollution or damage on the go (please research about pelican cases)
PRACTIALLY
THE FIT: The fit is something that is more reserved for their custom designs, but the universal models do not miss out when it comes to a "good" fit. I would not call it excellent or easy to achieve as it takes time to fiddle around with different type of tips (also tips changes sound quite a bit on the kaiser encores). However, once you do, it stays there.
SOUND ISOLATION: Isolation can be achieved quite well with comply foams. One thing that I do recommend noble audio to change is their foam tips as they seem to be slippery and fall out of the ear quite easily. For this reason, comply foams are a good or a "better" fit with these in ear monitors and can do wonders for isolation.
PAIRINGS
Astell & kern Kann
Pairing with the Kann was one of my favorite combinations. It brought out the "full potential" of these in ear monitors. The highs were transparent and extremely detailed, yet not shrilling or bright sounding. The low ends extended, giving a pleasurable amount of sub-bass and punchy dynamics. Yet, it did not sound as if it was to trying to scream "I am the best," It elegantly lets you hear what is in the music to the last bit of detail in a non-fatiguing manner. The vocals sounded astonishingly real, giving me goose bumps. Specifically, listening to Jasmine Thompons' top tracks on Tidal, it let me even hear every breath she took before signing the next lyric. Overall, this is most musical sounding combination in my opinion. Did I mention increased sound stage and incredible imaging?
Shanling M2s
I thought to myself, how would the M2s that I lovingly praised at the "budget" price point stand up when it comes to face to face with the great kaiser encore. With much surprise, the shanling m2s dis a fair job with the kaiser encore, however, their was less musicallity and much more bass with recessed mids in comparison to the kann pairing. Despite all this, if I never tried it with the kann side by side, I would still have been very satisfied with this pairing and go far as to say "it really did the kaiser encore justice" The only downsize is that you do not get any magical "increasing sound stage or dead accurate imaging" with this combo.
Fiiox5 3rd gen
I took this picture back when I was doing a comparison between one of my first noble audio's iem, the noble x. The pairing included the kann and the fiio x5 3rd gen. And undoubtedly probably my next favorite combination with the noble kaiser. It lacks a bit of resolution and sound more compressed than the kann but it does everything the kann does for the kaisers for a much lesser price tag. The downsize is that the overall sound signature becomes a little more warmer with a bit of detail loss in a A/B test against the kann.
Fiiox7 mk2
I do not even have a picture for this digital audio player as I have taken none since the review is still pending and waiting for the "right moment"
However, I can give a little spoiler alert and say that this adds to the detail and resolution that the kann possessed for the kaisers. Without losing much bass. One of the best combinations if you want more dead accurate imaging but do not care for a more intimate soundstage.
Phone - Samsung s7
We had a samsung s7 lying around in the review studio, so we decided to pair it with the kann just for fun. It turned out pretty impressive... although you do not get more out of the kaisers and there is definitely more noise floor, it still sounded better than many of in ear monitors paired with an expensive audio players.
So how about if we paired it with an oppo ha 2se? It did wonders, increased sounstaging, dead accurate imaging. There really was nothing to complain about this combination although the bass boost may have been something I do not recommend as it recessed the mid ranges.
SOUND QUALITY
you can hear every detail that comes with the 10 driver configuration, you can be delusional like me and even hallucinate that you can hear each driver "sing." OR you can just think that the crossover is excellently done and therefore you can here the separation and representation of each ranges working in perfect harmony to give you one big mind blowing sound.
overall, I've heard many audio systems in the past, including speakers, now that I am starting to review speakers as well. And when I hear 10k systems at audio stores, come back and listen to the kaiser, not once did I think "man that 10k system was MUCH better." Of course, it is a different experience in terms of sound stage and the "grandness" However, It can with confidence say that the Kaiser is the closest you will get to being able to carry anything that sounds like "loud speakers." Oh, and not just any loud speakers, I mean real good ones, probably the ones that I will never be able to own out of my pocket.
LOWS – as mentioned in the pairing, the kaiser encore really roars when it comes to sub bass and punches like Mohammad Ali when it comes to bass. Fast, yet non fatiguing and elegant in every punch through your skull.
MIDS – Every string, every vocal, every nuance can be heard but with elegance, calmness and smoothness. Musicality is finally understood when it comes to the mid ranges in the kaisers.
HIGHS – without a double, the most detailed yet non fatiguing, yet the most resolving in ear monitors when it comes to the high ranges.
SOUNDSTAGE/IMAGING/SEPARATION: Soundstage is largest I've heard aside from the LCDi4. The Imaging is dead correct, you are able to point to every instrument, no matter how busy the track may be. Separation is without a doubt on point as well.
FINAL THOUGHTS
If you are ever looking for the absolute sound quality. Look into Noble Audio's custom in ear monitors or the noble kaiser encore universal model. You will not be disappointing.
Pros: great treble. great bass. engaging. energetic. great fit
Cons: might be bright for some
INTRODUCTION
Lots of affordable options have come up in the past and more so in the present. Sometimes, I get request to review a budget product and when I review them, they do not live up the hype. This time, it is a little different. I would call these a gem in the midst of all chifi hypes that are sometimes not so justifiable and are often hyped up by individuals who have not had many experiences with hifi gears in the first place.
DISCLAIMER
This unit was sent to me by kinera for my honest review. I get no financial gain from this review, in fact I will be giving away my pair to share the love. hopefully I can organize something with kinera to do more giveaway for you wonderful people sharing the same hobby as me.
ABOUT Kinera
To be honest, they do not have a website (at least from what I can search on google). And I do not know much about them. They have a facebook page and telegram for fan chats. They make great affordable products, they are relatively new and are from china.
PRODUCT DESCRIPTION
Description
Model : KINERA H3 In-ears monitor
Color available :translucent black /red/ blue
Driver： 2BA+1D
Impedance： 48Ω
Frequency Response： 20-20000HZ
Sensitivity： 101DB
L&R Channel Balance Sensitivity： <2DB
Max Input Power： 10mW
Cable Length: 1.2meter
Wire Material： 6n single crystal copper silver-plated
Plug material： 3.5mm golden plated
Earphone interface: 2-pin (0.78mm )
Package
Kinera H3
6 pairs of silicone eartips (S/M/L)
2 adapters
Carry box
BUILD QUALITY
Best build quality I have seen for $99.
cable provided is a 6n silver plated copper terminating in a gold plated 3.5mm sturdy metal jack. Best stock cable I have seen at this price range
The housing is high quality acrylic that fits and feels good on the ears. No cheap feeling here at all. They look beautiful and nobody will believe you if you tell them how much it cost you.
wonderful fit design, much like custom in ear monitor but it is more generalized for the rest of the population. if these fit you like it did for me, you are in for some sweet isolation and sound quality.
They comes with 6 pair of silicone tips that mimic the sony hybrid design, which means they are comfortable as they can get in terms of tips.
They also comes with a practical semi hard carrying case.
PRACTIALLY
THE FIT: Wonderful fit. best fit for $99. subjectively, these fit me perfectly but may not be fore everyone.
SOUND ISOLATION: absolute isolation is achieved with the perfect fit. of course there is no such a thing a absolute isolation, it just feels that way. You get the point.
PAIRING: These are not hard to drive, they are driven well with a phone or a digital audio player, with latter being preferred due to better sound quality.
SUGGESTED USE: You can use these anywhere as you please, just not anywhere near your mom when she’s talking to you as you will get smacked for not answering.
SOUND QUALITY
LOWS – the rumble, the punch, the awesomeness. Tad bit less clearer than the 1more triples, but that is okay, you can barely notice it. It is absolutely wonderful region. If you have a pair of beats or some crappy bass producing product, these will blow you away, at the very least with the bass
MIDS – a little bit too harsh at times, especially the vocals but you can get pass it. It is a great engaging experience. Again, not for everyone. In fact if you want that relaxing sound, these may not do it for you.
HIGHS – these shine in the trebles. Again, very engaging but not for everyone
SOUNDSTAGE/IMAGING/SEPARATION:
Sound stage is inmate. Imaging can improve but great for this price.
FINAL THOUGHTS
For what you pay for, you are getting a well rounded iem that can really pump you up and engage you
Pros: great sound. absolute high end audio representation. great build quality
Cons: price & fit may not be for everyone
INTRODUCTION
In ear monitors have been popular as of lately with new companies bringing out their new top of the line in ear monitors. In ear monitors usually use dynamic or armature drivers. However, planar magnetic drivers commonly used in higher end audiophile grade headphones is not something you’ve seen before in an in ear. Audeze being one of the innovators and leaders of this kind of technology decided to make one. As of today, they have three in total. The isine 10, 20 and LCDi4. Today, we are reviewing their top of the line in ear headphone.
DISCLAIMER
This unit was sent to me by Audeze for the purpose of this review. My reviews will always be unbiased
ABOUT Audeze
from their website:
Audeze’s origins go back to 2008 when founders Sankar Thiagasamudram and Alexander Rosson met engineer Pete Uka who developed specialized flexible circuit materials for NASA. They quickly realized the material might be perfect for headphones. That’s when Dragoslav Colich, who has 30+ years’ experience in designing planar drivers, joined the team as CTO to create the LCD-1 headphone.
Then we created the legendary, award-winning LCD-2 and LCD-3 headphones, and the higher-efficiency LCD-X and XC models. More recently, we made planar magnetic technology accessible to a wider audience with the EL-8 and SINE series headphones. Audeze turned to their strategic partner Designworks, a BMW Group Subsidiary, for the cutting-edge industrial design for the new headphones as well as the Deckard DAC/Amplifier.
Audeze feature proprietary planar magnetic designs with extremely thin-film driver materials and powerful custom magnets. Planars overcome many limitations inherent in typical cone drivers; our lightweight diaphragms are, for example, faster and more responsive than heavier moving-coil or dome drivers. Planar magnetic diaphragm also have a voice-coil circuit spread across the diaphragm surface. The diaphragm’s voice-coil circuit interacts with the magnetic field to produce an electromagnetic force that moves the diaphragm back and forth creating the sound you hear when energized by an audio signal.
PRODUCT DESCRIPTION
TECHNICAL DETAILS
Specifications
Style In-ear, universal fit
Transducer type Planar magnetic, semi-open
Magnetic structure Fluxor™ magnetic array
Magnet type Neodymium N50
Diaphragm type Nano-scale Uniforce™
Transducer size 30mm
Sensitivity 105dB/1mW
Maximum power handling 3W
Maximum SPL >120dB
Frequency response 5Hz – 50kHz
THD <0.2%, full spectrum @ 100dB
Impedance 35 Ohms +/-10%
Cable 1.2m OCC silver-plated premium braided cable
Cable connectors 3.5mm stereo plug input, 2-pin plug outputs
Weight 12g (per side)
First off, I would say the build quality is as expected at this price range, excellent.
It is made of high quality magnesium, light, and just gorgeous. the drivers are gold plated as you can see.
For those who found Audeze headphones really good sounding but just way too heavy to wear, this may just be something that may float your boat.
Cabling is simple with 2 pin connectors and this does mean you can use third party cables, if that is your thing.
But the stock cable is a beautiful silver plated copper that just screams "I am the best"
I did feel like the tips included were all too big for secure fit and nozzle were too big for and typical spin fits or comply foams.
Also, it takes a bit of getting used to securing a good fit with the hooks provided.
PRACTICALLITY
THE FIT: Fit is everything with the LCDI4, you will love it if you can or you will hate it if you cannot. It is a big hit or a miss type of scenario. I would imagine Audeze will improve this in their future line ups.
SOUND ISOLATION: These are semi open back and does leak, despite what others say about these not leaking… which I found odd unless you listen to your music really quietly. These do leak and it was proved in my tests. You can do this easily… you can just turn your music off and talk to other without taking the LCDi4s off your ears, you will be able to hear everything perfectly fine. Try asking at least 10 individuals if they can hear your music.
PAIRING: These are not the hardest to drive but they are still planar magnetic and need some good sources and amps to really shine. For the best performance, these really need to be powered by a good amplifier. check out my amplifier suggestions.
SUGGESTED USE: Probably around the house or in the office where it doesn’t matter if a little bit of music leaks out. If you are the type of person that is not keen to share your music taste, this may not be the right choice.
SOUND QUALITY
review without EQ
LOWS – incredible rumble, incredible punchy bass with great extension and air added to the whole mix. It feels realistic and dynamic. I have not heard a better low end in such an in ear design. although this may be incomparable to some closed designs, it exceeds all expectations in its own way.
MIDS – focus is great. the mid is very engaging and fun to listen to. little nuances can all be heard with ease. very realistic representation of string instruments. its specialty is making you feel you are inside a small hall with the artist you love, all by yourself.
HIGHS – well extended, great representation, great tonality. never heard better in a planar.
SOUNDSTAGE/IMAGING/SEPARATION:
biggest I have heard in a set on in ears. as wide or wider than most headphones out there.
Imaging was spot on and dead accurate
Separation was incredible. I could hear the instrumental positions clearly and with confidence.
FINAL THOUGHTS
One of the best headphone out there. do not underestimate these just because they are small !
I have been listening to all of the Audeze headphones. Now I have a real good impression on the potential of each of these headphones. LCD 4 was introduced this year and I was full of expectations as it was their newest top of the line headphone. Audeze’s headphones have been very impressive these past years but I did have a problem with the comfort level. So, coming into this I expected some significant comfort improvements but was not too sure what to expect in terms of sound, as their headphones already sounded outstanding, I was terribly wrong as this review changed my perception of “perfect”
ABOUT AUDEZE
From their website:
Audeze’s origins go back to 2008 when founders Sankar Thiagasamudram and Alexander Rosson met engineer Pete Uka who developed specialized flexible circuit materials for NASA. They quickly realized the material might be perfect for headphones. That’s when Dragoslav Colich, who has 30+ years’ experience in designing planar drivers, joined the team as CTO to create the LCD-1 headphone.
Then we created the legendary, award-winning LCD-2 and LCD-3 headphones, and the higher-efficiency LCD-X and XC models. More recently, we made planar magnetic technology accessible to a wider audience with the EL-8 and SINE series headphones. Audeze turned to their strategic partner Designworks, a BMW Group Subsidiary, for the cutting-edge industrial design for the new headphones as well as the Deckard DAC/Amplifier.
Audeze feature proprietary planar magnetic designs with extremely thin-film driver materials and powerful custom magnets. Planars overcome many limitations inherent in typical cone drivers; our lightweight diaphragms are, for example, faster and more responsive than heavier moving-coil or dome drivers. Planar magnetic diaphragm also have a voice-coil circuit spread across the diaphragm surface. The diaphragm’s voice-coil circuit interacts with the magnetic field to produce an electromagnetic force that moves the diaphragm back and forth creating the sound you hear when energized by an audio signal.
DISCLAIMER
This review unit was lent to me by Bay Bloor Radio, for a review. Nevertheless, my review will contain no bias
Specifications
Style Open circumaural
Transducer type Planar magnetic
Magnetic arrays Double Fluxor™ magnets
Magnet type Neodymium
Transducer size 106 mm
Maximum power handling 15W (for 200ms)
Sound pressure level >130dB with 15W
Frequency response 5Hz – 20kHz extended out to 50kHz
Total harmonic distortion <1% through entire frequency range
Impedance 200 ohms
Efficiency 97dB / 1mW
Optimal power requirement 1 – 4W
BUILD QUALITY
The build quality was absolutely superb as expected of audeze. The wood used for this headphone is 30 years old ebony wood ! absolutely gorgeous, although I do prefer the looks of the LCD 3 zebrano wood.
The pads are back to the black ones (remember they were brown leather on the LCD 3s)
There is a little gap between the pads and the housing to ensure there is no pressure build up, which may have caused driver failures in old audeze headphones.
The carbon fiber head band is a significant improvement in terms of comfort
The clamping force have been significantly reduced, making these headphones incredibly more comfortable
Another big factor is that, these headphones use the thinnest and the newest planar magnetic drivers that are in theory, thinner than a human’s hair. This allows for much lower distortion.
LCD 4 is also the first headphone in the audeze line up to have the chrome finished grills.
SOUND QUALITY
I would like to mention that, LCD 4 is compatible and sounds incredible out of tube amps as well. This allows for more flexibility.
Lower Frequencies: The bass is grand and extends quite low however it is never too “in your face” or fatiguing in any way. Clean, presented in a fashion that is much like a concert experience. You can hear the drums smacking in, you can almost hear and feel the drummer hitting the drums. The drum presentation before and after in coordination with the decay factor can be heard precisely whether you like it or not !
Mid Frequencies: Micro details in the LCD 2 and LCD 3 is still presented in the LCD 4 but the vocal presence is pulled back a notch as it was before. The biggest improvement is that these headphones really bring out that natural sound in instruments. Guitars, pianos, violins… you name it, it all sounds so very natural. I have a piano, guitar and saxophone in my house and when I compare the actual sound of these instruments to the headphones, I honestly cannot tell the difference. This is a headphone I would classify as the most musical and natural sounding headphone
High Frequencies: this is where audeze headphones have struggled in the past. Although it still does in these sets of headphones, it does present it in the most realistic way I have heard before in a set of headphones. incredible… I would not say this range fulls short in comparison to the rest of the totl headphones out there. Just that it falls short in comparison to how well it presents itself in other ranges.
Soundstage/imaging: The imaging is accurate but not as accurate and the HD800, still very good. The soundstage is the biggest I have ever heard before. Bigger than the HD800. The soundstage seems to be coming outside my room for the most part… which gives me goose bumps and when I close my eyes, I feel like I am in a larger room.
Overall Thoughts
I will be giving this headphone the 2017 soulsik reviews award…. no doubt, one of the best out there.
Few months back, I was contacted by a company called Yulong to review their canary and then the da9. I was skeptical at first as I have never heard of this company but after trying out their products, I was quite surprised.
ABOUT YULONG AUDIO
Founded in 2009, ShenZhen YuLong Electronics Co., Ltd, is a company specializes in designing and manufacturing High-end audio equipments. The R&D of the company consists of senior audiophiles and a team with proven experience of electronic product development for more than a decade. From the very beginning of the company, we’ve invested in various professional testing instruments, making sure our experience and passion for music is supported by state-of-the-art hardware in the R&D. YuLong is devoted to produce Hi-Fi components that are not only sonically superb on the ear, but also economically affordable on the wallet, so you can sit back, relax and enjoy more.
YuLong Audio is the brand name of the company and we are vertically integrated from bench testing, careful fine-tuning to final assembly. Other than promoting our own brand, the company also offers OEM/ODM services.
I wound normally not say this but go check out their about page as it is pretty darn cool.
This unit was sent to me by Yulong audio in return for my honest review
SPECS
● DoP64 and DoP128 support over SPDIF/Optical/AES
● PCM 384KHz 24bit over SPDIF/Optical/AES
● DoP64, DoP128, Native DSD64/128/256 and PCM 16-32bit, 32-384KHz over USB
● SNR: -130dB
● Dynamic Range: 125dB
● THD+N: 0.0003%
● Frequency Response: 20-30KHz-0.15dB
● Crosstalk -120dB
● balanced Output level: 4.2V
●Single-end headphone amp 600ohm：110mW 300ohm：230mW 150 ohm：460mW 32 ohm：2W
●balanced headphone amp 600 ohm：230mW 300 ohm：460mW 150 ohm：930mW 32 ohm：3W
● Power consumption: <30W
● size: 248*210*60mm
● weight: 4Kg
THE BUILD QUALITY
Balanced and quarter inch input for headphones in front of the unit
Balanced input and output / RCA input and output at the back of the unit
full metal/aluminum design. Very sturdy with thickest rubber feet installed.
everything feels absolutely solid as expected at this price range. It comes with premium wall plug and usb cable as well. Usually companies put these kind of things at the hand of the purchaser but Yulong says “we have to make sure everything is right so that costumers can enjoy music to fullest potential this device allows”
SOUND QUALITY
I will start off by saying that Balanced inputs sound more clean and this should be technically true in all balanced amps.
This dac/amp uses the latest of the AKM dacs, which in theory is supposed to sound more musical. Maybe I am brainwashed, but I do feel like this is true.
It also has 3 different settings, sharp, slow and sslow coupled with three other filters type 1,2 and 3. This allows 9 different types of sound signatures. I tried every single one, Everything sounded good but each time I tried with different headphones, the perception of what combination is “best” changed.
Instead of me talking about how it sounded off the headphones I used (which would make this a very lengthy review), I would rather have you try it and find your own best combination as this is highly subjective. If you ever start wondering what settings I use for x type of headphones, feel free to join me on discord to chat me up.
Nevertheless I will put a list of headphones I used and use until this day on this device, which all sound fantastic by the way:
Sennheiser HD800s
HIFIMAN Edition x v2
Sennheiser HD6xx/650s
Hifiman He4xx
Fostex th610
Audeze LCD 2, 3, 4.
Hifiman susvara
The list is not in any particular order
Overall Thoughts
Although the pricing may seem ridiculously high at first, you are essentially getting 9 different sound signatures out of a single amp that is fully balanced with the newest AKM dac. If you put it that way, I think this device is a winner.
When I heard the LCD 2, I thought is was pretty awesome. I did not think it can get much better from that. One complaint I had was the comfort and I did expect some kind of upgrade in terms of that. I have to say here is that, going into this review as someone who expected not much of significant upgrade in terms of sound, I was quite surprised.
ABOUT AUDEZE
From their website:
Audeze’s origins go back to 2008 when founders Sankar Thiagasamudram and Alexander Rosson met engineer Pete Uka who developed specialized flexible circuit materials for NASA. They quickly realized the material might be perfect for headphones. That’s when Dragoslav Colich, who has 30+ years’ experience in designing planar drivers, joined the team as CTO to create the LCD-1 headphone.
Then we created the legendary, award-winning LCD-2 and LCD-3 headphones, and the higher-efficiency LCD-X and XC models. More recently, we made planar magnetic technology accessible to a wider audience with the EL-8 and SINE series headphones. Audeze turned to their strategic partner Designworks, a BMW Group Subsidiary, for the cutting-edge industrial design for the new headphones as well as the Deckard DAC/Amplifier.
Audeze feature proprietary planar magnetic designs with extremely thin-film driver materials and powerful custom magnets. Planars overcome many limitations inherent in typical cone drivers; our lightweight diaphragms are, for example, faster and more responsive than heavier moving-coil or dome drivers. Planar magnetic diaphragm also have a voice-coil circuit spread across the diaphragm surface. The diaphragm’s voice-coil circuit interacts with the magnetic field to produce an electromagnetic force that moves the diaphragm back and forth creating the sound you hear when energized by an audio signal.
DISCLAIMER
This review unit was lent to me by Bay Bloor Radio, for a review. Nevertheless, my review will contain no bias
SPECS
Style Open circumaural
Transducer type Planar magnetic
Magnetic structure Proprietary push-pull design
Magnet type Neodymium
Transducer size 106 mm
Maximum power handling 15W (for 200ms)
Sound pressure level >130dB with 15W
Frequency response 5Hz – 20kHz extended out to 50kHz
Total harmonic distortion <1% through entire frequency range
Impedance 110 ohms
Efficiency 102dB / 1mW
Optimal power requirement 1 – 4W THE BUILD QUALITY
All you will see on these headphones is wood, metal, and Leather (you can opt in for vegan - leather free pads) just like LCD 2. However, LCD 3 does come with an upgrade.
Some of the upgrade includes;
brown leather pads that I personally found to be more comfortable and more elegant looking
brown leather headband straps that I personally found to be more comfortable and more elegant looking
Zebrano wood that looks like tiger stripes giveing a very nice look to the headphones
I did find these headphones to be more comfortable than the LCD 2 which I had trouble leaving it on my head for a long time. However, LCD 3 still feels a bit heavy for my head.
[gallery ids="1548,1547,1546" type="rectangular"]
Sound mechanism
The drivers used are planar magnetic drivers and to me, this is a plus because other than the fact that Audeze has great experience tuning these types of drivers, these types of drivers can make a more impactful sound.
Included is also their latest technology, the “fazor,” which is a wave guide to increase the clarity and lower distortion.
Lower Frequencies: I praised the impact bass presence in the LCD 2 but I was surprised by the increased amount of impact in the LCD 3 even more ! And all controlled to excellence. Not much to say here, It was one of the best experiences I've had in this frequency range. Go check out my LCD 2 review and come back to this one to get a better impression
Mid Frequencies: I found this headphone to excel with micro detail in this range, even more so than the LCD 2. Very lush sounding and I cannot emphasize this more. This is the one of the most pleasant headphone I have ever heard in terms of layering. Vocals seemed a little bit distant than the LCD 2 at first before I got adjusted to the headphones.
High Frequencies: Falls short in the upper range compared to HD800s but excels in the lower ranges. Again, same thing with LCD 2 here basically. However more pleasant than the LCD 2 in every way possible.
Soundstage/imaging: The soundstage was larger than the HD650 or that of the LCD 2 and tad smaller than the HD800s and Hifiman edition x v2. However, the imaging was quite impressive, although this also fell short compared to the mighty HD800s. In terms of imaging, it was quite similar to the level of the Hifiman edition x v2. A lot of you will disagree or agree with me in these comparisons but remember one thing. “these are mild differences, these headphone are pretty similar in sound stage and imaging.” To the extent of you not being able to correctly analyze it unless you had them all side by side like me to go back and forth on the sound stage test tracks.
Overall Thoughts
Bottom line, I would put these as my favorite planar magnetic headphones of this month. Perhaps this year - This is what I said for the LCD 2 review. I cannot say I stand by it now that I heard the LCD 3. LCD 3 is the clear new winner.
Pros: first planar magnetic. great sound if correct fit. large sound stage
Cons: fit may be hard for some
INTRODUCTION
In ear monitors have been popular as of lately with new companies bringing out their new top of the line in ear monitors. In ear monitors usually use dynamic or armature drivers. However, planar magnetic drivers commonly used in higher end audiophile grade headphones is not something you've seen before in an in ear. Audeze being one of the innovators and leaders of this kind of technology decided to make one. As of today, they have three in total. The isine 10, 20 and LCDi4.
DISCLAIMER
This unit was lent to me by bay bloor radio
ABOUT Audeze
from their website:
Audeze’s origins go back to 2008 when founders Sankar Thiagasamudram and Alexander Rosson met engineer Pete Uka who developed specialized flexible circuit materials for NASA. They quickly realized the material might be perfect for headphones. That’s when Dragoslav Colich, who has 30+ years’ experience in designing planar drivers, joined the team as CTO to create the LCD-1 headphone.
Then we created the legendary, award-winning LCD-2 and LCD-3 headphones, and the higher-efficiency LCD-X and XC models. More recently, we made planar magnetic technology accessible to a wider audience with the EL-8 and SINE series headphones. Audeze turned to their strategic partner Designworks, a BMW Group Subsidiary, for the cutting-edge industrial design for the new headphones as well as the Deckard DAC/Amplifier.
Audeze feature proprietary planar magnetic designs with extremely thin-film driver materials and powerful custom magnets. Planars overcome many limitations inherent in typical cone drivers; our lightweight diaphragms are, for example, faster and more responsive than heavier moving-coil or dome drivers. Planar magnetic diaphragm also have a voice-coil circuit spread across the diaphragm surface. The diaphragm’s voice-coil circuit interacts with the magnetic field to produce an electromagnetic force that moves the diaphragm back and forth creating the sound you hear when energized by an audio signal.
PRODUCT DESCRIPTION
TECHNICAL DETAILS
Style In-ear, universal fit
Transducer type Planar magnetic, semi-open
Magnetic structure Fluxor
Magnet type High-grade neodymium
Diaphragm type Ultra-thin Uniforce
Transducer size 30mm
Maximum power handling 3W
Maximum SPL >120dB
Frequency response 10Hz – 50kHz
THD <0.1% @ 100dB
Impedance 16 ohms
Cable type non-microphonic
Dimension 31mm x 35mm
Weight 11g (per side)
I apologize that pictures are not provided for this review. It was deleted before I could write this review. I will make sure to add in photos in the near future.
First off, I would say the build quality at this price range is excellent.
It is made of high quality plastic. Some of you are not keen to see plastic in a set of highly priced in ears but there is a reason to why highly reputable companies, including sennheiser use it. Especially here, it was a great choice of material to keep things light as possible because it does use planar magnetic drivers that are bigger. Audeze really wanted to punch in the idea that they can create something planar and not always heavy.
For those who found Audeze headphones really good sounding but just way too heavy to wear, this may just be something that may float your boat.
Cabling is simple with 2 pin connectors and this does mean you can use third party cables, if that is your thing.
Flat braided cables as typical of their cables and you can opt in for their EQ functionality lightning cable or just the 3.5mm cable.
I did feel like the tips included were all too big for secure fit and nozzle were too big for and typical spin fits or comply foams.
Also, it takes a bit of getting used to securing a good fit with the hooks provided.
PRACTIALLY
THE FIT: Fit is everything with the Isine10, you will love it if you can or you will hate it if you cannot. It is a big hit or a miss type of scenario. I would imagine Audeze will improve this in their future line ups.
SOUND ISOLATION: These are semi open back and does leak, despite what others say about these not leaking... which I found odd unless you listen to your music really quietly. These do leak and it was proved in my tests. You can do this easily... you can just turn your music off and talk to other without taking the isine10s off your ears, you will be able to hear everything perfectly fine. Try asking at least 10 individuals if they can hear your music.
PAIRING: These are not the hardest to drive but they are still planar magnetic and need some good sources and amps to really shine
SUGGESTED USE: Probably around the house or in the office where it doesn't matter if a little bit of music leaks out. If you are the type of person that is not keen to share your music taste, this may not be the right choice.
SOUND QUALITY
review without EQ
LOWS – Very solid presentation but not the best or punchiest. Quite simple and this region relies heavily on how well you get it to fit. Get the right fit and you will feel some great thumping and sub bass.
MIDS – I found these to be a little too mid-centric with vocal a little recessed. it is either that this region is too forward or everything else is recessed. All in all this mid region seems to be the most unreliable in its presentation as imaging did not seem to be on par with other in ear monitors I've reviewed.
HIGHS – Well extended but lacks sparkle and a little recessed.
I was not aware of being able to EQ with 3.5mm cables from your DAP or what have you. Audeze do have put out their recommended EQ setting on headfi forums for those that are not keen on lightning cables. I would love to see the EQ settings come back and hit hard for those of us that would not like to see the 3.5mm terminations taken over entirely.
SOUNDSTAGE/IMAGING/SEPARATION:
Sound stage is larger than most in ear monitors in this price range but I do have to disagree with it being an in ear headphone. I would say this falls closer to an in ear still. I will be reviewing the LCDI4 soon, as I hope that will be a different story.
Imaging was not the best, with center imaging being the most lacking in presentation
Separation was descent but again, not the best I have seen in this price range.
FINAL THOUGHTS
This is their first in ear monitor and world's first planar one. I would say this is a great start and I would love to see them improve with community feedback.
Schiit audio has been gaining some great reputation for coming up with the best bang for the buck dacs and amps. They do not produce too many dac/amp combos, rather, they like to go and build individuals amps and dacs. Jotunheim is one of their two dac/amps, the other being the Fulla. Nevertheless Jotunheim is not your daily dac/amp, these surprised many audio enthusiasts with its performance and I will tell you why in this review.
ABOUT SCHIIT AUDIO
from their website:
Schiit got started in 2010 when two audio industry veterans decided it was time to shake things up a bit. The two audiophiles are Jason Stoddard, formerly of Sumo, and Mike Moffat, formerly of Theta. Together, they have designed dozens of audio and A/V products, from the Andromeda III to the Cobalt 307 to the DS Pre and Angstrom 200.
So, yeah: fully balanced differential power amplifiers, fully discrete I/V conversion stages, audiophile D/A converters, relay-switched stepped attenuator volume controls in preamps. the first DTS home theater surround processor on the market . . . we’ve done a ton of stuff.
In the old days, audiophiles went up the food chain from the table radio to the console stereo to separate speakers the size of refrigerators and monoblocks that would cook a cat. Today, nobody starts with a table radio. Everyone—and we mean everyone—starts with headphones.
So, yeah. We do a lot of headphone stuff. Or “Personal Audio,” as they’re starting to call it. But that doesn’t mean we don’t have products that are totally comfortable in a speaker-based system, from all of our DACs, to the Mani phono preamp, to the Ragnarok integrated amp. Whether you’re looking at personal audio or at a speaker-based system, we have fun, affordable products that’ll put a smile on your face.
Mike Moffat separately aligns each molecule of every JFET, using a special Absolute Zero containment suit…er, well, no. What makes them special are three things:
Unique Multibit DAC and Digital Filter Technologies
Today, virtually every DAC uses a reduced-bit technology known as “delta sigma.” Multibit DACs have largely gone by the wayside, thanks to less-expensive delta-sigma technology. The few multibit DACs that exist either use NOS (new old stock) D/A chips, one of two or three still-extant multibit chips, or build their own R2R ladders at high cost. We’ve always believed that multibit DACs provide the best sonic performance, especially when coupled with Schiit’s unique, DSP-based closed-form digital filter. This is why we created two entirely new multibit DAC architectures using current-production, medical/military grade D/A converters that have linearity specs far exceeding any audio DAC. If you’d like to learn more, read about Yggdrasil, Gungnir Multibit, or Bifrost Multibit.
Innovative Analog Approaches
On the analog side, we’ve also taken innovative approaches, each uniquely designed for the task at hand. Even our least expensive headphone amplifier is essentially a miniature, fully discrete, DC coupled, Lin-topology power amplifier. We’ve introduced unique output stages to wring more power out of Lyr 2 with its Dynamically Adaptive output, re-introduced inherently balanced topologies like the circlotron in Mjolnir 2, and created unique “analog computer-style” protection systems. For Ragnarok, we introduced the entirely new concept of 100% intelligent microprocessor management of the entire amplifier–from bias to DC level to overcorrect protection…and included a relay-switched stepped attenuator, for perfect channel matching and no ICs in the signal path…and also created an amplifier that’s comfortable driving everything, from tiny IEMs to giant speakers.
Designed for the Real World
The real world is a complex place, which is why all of our products are overbuilt. Pick up one of our affordable Valhalla 2 or Lyr 2 amps, and marvel at the weight, heft, and solidity (each of those two amplifiers use two separate transformers with real high-voltage supplies—an approach that’s usually far beyond their modest price. Then, we test them extensively with Stanford Research audio analyzers (and our ears), and we burn-in every product from Asgard 2 on up for a minimum of 1 day to help catch any early failures. (Ragnarok and Yggdrasil get 4 days each). We also keep very close tabs on any service and support needs, so you can rest assured of years of great sound.
And—it bears mentioning—we believe that close-coupled, local control of all of the aspects of production delivers better products. That’s why we design and produce our stuff here in the USA, with the vast majority of parts cost going to US-based companies manufacturing in the US. We need all of that clarification in there because some people have played games with what “Made in USA” means. When we say it, it means that our chassis guys are right over the hill in the San Fernando Valley, our transformers are made here in California, our boards come from the east coast (of the USA), and we design, assemble, and test everything here in Valencia, California.
DISCLAIMER
This unit was purchased for review purposes. As usual, my reviews are unbiased.
SPECS
Amplifier:
Frequency Response: 20Hz-20Khz, -0.1db, 2Hz-700KHz, -3dB Balanced Headphone Output:
Maximum Power, 16 ohms: 7500mW RMS per channel
Maximum Power, 32 ohms: 5000mW RMS per channel
Maximum Power, 50 ohms: 3000mW RMS per channel
Maximum Power, 300 ohms: 900mW RMS per channel
Maximum Power, 600 ohms: 500mW RMS per channel Single-Ended Headphone Output:
Maximum Power, 16 ohms: 2500mW RMS per channel
Maximum Power, 32 ohms: 1500mW RMS per channel
Maximum Power, 50 ohms: 800mW RMS per channel
Maximum Power, 300 ohms: 350mW RMS per channel
Maximum Power, 600 ohms: 175mW RMS per channel THD: <0.001%, 20Hz-20KHz, at 1V RMS IMD: <0.0015%, CCIR SNR: >109db, A-weighted, referenced to 1V RMS Crosstalk: >-70dB, 20 Hz-20KHz Output Impedance: Less than 0.1 ohms, balanced or SE, at both gain settings Gain: 2 (6dB) or 8 (14dB), selectable via front switch Inputs: Balanced XLR and Single-Ended RCA, selectable via front switch Outputs: Balanced headphone (4-pin XLR), single-ended headphone (1/4” TRS), balanced line preamp, single-ended line preamp Optional Inputs: AK4490 Balanced USB DAC or Passive MM Phono Gain Stage: Proprietary Schiit Pivot Point™ fully discrete differential current-feedback topology Power Supply: One 48VA transformer with 6 stages of discrete or integrated regulation and over 70,000uF total filter capacitance
Optional Dual AK4490 DAC:
USB Input Receiver: C-Media CM6631A
D/A Conversion IC: AK4490 x 2
Input Capability: up to 24/192, including 24/176.4
Analog Output: fully differential, passive summing and passive filtering
Frequency Response: 20Hz-20KHz, +/-0.1dB, 2-100kHz, -3dB
Maximum Output: 2.0V RMS
THD: <0.0015%, 20Hz-20KHz, full scale
IMD: <0.002%, CCIR
S/N: >106dB, referenced to 2V RMS, unweighted
Optional Passive Filtered Phono Stage:
Gain: 42dB
THD: <0.01%, A-weighted, at 1V RMS
SNR: >80dB, A-weighted, inputs shorted
Crosstalk: -70dB, 20-20kHz
Sensitivity: 2.3mV for 400mV output
Overload Margin: >20dB
Input Impedance: 47k ohms
Input Capacitance: 100pf
RIAA Accuracy: +/- 0.25dB, 20-20kHz
Topology: Fully passive RIAA network with AD8599 gain stages and PET film capacitors throughout, DC coupled, with DC servo
Power Consumption: 25W typical Size: 9” x 6” x 2” Weight: 6 lbs THE BUILD QUALITY
Balanced and quarter inch input for headphones in front of the unit
Balanced input and output / RCA input and output at the back of the unit
full metal/aluminum design. Very sturdy with thick rubber feet installed. The design is simple with 2 gain setting (low/high) and a switch to change options (user manual is useful for this).
What I have here is only the amp itself, but you can get a balanced dac or phono option for extra 100 dollars.
my only complaint is that the on/off switch is at the back, making it inconvenient for those tucking it in somewhere.
SOUND QUALITY
Clean and powerful. Neutral with a hint of warmth. Trying with multiple dacs, the conclusion was that the amp is very clean but does lack the ability to really dig in and extract the last bits of details/dynamics of the music. However, the amp should be able to run anything clean and effortlessly. I wish I had a pair of he6 to test that theory.
Overall Thoughts
Best price for a truly balanced amp. Truly amazed.
As special as this headphone is, I found it unfair for me to speak only of my thoughts. I believe impression from all my teammates compiled will give you more insight to what the Orpheus is all about. Before you go watch the video though, I would like to spoil it to you that what we all say have one thing in common and that is something close to a concert experience or even better. Not one but six people describing their concert-like experience, here we go:
Now that you watched that video, I am sure there are people that are interested hearing about more of my opinion as a reviewer.
HISTORY
The He 1 is a successor of the original sennheiser orhpeus which sennheiser announced its existence in 1991.
BUILD QUALITY
The amplifier housing is made from solid block of Carrara marble. Not only beautiful but also prevents structure-borne noise. The control dial is milled from a single piece of brass before being plated with chrome.
Being the first electrostatic headphone with a Cool Class A MOST-FET high voltage amplifier integrated into the earcups and 2.4 micrometer platinum-vaporized diaphragms, it delivers outstanding electrical and acoustical performance. The cable is also 99.9 percent silver plated OFC for optimal conductivity.
A patent pending circuit design. Its vacuum tubes with high quality quartz bulbs that protect against air-borne noise this state-of-the-art amplifier delivers ultra-high impulse fidelity at an ultra-low distortion level. Uses the 8 internal DACs of the ESS SABRE ES9018. Four channels in parallel are used for each stereo side to enhance accuracy and decrease distortion and noise level.
It came to me as a surprise as to why sennheiser chose the off the shelf Sabre dac in such an expensive and premium design. However, we all know that if it was integrated to perfection, it can very well be the best with its whipping number of 8 sabre dacs.
Headphone felt heavy but comfortable. I did not feel like it was a trade off at all, considering the well distributed weight on the headband.
SOUND QUALITY
Quite honestly, I have never heard anything close to what these headphone can do as of yet. The most comparable will be the HD800s and HD800 in sound signature and that is a BIG understatement. I would hopefully enter the world of electrostatic headphones and have something to compare the he 1 with.
Low Frequencies: The low frequencies were impactful that extended very well. The sub bass was very present but did not color the rest of the frequencies at all. Quite remarkably, I felt like I was wearing a bass canon-type headphone and a midcentric headphone and high focused headphone all at one simultaneously. The bass is somewhat further than other headphones I own or have reviewed but with more impact, control and clarity. Overall, I want to almost say these are warm sounding headphone but I can’t as it is very different type of warmth with absolute clarity and transparency.
Mid Frequencies: Every instrument outstandingly produced realistically. If you close yours eyes for a minute and forget the fact you are listening to a headphone, it is as if the artist himself is playing just for you, right in front of you. Every strum, every lip smack, and breathing can be heard and comes to you as a surprise that you are wearing headphones when you open your eyes. You tend to look back or left and right to see if that sound really came from the headphones themselves or someone was saying something or hit something by accident beside you. When you replay that section of the music, you hear the same thing and feel amazed as to how you heard new things that you’ve never heard before in your system that you thought was “good enough.” Male and female vocals sound realistic and natural, bringing you that perfect vocal presence in what you would expect from a vocal centered headphone. But again… nothing else fades even though the vocals are singing right into your ears.
High Frequencies: Quite remarkably the most outstanding trebles I’ve ever heard. with everything again, being realistic as they can get. Also one thing to note other than the fact these are absolutely detailed headphones, is that vocal sibilance still exists in these headphone (5 to 8khz area) but it is produced in a way that is not bothersome but more realistic. What I mean is, on other headphones this becomes an annoyance but in the He 1, it felt as if I was at a concert. If you have ever been to a concert, vocal sibilance naturally occurs as artists articulate more than when they record on a pop filter (and other studio equipment). However, not many headphone can produce this vocal sibilance naturally and therefore becomes an annoyance. On the He 1, however, it is captured just the perfect amount as if you are at a concert.
Soundstage and Imaging: Soundstage is the largest I’ve heard so far, resembling that of speakers and imaging does not fade nor become indistinct in some corners of the music. Everything is well balanced and placed. You do not need to really concentrate to know where a certain instrument is coming from as it will come at you weather you like it or not. Quite a remarkable experience.
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