Nice write up!All right, I have spent all day going back and forth, comparing the Bokeh Open and Closed, and I finally feel like I have a pretty good handle on how they differ. I will say this, there are some nuances and subtle differences, that I just can't put into words, but I will try my best to convey how each headphone sounds to me. For reference, I have my favorite pads (Lambskin on Open and Hybrid on Closed), and the stock mesh on both headphones.
Here are some notes I took.
Bass
O - weightier, fuller and more dispersed, very impressive for an open back, wow!
C - tighter, more focused and forward, can hit harder, but not as full and weighty.
Both are fun presentations, and I like them both, but overall I prefer the weightier and fuller feel of the Open. This is the first time I have preferred the bass in an Open version over the Closed.
Mids
O - airy and clear, yet still good euphony, refined and natural overall
C - less airy and clear, but more euphonic and smooth
Vocals are a bit more raw, immediate and raspy sounding on the C, and they are more airy, clear and natural on the O. Don't get me wrong, they still have incredible air and naturalness with the Closed.
Highs
O - sparkly, detailed, and airy, with some magic sauce sprinkled in, adds something extra to the engagement factor
C - smoother, yet still very present, just not quite as exciting and detailed as the Open
Imaging
O - tight, and exact, with good air and space between the notes
C - not quite as defined and exact as Open, but still excellent
Images feel a bit bigger and more fleshed out with the Open, due to the way the notes have more air, and breathe/disperse more naturally out of the cups.
Staging/Room Feel/Decay
The Open definitely sounds a bit more open, airy, and lively, and makes it sound like the music is being performed live right in my room, with the big airy images, and natural decay that lets the notes float out into the room very realistically. The Closed sounds more flavored and unique, and it's like you are transported to a concert hall or huge cathedral, where you can hear the notes reverb/decay off the walls (cups) for what seems like forever. Both headphones have a really good sense of space, and give the song just what it needs. Surprisingly, the closed doesn't sound closed at all, and is dang near just as open sounding as the Open, just with a totally different feel (venue).
So with all that said, both headphones are absolutely incredible, and I would be happy owning either one. I do have a slight preference for the Open overall, as I think it has a little bit more going on with a little extra magic sprinkled in, but in reality it's which ever one is on my head.
Would you say there would be a case to own both?
Seriously though, yes they are different enough, and both awesome in their own right, so owning both would definitely be a treat.
heard the Bokeh closed, loved them, till I upgraded to the atrium closed. I have never owned an open back set so im pretty excited about the Bokeh opens. <3
