Monoprice 8323

I kind of like these cans. For one, the pads don't feel like cheap-crap. I mean, they probably are, but they don't feel like so. My HD202 pads feel lots cheaper. They also feel pretty sturdy.

The weight is just right. Light. Clamp is relatively strong, but not too tight. It's what you would expect for a close type can more or less. It can get hot inside the cups.

As far as looks. Well. I like them. But I could not find a picture of a hot chick wearing them, so probably chicks don't share my aesthetics opinion of this. This, sadly, is the best I can do as far as a picture of these in action (Maybe Tyll took the picture, so don't look at me).



Anyhow, how do these sound? For $17 something, Awesome.

Sure, there is some little bit of wonkyness, but no horrible tremble nasties, and bass is full-bodied and eloquent. I can wear these for a long time and not feel the urge to throw them against the wall. Easy to drive, easy to wear.

These are not necessarily very airy or detailed. But should do great with movies and for a beater pair. I can't really fault these, even if they were $50. At $75 one starts to get into HD518 territory, which I live better than these, but do not offer the same amount of isolation. Furthermore, things become more competitive.

This is one of those KSC-75-like awesome deals in audio IMHO.

So, measurements

Frequency Response (done twice)



Distortion Right



Distortion Left



CSD Right



CSD Left



HD202 comparo



I would pick these over the HD202s if I was in the market for a closed can and short on cash. Mainly because my HD202 pads have a tendency to disintegrate. Sonics are sort of comparable. Bass maybe cleaner on these, but HD202 may have cleaner upper mids.

 

Yup. Those are more Beats like and look pretty well made (+ they are all black!). Given what I've heard from the 8323, I wouldn't mind giving those a try. Monoprice can pack a lot of affordable reasonable stuff.

I have their little Fiio-E9-like Amp/DAC and for the price I feel they are hard to beat.

 

Some further impressions and measurements:

For $17 I think they are awesome. For > $50 things get a bit more complicated.

I would actually pick these instead of the Tascam TH02s mainly because I have a hard time with fitting w the TH02s. Can't get good seal with the Tascams. But given proper fitting, likely the TH02s are superior.

 

Tascams have a better inherent response and with right mods work well with other pads. I could not get them to sound good with stock pads due to fit. Monoprice ones are always gonna have that upper mid dip but actually fit ok stock. Less mod potential than Tascams. I like these for being cheap headphones. Throw some damping inside and you have a decent headphone for less than $30.

 

Precisely my thought Hands. Tascams would be awesomest, but I feel they need some work on the headband.

 

Yes, to me the 2-5k dip creates some sort of artificial room coloration that can be annoying. Other folks may identify this issue differently. It seems to happen often with some closed type cans.

Distortion pics around 5k as well.

 

Long ago when I first tried modding this Monoprice, which wasn't particularly good due to me closing up the cup vents, Marv tried measuring the driver + stock baffle without the rest of the enclosure. This seemed to remove that upper-mid dip. He said they might make a good open headphone with the right mods.

 

Possible. I bet that if one closes the cup vents one ends up with a bit of a lean heapdhone.

IMO these seem similar to M50s and HD202s. Similar design I think.