(OLD, PRE-CORRECTION) MrSpeakers ÆON - Impressions, Review, and Measurements

Discussion in 'Headphone Measurements' started by Hands, May 20, 2017.

  1. Hands

    Hands Overzealous Auto Flusher - Measurbator

    Staff Member Pyrate MZR
    Joined:
    Sep 27, 2015
    Likes Received:
    12,285
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    Colorado
    Home Page:
    Aeon, because the T50RP drivers have some inherent limitations.
     
  2. Jerry

    Jerry Friend

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    Apr 8, 2017
    Likes Received:
    1,042
    Trophy Points:
    93
    Location:
    Asia
    Noted thanks, hands.
     
  3. Hands

    Hands Overzealous Auto Flusher - Measurbator

    Staff Member Pyrate MZR
    Joined:
    Sep 27, 2015
    Likes Received:
    12,285
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    Colorado
    Home Page:
    Got the foam inserts in, BTW. Gonna test those out before the loaner. Kudos to Dan and the Mrspeakers company for sending those out for free!

    Bad news is my measurement rig is out of commission for now. So I won't have objective "proof" how the foam compares to the TP and foam I'm using for myself. TP seems to add the most mid-bass vs. the foam I use.
     
  4. TMRaven

    TMRaven Friend

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    Sep 27, 2015
    Likes Received:
    621
    Trophy Points:
    93
    Dan has some measurements posted on the Head-Fi thread:

    When I first put them in, I thought they added only a modest amount of upper-bass (like 2-3db), and attenuated the treble from 2khz up by about 2db. It was an improvement, but not worth it to have the cramped ear space imo.

    [​IMG]
     
  5. Hands

    Hands Overzealous Auto Flusher - Measurbator

    Staff Member Pyrate MZR
    Joined:
    Sep 27, 2015
    Likes Received:
    12,285
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    Colorado
    Home Page:
    My ears are of a decent size, but yours must be huge! Mine barely touch the foam insert he sent.

    Some quick impressions/comparisons (in no particular order or categorization):

    1. Single-ply TP by itself may boost the mid-bass the most out of any single material I've tried, but, surprisingly in this case, doesn't help with the slightly hard or rough treble (latter is a nitpick and relative to the HD650, i.e. not absolute). Foam in general seems to do a better job smoothing out the high end vs TP on the Aeon.

    2. The foam I was using is thicker (and slightly softer). It makes them a bit warmer sounding than what Dan sent, possibly a bit more mid-bass. The extra warmth/darkness may not be to everyone's tastes.

    3. TP underneath the foam Dan sent is fairly balanced sounding. I think it could still use a bit more mid-bass.

    4. Dan's foam by itself doesn't quite raise the mid-bass as much as I'd like, but, yes, it is a slight (and I mean slight) improvement to that area and high end as well. I am NOT complaining, especially since it was free! An improvement is an improvement.

    5. TP underneath the foam I use seems to bring up the mid-bass the most (see previous comments and measurements) at the expense of possibly being too warm or veiled for some. I think I can alleviate this by cutting out a hole in the middle of the foam I use to help things breathe and brighten up. Right now, this config is closest to the HD650 in tone out of what I've tried on the Aeon but sounds a bit overdamped and slow in comparison. Another downside is the foam I use discolors easily, from white to piss-yellow.

    Note: Taping off part of the bottom vent can tune things as well and change the mid-bass dip's location and severity. Use in combination with front damping mods to your tastes.
     
  6. GTABeancounter

    GTABeancounter Friend

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    Jan 6, 2016
    Likes Received:
    321
    Trophy Points:
    63
    Location:
    Ontario Canada
    Yep, they were called "Doggie Treats" and they came with my Alpha Dogs too. IIRC they called the tiny square foam pieces placed directly on the driver enclosure "monkey dots" and the felt pads were "discs". Though perhaps the discs were "doggie treats", and "doggie treats" PLUS "monkey dots" make up the "tuning kit"?

    And yes, they do this every time at Mr. Speakers :)
     
  7. Tyll Hertsens

    Tyll Hertsens Grandpappy of the hobby - Special Friend

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    Sep 26, 2015
    Likes Received:
    2,805
    Trophy Points:
    93
    Location:
    Bozeman Montana
    Home Page:
    Hands, after talking with Dan today it seems your pair may have been before a final re-tuning for the first big production run. It seems the vent damping material changed in order to smooth out that discontinuity 100-200Hz. You may want to check with Dan. You may even be able to get him to send you the new material; all you need is some fine tweezers to remove and replace the vent stuffing.

    I measure a significantly smaller 100-200Hz discontinuity than the initial production unit he sent. Measurements will post with review tomorrow (hopefully).
     
  8. spoony

    spoony Spooky

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    Sep 28, 2015
    Likes Received:
    651
    Trophy Points:
    93
    Deja Vu?
     
  9. Tyll Hertsens

    Tyll Hertsens Grandpappy of the hobby - Special Friend

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    Sep 26, 2015
    Likes Received:
    2,805
    Trophy Points:
    93
    Location:
    Bozeman Montana
    Home Page:
    It's not really deja vu when everyone does it...and they all do.

    Edit: Hey! Did one of you mods delete my double double deja vu post? I liked it that way. (Friggen Nazis.)
     
    Last edited: Jun 29, 2017
  10. Hands

    Hands Overzealous Auto Flusher - Measurbator

    Staff Member Pyrate MZR
    Joined:
    Sep 27, 2015
    Likes Received:
    12,285
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    Colorado
    Home Page:
    Seriously? I just sent them to @ultrabike! LOL! He's gonna test and kick off the tour. If it's an easy fix, I trust him to handle it, if Dan can send the stuff to him.

    Is there a way to verify I have the older tuning? I mean no offense to Dan, but this wouldn't be the first time someone around these parts had a complaint, minor nitpick to major gripe, only to be told something was wrong or not up to production tuning on their unit. And often getting a fix or upgrade didn't lead to a change (or always a positive one). Sometimes it was true and good, and their customer service is always nice. But, still, there always seems to be constant revisions and tweaks after launches even then.

    I won't bitch and moan, as this is not the end of days, but...c'mon, you know? These things shouldn't be a running joke for anyone with skin in the game this long and with a built up brand.

    Anyway, I'd be happy to try the tweak if it does indeed apply. It's already a good headphone, so I don't have much room to be sour either way. If it makes it better, a minor inconvenience may well be worth it!
     
    Last edited: Jun 29, 2017
  11. ultrabike

    ultrabike Measurbator - Admin

    Staff Member Pyrate MZR
    Joined:
    Sep 25, 2015
    Likes Received:
    8,960
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    Irvine CA
    Dan is known to abuse the "we did not do a final re-tuning on your pair" claim when something goes amiss. Sometimes followed with the "we would never release a pair like this into the wild" claim (happened to @GelockS), which puts the blame on someone else. To the point that it may have cost some of his credibility with some costumers. I was expecting him to stop making such claims too often.
     
  12. jexby

    jexby Posole Prince

    Staff Member Pyrate Contributor
    Joined:
    Sep 28, 2015
    Likes Received:
    8,145
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    Exit stage left....
    "some" of his (Dan's) credibility with some consumers? there's any left in the tank?
    I never even attempt to buy much less feign interest in Mr. Speakers cans because frankly- one never knows what you get.
    or what tweak 9.3 days after released will be recommended or versioned +0.01.

    maybe Dan can "officially release" the next critical Aeon tweak at a schiit show the night before they release new products. (again).
     
  13. Tyll Hertsens

    Tyll Hertsens Grandpappy of the hobby - Special Friend

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    Sep 26, 2015
    Likes Received:
    2,805
    Trophy Points:
    93
    Location:
    Bozeman Montana
    Home Page:
    Look, it's not really deja vu when everyone does it...and they all do.

    Hands, as far as I can tell by your measurements, you had that early tuning. I got a pre-production unit I liked; when I got the production unit like you have and measured it I called Dan to make sure that was a production unit; he said no, he made a last minute tuning change and sent me 3 new ones. All of which measure better than the first two units and sound better to my ears.

    Here's the measurements, please do not share any of this post elsewhere until I publish:

    https://www.innerfidelity.com/images/MrSpeakersAeonBook.pdf

    I like 'em. They'll kick Dan's other stuff off the Wall of Fame sealed section.

    Geebus...no one's going to read the review now.
     
  14. TMRaven

    TMRaven Friend

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    Sep 27, 2015
    Likes Received:
    621
    Trophy Points:
    93
    My Aeon was one of the very first shipped out, I was one of the few who decided to get it before the case, which ended up being like 2 months before everyone else. I 've noted a sizable chunk of lower midrange missing on mine as well, but I don't find it too annoying.

    I wonder if mine is part of that category as well.
     
  15. tgx78

    tgx78 MOT: TGXear

    Flathead
    Joined:
    Apr 6, 2016
    Likes Received:
    58
    Trophy Points:
    18
    3 new ones Dan sent to Tyll are serial No. 987, 994 & 1168.. possibly silent revision 1.1? lol

    Mine is serial no. 593 (pre-ordered late January) first batch.. I also noticed dip around 150-500hz and had to EQ.

    Finally today I received those two foam pieces so I will try them out tomorrow.
     
  16. Tyll Hertsens

    Tyll Hertsens Grandpappy of the hobby - Special Friend

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    Sep 26, 2015
    Likes Received:
    2,805
    Trophy Points:
    93
    Location:
    Bozeman Montana
    Home Page:
    Often times my reviews are quite late relative to other reviewers. Why?

    BECAUSE I WOULD NEVER (again) BUY/REVIEW A FIRST PRODUCTION RUN HEADPHONE.

    Should be a golden rule amongst experienced enthusiasts.

    It's not really deja vu when everyone does it...and they all do.
     
  17. Crinacle

    Crinacle Friend

    Staff Member Pyrate IEMW MZR
    Joined:
    Dec 12, 2016
    Likes Received:
    812
    Trophy Points:
    93
    Location:
    SG
    Home Page:
    Oh man oh man, that FR curve is what dreams are made of. Now I'm pumped to hear one in person.

    And you're saying the 3 units after that measured even better?
     
  18. Tyll Hertsens

    Tyll Hertsens Grandpappy of the hobby - Special Friend

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    Sep 26, 2015
    Likes Received:
    2,805
    Trophy Points:
    93
    Location:
    Bozeman Montana
    Home Page:
    No, the three units with serial numbers on the measurements are current production.
     
  19. LSW

    LSW Facebook Friend

    Contributor
    Joined:
    Jun 17, 2017
    Likes Received:
    109
    Trophy Points:
    43
    Location:
    USA
    Am interested in these as a home listening reference headphone but will probably wait 6 months to buy to give production variances time to settle down and/or just in case another version comes out. Can anyone say how the sub-bass compare to the audeze offerings? I am also awaiting reviews of the lcd-pro but remain very skiddish about plopping down a week's salary on an Audeze headphone when their quality control reputation is so egregiously bad, and can't in good conscience buy any of the current LCD's given their penchant for discomfort.
     
  20. Vanheim

    Vanheim Acquaintance

    Joined:
    Mar 28, 2016
    Likes Received:
    85
    Trophy Points:
    28
    Tyll's deja vu jokes have been well trippy. Got me dizzy haha.
     
    Last edited: Jun 30, 2017

Share This Page