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IMPORTANT: New Members Read This Don't Be a Measurement Fascist Merv's Top 5 Headphones - 2023 Edition $1000 Challenge

Headphones to Acquire and Measure

Discussion in 'Headphones' started by purr1n, Sep 28, 2015.

?

Each one of you gets three picks. What headphones should we use SBAF funds to buy and measure?

  1. Philips SHL5305TL

    1 vote(s)
    0.8%

  2. Technics EAH-T700

    11 vote(s)
    9.2%

  3. Enigmatics Dharma

    43 vote(s)
    35.8%

  4. Kennerton Magister

    9 vote(s)
    7.5%

  5. HiFiMan HEX

    58 vote(s)
    48.3%

  6. Ether-C

    42 vote(s)
    35.0%

  7. CitiScape Fixie

    1 vote(s)
    0.8%

  8. Pioneer SE-MASTER1

    15 vote(s)
    12.5%

  9. Final Sonorous VI

    20 vote(s)
    16.7%

  10. Audio-Technica ATH-R70x

    22 vote(s)
    18.3%

  11. Noontec Zoro II HD

    8 vote(s)
    6.7%

  12. Audio Technica ATH MSR7

    12 vote(s)
    10.0%

  13. Alpha Design Labs H128

    2 vote(s)
    1.7%

  14. Audeze EL-8 Open

    10 vote(s)
    8.3%

  15. STAX 2070 / 3070 System

    31 vote(s)
    25.8%

  16. Sennheiser HD-250I

    5 vote(s)
    4.2%

  17. NAD Viso HP30

    11 vote(s)
    9.2%

  18. Harman Kardboard CL

    0 vote(s)
    0.0%
Multiple votes are allowed.
Page 4 of 7
  1. velvetx

    velvetx Gear Master West/Vendor Spotlight Moderator

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    I'm going to pick up the T20RP MK3 (open back) after going back to the booth. In regards to will modders stop? Mr Speakers doesn't do mods anymore and I dunno about ZMF/Paradox. What I will say is I think Dan from Mr Speakers said that Fostex isn't making the v2 anymore so techincally eventually all the mods will stop.

    In regards to the difference in sound I only know from the original mad dog and I felt that the mad dog lacked the details present in the current headphone version. However, the bass slam is much more controlled in these new headphones versus the mad dogs. Hope that helps.
     
    velvetx, Oct 4, 2015
    #61
  2. kapanak

    kapanak Canucklehead - Friend

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    Can I ask why the T20 open back and not the T50 semi open?
     
    kapanak, Oct 4, 2015
    #62
  3. velvetx

    velvetx Gear Master West/Vendor Spotlight Moderator

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    velvetx, Oct 4, 2015
    #63
  4. velvetx

    velvetx Gear Master West/Vendor Spotlight Moderator

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    I am not going to lie and say it wasn't a tough decision. They were very close in sound but for the type of music I listen to personally I thought that there was just a little more added bass in this one that I like from a more open back headphone. Also the sound stage was a tad bit bigger.

    I don't want to steer anyone in the wrong direction go listen to them at a Guitar Center.
     
    velvetx, Oct 4, 2015
    #64
  5. keanex

    keanex Martian Bounty Hunter - Friend

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    I think ZMF is using the new drivers. No idea if the unit I have of the Blackwood and Vibro are using the new or old drivers though
     
    keanex, Oct 4, 2015
    #65
  6. velvetx

    velvetx Gear Master West/Vendor Spotlight Moderator

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    Actually sorry to mislead you I am editing this post because I forgot Fostex didn't change the driver according to the rep. The MK2 and MK3 use the exact same driver. The headphone itself however is different. What is different that I couldn't tell you but what I can say is that this headphone doesn't sound like the MK2. Maybe the rep is wrong as they don't work for Fostex but I would think they wouldn't go around saying stuff like that.

    I hope that helps I think it might help everyone to know this.
     
    Last edited: Oct 4, 2015
    velvetx, Oct 4, 2015
    #66
  7. purr1n

    purr1n Desire for betterer is endless.

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    Hahahahahaha. They put in their version of Luis' mods.
     
    purr1n, Oct 4, 2015
    #67
  8. velvetx

    velvetx Gear Master West/Vendor Spotlight Moderator

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    I know that the T1 is on our poll but instead can we replace it with the DT-1770 it uses the new Tesla 2 driver and it's much cheaper (I think Beyer rep said $600). Just a suggestion.
     
    velvetx, Oct 4, 2015
    #68
  9. Ishcabible

    Ishcabible Friend

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    If you're interested, I could send my Jecklins (Model 2 dynamic) to be measured after the NH meet in December.
     
    Ishcabible, Oct 4, 2015
    #69
  10. DrForBin

    DrForBin Friend

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    hello,

    i think it would be nice if there were a more contemporary Beyer that could make it to the leaderboard. perhaps the DT-1770 is that?
     
    DrForBin, Oct 4, 2015
    #70
  11. velvetx

    velvetx Gear Master West/Vendor Spotlight Moderator

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    I like the idea of putting up a lot of headphones but it's like Marv said we kind of need to think about something expensive then maybe a few more other options. I dunno I could be wrong I rather just have some more options in the more reasonable budget that sounded good. I mean the Dharma is $1150, Ether C is $1500, Beyer T1 is $1000 i believe. I mean more reasonably I think people really wanted to hear the sound of the new tesla driver but the question is do we need to have the flagship on hand or can we go with a more budget friendly alternative?

    Just thinking out loud here. I don't want to run on others opinions honestly if the everyone felt that the T1 was something to be up there then who am I agrue it needs to be up there.
     
    velvetx, Oct 4, 2015
    #71
  12. DrForBin

    DrForBin Friend

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    hello,

    we're on the same page here.

    heck, i voted for the Beyer T1v2 as it was the only Beyerdymanic on the list.

    i just want them to remain relevant to the hobby and not stumble as AKG did with the K812.

    just my opinion, YMMV, i am more than likely full of Schitt, etc., etc.

    edit:

    strange that the font changed when i copy/pastaed "

    Beyer T1v2"
     
    DrForBin, Oct 4, 2015
    #72
  13. Friday

    Friday Friend

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    Tried the R70x before at a local dealer. It was quite nice, but the k7xx was cheaper.
     
    Friday, Oct 4, 2015
    #73
  14. money4me247

    money4me247 Friend

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    dharma was the standout pair of flagship headphones that I haven't heard before & I tried everything at the show. was able to do a few quick direct comparisions and seems competitive against the hd800 and more detailed than the ether imo. better than the $5k final audio flagship too imo but not a side-by-side conparision. dharma shld be the first to measure. i hate relying on first impressions in demo conditions so would love more time with these headphones.

    PS: I have a pair of Ether Open that I would gladly loan out for measurements. No need to waste sbaf funds for that. PM me.

    edit: I would be interested in seeing the HE-X measurements, but not on the voting list.
     
    Last edited: Oct 5, 2015
    money4me247, Oct 5, 2015
    #74
  15. drfindley

    drfindley Secretly lives in the Analog Room - Friend

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    I would like to see the Dharma, maybe the Hifiman HEX and a bunch of the cheaper-isn headphones like The T50 mk III and the DT1770. Also, some closed back ones as I think there is a big market for those, but most of them stink so we never talk about them.

    I'd be ok passing over the T1. I can't believe the same ears that made it also fixed it.
     
    drfindley, Oct 5, 2015
    #75
  16. Deep Funk

    Deep Funk Deep thoughts - Friend

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    I look forward to your impressions.
     
    Deep Funk, Oct 5, 2015
    #76
  17. Hands

    Hands Overzealous Auto Flusher - Measurbator

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    Send to me! Gonna PM you.
     
    Hands, Oct 5, 2015
    #77
  18. gandhisfist

    gandhisfist Aurorus Audio - MoT

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    I have a pair of EL-8 Closed that are currently getting RMA'd for the cracking headband, but I'd be willing to send them for measurements once I get them back if anyone is interested.
     
    gandhisfist, Oct 8, 2015
    #78
  19. Hands

    Hands Overzealous Auto Flusher - Measurbator

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    I would be curious to measure them despite the fact I thought they sounded horrible. See if the measurements match up with what I heard subjectively.
     
    Hands, Oct 8, 2015
    #79
  20. mnt

    mnt New

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    Though I know most people can't stand the Beyer treble, I'm usually OK with it to a point.
    I also think they are fantastic looking headphones (not that it matters much, but so many are just fugly).
    Very interested to see if they've done right by the T1v2.
     
    mnt, Oct 9, 2015
    #80
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