Comments on Profile Post by GuySmiley'sMonkey

Sample variation? Using balanced output on my Phonitor? Pro vs non-Pro? Who knows.

Are they new? Likely break in + pad wear differences.

You'd think so, but it's the new pair that sounds better than the old. I'm confident that my auditory memory is accurate as I had a problem with graininess right from the get-go on my previous pair and it didn't improve with break in.

This is pretty interesting. Got to directly compare a Clear Professional to a Utopia and modded HD800 out of a ZDT Jr. and HDVD800 at a friend's place and the Pro was amazingly lean by comparison. This likewise was anomalous to the owner since it contradicted a lot of others' impressions.

Were you using the same upstream equipment between the Clears from years ago and the one now?

Yep LOL

Not looking for solutions to a problem here. Just making an observation from the position of being pleasantly surprised.

I suspect previous one had QC problems. Anyway it’s good that you came out ahead this time!

…let the conspiracy theories loose

LOL

Sample variation could be one. Another could be that the things that bothered you years ago no longer do, so you hear it slightly differently.

LOL - I only sold my Clears 3 months ago before buying them again last week. Not enough palatte cleansing has gone on to change my tastes or perception.

I think you're on the money re sample variation. A whole different beast, or rather the same beast but without the birth defects.