Post by Rabbit on Nov 16, 2015 17:01:34 GMT
The Edifier headphones have been tailored for sound by bass player, Phil Jones. There are two versions; the PJB H-850 and the Edifier H850. Edifier also now own Stax. Phil also designed a rather good speaker called the AE1 years ago, let alone speakers that produce decent bass with quality, for performers. He has his own company.
The PJB version, I am familiar with because I've seen it being used in 'pits', where musicians need to monitor themselves closely. For that particular job, you need something that isolates (up to a point) and gives good inner clarity. Not necessarily treble ridden but just clear. They need to play loud so you play properly into them and must be comfortable for a couple of hours. (As long as you are playing in a pit!!)
The Edifier version is cheaper because parts are not matched as closely and there may be some slight differences inside. The transducer 'might' be different and there's better damping on the PJB version so it's less 'peaky' in the treble than the Edifier version.
The interesting thing is how would a musician 'tune' their headphone? Would they go for a thinner AKG sound or a bloaty Denon sound? Whatever it is, it needs to sound what many might refer to as 'musical' whatever that is. However, for working with, they also need to be analytical in that they need to be able to pick out detail of others playing in the band so that they 'blend' as well as possible.
Well, the Edifier is a damned good looking headphone for £31. That's all it costs!! Pros don't like to spend a packet on headphones. I'm that way myself since there's a kind of point where I feel that it's really hard to justify the extra cost for minutia. I've always felt that and so does Phil Jones.
So whether an audiophile would like these is debatable. I do.... Because they are actually ......... Musical!!
They communicate nicely what's going on in the mix and they do involve you.
The Beats headphones try to produce big bass but they really don't have proper control down there, so the bass is both too much and flabby. Beats 2 are better. These have a similar type of bass (which I really find closer to people making music) but there isn't as much bass as the Beats. It's also way more under control. Not as much and way tighter grip. Listening to Genesis, Phil Collins bass drum has real substance and you can still hear the 'skin' being hit. Zep's Bonham pedal squeak can almost be a distraction with the Edifier. I can even hear that it seemed to squeak more on the way up since they follow the main substance of the bass drum. You also plainly hear that he doesn't hit hard most of the time. Even in 'heavier' numbers.
Here's the 'audiophile' description though .....
To me, they sound as though they are quite well extended in the treble with one thing; it feels as though there might be somewhere up there with a suck out. So you get extended treble without lower treble harshness perhaps? Cymbals splash and crash, but there is a slight treble hardness with some recordings To me, as an audiophile, that sounds like something taken out up there though. It gives a 'hi fi' flavour and may cause some to say that mids are reduced. Well, mids 'seem' OK with playback on voices, so imo, it's further up. Perhaps lower or mid treble that has something missing.
I don't mind that since it allows large, performing volume pressures.
Mids seem quite well placed to me. Voices are right without bloom or sibilance.
Bass is again, an audiophile problem perhaps. There is a raise in mid bass and I suspect very deep bass is rolled away after say 100 hz or so. However, bass sounds do hit hard with quite an impact. Bass is actually reproduced quite nicely. Well, he is a bass player! My own feeling is that it could do with some sub bass although there is a terrific 'grip' on bass lines, making them extremely easy to follow.
Listening to a YES album last night showed just how well the Edifier tracks bass lines. There were some really complex passages, where I could not only pick out the bass line with ease, but also hear nuances in how the notes were being played down there. It showed what an incredible bass player he was actually. I could equally pick out many other details in the mix.
I'd say it has a slight hard edge to the sound, but clarity is really good. The solid bass is its major strength I think. Many audiophiles might not like that, but I find that it really inserts guts into the music. Much more like a live bass sound actually, with better clarity than you often get in a room.
So, it might not be of interest to audiophiles but is interesting to hear how another musician might tune their headphone. Similar to my own thoughts with minor differences .....
Raised mid bass, extended treble without glare. But for me, I'd like more sub bass too ... I've been spoilt!!
Then get back in the real world. This is a headphone costing £31. Same as px100, half of px200. Similar I think, to the Creative Audio. It's a good buy and sounds great for that kind of money, although the treble dip is curious to my ears. Or perhaps it's the shape of my ear canals.
I like them and could use them in orchestral or band pit work quite happily. I adjust very quickly to headphones though and I'm not sure that audiophiles do so easily. These are not flat, but very nice; especially at that price. The PJB might be a little more refined perhaps, but at a price.
I have an old PJB H-850 somewhere, so I'll compare. I recognised the Edifier straight away. However, I've spent ages looking for my PJB and I suspect it's in one of my old work haunts. I'll go in and find it. The PJB is a pro headphone, greatly favoured by bass players and live performers.
Listening to a high rate/quality file from Peter Gabriel up loud reveals a bass that has enormous impact with vocals beautifully rendered. The Edifier works well loud and has serious impact for little 40mm drivers. Near life volume kicks them right into life. The PJB's also jump to life at high volume, I remember. I must find them. Bass is incredibly well produced on them.
andreweverard.com/2014/06/29/review-pjb-h-850-headphones-why-they-beat-beats-and-at-a-fraction-of-the-price/
www.pjbworld.com/product_headphone.html
www.bassdirect.co.uk/bass_guitar_specialists/Headphones.html
bassmusicianmagazine.com/2014/11/phil-jones-bass-h850-headphones-review/
The PJB version, I am familiar with because I've seen it being used in 'pits', where musicians need to monitor themselves closely. For that particular job, you need something that isolates (up to a point) and gives good inner clarity. Not necessarily treble ridden but just clear. They need to play loud so you play properly into them and must be comfortable for a couple of hours. (As long as you are playing in a pit!!)
The Edifier version is cheaper because parts are not matched as closely and there may be some slight differences inside. The transducer 'might' be different and there's better damping on the PJB version so it's less 'peaky' in the treble than the Edifier version.
The interesting thing is how would a musician 'tune' their headphone? Would they go for a thinner AKG sound or a bloaty Denon sound? Whatever it is, it needs to sound what many might refer to as 'musical' whatever that is. However, for working with, they also need to be analytical in that they need to be able to pick out detail of others playing in the band so that they 'blend' as well as possible.
Well, the Edifier is a damned good looking headphone for £31. That's all it costs!! Pros don't like to spend a packet on headphones. I'm that way myself since there's a kind of point where I feel that it's really hard to justify the extra cost for minutia. I've always felt that and so does Phil Jones.
So whether an audiophile would like these is debatable. I do.... Because they are actually ......... Musical!!
They communicate nicely what's going on in the mix and they do involve you.
The Beats headphones try to produce big bass but they really don't have proper control down there, so the bass is both too much and flabby. Beats 2 are better. These have a similar type of bass (which I really find closer to people making music) but there isn't as much bass as the Beats. It's also way more under control. Not as much and way tighter grip. Listening to Genesis, Phil Collins bass drum has real substance and you can still hear the 'skin' being hit. Zep's Bonham pedal squeak can almost be a distraction with the Edifier. I can even hear that it seemed to squeak more on the way up since they follow the main substance of the bass drum. You also plainly hear that he doesn't hit hard most of the time. Even in 'heavier' numbers.
Here's the 'audiophile' description though .....
To me, they sound as though they are quite well extended in the treble with one thing; it feels as though there might be somewhere up there with a suck out. So you get extended treble without lower treble harshness perhaps? Cymbals splash and crash, but there is a slight treble hardness with some recordings To me, as an audiophile, that sounds like something taken out up there though. It gives a 'hi fi' flavour and may cause some to say that mids are reduced. Well, mids 'seem' OK with playback on voices, so imo, it's further up. Perhaps lower or mid treble that has something missing.
I don't mind that since it allows large, performing volume pressures.
Mids seem quite well placed to me. Voices are right without bloom or sibilance.
Bass is again, an audiophile problem perhaps. There is a raise in mid bass and I suspect very deep bass is rolled away after say 100 hz or so. However, bass sounds do hit hard with quite an impact. Bass is actually reproduced quite nicely. Well, he is a bass player! My own feeling is that it could do with some sub bass although there is a terrific 'grip' on bass lines, making them extremely easy to follow.
Listening to a YES album last night showed just how well the Edifier tracks bass lines. There were some really complex passages, where I could not only pick out the bass line with ease, but also hear nuances in how the notes were being played down there. It showed what an incredible bass player he was actually. I could equally pick out many other details in the mix.
I'd say it has a slight hard edge to the sound, but clarity is really good. The solid bass is its major strength I think. Many audiophiles might not like that, but I find that it really inserts guts into the music. Much more like a live bass sound actually, with better clarity than you often get in a room.
So, it might not be of interest to audiophiles but is interesting to hear how another musician might tune their headphone. Similar to my own thoughts with minor differences .....
Raised mid bass, extended treble without glare. But for me, I'd like more sub bass too ... I've been spoilt!!
Then get back in the real world. This is a headphone costing £31. Same as px100, half of px200. Similar I think, to the Creative Audio. It's a good buy and sounds great for that kind of money, although the treble dip is curious to my ears. Or perhaps it's the shape of my ear canals.
I like them and could use them in orchestral or band pit work quite happily. I adjust very quickly to headphones though and I'm not sure that audiophiles do so easily. These are not flat, but very nice; especially at that price. The PJB might be a little more refined perhaps, but at a price.
I have an old PJB H-850 somewhere, so I'll compare. I recognised the Edifier straight away. However, I've spent ages looking for my PJB and I suspect it's in one of my old work haunts. I'll go in and find it. The PJB is a pro headphone, greatly favoured by bass players and live performers.
Listening to a high rate/quality file from Peter Gabriel up loud reveals a bass that has enormous impact with vocals beautifully rendered. The Edifier works well loud and has serious impact for little 40mm drivers. Near life volume kicks them right into life. The PJB's also jump to life at high volume, I remember. I must find them. Bass is incredibly well produced on them.
andreweverard.com/2014/06/29/review-pjb-h-850-headphones-why-they-beat-beats-and-at-a-fraction-of-the-price/
www.pjbworld.com/product_headphone.html
www.bassdirect.co.uk/bass_guitar_specialists/Headphones.html
bassmusicianmagazine.com/2014/11/phil-jones-bass-h850-headphones-review/