Rabbit
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Post by Rabbit on Apr 29, 2016 15:13:48 GMT
Massdrop are resurrecting the old HE-300 with this one but the price is pretty low.
I have now ordered one and the drop should happen in August and judging by the FR graph I saw for it, it looks quite interesting. Anyone else having a go with one?
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Post by techboy on Apr 29, 2016 15:58:26 GMT
You do know it is a dynamic headphone? And just average for $100-200. Nothing special. Based on popular feedback. Not even at half of $300. I know you bought it for $100.
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jello
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Post by jello on Apr 29, 2016 16:11:24 GMT
Pre-order cancelled Nothing special based on popular feedback? What little feedback there is seems relatively positive (taken with a pinch of salt of course) and it measures quite well. I imagine this will appeal to a variety of folk. Those curious to see what Hifiman can deliver at an unfamiliar price point, those with an eye to modding and those looking to buy a first 'proper' headphone. If expectations are kept realistic hopefully they won't be too disappointed. They may even be pleasantly surprised. Ian is sending me a set for free so I think value for money will be through the roof
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solderdude
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Post by solderdude on Apr 29, 2016 16:44:04 GMT
You do know it is a dynamic headphone? And just average for $100-200. Nothing special. Based on popular feedback. Not even at half of $300. I know you bought it for $100. Yes its a dynamic headphone. Just like the HE300 (also dynamic) it has the tonal balance of other hifimans but is less in technicalities. Higher distortion and such. Still you will end up with a price closer to 150 or so with taxes and all.
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Rabbit
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Post by Rabbit on Apr 29, 2016 17:06:12 GMT
You do know it is a dynamic headphone? And just average for $100-200. Nothing special. Based on popular feedback. Not even at half of $300. I know you bought it for $100. Yes, I am aware that it's a dynamic. Who has said that it's an 'average' headphone? It's not been reviewed yet. Where is the feedback? It's a modded he300 not an actual he300. It has higher bass distortion much like the hd650. Quite extended up and down with a treble spike.
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Rabbit
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Post by Rabbit on Apr 29, 2016 17:14:49 GMT
The FR looks slightly similar to the AKG K712. The K712 peak in the treble is at a slightly different spot though. Toilet paper is the fix for it. Bit of a roll off from 50 Hz. Down by about 6db at 20 hz if the measurements are accurate.
The dip in the treble is a measurement artifact ....
I'm working in pounds Frans, so
$99 + 15 = $114 = around £78 + 20% tax = 15.60 = £93.60 plus postage from Scotland.
So about the same as a Grado SR80.
TBH, I'd like to just see what the build is like and what Hifiman see as a reasonable tuning. Always been worried about stories of poor quality control with the planars so if it's going to be bad, it'll probably be in evidence on these.
Anyone else going for one?
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jello
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Post by jello on Apr 29, 2016 17:45:11 GMT
Don't forget the £8 customs clearance fee that DHL will charge you for paying that £15.60 to HMRC on your behalf...everyone wants their cut when you import
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Post by c61746961 on Apr 29, 2016 18:10:03 GMT
It really doesn't look too bad, I bet pleather pads and some modding could give rise to that rolled-off sub-bass.
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Rabbit
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Post by Rabbit on Apr 29, 2016 18:39:40 GMT
Don't forget the £8 customs clearance fee that DHL will charge you for paying that £15.60 to HMRC on your behalf...everyone wants their cut when you import Ok, so just over £100. You know, it's funny because someone brought the same thing up on Headfi. I don't see this as an expensive headphone tbh since the fr is fairly smooth overall. I'm reckoning a k712 with maybe a tad more roundness due to bass distortions!!!
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Rabbit
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Post by Rabbit on Apr 29, 2016 18:41:54 GMT
It really doesn't look too bad, I bet pleather pads and some modding could give rise to that rolled-off sub-bass. The peak is tamed with toilet paper so I'm sure the bass could be raised as well. It's the smoothness that attracted my attention, plus the fact that it's not that pricey really. They claim that the idea of a dynamic headphone was in order to supply a sensitive headphone since their planars need a lot of power. Still absolutely loving the T50. With such simple changes, it's a monster headphone. Use it a lot now. Doesn't look like I have anyone to compare notes with then .....
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jello
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Post by jello on Apr 29, 2016 18:47:07 GMT
I suppose it's all relative but I don't think it's an expensive headphone either. Then again some people balk if they have to spend more than a couple of quid on earbuds and don't see what the fuss is about!
The FR is quite smooth as you say and I'm sure either a bit of modding, EQ or filtering would improve it further. A more rounded K712 wouldn't be half bad at that kind of price and it seems a fairly safe bet. Hifiman know what they're doing so I don't see this being a stinker....and if it there's always the HF classifieds
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solderdude
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Post by solderdude on Apr 29, 2016 18:51:33 GMT
The measurements from head-fi also show this dip. It doesn't look as deep because it is smoothed over. Purrin doesn't like his plots being used without permission though.... The entire thread in SBAF about this headphone can be found HEREMeasurements HEREHe used a bit of toilet paper to fix the treble peak. I am still amazed manufacturers do not do the same on stock headphones (damp the front with some paper when they know there is a spike). If they did I am quite sure many 'modders' would remove such paper and claim it sounds much clearer and better after that mod.. It doesn't look like a bad headphone at first glance. a -10dB subbass drop off on Purrins rig tells me it may be a bit too lean in the bass for me. The distortion numbers are also on the high side.
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Rabbit
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Post by Rabbit on Apr 29, 2016 19:06:29 GMT
Ok, I've removed the graph.
Regarding treble spikes, Superlux didn't spot it though.
I don't know. I'm just curious about them.
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Post by c61746961 on Apr 29, 2016 19:07:08 GMT
I am still amazed manufacturers do not do the same on stock headphones (damp the front with some paper when they know there is a spike). If they did I am quite sure many 'modders' would remove such paper and claim it sounds much clearer and better after that mod.. LOL, quoted for truth.
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solderdude
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Post by solderdude on Apr 29, 2016 19:14:36 GMT
Ok, I've removed the graph. Regarding treble spikes, Superlux didn't spot it though. I don't know. I'm just curious about them. You can 'sort-off' hear the tonal balance of the HD662-EVO though. I recorded some music through this headphone (as well as Philips, HD650 (w/ and w/o Kameleon) as well as HD800 (w/ and w/o Kameleon) Funnily enough the recordings sound 'less' in quality than how one hears them in reality but the tonal balance is about right. As a reference I also threw in the original recording. Those that want to have a listen (to speakers preferably) can PM me (or e-mail me) their e-mail address and I will mail the wanted files. From the Kameleon thread:
I made some recordings of my HD800, HD650, HD662-EVO, Philips uptown.
The HD800 was recorded 'as is' and via the Kameleon so you can 'switch' between them and the original recording. The same was done for the (old/worn-padded and black-cloth) HD650.
The original was recorded via analog out of the X3 as well. FiiO X3 -> EMU0204 -> USB -> PC with XP-SP3 with SF10 in WAV 96/16 2 minute recordings (Sting - perfect love gone wrong in MP3/320 44/16) of the line-out signal were converted from 96/16 WAV to 48/16 MP3 320kbs using the latest version of LAME-XP.
So for HD662-EVO and Philips uptown (both modified) the chain was: FiiO X3 headphone out -> headphone -> test fixture with corrected pre-amp-> EMU0204 -> USB -> PC with XP-SP3 with SF10 in WAV 96/16 to 48/16 MP3 320kbs using the latest version of LAME-XP.
For HD650 and HD800 without filter modules the chain was: FiiO X3 line out -> portable Kameleon with 'flat module' -> headphone -> test fixture with corrected pre-amp-> EMU0204 -> USB -> PC with XP-SP3 with SF10 in WAV 96/16 to 48/16 MP3 320kbs using the latest version of LAME-XP.
For HD650 and HD800 with filter modules the chain was: FiiO X3 line out -> portable Kameleon with 'HD650 module' (and for HD800 the HD800 module) -> headphone -> test fixture with corrected pre-amp-> EMU0204 -> USB -> PC with XP-SP3 with SF10 in WAV 96/16 to 48/16 MP3 320kbs using the latest version of LAME-XP.
The files can be mailed to you on request (via PM or e-mail) and are 5MB each. More than one e-mail may be needed.
original HD662-EVO Philips uptown HD650 (old pads, black driver) HD650 Kameleon HD800 HD800 Kameleon
Of course the test fixture 'listens' differently than ears do so you should only listen to the tonal balance. The treble may be perceived differently from how it is recorded.
Also... when you listen to these recordings with 'colored' headphones you will ALSO be hearing (most predominantly) the character of the listening headphones. As most decent speakers are much 'flatter' than headphones it may be best to compare files using speakers that are known to be accurate.
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