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Post by ruslan on Dec 20, 2017 11:49:17 GMT
solderdude, thanks a lot for your answer.
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Post by Cranky on Mar 4, 2018 2:48:09 GMT
Has anyone tried the Superlux HD681F? They're advertised on Amazon but are shipped from Japan, hence the slow delivery time to the UK: www.amazon.co.uk/Superlux-HD681F-Headphones/dp/B002Z9CLD8 . From what I've read, 'F' refers to 'flat response'. According to reviewers on the Amazon page, the treble hump can be tamed by inserting some kitchen roll, leaves of toilet paper, or cloth behind the sponge driver-guard, although if that's the case I don't know why Superlux don't just add to, or thicken, the sponge themselves. A comparison of models: I've recently bought the Samson SR850 headphone, but after many hours of burn-in time, little has changed and I'm still not content. It has a heavy bass response, confirmed by the response graph on this page: www.kopfhoerer.de/test/samson-sr850/ , that not only causes an uncomfortable thumping sensation against my ears when listening to modern music, but also appears to cause some distortion in the mid-frequencies. The velour pads are a little abrasive and not particularly comfortable either. I'm giving serious consideration to returning these Samsons for a refund and purchasing the Superlux HD681F.
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solderdude
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Post by solderdude on Mar 4, 2018 6:50:17 GMT
The HD681F needs a filter (works better than toilet paper) and sounds bass shy and rolled off. See the Superlux as a poor mans DT880 with lesser qualities all around. Perhaps have a look at the Takstar Pro82 ? In this price-range it is hard to beat. More comfy than DT880 and closed but less of a detail monster.
Build and comfort is exactly like the Samson (Samson = made by Superlux). The Samson SR850 is closer to the HD688B which I did not like that much either. Owned SR850, HD681, HD681B, HD688B, but not the F. I thought the B was already too Boring.
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Post by Rabbit on Mar 4, 2018 7:06:53 GMT
I had the hd681F and it seemed very thin. The hd681 was better in that respect. I think the Samson might not work much better for you. I think I must have been luck to get a Pro82 at £46. I noticed that most now are hovering around £79 so maybe stock of the older version has diminished and the newer one goes for more? At £80 it’s getting closer to other options but is still a very good sounding headphone for that price in a posh box too.
Actually £80 is a funny price point for headphones. Just on the cusp of probably some bigger changes but still in the lower performance bracket as far as the price is concerned.
Certainly, if you don’t like the treble of the Superlux then the Pro82 would probably suit. Tonally, it’s very good.
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Post by solderdude on Mar 4, 2018 9:21:08 GMT
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Post by Rabbit on Mar 4, 2018 15:07:59 GMT
Funny that you mention that one Frans. I kind of regret getting rid of my old one years ago. I found it very thin and edgy and out of frustration got rid of it. It was the original with the flat sides and then the rounded one came out.
I think that they revised it then and it became just slightly warmer which might be quite nice. I never heard it.
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Post by Cranky on Mar 4, 2018 22:26:13 GMT
Funnily enough, my experience of the DT880 (which I've recently had to burn-in yet again after a long period of inactivity) tends to contradict much of what I read about it, including the published frequency response graphs. What I hear through them is a raised, woolly bass and recessed mids, both of which tend to cause an absence of clinical detail. They're okay for casual listening, although not to my particular taste, even for that. I noticed a contributor (Humblepie) in the Takstar 82 Pro thread (page 95) on head-fi org (the one where things got nasty) stating about the DT880: "Also dT800s are known to be strange about their earpads. The stock velour ones are nice, comfortable, and flatten to uncomfortableness over time. When they flatten the make the sound worse as well as the comfort." I'm wondering if this has been my experience too, because I'm sure they used to sound better than they do now. Furthermore, they sound nowhere near as clear and lively as my Yamaha MSP5 nearfield monitors which I've linked up to a sub-bass unit.What I require for detailed mixing in my little home studio setup is something that will not flatter what's fed into it, which my now defunct Shure SRH440s did to excess. I realise that headphones shouldn't be used on their own for mixing and mastering but, as you will appreciate, they are an essential tool when checking for detail and mono compatibility, as well as how it will sound to others listening on headphones. Frans, perhaps I should have stated in my original post that I was only considering the HD681F for mixing, not for pleasurable listening. I noticed your review for the Takstar Pro 82, where you stated that they're not really suited for performing the final mix. That obvious dip in the mids may be an issue for me. After I posted on here last night, I went looking for alternative sources online and found a Polish supplier (website below) selling the Superlux HD681F for a mere 89 zlotys, which exchanges for 19.00 GPB + 7.00 GPB postage. That's a much better deal than Amazon - and a much faster delivery time. At the bottom of the webpage they have some gifs of flags to various destinations within the EU based on currencies. I'm not sure if the website and company is legitimate, but I'll call them tomorrow (Monday) on their toll-free number to check. Unfortunately, no Paypal, so no protection there. Polish: muzyczny.plUK: musicsquare.co.uk/EU: musicsquare.eu/
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Post by Rabbit on Mar 4, 2018 22:32:30 GMT
With an hd681, you may end up with a dull mix until you get used to their sound.
Funnily enough, I don’t mind the headphone not being flat for mixing as long as I know the sound and how it translates on other things. I often use a Sony mdr7506 which gets you right in to the nitty gritty of recordings and faults. Very gritty for pleasurable listening but picks out hums and hisses like a banshee. Then I test on a variety of well known headphones that are used by Hi-Fi people. Hd650, DT770 and various portables.
If I get it right on the Sony’s the others all fall in line pretty well and generally, even on speakers it’s OK although I sometimes have to alter speech to music ratio. I need to use meters more, but veer towards my ears more naturally.
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Post by solderdude on Mar 5, 2018 5:51:18 GMT
Superluxes are dirt cheap. I bought my first HD681 for 15 Euro, now they are 19 Euro. When you will do the final mix on the 681F you will end up with a very bassy sound and most likely dull highs unless you do something about the peak.
Why not do the final mix on the monitors ?
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Post by Cranky on Mar 6, 2018 0:39:35 GMT
Hans, what you just posted has made me realise that I'm barking up the wrong tree. Of course my final mix should be on the monitors, so flatness of headphone frequency response is irrelevant, and a little bass lift would more truly represent most consumer devices anyway. I imagine I could easily raise the mids and reduce the lows temporarily with an EQ plugin should the need arise. However, these Samson headphones are far too brash so I'll be sending them back anyway.
In your estimation, would I be correct in assuming that the standard HD681 (perhaps with your filter design fitted) to be sufficient for my requirements as an inexpensive and reasonably pleasant headphone?
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Post by solderdude on Mar 6, 2018 5:53:13 GMT
The HD681 is one of the cheapest headphones around that sounds decent. certainly with a filter or EQ. It is more 'fun' than the Samson which is a bit 'boring' to me. Not the best headphone around but impressive for the price. You can order Superlux velourspads along with it (Thomann) just make sure the pads are suited for the HD681. Don't order the HD681-EVO pads these are too big.
A little raised bass in a headphone isn't a problem as speakers in a room also show raised bass (reflections of walls). On my plots a flat line = raised bass as the plots are already corrected for this effect.
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Post by Cranky on Mar 22, 2018 1:21:37 GMT
Thanks for the advice Hans. I agree with you regarding the Samson. I found it particularly bad for classical music, and they've gone back to Amazon now. I've not yet taken the plunge for the HD681 because I was considering the AKG K240 as an alternative, but now swayed back to the Superlux. I was wondering if the velour pads had any effect on the sound, and if so, in what way?
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Post by solderdude on Mar 22, 2018 16:39:32 GMT
I have a pdf with various pads on the HD681. Including the K240 pads. The K240 pads have almost the same 'sound' as the Superlux velours pads. The Superlux pads are much cheaper though. There is quite a difference in sound between the pleather pads and velours pads.
I suspect the newer HD681 have a less bassy character as the early ones but need to buy and measure one to confirm.
There are various iterations from the K240 all having a different sound.
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Post by Cranky on Mar 22, 2018 16:58:41 GMT
I was only looking at the K240 Studio and MkII. From what I read they are exactly the same apart from the different colour rings and removable lead, PLUS: the MKII is supplied with a pair of leads (one curly, one straight) and two pairs of earpads, one pleather and the other velour.
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Post by miiksu on Mar 22, 2018 17:11:56 GMT
I have a pdf with various pads on the HD681. Including the K240 pads. The K240 pads have almost the same 'sound' as the Superlux velours pads. The Superlux pads are much cheaper though. There is quite a difference in sound between the pleather pads and velours pads. I suspect the newer HD681 have a less bassy character as the early ones but need to buy and measure one to confirm. There are various iterations from the K240 all having a different sound. I have less than 5 years a go bought HD681's and they are quite thin on subbass and boosted upper frequencies. Modded HD688 sound much better. I used some cheap hybrid pads on those HD681 and genuine leather on HD688. I don't have orignal pads to the HD681 but I liked those hybrids pads slightly more than thick pleather pads. I need to test those cheaps pads on my HD688 too.
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