solderdude
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Post by solderdude on Jun 12, 2014 15:30:14 GMT
Philips's flagship.... It doesn't seem much can be done for it in a mechanical/acoustical sense (without taking it apart). Kameleon can fill-in the dip. This dip removes the 'brightness' from instruments and voices making it sound laid back/dark. The HD650 sounds dark in a different way. The treble is present and not exaggerated or piercing. With some EQ (filling in the missing dip) the headphone sounds quite good but still wouldn't call it a worldclass headphone. Maybe I am spoiled ? It isn't in that price bracket though and more or less competes with DT880, HD600, K701 etc. Very comfortable, great looking, velour pads and interchangeable cord. The cord itself looks nice but is microphonic... Clamping force is about the same as the HD650, firm so it stays put while bending your head but not clamping annoyingly. The velours pads are a bit '***ly' and not as 'soft' feeling as say HD650.
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Post by c61746961 on Jun 12, 2014 17:00:30 GMT
Not too shabby, a little flatter than your modified M40x, although the dip is broader. From memory, which one sounds darker to you?. I like that Philips prices their products so aggressively.
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solderdude
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Post by solderdude on Jun 12, 2014 17:54:04 GMT
It sounds better than the modified ATH-M40X but is twice as expensive and doesn't need mods (except some EQ) to sound good. Still like the modified K55K551 better. Those looking for a nice looking and nicely made headphone that makes shriller recordings sound better and like a laid-back sound but NOT miss out on treble extension the X1 is a very good choice. as a reference ATHM40X modified with SRH-940 pads: Of course it is no match for the venerable HD650 driven from the Kameleon amplifier .
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Post by c61746961 on Jun 12, 2014 18:20:49 GMT
Haha, I love that plot.
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solderdude
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Post by solderdude on Jun 12, 2014 20:49:08 GMT
I bought it hoping to find something like this ( X1 measured by Goldenears): but the dip around 4 kHz is real I am afraid. Otherwise it looks really good. No big peaks and smooth FR and flat. Fortunately I can send it back and get a full refund. Gonna play with EQ first as it is a nice looking and comfortable headphone.
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Post by c61746961 on Jun 13, 2014 2:51:22 GMT
I forgot to ask, what are the issues with digital EQ that made you chose analog filtering instead?, I remember you mention digital EQ 'artifacts' somewhere on your site.
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solderdude
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Post by solderdude on Jun 13, 2014 4:30:21 GMT
When using digital EQ I sometimes here strange soft noises near the end of a track (as if someone crumbles paper) and digital filtering introduces pre-ringing in the audible range which is said to be sound degrading (I think it isn't as bad as some say it is). People are very afraid of pre-ringing in DAC's but that pre-ringing is always outside of the audible range and not present while playing music as it only rings when triggered by step responses which do not occur in music. For audible band filtering (EQ) that pre-ringing is present at the frequency that is to be filtered. When filtering the headphone obviously already has 'problems' there and easily resonates and the filter section introduces more and unnatural ringing there. of course digital filtering has less 'problems' with phase shifts which some claim degrades sound and happens with analog EQ. For me a cheap analog filter has much less 'sound degrading' qualities then digital and not all portable players offer the needed correctional filtering anyway.
In case of the Philips the EQ 'boosts' so it is better as there appears to be no ringing there.
Strangely enough (too short time to really asses properly) the dip is somewhat similar to the T50RP, which also needs some filling in in that area, but the T50RP responds much nicer to EQ there. The upper mids really stay very nice where I noticed some 'gritty-ness' with the X1. As said the time was too short (playing with DT1350) so may have been the recording or my ears and 'disappointment' bias. Will know more in the coming week.
Will also check for highs extension as I think the X1 pretty much ends around 16kHz where the HD650 goes on and on indicating it has a faster diaphragm.
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Post by jhelms on Jun 13, 2014 14:59:47 GMT
HD650 driven from the Kameleon plot has me drooling
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Rabbit
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Post by Rabbit on Jun 13, 2014 17:44:50 GMT
It is rather nice looking isn't it? It's getting me thinking about using the HD650 more than I do. I tend to use the K612 much more than anything else really and the T40 for closed listening with a filter.
It's a pity about the Philips. I listened to one in a shop and was a bit underwhelmed if I'm honest. It didn't seem anything special to me. I'm finding that the more headphones I listen to, the more I think what I actually have is very good and other stuff might sound different, but not particularly better.
Funny thing is that the headphones that I regard as 'keepers' are quite few really. Others just have curiosity value for me, but there are some that after hearing others, I return to them and realise once again just how good they are. The two I often return to are the HD600 and 650. Torn between them both in terms of sound tbh. HD600 is more 'flat' sounding to me, but it looks like Frans has nailed the HD650 now!!
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solderdude
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Post by solderdude on Jun 13, 2014 18:03:12 GMT
The Kameleonised HD650 sounds like it measures ... impeccable, accurate and precise. No 'warmth' or veil just..... realism. I also made a filter for the X1: Yes... looks flatter, sounds ...flatter but the lack of treble extension (treble above 13kHz rolls off quickly) means still no dice.... The upper mids, though now tonally balanced, still don't sound quite right and 'artificial'. Also the treble extension is a severe let down (for me) and makes me wanna say... better buy another headphone for that money. It will be returned to the seller and think the older (and no longer available) Philips SHP-9000 is better sounding and was half the price of the X1. It isn't a BAD sounding headphone but the printing on the side 'high definition' certainly isn't true. It is a great looking well made (but a bit smelly) headphone with a laid-back sound that may be appealing to younger individuals. NOT a basshead headphone at all. It is very balanced in the lows.
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solderdude
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Post by solderdude on Jun 13, 2014 20:46:05 GMT
Ian, check the K612 thread, I posted the plots there a while ago.
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oldson
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Post by oldson on Feb 3, 2017 22:15:45 GMT
any views on the fidelio x2?
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solderdude
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Post by solderdude on Feb 5, 2017 8:24:36 GMT
A small improvement over the X1, a tad more mids and slightly different treble. Not a leap in SQ but the X2 has replaceable pads.
Some people prefer it over the HD650 but IMO it isn't nearly as good. Tastes differ though.
Nice looking and built headphone with good SQ.
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z3d
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Post by z3d on Feb 5, 2017 16:55:50 GMT
I got it for a month or so two years ago. I compared to my HD600 and the HD600 sounded better to me. It's a nice headphone though and at 200euro is worth considering since it can be driven directly from a phone or a dap. For home listening however, I'd stick with a HD6X0 headphone instead.
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