Post by solderdude on Oct 1, 2014 14:50:07 GMT
I just bought the Philips A5-Pro for half the MSRP.
In my opinion the MSRP of E 300.- is simply way too much for this headphone and think E 150.- reflects its price range much better.
Having said this... the build quality does seem to reflect the price range.
The Philips A5 Pro is a closed headphone intended for usage by DJ's. With some small modifications it makes a quite decent HiFi headphone as well.
It has a lower than usual impedance of 16Ω and can handle 3.5W so they can also be used as small 'speakers' hanging around the head without being blown up in the process.
The clamping force is high (DJ headphone) but bending the, leather covered, headband improved this.
The pads are large enough to fit my ears in BUT larger or people with protruding ears may want a larger inner diameter/depth.
Also the pads are 'sticky' and 'hot' after some time.
Perhaps the available (and slightly bigger) velour pads may be a solution.
These have to be bought separately.
This is one of the very few Philips headphones that has replaceable parts AND has 3 different pad types available.
The cable can be detached and inserted in either the left or right cup.
Alas the cable also microphonic ... and part straight-coiled and a bit too long for portable usage.
The build quality is excellent and not typical 'philips'.
No creaky plastic parts but real aluminium and leather is used.
Makes it somewhat heavy in weight.
I had heard it a few times in a local shop on a 'demo rig' with questionable quality.
It did sound best of all the HP's out there BUT you don't know how 'conditioned' that unfamiliar music/rig is.
On receipt I listened to it directly from the FiiO X3 which can drive it effortlessly.
It has big bass but not of the most realistic quality, a bit too much in quantity making it a bit overly bloated/warmish sounding.
For some popular music, however, it sounded 'decent' in quantity.
Another thing that was apparent is the treble which is present and sounding detailed was somewhat 'off'.
With the bass reduced it sounded better but the treble still was somewhat 'hot' without being harsh or sibilant.
Time for some measurements.
The big bass and 'hot' but not extended treble was evident.
The 4kHz 'dip' isn't very audible, I didn't pick it out.
Usually a dip there makes it lacking in clarity but may be 'masked' by the small increase around 1.5kHz which make it sound 'forward'.
The CSD shows some very short lived resonances in the treble area but I don't think this is very audible.
So .... time to try some simple mods.
To tame the highs I have always found felt in front of the driver often helps (sometimes it doesn't)
Well some 3mm synthetic felt over the drivers (and under the pads as well to raise them a bit) worked well in reducing the peak but also increased the bass even more !
Treble was much better already.
The used felt is blue but black felt can also be used.
To reduce the bass I have often find that a simple passive high shelf filter yields good results.
The plot below shows the difference between the stock (R channel) and with felt + simple filter.
red trace = stock, green trace = modified
Below the FR plot of the A5Pro with felt + filter.
The details of the mods will be published later when I am finished with it (trying other pads and mods as well).
I like the sound of it MUCH better and is more HiFi.
The hump in the 1.5kHz makes it very 'forward' sounding and 'detaches' singers from the music somewhat.
Even though the FR is a bit sloping towards both extremes it doesn't appear to lack treble (extension) and subbass.
Of course I will make a Kameleon filter for it which should yield even better results (working on that now).
I would not recommend the A5Pro in stock form to those looking for a flat and 'true hifi' headphone and certainly not for the 'street price' even though it is very nicely build sturdy.
With the simple mods it sounds more 'hifi' already.... stay tuned.
Still, the high weight, microphonic (and too long) cable, clamping force and the pads are things that are far from optimal.
They may be great for DJ work though, just not for hifi.
That said, I prefer the sound (modified) of the A5 Pro over the Fidelio X1 even though that measures better.
Maybe the 'forward' sound of it (caused by the 1.5kHz 'hump) is responsible.
In my opinion the MSRP of E 300.- is simply way too much for this headphone and think E 150.- reflects its price range much better.
Having said this... the build quality does seem to reflect the price range.
The Philips A5 Pro is a closed headphone intended for usage by DJ's. With some small modifications it makes a quite decent HiFi headphone as well.
It has a lower than usual impedance of 16Ω and can handle 3.5W so they can also be used as small 'speakers' hanging around the head without being blown up in the process.
The clamping force is high (DJ headphone) but bending the, leather covered, headband improved this.
The pads are large enough to fit my ears in BUT larger or people with protruding ears may want a larger inner diameter/depth.
Also the pads are 'sticky' and 'hot' after some time.
Perhaps the available (and slightly bigger) velour pads may be a solution.
These have to be bought separately.
This is one of the very few Philips headphones that has replaceable parts AND has 3 different pad types available.
The cable can be detached and inserted in either the left or right cup.
Alas the cable also microphonic ... and part straight-coiled and a bit too long for portable usage.
The build quality is excellent and not typical 'philips'.
No creaky plastic parts but real aluminium and leather is used.
Makes it somewhat heavy in weight.
I had heard it a few times in a local shop on a 'demo rig' with questionable quality.
It did sound best of all the HP's out there BUT you don't know how 'conditioned' that unfamiliar music/rig is.
On receipt I listened to it directly from the FiiO X3 which can drive it effortlessly.
It has big bass but not of the most realistic quality, a bit too much in quantity making it a bit overly bloated/warmish sounding.
For some popular music, however, it sounded 'decent' in quantity.
Another thing that was apparent is the treble which is present and sounding detailed was somewhat 'off'.
With the bass reduced it sounded better but the treble still was somewhat 'hot' without being harsh or sibilant.
Time for some measurements.
The big bass and 'hot' but not extended treble was evident.
The 4kHz 'dip' isn't very audible, I didn't pick it out.
Usually a dip there makes it lacking in clarity but may be 'masked' by the small increase around 1.5kHz which make it sound 'forward'.
The CSD shows some very short lived resonances in the treble area but I don't think this is very audible.
So .... time to try some simple mods.
To tame the highs I have always found felt in front of the driver often helps (sometimes it doesn't)
Well some 3mm synthetic felt over the drivers (and under the pads as well to raise them a bit) worked well in reducing the peak but also increased the bass even more !
Treble was much better already.
The used felt is blue but black felt can also be used.
To reduce the bass I have often find that a simple passive high shelf filter yields good results.
The plot below shows the difference between the stock (R channel) and with felt + simple filter.
red trace = stock, green trace = modified
Below the FR plot of the A5Pro with felt + filter.
The details of the mods will be published later when I am finished with it (trying other pads and mods as well).
I like the sound of it MUCH better and is more HiFi.
The hump in the 1.5kHz makes it very 'forward' sounding and 'detaches' singers from the music somewhat.
Even though the FR is a bit sloping towards both extremes it doesn't appear to lack treble (extension) and subbass.
Of course I will make a Kameleon filter for it which should yield even better results (working on that now).
I would not recommend the A5Pro in stock form to those looking for a flat and 'true hifi' headphone and certainly not for the 'street price' even though it is very nicely build sturdy.
With the simple mods it sounds more 'hifi' already.... stay tuned.
Still, the high weight, microphonic (and too long) cable, clamping force and the pads are things that are far from optimal.
They may be great for DJ work though, just not for hifi.
That said, I prefer the sound (modified) of the A5 Pro over the Fidelio X1 even though that measures better.
Maybe the 'forward' sound of it (caused by the 1.5kHz 'hump) is responsible.