Rabbit
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Post by Rabbit on Feb 1, 2015 6:55:18 GMT
The DT1350 is a love it/ hate it thing we me. They're built beatifully and are fine to wear for on ears, but in the end, I start to miss bass and I think tonaly, they're a bit off. I'm very sensitive to timbre or tone of headphones and if that's not right for me, I can't settle with them. Most headphones are ok for me and I tune in to them. The Beyers are ok after a while but in the long term, I find myself looking for something else.
I had a similar thing with the K701.
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solderdude
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Post by solderdude on Feb 1, 2015 9:00:02 GMT
I can't listen to DT1350 without EQ. With EQ they still are bit 'off' but very easy to tune into and then do so much right that I don't care about the unpleasant side (uncomfortable and slightly cuppy)
Wait till you tried it on the Kameleon before parting with it... then you can sell it. You can also try the HD650 with new pads, a DT990 pro and a modified T50RP as well as 'flat' module with Bassboost jumper (about the same boost as Golden Ears finds is needed for good sound.
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Post by ronzo56 on Feb 1, 2015 9:21:33 GMT
I can't listen to DT1350 without EQ. With EQ they still are bit 'off' but very easy to tune into and then do so much right that I don't care about the unpleasant side (uncomfortable and slightly cuppy) Wait till you tried it on the Kameleon before parting with it... then you can sell it. You can also try the HD650 with new pads, a DT990 pro and a modified T50RP as well as 'flat' module with Bassboost jumper (about the same boost as Golden Ears finds is needed for good sound. Iv'e got a pair of the DT1350 used. The previous owner went through 8 pairs before he found a good sounding pair. These do sound very nice. QC seems to an issue these headphones. Rabbit the pair I have has a very robust bass. Strange
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Rabbit
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Post by Rabbit on Feb 1, 2015 9:56:27 GMT
It sounds absolutely excellent, Frans. I think the the DT1350 does a lot well though. It has good attack and you can 'hear through' into complex mixes, but I think a lot of that is due to the drivers which react very quickly. I sometimes find that people really into hi fi, listen for the type of detail that the dt1350 produces but kind of overlook timbre, which I seem very sensitive to. If an oboe doesn't 'sound' like an oboe to me, then the headphone or speaker is wrong. Or sawtooth strings. Or brass that drill your eardrums when they play forte. Or, really horrible ...... Saxes that have more rasp than tone. For me, that is really important; probably moreso than spacial clues actually. (Although I do enjoy the sense of space you get with good speakers)
For me, it is purely the timbre, which as you say, eq'ing will help. Maybe that's why although I'm into hi fi, if it doesn't give me the right timbre, for me, it just doesn't work where others really into it love the more analytical qualities rather than the communication qualities through whatever means a headphone can communicate.
The eq in the Fiio DAPs isn't good enough to get them close enough to 'flat' and as you know, I'm not keen on wandering around mobile with an amp unless it's strapped on. That's where the Mont Blanc does well. It's nice and flat and can be rubber banded onto the dap so in effect, it's part of the unit in your pocket.
For me, the Kameleon makes more sense with the HD650 at home. (Also k550 actually) I get a really good fit with the k550 so lack of bass for me doesn't seem to be an issue, unless my hair breaks the seal. I have too much hair!!! (Or the glasses get in the way)
Another one that doesn't get a lot of mention that is very good is one that I have probably used forever. The DT150. That EQs really well. Maybe because it's not too pretty, people bypass it, but it really is a kind of industry standard headphone. Not so much for analytical monitoring, but for performing 'into'. It conveys real bass power and gives you something to play against and so encourages you to play better actually. That's important in a headphone used for performing against pre-recorded tracks. If you used say, a K550, you'd start being overly aggressive to compensate for the relatively thinner bass. Once I hear a big wall of sound in a headphone, I feel able to let rip on a synth!!
I have no idea of the Kameleon's size though, so maybe it would work on the move.
The slight bass lift was a nice move. Didn't know about this one!! For me that's great. I hadn't realised that GE were also recommending this for headphones. Have they modified what they feel is 'acceptable' in a headphone? I have to say, their Ipod app was great. I liked that a lot, but you had to use it as a player which was a bit of a downer. I played around with looking at their graphs and doing a rough eq based on what I saw. Not as good as your filters but no lugging an amp around then.
I think that the Kameleon is a brilliant idea for anyone serious about headphones. So much eq'ing goes on before the recordings are sent out that the final one via the Kameleon modules can't do much damage!!!
It's the 650 I'm really curious about though. That is such a good 'un and a nudge down below will really bring it into another level. Could be the answer to my everlasting question - what top notch headphone would you buy and stay with? For me, Ithink the answer is very few.
I think I prefer the option of just changing them for a different sound!!!
I'm allowed to keep the X3 btw. Love that to bits!!
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solderdude
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Post by solderdude on Feb 1, 2015 11:12:42 GMT
The Kameleon is about the size of the O2. I thought it wouldn't fit in my pocket but it actually does. The Kameleon is designed specifically so you can take hard to drive headphones along and enjoy their qualities AND a bit more. It has power to drive orthos and voltage to drive 300 Ohm effortlessly (louder than the X3 at high gain) The one I will be sending however is this one (intended to be driven from line-outs) So for stationary use only. As said the HD650 will remain the HD650 but it will be having lots of grunt and subbass and the bass/mids will be more towards the HD600 but with treble qualities of the HD650. It is exactly the same as the portable version but the batteries have been replaced by a power supply.
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Rabbit
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Post by Rabbit on Feb 1, 2015 11:13:47 GMT
I can't listen to DT1350 without EQ. With EQ they still are bit 'off' but very easy to tune into and then do so much right that I don't care about the unpleasant side (uncomfortable and slightly cuppy) Wait till you tried it on the Kameleon before parting with it... then you can sell it. You can also try the HD650 with new pads, a DT990 pro and a modified T50RP as well as 'flat' module with Bassboost jumper (about the same boost as Golden Ears finds is needed for good sound. Iv'e got a pair of the DT1350 used. The previous owner went through 8 pairs before he found a good sounding pair. These do sound very nice. QC seems to an issue these headphones. Rabbit the pair I have has a very robust bass. Strange Ron, the pair I have is the same pair that Tyll used to do his review. So I think they're ok, just not for me tbh. I had a similar kind of problem with the K701 and fought with the he Ad phone for nearly a year, trying to like it. Just couldn't get on with its sound. I have a feeling that the DT1350 is the same for me. As Frans has mentioned, there is a 'cuppiness' in the sound that you just don't get with the k551. It may be due to the very small cups. I also find the treble a little off kilter Mind you, maybe Tyll got one that wasn't so good.he wouldn't have been aware either. (Although I think he liked it)
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Rabbit
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Post by Rabbit on Feb 1, 2015 11:20:49 GMT
The Kameleon is about the size of the O2. I thought it wouldn't fit in my pocket but it actually does. The Kameleon is designed specifically so you can take hard to drive headphones along and enjoy their qualities AND a bit more. It has power to drive orthos and voltage to drive 300 Ohm effortlessly (louder than the X3 at high gain) The one I will be sending however is this one (intended to be driven from line-outs) So for stationary use only. As said the HD650 will remain the HD650 but it will be having lots of grunt and subbass and the bass/mids will be more towards the HD600 but with treble qualities of the HD650. It is exactly the same as the portable version but the batteries have been replaced by a power supply. Wow. That looks neat Frans. There must be some kind of back entrance for the modules? oh, I remember .... The back plate slides open doesn't it? I might wear my 650s in the garden, but not up the road..... The attack of the Cyberman. The 650 will be quite a headphone with deep, sub bass raised with a cleaner mid section. Did you design a DT159 module at all? I guess not so many use that headphone.
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Post by ronzo56 on Feb 1, 2015 15:40:26 GMT
You are correct Ian, Tyll did like it and recommended it for an on the ear closed headphone, but keeping in mind the limitations of this kind of design. I have to agree that it is more a work or the kids are home headphone. Seals off the outside world pretty well, maybe better for those of us with less hair than when we a little younger. It does have that certain closed headphone sound which in a lot of headphones I just do not like. This one is much better than any other closed design I have heard IMHO. I'm sure some EQ would improve things. I tried the GE app with my iPad on these. It seemed to make them flat, but kind of made the music less interesting and less involving for me. Tried to like the effect but gave up using the app. I don't use them at home much unless the neighbors are making noise or someone has the TV up loud. Love them at my desk at work during my preparation time. The Kameleon is on my list for sure at some point. Although if I bring it to work my co-workers will know for sure that I really have gone mad.
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Rabbit
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Post by Rabbit on Feb 1, 2015 15:54:56 GMT
I'm about to hear the Kameleon for the first time. Really looking forward to it too. I'm really interested in what it does for the HD650 which for me is a kind of reference. (Along with the HD600)
Quite a few people find flat to be bland!! After all, I guess it's closer to what we hear all of the time which might well be boring!! With nothing emphasised, then it's totally up to the recording to shine with no 'headphone embellishments' to make up for deficiencies in recordings.
Flatness came up in a TV thread a few weeks ago and Javier said something that I get with my tv. When you set them to a certain colour temperature for white, the tv can look reddish to some people. I get what he's talking about with mine, which can be calibrated so that the picture is no longer glaring and too bright. However, some like a really bright tv picture but that isn't properly calibrated to grey or in headphone terms, 'flat'.
Maybe it's an acquired taste. I prefer a flattish sound with a bass ramp of a few DBs.
The Kameleon even caters for a bass ramp so I'm really chuffed!!! It's flat with a bass adjustment if you want it. The idea of a Senn HD650 that is basically flat with extended bass to the sub regions is very interesting, since I like it so much as it is; especially with the new pads.
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Crispy
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Post by Crispy on Feb 1, 2015 19:53:40 GMT
Seals off the outside world pretty well, maybe better for those of us with less hair than when we a little younger. It does have that certain closed headphone sound which in a lot of headphones I just do not like. This one is much better than any other closed design I have heard IMHO. I'm sure some EQ would improve things. I tried the GE app with my iPad on these. It seemed to make them flat, but kind of made the music less interesting and less involving for me. Tried to like the effect but gave up using the app. Hi Ron, I think I agree with you that the K551 does sound pretty open for a closed headphone and they do a pretty decent job with isolation, but I too could not get used to the FLAT sound I listened only to them this weekend and at a higher volume and everything did improve and sort of get what Frans & Ian mean but listening at the higher volume to achieve this just made my ears ring. So I have decided FLAT headphone are not for me. IF ANYBODY OUT THERE WANTS TO LISTEN TO THESE HEADPHONES PM ME BEFORE THEY GO BACK TO FRANS.I just want to say thanks to Frans for kindly allowing me to listen to a FLAT pair of headphones with no obligation. It is a good job I did as well because I was seriously thinking about building a filter for my DT770's to make them flat
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Rabbit
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Post by Rabbit on Feb 1, 2015 20:10:39 GMT
Probably not for everyone, Chris.
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Rabbit
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Post by Rabbit on Mar 10, 2018 18:37:44 GMT
Does anyone know of a supplier of genuine AKG K550 pads? I see plenty of replacement pads but don’t trust them.
Cheers
Ian
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shiro
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Post by shiro on Mar 17, 2018 10:24:13 GMT
Unfortunately, I can't help you there. I tried to find the price and availability of replacement pads of the K812, their open flagship, and even for this expensive model I got very little response from AKG or the main distributors. The only one that in the end could quote me a price and order them if wanted, was Bax music (bax-shop.nl). Thomann also tried but never came through with a result.
Personally, I'd go for 3rd party pads on my K550 because the original ones are too small. I wonder if there are any memory foam pads that fit and have a wider opening.
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Post by Mr Trev on Mar 17, 2018 16:10:48 GMT
Unfortunately, I can't help you there. I tried to find the price and availability of replacement pads of the K812, their open flagship, and even for this expensive model I got very little response from AKG or the main distributors. The only one that in the end could quote me a price and order them if wanted, was Bax music (bax-shop.nl). Thomann also tried but never came through with a result. Personally, I'd go for 3rd party pads on my K550 because the original ones are too small. I wonder if there are any memory foam pads that fit and have a wider opening. Have you looked at the Brainwavz rounds? IIRC they show the dimensions of their website
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shiro
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Post by shiro on Mar 20, 2018 15:03:04 GMT
I found this on youtube, checking how the pads are mounted. The guy says the fit of the Geekria replacements is good but the soundchange is so significant he couldn't recognise his K550 anymore: www.youtube.com/watch?v=jgx5XrfOwCIIn the comments someone mentioned the Brainwavz XL round fit perfectly. But with the above Geekria's changing the sound so much I'm torn (those lambskin memoryfoam Brainwavz look great but cost a pretty penny too)
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