Rabbit
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Post by Rabbit on Mar 30, 2013 9:04:55 GMT
Solderdude is an expert in translating these puzzling lines. Of course, we can all spot a peak in the treble or bass, but he has this ability to describe virtually what you're going to get before even hearing them!! It's scary. He did this for me just before I got an AKG K550. He described its sound from graphs and when I heard it, he was spot on. He's written a really good article on how to interpret these graphs which might save you a lot of money before buying a headphone... diyaudioheaven.wordpress.com/tutorials/how-to-interpret-graphs/
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solderdude
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Post by solderdude on Apr 2, 2013 20:56:03 GMT
The article isn't finished yet and I will also elaborate about waterfall plots and pulse/squarewave interpretations as well in the future... when I have had some time.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Jun 20, 2013 21:24:24 GMT
Solderdude is an expert in translating these puzzling lines. Of course, we can all spot a peak in the treble or bass, but he has this ability to describe virtually what you're going to get before even hearing them!! It's scary. He did this for me just before I got an AKG K550. He described its sound from graphs and when I heard it, he was spot on. He's written a really good article on how to interpret these graphs which might save you a lot of money before buying a headphone... diyaudioheaven.wordpress.com/tutorials/how-to-interpret-graphs/have looked at this article and found it all a bit too much to take in. does anyone else struggle with all this info or is it me?
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Rabbit
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Post by Rabbit on Jun 20, 2013 21:34:26 GMT
There is a lot of info there. I read the articles in bits. If some goes over my head, I let it but take in the bits I do understand and then re read later.
There are some very good pointers into frequencies as they are perceived in that article so if you perceive a sound as 'honky' or whatever, he's actually telling you which part of the headphone response produces that effect.
Also some good advice - ie: use the same site to compare headphone response if you want to compare. Not all sites show exactly the same things.
I think that it is actually very difficult to write these articles without them becoming full blown books tbh. Frans wrote an article explaining amplification and feedback. It's a really condensed write up on how amps work and could easily be expanded into a full blown novel!!
It is very hard.
I also notice when looking at the site figures that detailed reviews of albums get less reading than two lines on this forum. I think many don't have the time or patience perhaps to go through it all and finding alevel to write at can be quite difficult.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Jun 20, 2013 21:41:40 GMT
maybe i am lazy. basically for me, what i would like to know is..... how a headphone is likely to sound? in my case the lcd-2 r2 (as i am about to pull the trigger on it!) and secondly what type of amp is likely to produce the best performance from this headphone.
now if there was a table with all this info on it, i would be in heaven. but i am lazy ;(
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solderdude
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Post by solderdude on Jun 21, 2013 5:03:40 GMT
The matter is very complex and not simply explained. To make an educated guess one needs to take ALL the plots in consideration AND have experience with listening to most headphones. a way to educate yourself is to play with sliders of an equalizer and listen to what happens so you can get a feel what frequency band does what to the sound. BIG problem is our rather flawed hearing get's USED to sound... the brain simply takes into account what it actually receives at the ears and interprets what it probably must have been. This accounts for MOST of the break-in reports. So if you listen to a bright headphone exclusively after a while you won't think it is that bright anymore UNTIL you compare it to another one. The same goes for darker headphones. There IS a table but not for all interesting headphones at once. Good idea though and will think about it. Golden Ears has 'subjective' reports on the bottom of the page which, with a bit of empathy, will give you an idea of the sonic signature. Basically the 'close to ideal' headphone will have the upper 3 sliders all the way to the right (+5) sliders 4 and 6 should be in the middle position sliders 5 and 7 are a bit dependent on personal taste but should be in the middle position or leaning towards your preference. The LCD2 is 'dark sounding' but NOT overly bassy and does have highs, just maybe not on first listen. You head will adjust after a while. The filter will immediately bring the upper mids in there's so your brain doesn't have to and will do a better job at it as it 'positions' sliders 4 and 6 in the middle position, sets sliders 1, 2 and 3 even more to the right. Slider 5 will also be pointing towards to the centre position. It sounds 'dark' because of the relative low amounts of highs and not because it has too much lows. NO single headphone is perfectly flat. The only headphone that comes really close to being flat is the HD600 but because of this it may sound boring on a lot of music as most music is recorded so it sounds good on equipment (read headphones)that are U- or V-shaped. a good quality amp with enough power behind it should sound good on all headphones. Some headphones may sound somewhat better from low resistance amps, others from high impedance cans (and should be in that compiled list). This too is partly science and partly personal taste. That last bit... personal taste will always be of influence.
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Post by Deleted on Jun 21, 2013 19:53:52 GMT
i was planning a demo of the top orthos for next week, but work is just manic so i had to cancel. tomorrow though , i plan on ordering the lcd-2 from hifilounge. i have decided to gamble on this as from extensive research i feel it will suit my taste best. once i have got used to the sound i really want to try one of your filters with it. as i also have an urge to build my own amp, i guess it would make sense to build the filter myself instead. hopefully all this will keep me occupied for a few months, giving my wallet time to recover.
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Rabbit
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Post by Rabbit on Jun 21, 2013 19:57:13 GMT
You could always try a T40 or 50 with a filter and it's a lot cheaper.
You know, the graphs give part of the story but reading them accurately is a bit of an art. There are so many variables and for me, I find comparing graphs more useful in order to spot differences.
I have to say, the T40 is rather good. I'm listening on it now, without a filter attached and I find it absolutely fine. I don't mind the top being curtailed and actually prefer it to a boosted treble. Just change the pads and even then it's a different beast!!
It's one of the most even headphones I've ever heard.
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Post by Deleted on Jun 21, 2013 20:41:37 GMT
You could always try a T40 or 50 with a filter and it's a lot cheaper. You know, the graphs give part of the story but reading them accurately is a bit of an art. There are so many variables and for me, I find comparing graphs more useful in order to spot differences. I have to say, the T40 is rather good. I'm listening on it now, without a filter attached and I find it absolutely fine. I don't mind the top being curtailed and actually prefer it to a boosted treble. Just change the pads and even then it's a different beast!! It's one of the most even headphones I've ever heard. thing is though Ian, if i bought the fostex and modded them instead, i would always have this nagging itch to try the lcd-2. Frans has said that lcd-2 with filter is very close to lcd-3(in theory,i think) (the holy grail for me). so i really want to get this first. i am sure ,someday i will try the t50 and do the mods, and maybe i will prefer it (who knows) at least i will then have a benchmark (not the dac), to compare with. i am getting the lcd-2 at an excellent price, so if it dont work out i can sell them on with warranty transferable and i dont think i will take too big a hit on them. cheers
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Rabbit
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Post by Rabbit on Jun 21, 2013 21:04:31 GMT
I felt like that and was on the brink, but to be honest, the T40 is extremely good and I no longer feel the need to go to an LCD in spite of what owners say. Maybe I'll take the t40 and filter into a shop and compare one day but I really don't get the urge to move up now!!
I still use the Hd600 and 650. Also Beyer DT990 and various portable things like the ie8 custom fitted and Klipsch x10 and the trusty Senn PX100 II (which is also a marvellous headphone), but in the end, the T40 sounds 'right.' It scales up well as well.
Mind you, if you're getting a good price on it, then you've nothing to lose. I bet curiosity will get to you when you have it and you'll want to compare the T40 with it!!
here's me thinking .... buy some more t50's in case they stop making them!!!
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Jun 22, 2013 16:43:53 GMT
pulled the trigger on lcd-2 today
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Rabbit
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Post by Rabbit on Jun 22, 2013 16:47:25 GMT
I hope that you like it. Is it going to take some time?
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Post by Deleted on Jun 22, 2013 17:03:09 GMT
I hope that you like it. Is it going to take some time? tuesday or wednesday, so not too long
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Rabbit
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Post by Rabbit on Jun 22, 2013 17:10:15 GMT
Oh, brilliant. That IS quick. They are a nice headphone. Not too bright either. I guess a UK suppler then? They look the business too.
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Post by Deleted on Jun 22, 2013 17:13:07 GMT
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