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Post by MaN227 on Jan 14, 2014 3:46:30 GMT
I think as far as pad and flattening, perhaps has more to do with how one handles and treats their headphones.
not sure about driver size on the 650, now if what you are thinking is buying 650 drivers and using them in the ae51, others would know better than I . but consider your talking about a closed headphone and a totally open headphone.
speaking of closed Rabbit have you by chance opened yours up yet? tried any modification ?
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Rabbit
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Post by Rabbit on Jan 14, 2014 5:44:30 GMT
No, I've just left them as is, Chaz. I have thought about it since perhaps putting something into the cups might do something to the bass, but unless I know what I'm doing I prefer to leave things alone tbh since you can add more problems yourself this way.
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mashv
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Post by mashv on Jan 21, 2014 23:04:52 GMT
I'm listening to them *-* i'm loving it.
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Rabbit
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Post by Rabbit on Jan 22, 2014 6:05:33 GMT
That's good news. You just never know how other people might hear headphones. I still like them a lot and I do find myself using them all the time with my iPods, especially when I don't want to use an amp. They are very sensitive and work well.
Glad you like them.
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Post by c61746961 on Jan 22, 2014 19:00:58 GMT
The frequency response of these according to Tyll's graphs is quite close to that of the PortaPro, which is a sound signature that I really enjoy, do these two sound similar at all? I've found out that the TH-02 are not doing it for me in the fun department anymore, so I'm considering replacing them with a good and fun closed can. My main reservation is lack of deep bass, since I do listen to lots of electronic music with information down there. Frans, would further damping lessen the mid-bass and mids resonances to flatten the FR?, it did help in the TASCAM case.
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Post by Rabbit on Jan 22, 2014 19:21:55 GMT
Funny you should mention the TH02. I've sent my k550 to Frans as well as a TH02 for him to have a look at and see what he thinks. I'm really not that fussed about the TH02. So Frans is going to be a busy lad modding my K550 and having a look at the TH02 as well as checking out my Porta pro to see how it compares to a real one. You never know my fake Porta pro might even turn out to be real. The AE51 isn't as extended in the treble as the Porta pro. I'm using the KSC on a porta pro headband and Frans was saying that it's not as extended as the Porta pro itself which goes further up in the top range. The AE51 is less extended sounding than even the KSC 75 so I guess that the Porta pro will probably be a little bit sharper sounding In the top as well. Having said that I really do like the absolutely extraordinary headphones. They really work well with iPods. Unfortunately, the postal service to Holland is really slow and they haven't arrived yet!!
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Post by c61746961 on Jan 22, 2014 19:54:11 GMT
Nice : ), have you tried damping the insides with something?
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Rabbit
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Post by Rabbit on Jan 22, 2014 20:23:18 GMT
Nice : ), have you tried damping the insides with something? I think you mean the insides of the TH02? (or AE51?) No. I couldn't really be bothered since I didn't like the build quality of the TH02 and the pads are too low for me. The adjustment doesn't go up far enough for my head!! The AE51 I actually like as it is tbh. It has a pleasant, rounded sound and is great for podcasts and mp3 stuff. I also love the look and build quality a lot. Actually, you reminded me. I'd forgotten that I'd sent the TH02 to Frans. (I wondered where it had gone!!) Too many headphones for my own good. The K550 is more interesting to me in that Frans can modify them to be close to the T40 which I really do like a lot. If the T550 comes close, then my search for a decent closed headphone is perhaps over. I guess I'm lucky in that Frans seems to have similar hearing to mine, plus the fact that he can measure them and get them as 'right' as possible rather than go by guesswork. So hopefully, soon there will be a fake/real portapro comparison. (If mine turns out to be a fake) A modded T550 review from me when it's finally done. Some ideas for modding the TH02 perhaps as well, following all of the talk about it over in the USA. All go 'ere innit? Glad to see you've joined now btw!!
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Post by c61746961 on Jan 22, 2014 21:31:49 GMT
I meant the AE51, I wonder if damping could even the bass response somewhat, since there is quite a lot of headroom due to the recessed treble... K550/1 are a bit too big for portable use, aren't they?
The TH-02's flaws aren't a big deal for me since they are so cheap, not huge, and somewhat fixable, but I just recently found out I am perhaps a closet basshead, I enjoy good impact and slightly pronounced presence too much, which my modded-for-comfort (hm5 pads) TH-02s slightly lack due to their neutrality. Bass resolution is great, though.
Thanks for the info and whatnot! There's a really good vibe around here.
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Rabbit
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Post by Rabbit on Jan 22, 2014 22:11:34 GMT
Probably the AE's could do with some padding in the cups but I quite like them the way they are. There is something quite attractive about their warm sound. The build quality is really good for a pair of headphones at this price as well.
Although my tea 40 is quite neutral since it was also modified by friends and has an active filter attached I do like a raised bass as well myself. For that reason and another headphones I really like is the DT 990 which shows v shaped frequency response.
To me a bass that has been slightly raised is more like a speaker in terms of sound. I certainly don't like thin sounding headphones that can be too analytical.
Is the trouble is strong I don't mind it so much if it snatched by a bass that matches it so overall to me it sounds more balanced that way.
I think for many neutral is not always the way to go with some preferring an added colour to the sound. The funny thing is I can accept either. However a bad recording sounds really awful on a neutral headphone which really shows the flaws which is I guess the reason why I have so many different types of headphones that can compensate for all kinds of things that you come across in recordings.
I don't use an equaliser or tone control. Old habits die hard!!
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Post by MaN227 on Jan 23, 2014 6:26:44 GMT
I'm listening to them *-* i'm loving it. great news mashv . and I'm willing to bet with a few days of "burn in" loosening up those drivers you will like it even more. mind you I have done almost all of my listening to LOSSLESS audio via dac/amp combos. I find their sound is very good particularly for the price paid and how damn well they are made. I can not stress enough this point. STRETCH the pads, STRETCH the pads, It has made a clear improvement in the sound top to bottom! here are some parts of a PM I send to a certain Flop Eared Galoot on this discovery. I hope anyone that has these cans finds this useful. I feel these cans scale to the source to a certain extent, with solidstate and tube amps I can hear the difference in them. Mind you I'm no audiophile pro and will never claim to know anything other than what I hear, and to me its the best 100 dollar head phone that has been on my head. I have some cans that are considered more reference, and if that is what you are looking for look elsewhere, as this is not the headphone for that. It for enjoying music, and that is what I suggest you do with ANY headphone. to me there are two "camps" FUN and REFERENCE. I think TOO much is made of headphones being reference "grade" . what does it get you, more detail, presented more clearly. and dare I say the more reference the cans the more boring they are. why do you think there are MANY more "colored" headphones in the market compared to reference? cause most people use headphones to enjoy music. and what are most peoples opinions of how good a headphone is based on when doing thier research? someone's opinion that is what. if you are not in a position to listen before you buy a headphone that is all we have to go on, yes we includes me. I have asked a TON of questions about headphones. three things are clear in todays headphone market. that are different from just a few years ago. 1. sculpting the sound to what they think the buying public wants, remember we that visit audio forums are a clear minority in the big headphone buying picture. u have a headphone you are happy with then you read a "flaw" someone on a forum has found, what do you do? you try to determine if your headphone has that flaw. folks can be very fickle. and the majority of people want MORE BASS, and couldn't give too shits about dry , lifeless reference cans. take that to the bank. 2. the market thanks to the headphones everyone seems to LOVE to HATE on forums beats by dre, has blown up. most anyone who knows audio is familiar with onkyo, after what seems a ba-zillion years now puts out their first pair. all these people jumping at the chance to separate your coins from your pocket and put them into their pockets. I say hooo ****ing rawwwww, competition is good and will drive down prices after the greed fest is over, watch and see. 3. everyone is trying to make a jack off ALL trades, how many headphones you would have considered "home" headphones a few years ago now come with a iJackwagon cable , with a mic and mute and blah blah blah ? yeah LOTS. look at the size of them, many are trying to be in the middle, not too small but not too big. this AE-51 is an example. low profile, protable, folding, bend , contorting, use them ANYwhere headphones. the poor IEM, gonna be left in the dust. who on earth would have dreamed just not so long ago they would be making amps and dacs for a ****ing cell phone running ios or andrioid. really? wow the modern age of audio. ok I'm done , time to enjoy some more music with my AE-51's Peace
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Rabbit
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Post by Rabbit on Jan 23, 2014 19:34:29 GMT
I think that you're right Chaz. Many people do in fact prefer more bass in their headphones than is neutral. Even Sennheiser make changes to the HD 580 to the 600 to the 650. The 650 definitely has a raised bass level. That was done following research by using listeners.
I think that I also have a preference for a slightly raised bass myself. Perhaps it's because I'm used to hearing reflections from walls from speakers and also in real life where you do in fact get raised levels of bass.
Also with speakers you tend to feel the bass as well as hear it. That sensation is missing with headphones. So we perceive headphones as being quite thin by comparison.
Having said that my favourite headphones is probably the T 40 and the T 50 which are probably flatter than a lot of headphones. Especially the T 40 which was modded by Frans. It doesn't sound fame that it does actually sound right to my ears. For me it's more to do with the quantity and the quality of the treble. I find many headphones have far too much in the top Range so I have to listen to them very quietly. Too loud and they become a bit painful on the ears.
Perhaps that's also why I prefer to have the treble rolled off slightly.
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mashv
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Post by mashv on Jan 25, 2014 0:24:30 GMT
I copy/paste an answer to a guy that asked me how i judge them on reddit: I'm listening at them for the first time right now, keep in mind they're my first pair of headphones and that i come from cheap earbuds, so every pair of headphone could sound pretty amazing for me, i don't have other headphones for comparison, but i can assure i'm enjoying them so much. Bass are smoth and a little veiled but they're resolving and never muffled, also they don't stand above mid and treble. Mid instead are a little lacking, not very pronunced, while treble are very resolving and clear. I don't know how other headphones sounds, but ae51st feels a little bassy in a good way, veiled as tyll in the video said it's the right term, smoth and warm. How they feel on my head and around my ears? I'm not used to headphones, so i feel them a little unconfortable for now, they don't press too much on ears, but i feel them, the headband touch my head and was unconfortable at first, but now i don't even feel it anymore. Still, i believe these are concerns of a guy not used to wear any headphones in his life, so i think in comparison to others these could be perfectly confortable. Fort what concerns earpads, they're something between over ear and on ear, they're not too big, so my ear lobe doesn't go in the earpad but under the earpad foam, but it's perfectly fine, sound isolation is really good, and being my lobe real soft i don't feel it pressed by earpads. The reast of the ears fits perfectly in the earpads, the measurements of the inner space in the earpads are 2,7cm side to side, 5,3cm top to bottom. My ears are 6cm top to ear lobe, 3cm or less side by side, but this last measurement depends from the point you start the measurement, i can tell you that side to side they fit in perfectly. Other than this i can't tell you anymore, i'm not an audiphile, i'm only talking of my impressions, and i have to say i really like them, they feels really solid and well made, the wood looks and feels beautiful and perfect, the steel is steel..the only remark is on the headband, it's glued on the steel, it seems like it could last a lot of time, but it could also unglue after using them a lot, i don't know, but anyway it's something that in case i will manage, it's easily reglueable as it seems. Oh, one last thing, earpads are not in memory foam and leather, it's more cheap similar leather + generic foam, but their very comfortable. i was looking to buy these or ue6000, i preferred ae51st for the look i loved and because earpads are replaceable(ue6000 aren't).
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mashv
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Post by mashv on Jan 25, 2014 0:32:12 GMT
Now i'm using my old amp, wow.
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Post by MaN227 on Jan 26, 2014 12:12:27 GMT
I have a new favorite set of cans under 100USD ! I have been doing a fair bit of A/B with my favorite budget can setup the Presonus HD7 with velo pads and first frans filter, and the AE 51. and I have to reiterate what i have stated prior that the AE-51 is the best sounding headphone I have heard under 100 USD. for long listening sessions I find it very non fatiguing. compared to the HD7 ( for those that do not know, its part of a family of clones that include the superlux 681, samson 820<- i think that is the number, and one other if not mistaken) I find the ArEa 51 to be the better headphone all around, and with filter and pad costs added in to HD7 cost they are really close in price. low end is deeper by a fair margin and more controlled, not huge on graphs and such but if I had to guess perhaps the area 51 has a bit more raised section in the lower mids, as the HD7 seems to be a bit more forward, I feel due to this, vocals are a tad warmer with a bit more heft on the 51. perhaps the hd7 is a bit more raised in the upper mids, and the combination of these factors are what produce this result I hear. top end again i find the 51 better. I played drums for many years, so the drum sounds are what I go by FIRST when determining how a headphone produces a drum sets MANY sounds. I listen a LOT to the Dire Straits- Dire Straits album, FLAC files, I feel its a fairly well made album. I particularly listen to the song Six Blade Knife, firstly in a LOT of the song the kick drum (bass) and bass guitar are hitting together on the down beats, and as such its a good indicator as to how well a headphones low end can perform, listening for the distinct sounds of the drum kicks and the string plucks. that coupled to the mid tension drummer has on the snare drum head, when u know how it sounds in real life its quite easy to tell when its sound is not being reproduced accurately9by the way he is using what is called a brush on the snare hits) it is distinctly different sounding to hits with a stick, brushes are heard in jazz music a fair bit, and likewise but to a slightly lesser degree the high hat , and cymbals, just the way they ring and the amount of tizz, ring, and speed of the decay, and the way they sound different when being stuck by the drum stick using either the side of the stick as compared to the head of the stick. crash cymbals are usually struck with the side of the stick while a, always larger, ride cymbal is almost always struck using the head of the stick, its quite distinct. and with all that in mind, the hd7 sounds artificial, the ae-51 does it better, in a more REAL WORLD way, this is really well exhibited on the track Sultans of Swing, most people I guess listen to the guitar first then vocal, for me its the drums and bass guitar first, as they are a team in ANY band. anyone who has access to album, give it a listen with YOUR headphones and pay particular attention to drums and bass, listen for the kick drum and bass line on the guitar to distinguish the two. I will do more comparing, I don't have a huge stash of cans but I do have some under 100 USD and some much more than 100 USD and feel the ArEa-51 so far compares rather well to my ears, I do not claim to know anything more that what my ears hear and my perception of sound via them in my brain. these are a very good headphone for the money, and as of yet have not heard a better sounding headphone thus far at this price. I will venture to suggest it may well produce musical enjoyment to your ears that rival even more expensive headphones. I should note that most of my listening is of lossless audio through a dac & amp, which I find makes a difference in their performance. After stretching the pads and breaking the headphone in, I am totally digging my Accidentally Extraordinary 51'st Studio headphones. are they the flattest? nope are they the most enjoyable cheap can? thus far I can say HELL YES they are .... but , alas I'm just a simple man who lives out in the sticks, what do I know, take it as you will. and no I did NOT spell check, sorry. thanks for reading, PeaceB2U MaN227 Peace
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