Dave
very active
Posts: 480
|
Post by Dave on Oct 6, 2014 19:41:07 GMT
A few weeks ago I took delivery of a pair of (S/H but nearly new) HiFiMan HE-400 and immediately fell in love with their sound - not listened to any other phones since receiving them. My preferred choice before then was a pair of AKG K550s which had been Frans-fitted with a filter to benefit their use with a Kameleon portable amp fitted with a Frans filter board made by Javier. The difference these two Frans-originated mods made to the combination of Kameleon and K550s made me determined to ask Frans to filter-mod the HE-400 but I decided to get a real 'feel' for the HE-400 before doing so, to ensure I could detect any differences afterwards. So last night I dusted off the K550s so as to ensure that mod'ing the HE-400s was what I really wanted - no brainer I thought . How wrong can you be? Deciding now between the two is going to be more of a problem. Don't get me wrong, the two sets are very different in their signature, very different, but now I'm not sure which I prefer to listen to as they both are ATM - more listening called for I suspect - oh the rigours of audiophilia . I suspect that I will still ask Frans to mod the HE-400s based on the improvement his filters made to the K55s but a new note (sorry ) of uncertainty has now been introduced. I think I need a new hobby which does not tax my failing faculties so heavily . Dave.
|
|
solderdude
Administrator
measureutternutter
Posts: 4,882
|
Post by solderdude on Oct 6, 2014 21:08:18 GMT
You know what Dave ?
You could always use the HE400 with and without filter. With filter it will be closer in signature to the K550, yet retaining the sonic benefits of the HE400. Should you need the more laid back (thus lacking some clarity) and feisty treble you just plug it in your 'normal' amp. I suspect the filtered HE400 gains some clarity and smoothens the highs a bit.
Those that have gone before you with HE-500's also felt the difference was positive yet subtle.
|
|
Dave
very active
Posts: 480
|
Post by Dave on Oct 7, 2014 11:39:59 GMT
Hi Frans, Your first sentence covers what I think I will do. I interpret that as having a bit of your filter wizardry built into the cups of the HE-400, together with a filter PCB for the Kameleon (with the easy-swap PCB mod to the case that I will do). TIA, Dave.
|
|