Bitzie first impressions

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Edited by Ash - 12 Jul 2017 at 12:11am

HD540II uses quite a small driver compared to HD800 and other headphone designs. It has a linear bass response that rolls off naturally. Transparent with no hump or thump. The small driver size limits how much air it can move at low frequencies although using it with the Voyager's contour switch to enhance the bass gave it some more weight down low. HD800 does low bass at low volume much better than the Ref II; it's larger driver moves more air allowing the low bass to be much more audible at lower volumes. HD540II sounds best when volume is not too loud and not too quiet. But it is outclassed by the HD800 in bass weight. HD540II is about 25 years old though; the design is a quarter of a century old and can still easily compete with most modern devices. HD540 was very well engineered; uses a radial bead diaphragm surface amongst other things, also used by the HD800 I believe.