Thanks.

S.

Is the Solo SRGII more brighter sounding than the Ultra-Linear DE?

S.

S. 

List some headphones that partner well with the Solo.

S.

I do prefer HD600 myself and it's a sublime match for the Ultra Linear (non DE) to my ears. 

Headphones are such a subjective thing. The only way to know for sure how one will sound to you is to try it, preferably for an extended period of at least a week.

Just my tuppence worth...

I think it can take several weeks of use/comparisons to become familiar with the flaws of a headphone. It is not until you forget about what others say and really criticise something for yourself that you begin to see the real truth.

And, let’s not forget, lots of people don’t want flat response, either. It seems to me that, just as in a speaker set up, the headphones are the part of the chain that impart the biggest character on the sound of the system as a whole. That’s where I started and now I’m happy. My set up delivers the elements that are musically significant and important to me, yet I know others aren’t as impressed. Okay. That’s fine. 

Seemingly straight forward?

Mick.

I still believe the listening transducer is the most important aspect of the listening system. I say this because I would prefer to listen to MySphere 3.1 (£3500+) directly out of my desktop computer's headphone socket than listen to the HD600 (£250+) through Majestic and Solo ULDE (£2300+). That's just me though but I firmly believe the transducer is the largest bottleneck of sound quality, regardless of how good the driving electronics are. I don't know whether tone controls or EQ could change my mind here but I have my doubts.

Also, with regards to flat response (even frequency emphasis) in drivers and yes, I know we don't hear flat, the user listens to headphones in a generally fixed position, determined by head fit, earpads and chosen wearing position. Therefore deviation from "on-axis" listening would be fairly minor. Speakers, however are a different story. The user may be moving around or listening off-axis for a large proportion of their listening time. Therefore a flat "on-axis" response may quite likely be undesirable as the sound will be rolled off for off-axis listeners. For example, this is why many Mark Audio metal drivers have an elevation in the treble, to improve off-axis HF dispersion. They often have a rise in the upper bass for baffle step compensation as well. With speakers, there are many more variables; different enclosures materials, sizes and dimensions. With headphones, these factors are already chosen for the user so the frequency response does not have to allow for flexibility for end users. This is all without going into room placement, sound wave interactions with room/enclosure, impedance curve/s due to mechanical resonance, multi-way drivers and their interactions, moving mass, the list goes on and on

I am of the belief that an even frequency emphasis for headphones is a must for obtaining the highest resolution of low level information and for true-to-life tonal accuracy, dynamics and phase integrity. All assuming that the listening material was mixed and mastered to excel with "monitor" equipment. I don't find a "flat" response boring; all music genres can be appreciated with the same precision.

Ash - your first paragraph is gold and I couldn’t agree more.

My point was not well made. I was trying to suggest that people expect unreasonable performance from $250 headphones, a performance they’d never presume would come from speakers. I think a culture has grown up around this that is almost always negative online (no surprises), and has given rise to EQ plug-ins to “fix” every model of headphone and headphone amplifiers of lamentable quality and performance at every price point. Always the search for the holy grail set up.

HOWEVER - don’t you remember your first decent bit of audio kit? That product that rearranged your idea of what’s possible? For me it was an ‘80s pair of Mission standmounts. I heard treble detail - the bite of bow on string, the rhythmic contribution of cymbal work, the moment of articulation on a saxophone. REVELATION. For me it sparked a long journey of wondering what else is possible. But for some I know, that first exposure resulted in, “ah...that’s better”, and there it ended.

Sometimes it’s money, sometimes it’s just that some are more easily satisfied. Some people don’t care for low level detail as much as thumping bass or a particular type of distortion they’ve grown up with as normal.

I find these discussions endlessly fascinating. I’d dearly love to afford a set of MySphere. But, my kids are in school and one day I’m going to need to retire, so I’ll content myself with my current set up. After all, it’s easily the best I’ve ever owned. It has flaws, but ones which are far less intrusive than its strengths are engrossing. 

Everyone here teaches me stuff. I like it. 

Yes, I’m content. For now...

Mick.

S.

I don't mind if you do, but doing so might be a tad difficult as they stopped making them quite a few years ago. It is the Sennheiser HD250II. They're bright as **** from new, but mollycoddling them with warmth, and leaving them playing on loop for about two weeks, brings out the "to die for" sound in my opinion. Their frequency response is contrived, but then again I doubt if our hearing is all that linear at such close quarters.

Thanks for sharing, Graham. Any other headphones that you like?

S.

I've only had AKG K240 MKII (55ohms), nice tone and don't offend my ears. Could happily live with them, pretty much forever. Which K240 variant do you have, Graham?

HD600's are decent. But still prefer the more liquid mids of the 650.

S.

BTW, you do realise that popular opinion would have your head for admitting that you prefer the HD600 over the HD800? I know because I do too.

HD540II - Well balanced sound. Neutral and transparent like the HD250. Best sound achieved with thick unstitched velvet pads to optimise stereo image position. Bass scales neutrally but lacks weight and authority although it is still present and audible and never boomy. Midrange is beautiful; really well balanced and clear with great presence, not recessed like the HD250. Highs are detailed and clear. Very musically engaging sound with high tonal accuracy. Slim velvet pads reduce stereo image size and alter sound balance in a way where the treble can be elevated to a slightly fatiguing level due to close ear proximity. Lightweight and very comfortable. Open back headphone. Putting sealed pleather pads on it significantly spoils the sound balance and stereo image.

HD560II - Sound is almost identical to HD540II but stereo image is more distant, slightly confined or out of natural position. Very enjoyable with high tonal accuracy. Lightweight.

HD800 - Incredible effortless resolution of detail and sound dynamics even at very low volume; highlight of the headphone. High sensitivity. Good bass weight without emphasis. Some music seemed slightly out of focus so slightly boring/uninteresting and unnatural at times, something phase related, I think. Critical treble. Neutral sound with high tonal accuracy. Didn't experience brightness or fatigue but could believe treble could tend towards harshness with bright music. Large and quite heavy. Very long and large cable. Huge black coffin box.

AKG K1000 - Neutral sound balance with some slight elevation in the entire midbass to upper bass region. Doesn't affect tonal accuracy however. Great sound dynamics, very musical and extremely spatial stereo image. Makes all the previous headphones sound unnatural in direct comparison. Low sensitivity and requires a lot of power to drive. High tonal accuracy. Lightweight. High resolution comes from the even frequency emphasis and completely open design of the earspeakers more than from the microdynamic ability of the driver. Much detail is obtained with full amplification however, but not microscopicly revealing like HD 800. Look stupid wearing them.

MySphere 3.1 - Low impedance and high sensitivity so easy to drive. Have a resistive cable to convert them to higher impedance if required. Completely modular and simple construction. Extremely open and highly transparent sound. Bass weight is extraordinary. Midbass elevation from K1000 is completely gone; MySphere is flat as a pancake. K1000 sounds a bit coloured in direct comparison. Everything is so pure and evenly expressed. Very resolving without fatigue. Extreme precision of tonal accuracy, rhythmically engaging. No earpads or temple pads; headband distributes weight over head well. Smaller driver size than K1000 so drivers move less air. Volume has to be higher than with K1000 to achieve the same dynamics and is more critical of head position as a result.

I'm going to throw this out there, but I haven't used headphones in decades! I have a pair of AKG K240 Monitors (600 ohm). Do you or anyone else have experience with them?

Mine say 55 ohms and I've had them about a year so I'm guessing MKII.

capetownwatches wrote: I'm not laughing - I own a K240S and it's a joke how good it can be for almost no money. I bought mine off a sound engineer who'd used it on a job for 2 hours from brand new, for half of retail...  BTW, you do realise that popular opinion would have your head for admitting that you prefer the HD600 over the HD800? I know because I do too.

We'd best whisper then

I intend to investigate the Smyth Realiser A16 with the MySphere 3.1 and re-evaluate what is possible with headphones. Just need to sell a load of things first to accumulate the funds. Absurdly expensive, but I guess I never let that stop me in the past.

I still reckon that Majestic and Solo ULDE will have better analogue electronics though so they will have to be carried forward and integrated into the signal path.

  I always enjoy reading your posts. Just a heads up that there are numerous studies that show the body “listens” with more than the ears. Sound waves of all sorts (but particularly low frequencies) penetrate the flesh and are picked up by the nervous system, which communicates with the brain, which in turn is able to assimilate that information into any music which is being listened to. Furthermore, the brain is able to tell if vibration felt this way is a part of the music, or unrelated. 

This is related to how you can tell the sound of a door opening from your favorite album, and if it’s a sticky door jam that rattles the floor or walls the brain is alert to it, even if the music is too loud to hear it via the ears.

Incidentally, there is a suspicion that this is why unexpected non-musical sounds on albums (like a baby crying or the click of a lock) can be a bit spooky. Confused brain.

So, experiment away, I’m interest to know, especially because the brain is incredibly good and creating physiological response to imagined activity.

Mick.