dreamscene
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For me the EDXS is comfortable , after I installed a leather strap!
Interesting. Show and tell please.
For me the EDXS is comfortable , after I installed a leather strap!
Post in thread 'Hifiman Edition XS Mods' https://www.head-fi.org/threads/hifiman-edition-xs-mods.961413/post-16749279Interesting. Show and tell please.
Is the 560s a mini Edition XS?
Disclaimer: I'm not a professional reviewer or writer for that matter but have a professional background in room acoustics and audio engineering. I've heard some amazing rooms/systems over the years that I feel gives me some perspective on what sounds good. But sound is a very personal thing so I always suggest that one must listen for themselves.
Preface
In general, I've only listened to headphones sparingly as tools for work. In most cases, I prefer to work with monitors. For enjoyment, I've almost exclusively listened to monitors. Life changes and I've found that headphones are a more practical approach for me to high-quality listening. I have many great IEM but even with custom ear impressions, I find them to be a generally odd feeling and are uncomfortable for extended listening. So I jumped in and bought a pair of Hifiman Edition XS based on some positive reviews. . As with all things it was only a matter of time before I started to look at what's the next thing up the ladder. With the general consensus being that the Hifiman Arya was a potentially better fitting version of the Edition XS I decided to try a different path and picked up a pair of new Audeze LCD-X.
Process
In an effort to come up with a reasonably controlled and more importantly a quick way to switch back and forth between headphones I used Roon and multiple DAC/Amps.
This proved to be pretty effective, especially when using DSP. I realize the DAC/Amps are not identical but I felt that given the tools at hand this was a good compromise. The alternative of switching connections selecting the correct DSP, and matching level proved too much for my already limited audio memory. To help minimize the difference I did swap DAC/Amps several times. An interesting byproduct of this was I found the Topping DX5 doesn't have enough output for the Edition XS. I preferred the balanced output from either the Qudelix 5k or Hidizs S9 Pro. I don't have a balanced cable for the LCD-X to confirm but my guess is that given their impedance and efficiency, the amplifier is less critical.
Build Quality| Fit | Comfort
The LCD-X looks and feels like a well-engineered high-quality professional device. With this of course comes a massive amount of weight. Thankfully the headband system and ear pads help to provide a very comfortable fit for me over many hours of use. Corners were cut on the Edition XS to reduce cost. How much these measures impact performance is hard for me to say. I do notice that there are some gaps around the earpads and my head on the Edition XS but when I manual even things out with pressure from my hands the sound doesn't change. The upside is the Edition XS is a relative feather. What's interesting is this didn't translate to better comfort for me. I was much more aware of the Edition XS after extending listening. With the LCD-X I got up and walked away from my desk several times forgetting I was wearing them until the cable yanked me back.
Performance
My assumption given the difference in build quality and cost was that the LCD-X would immediately and obviously be better. The reality is that it took many listening sessions with a wide variety of music over the course of several days for the LCD-X to stand out. I suspect that this was due to the process of learning what to listen for as it became easier to hear the differences. My initial thoughts were that the Edition XS had better resolution but I liken this to the 1st time I heard Stax headphones many decades ago. I was taken by the perceived clarity. However after some extending listening, I felt something was missing specifically in the midrange and lower frequencies, and something was added in the higher frequencies. While nowhere as egregious as the Stax the Edition XS have some of the same characteristics. In contrast, I initially felt that the LCD-X had less detail and more energy in the midrange and lower frequencies. But now I feel that it's because they offer a near-perfect balance. I never felt that anything had too much midrange or bass and details weren't missing. I also don't hear the upper midrange or lower treble ringing that I do on the Edition XS on certain recordings. They also provide an effortless quality that I have not heard before from headphones. They kind of sound like big full-range control room monitors. Which IMHO is pretty amazing for a headphone.
Conclusion
I'm not trying to suggest that the Edition XS is bad. In fact, I think they are more enjoyable for casual listening than the other over-the-ear headphones I have at home atm. This includes the Sennheiser HD600s, HD560s, and my trusty Beyerdynamic DT 770 PROs-while certainly far from perfect I know exactly what these sound like.
When you take into consideration their $500 cost I feel they are a bargain.
For me, the LCD-X offers better performance in every category. At nearly 3x the cost it's refreshing to actually get something for your $.
Notes:
Used the official Audeze setting for the LCD-X built into Roon. https://help.roonlabs.com/portal/en/kb/articles/audeze-presets
EQ settings for Edition XS both regular and extra bass from here: https://forum.headphones.com/t/hifiman-edition-xs/16492
560S is a fine headphone, especially for less than $200 but I feel the Edition XS is in a whole other class and sounds very different.Is the 560s a mini Edition XS?
You could disassemble it and check if there's anything that looks wrong on it, check continuity, check if there is anything wrong on the connections between the driver and the plugs socket, but have in mind that those drivers membrane is extremely fragile and you might pierce it while performing those operations.Rather than send it back, is there anything I can do to fix it myself?
Basically the early symptoms were crackly crinkly (rubbing 2 pieces of wrapping paper) noises coming from 1 ear cup for a few seconds and then it goes away, I didn't mind it as I heard it may be a condition of planar headphones. Then one side of the ear cup just completely stopped producing any sounds. I have had it only for 7 weeks. I read and read of all the horrid Hifiman quality and build quality posts and I still bought it and I really regret it right now. I bought it on Aliexpress and will probably have to send it back to China, the turn around would probably be months.
No! that would null your warranty, do not even attempt to open it.Rather than send it back, is there anything I can do to fix it myself?
Basically the early symptoms were crackly crinkly (rubbing 2 pieces of wrapping paper) noises coming from 1 ear cup for a few seconds and then it goes away, I didn't mind it as I heard it may be a condition of planar headphones. Then one side of the ear cup just completely stopped producing any sounds. I have had it only for 7 weeks. I read and read of all the horrid Hifiman quality and build quality posts and I still bought it and I really regret it right now. I bought it on Aliexpress and will probably have to send it back to China, the turn around would probably be months.
I bought it on Aliexpress but I have sent Hifiman an email and hopefully they honor it as dealing with Aliexpress sellers would be a pain in the butt I would assume.No! that would null your warranty, do not even attempt to open it.
The crackly sound was the diaphragm , even Hifiman can not repair that, short of replacing the diaphragm.
Contact them, they are nice, they replace the entire headphone.
I’m sure you did but make sure you check the cable 1st by reversing the connections. If the problem follows then it’s the cable.Rather than send it back, is there anything I can do to fix it myself?
Basically the early symptoms were crackly crinkly (rubbing 2 pieces of wrapping paper) noises coming from 1 ear cup for a few seconds and then it goes away, I didn't mind it as I heard it may be a condition of planar headphones. Then one side of the ear cup just completely stopped producing any sounds. I have had it only for 7 weeks. I read and read of all the horrid Hifiman quality and build quality posts and I still bought it and I really regret it right now. I bought it on Aliexpress and will probably have to send it back to China, the turn around would probably be months.
Yup swapped cable ends and even used different cable too, same issue, left ear cup is dead.I’m sure you did but make sure you check the cable 1st by reversing the connections. If the problem follows then it’s the cable.
Shot, hopefully, Hifiman takes care of this. Keep us posted.Yup swapped cable ends and even used different cable too, same issue, left ear cup is dead.
I feel the bass performance is respectable, especially given the cost. They lack some of the lower midrange upper bass punch I get from the LCD-X but I never hear any distortion, breakup or resonance and I run them with an aggressive EQ, listen to EDM and play them at levels that are loud for me. Maybe I got lucky with mine idk??I shared my experience before about the bass here. Now i'm seeing multiple reports of similar issues. Looks like another Hifiman common problems.
Yeah it's a defect i think. I can also see the traces on the diaphragm have unevenness on my unit. If you shine light on it, you can see bumps, wrinkles and cuts on the traces i don't know if it's related. I never noticed this with my Ananda.I feel the bass performance is respectable, especially given the cost. They lack some of the lower midrange upper bass punch I get from the LCD-X but I never hear any distortion, breakup or resonance and I run them with an aggressive EQ, listen to EDM and play them at levels that are loud for me. Maybe I got lucky with mine idk??
You do know there is a plastic mesh attached on top of the magnets, and the coil is etched on an extremely thin diaphragm.Yeah it's a defect i think. I can also see the traces on the diaphragm have unevenness on my unit. If you shine light on it, you can see bumps, wrinkles and cuts on the traces i don't know if it's related. I never noticed this with my Ananda.
View attachment 209658
Hard to capture on photo.
I mean there are very tiny cracks on magnet traces/coils. Diaphragm isn't ripped or anything. What do you mean by plastic mesh ?You do know there is a plastic mesh attached on top of the magnets, and the coil is etched on an extremely thin diaphragm.
Unless yours is faulty, there couldn't be any tears, a tear would make so many noises, disturb the bass , you know it instantly.
When you look through the back grill, you look through a plastic protective mesh.I mean there are very tiny cracks on magnet traces/coils. Diaphragm isn't ripped or anything. What do you mean by plastic mesh ?