From the manufacturer: "ÆON RT (Re-Tuned) delivers a vibrant new take on our award-winning and critically acclaimed ÆON Flow. ÆON RT embodies everything you loved about the classic ÆON Flow - its tough, yet ultra-light, all-metal headband and baffle, and incredibly comfortable ergonomic design - but with a significant sonic upgrade. While ÆON RT Closed has had its bass presence boosted and its tone adjusted to be smoother and better-balanced (basically, a more playful vibe), ÆON RT Open lightens up the midrange and expands the soundstage for a more immersive experience. "
So what is the message to take out of that? That the RT Closed has a dark midrange, congested soundstage, and could be more immersive?
Just to clarify: I am asking whether closed-back headphones need to forever have the caveat applied that they are sonically lacking a bit in the bold parts above?
If so, then closed-back phones that get glowing reviews like Amir’s here, actually need an asterisk with the words “for a closed-back headphone”.
Is it true, or is it myth? ÆON themselves wrote the above, so do they genuinely mean it, or is it just marketing chatter?
It has certainly been a longstanding truism, that for the ultimate sound quality you need open backs, and only accept closed backs when you want to block out the outside world or don’t want to disturb others. The explanation usually being that the sound reflecting off the closed back is causing problems that are unavoidable as long as the back is closed. (An explanation that should apply to speakers too, if true.)
The ÆON quote above feeds into that truism, and I am interested in whether it is genuinely technically a constraint on closed back headphones, that they literally cannot achieve the top tier of sonics in terms of midrange, soundstage and immersiveness.
cheers