HIFIMAN SUNDARA AND DAN CLARK AEON2 NOIRE

[Mkaram]

The perforated pads. We're out of stock for a couple of weeks, demand has been really high and we're backlogged...

Sounds good, I'm a couple weeks away from ordering anyway

 

[jtwrace]

I'll stick with my JBL M2's for my head...the K371 that I use for all podcasting and my day job for meetings.

 

[Cahudson42]

have several. For travel AKG N700 ANC (see measurement below), at work or home, currently AKG K371. I also have a pair of AKG N5005 for in-ear with Comply Foam Tips.

I have access to lots of headphones at work I can bring home and listen to as well (see photo).

@Sean Olive

Could you share your thoughts on the AKG N90Q? Curious why you mentioned N700 ANC instead.. Is it 'a way of the future'.. or a dead end.. What's right.. what's wrong..

Any and anything that comes to mind..

 

[devopsprodude]

I like it quite a lot. Maybe the best magnetic planar headphone I've heard to date.

You like it more than the Sundara headphones?

 

[devopsprodude]

The biggest issue with soundstage is that it not only is pinna dependent but above all brain dependent.

I have the same issues with spatial audio and headphones. My brother has the Apple cans and I played around with the spatial effects app and can only hear stuff moving from left to right and vice versa.

The soundstage of the Sundara is excellent though. Compared to the Sony WH-1000XM3 cans I have, it's very obvious the differences there. The sound seems confined to closer to the head with the Sony headphones and feels significantly farther out with the Sundara cans. Also when listening to Public Enemy, it feels like Chuck D is in the room. But yeah, still doesn't feel like I'm listening to a band on a stage in front of me.

 

[Sean Olive]

I have the same issues with spatial audio and headphones. My brother has the Apple cans and I played around with the spatial effects app and can only hear stuff moving from left to right and vice versa.

The soundstage of the Sundara is excellent though. Compared to the Sony WH-1000XM3 cans I have, it's very obvious the differences there. The sound seems confined to closer to the head with the Sony headphones and feels significantly farther out with the Sundara cans. Also when listening to Public Enemy, it feels like Chuck D is in the room. But yeah, still doesn't feel like I'm listening to a band on a stage in front of me.

There is a good scientific reason why you think the Sundara sounds better: It is better.

 

[devopsprodude]

There is a good scientific reason why you think the Sundara sounds better: It is better.

Yes, I'm well aware, thanks to you, that the Sonys measure poorly in terms of overall sound quality, but I was referring specifically to soundstage, and I thought your measurements don't show that?

 

[Sean Olive]

Yes, I'm well aware, thanks to you, that the Sonys measure poorly in terms of overall sound quality, but I was referring specifically to soundstage, and I thought your measurements don't show that?

No I don't have measurement that directly relates to spatial attributes. However, FR is related to spatial attributes so a bad FR means bad spatial.

1. Localization in Azimuth - ITD and IID (IID is affected by FR)
2. Elevation: purely based on spectral differences at HF related to HRTF (affected by FR)
3. Sense of Depth or Distance: ratio of direct:reflected sounds, early reflections, HF attenuation with distance (affected by FR)
4. Apparent Source Width: related to lateral reflections and interaural cross correlation or IACC (affected by FR)

You are comparing an open back with a good FR with a closed back with a poor FR so I would expect spatial differences to exist. That's my point.