It's not even that. Boutique should at least look and feel high end.
I can't get past those cheap ass looking pads on a 2.5K headphone. I haven't even read the review except conclusion as a result, and I'm still voting terrible.
I didn't see that, or didn't think about it, but now that you've pointed it out, it looks pretty bad. Maybe they are comfortable but hmm..The headband isn't better either...
A bit OT but still, for those who are curious and want to learn how ribbon headphones work:
they had almost exactly the same "steps" on the frequency response that the RAALs have between 100 Hz and 1kHz. I wonder why that is.
Interesting thing. Years ago I tried building DIY ribbon headphones that were quite similar to these in the video:
And they had almost exactly the same "steps" on the frequency response that the RAALs have between 100 Hz and 1kHz. I wonder why that is.
In the end I scrapped the idea mainly because I was unable to create the ribbon folds precisely enough and there were always some irregularities that created audible metallic sounding resonances - they were not strong, but since you associate the harmonics with aluminum foil, it's unpleasant. But also the whole concept is just a pain to work with as the sensitivity is so low, it needs a transformer and the transducer is so fragile. Without the folds it just turns into a tweeter and the sensitivity gets even lower.
However the bass they produced was absurd and the sound was incredibly clean and detailed, comparable to good electrostats. I remember listening to this beautiful album and being amazed that it actually sounds clean and transparent.
And here's my Hifiman HE4XX chucked in for good measure on my miniDSP EARS rig, it shows just the one step (at 600Hz), but it is a big one, but you'll notice Oratory's measurement doesn't really show it (maybe it's heavy smoothing as there is a depression in that same 600Hz area):Not exclusive for ribbons.
The larger hifiman drivers show the same effect.
Edition X(v2)
HE1000
Edition XX
Ananda:
Susvara:
Not so for the Audeze.... well the LCD2F has a liitle it of it.
Here is an interesting one. The org. MrSpeakers Ether and the later Ether Flow. It seems less present in the flow version. That might have something to do with it.
looking just at the picture without reading anything I assumed: "oh armir somehow got his hand on a prototype".I can't get past those cheap ass looking pads on a 2.5K headphone. I haven't even read the review except conclusion as a result, and I'm still voting terrible.
ASR has honestly made me far more reluctant to buy audio stuff.Yeah no.
Also, why am I still reading this stuff? I haven't bought an audio component since before COVID!
As me then, BUT at the same time also the contrary.ASR has honestly made me far more reluctant to buy audio stuff.
The Dan Clark Stealth and Expanse are well reviewed here.Every single headphone review here reinforces the fact that the more expensive headphones are the worse they perform.
Feeling charitable and generous today? Are we?Something tells me the open pads and with normal to comfortable loud levels this will sound fine.
€ 3k is substantial and includes the € 750 transformer box. About € 1k less than the SR1A with transformer box.
Next model € 2k and more classic looking with some nice looking wood enclosure ?
You do get something different than dynamic/ring/planar magnetic/ortho dynamic/piezo/electret/electrostatic drivers though... if that's your thing.
40Hz -3dB (not Harman) is not terrible by the way for an open design and up to somewhat loud levels even EQ-able.
Looks... yes, that's personal. This is not for me, I reckon the designer did not want a 'generic' look or the 'technical look' of their other model.
A little EQ can help this one too (but it can be beneficial for most headphones).
It's made me more confident to buy, with the numbers and scrutiny of this forum... and buy I have... lol. I sold all my expensive cords & cables, replaced all HT speakers with Revels, my first IEM @ $50 and a couple of headphones for under $500, all after reading here. I didn't even know most of that stuff existed a year ago. So, the opposite of reluctance, for better or worse, has been the effect it's had on me. I'm a much happier human being because of it... actually.ASR has honestly made me far more reluctant to buy audio stuff.
Au contraire…I feel I have rhyme and reason to choose from the web, in these days and age of melting Hi-Fi stores.ASR has honestly made me far more reluctant to buy audio stuff.
In my case, it specifically applies to stuff not tested hereASR has honestly made me far more reluctant to buy audio stuff.
Same here.It's made me for confident to buy, with the numbers and scrutiny of this forum... and buy I have... lol. I sold all my expensive cords & cables, replaced all HT speakers with Revels, my first IEM @ $50 and a couple of headphones for under $500, all after reading here. I didn't even know this most of that stuff existed a year ago. So, the opposite of reluctance, for better or worse, has been the effect it's had on me. I'm a much happier human being because of it... actually.