What is meant by "microphonic cable"?The microphonic cable on the k371 is such a deal-breaker. It's that awful. Otherwise I love the cans, such a shame.
What is meant by "microphonic cable"?The microphonic cable on the k371 is such a deal-breaker. It's that awful. Otherwise I love the cans, such a shame.
I concur. I just got my HD-620S, and they definitely are sensitive to position and seal.The measured channel imbalance in the lows (in the sample Amir tested) is most likely a seal issue (the wrinkles in the pads) and above 5kHz could be position dependent.
The cable when rubbed with a hand, when rubbing against fabric, when tapped causes noise that is audible through the earphones. The noise can sound like a rubbing hash/fuzz sound and range up to a bassy addition to the audio. It is a major fault in headphones.What is meant by "microphonic cable"?
When you touch a cable or the cable rubbing on clothes or a desk you can hear that through 'mechanical' conduction of those sounds.What is meant by "microphonic cable"?
Oooooh - gotcha. Yes, I absolutely know that effect, and it is extremely irritating on some headphones. Sometimes I go so far as to put some kind of clip on the cable to secure it to my collar, which sometimes helps.The cable when rubbed with a hand, when rubbing against fabric, when tapped causes noise that is audible through the earphones. The noise can sound like a rubbing hash/fuzz sound and range up to a bassy addition to the audio. It is a major fault in headphones.
Fwiw, just a couple days ago I tried the method of tying a loop/simple knot at the top of the cable, which is far from elegant, but absolutely works and I'm much happier now given they are such good headphones in comfort and sound. The very top of the cable above is as microphonic as ever obviously (but if the knot is high enough it should rarely touch anything), but the bottom is tangibly less so, to the point I no longer notice it in day to day usage.Oooooh - gotcha. Yes, I absolutely know that effect, and it is extremely irritating on some headphones. Sometimes I go so far as to put some kind of clip on the cable to secure it to my collar, which sometimes helps.
I wish there was an objective review / test somewhere of the Yamaha HPH MT8s for comparison, the indications are similar characteristics but no reported issues with sealing.I concur. I just got my HD-620S, and they definitely are sensitive to position and seal.
And ... they are really good! As expected from this review, they are surprisingly neutral, and definitely the most open-backy closed-back phones I've heard. I'm impressed.
Not really that clampy at all to me, btw, but then I guess that's relative to one's experience. (The B&W P7, now THAT was clampy. )
These are my solution: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08BL44TW4Fwiw, just a couple days ago I tried the method of tying a loop/simple knot at the top of the cable, which is far from elegant, but absolutely works and I'm much happier now given they are such good headphones in comfort and sound. The very top of the cable above is as microphonic as ever obviously (but if the knot is high enough it should rarely touch anything), but the bottom is tangibly less so, to the point I no longer notice it in day to day usage.
Hmmmz... I was not expecting to read this! Bad bad bad...the microphony of the cable was absurd.
I hope I'm wrong, but it doesn't seem to be the cable that's the main cause.Hmmmz... I was not expecting to read this! Bad bad bad...
I own 2 of the 620S's and neither exhibit the sound qualities you mention. The clamping force eases with use. They have substantial bass and I find the sound balanced and non fatiguing. I do not use any dsp.I use the Hifiman Arya Stealth daily and wanted to pair them with closed headphones and was eagerly awaiting these HD620s.
After purchasing them, trying them out, I returned them after 10 minutes where the only thing I noticed was a terrible timbre and a headache caused by the clamping force. I found the high frequencies messed up on some tracks making them tiring, anemic bass (I tried every position) and some warmth in the mids that emerged without any logic and then went back to being anemic. Also the microphony of the cable was absurd.
Totally disappointed and bitter.
I too have a different experience, I do use EQ but not much and mostly to eliminate the mid bass hump. I have no problems with the cable either. Sounds like you have a sealing issue if the bass is anaemic in its presentation.I use the Hifiman Arya Stealth daily and wanted to pair them with closed headphones and was eagerly awaiting these HD620s.
After purchasing them, trying them out, I returned them after 10 minutes where the only thing I noticed was a terrible timbre and a headache caused by the clamping force. I found the high frequencies messed up on some tracks making them tiring, anemic bass (I tried every position) and some warmth in the mids that emerged without any logic and then went back to being anemic. Also the microphony of the cable was absurd.
Totally disappointed and bitter.
I'm glad you like them. Of course I'm "exaggerating" my feelings to describe them, but as I write I'm scrolling through my playlist and my feelings remain (I reopened the box, since I started the return but will deliver them tomorrow morning).I own 2 of the 620S's and neither exhibit the sound qualities you mention. The clamping force eases with use. They have substantial bass and I find the sound balanced and non fatiguing. I do not use any dsp.
I seem to recall @solderdude saying that he bent his a bit to reduce the clamping force. Headphones can be very subjective due to head shapes not matching and wearing glasses. It is always possible you received a pair with a technical issue.I'm glad you like them. Of course I'm "exaggerating" my feelings to describe them, but as I write I'm scrolling through my playlist and my feelings remain (I reopened the box, since I started the return but will deliver them tomorrow morning).
To get good extended bass I have to take off my glasses and push the pads further with my hands. There are tracks where the sound actually seems good, others where it even seems warm and others where it seems thin. Sometimes these differences emerge in the same track. There are passages where for a moment a warm sound emerges and then goes back "sterile". It seems like headphones without a well-defined character but that change depending on the frequencies emphasized in the various passages of the track. There are tracks where the highs are emphasized and it loses control, making undefined and separated highs emerge, making them tiring.
I can only partially solve it by lowering the volume, but then I find myself without deep bass. I found the sense of spaciousness of the soundstage beyond my expectations, although not very precise and flat, and it does not give me a sense of oppression, which is good for me. Maybe I expect too much from closed headphones, but that's how I feel. Also, as I finish writing, the huge discomfort just in front of the jaw joint is resurfacing to the point of becoming unbearable. You are right that with time it might loosen up a bit (how much and how is unknown), but I find this "philosophy" impractical for shoes, let alone for a pair of headphones. If they don't fit 95% well from the start, for me it makes no sense to beat myself up waiting for something to change after so many hours of use.
That said, each of us evaluates our own priorities. It's a shame because Sennheiser is a brand that I love (the IE600 are my absolute IEMs), but I have never gotten along with their Overears in terms of comfort or sound. I sold the HD600s a few years ago and I'm glad I did, but at least with the HD600s I had the patience to keep them for a year because they didn't cause me all these physical discomforts. When I read about the HD620s being closed HD600s, I was intrigued but, while they fixed some serious deficiencies of the HD600s, they created others because, at least as I recall, the HD600s still sounded a bit better overall and again, despite their deficiencies
I was going to really take note of your recommendation since spatial cues are very relevant to most of the music I am involved with... until I came to see the effective measurement of comparatively high levels of AKG K371's absolute distortion.I appreciate the effort to make a well-tuned closed back that doesn't cost an arm and a leg. I'd give HD620S a demo based on Amirs review. Still AKG K371 exists for less money with pretty good spatial qualities for a closed back, in my subjective opinion.
Is there some comprehensive study of spatial effects perception being attributed to distortion artifacts in playback?Specially so, since these substantial higher levels of distortion are being produced at the sensitive area of 1,6 kHz to 11 kHz. Thus, those mentioned "spatial qualities" on those AKG's might very well be result of a forward amplification of sound artifacts, rather than a plain presentation of the original musical content...