Ive use mine for 10 years and no faults even Im not extreemly gentle with them.The HD681 is closest to the K240 in construction.
This one also has a B(alanced) and F(rontrow) version which sound different in the bass.
The HD688B (B stands for balanced) has the K240 style cups and AudioTechnica wing style pads. These don't work for me either.
It is also available as other brands (Superlux is OEM manufacturer) some sound somewhat different.
Owned one (and several other Superlux models) before I had a measurement rig.
Typical problems with this headphone (over time):
A: soldered wires onto the headband (right channel cutting out) getting loose.
B: the 'dongle plug' wire breaks after some time of usage at the entry point of this headphone.
C: the point where the metal wires are mounted on the cups by a thick screw have a tendency to break.
While they look fragile they actually are not (lite enough to survive most of false and accidents), they won't last more than 2~3 years because input jack rubber (real rubber) will brake. So you are better with even cheaper Superlux HD681.From what I've read around, this seems to be the conclusion. A good budget starter headphone in terms of sound after modding and/or EQing. However, I also read that the build, for even the low price that it is, is pretty bad. The argument being that yes it is cheap and not bad after EQ, but just won't last a couple of years.
Interesting review, none-the-less. Thank you.
@solderdude what do you think of HMC660 (to take some of bad construction points of already discussed one's)? Al do those require soldering on arrival.
I have AKG 240 Studios from mid-1990s, bought for some home multitrack mixing, now gathering dust. I remember being bass light. Worth EQing?The HD681 is closest to the K240 in construction.
This one also has a B(alanced) and F(rontrow) version which sound different in the bass.
The HD688B (B stands for balanced) has the K240 style cups and AudioTechnica wing style pads. These don't work for me either.
It is also available as other brands (Superlux is OEM manufacturer) some sound somewhat different.
Owned one (and several other Superlux models) before I had a measurement rig.
Typical problems with this headphone (over time):
A: soldered wires onto the headband (right channel cutting out) getting loose.
B: the 'dongle plug' wire breaks after some time of usage at the entry point of this headphone.
C: the point where the metal wires are mounted on the cups by a thick screw have a tendency to break.
Actually, just checked, they’re K240 Monitor.I have AKG 240 Studios from mid-1990s, bought for some home multitrack mixing, now gathering dust. I remember being bass light. Worth EQing?
Another interesting thing about this chinese company is the fact they are not ashamed to mention where they took inspiration with their particular products. In this case they compare its FR tuning to DT990 (not mentioning manufacturer explicitly, but obviously most probably they reference to BeyerDynamic DT990). Pricewise its almost a scandal because for the price of these you can get (roughly) just the genuine velour pads for Beyer`s HP (EDT 990 VB)
View attachment 104452
I've searched and written down all the references from their catalogue, in case anyone interested:
HD662 - reference to DT770 (most probable to Beyerdynamic DT 770 PRO)
HD662F - ref.to SRH-440 (~ Shure SRH440)
HD662B - ref. to SRH840 (~ Shure SRH840)
HD681 - ref. to HP890 (~ Philips SBC HP890)
HD681F - ref. to AD500 (~ Audio Technica ATH-AD500)
HD681B - ref. to K240 Studio (~ AKG K240 STUDIO)
HD381 - ref. to CX400 (~ Sennheiser CX 400)
HD381F - ref. to MDREX90LP (~ Sony MDR-EX90LP)
HD381B - ref. to MA850G/A (~ Apple MA850G/A)
HD631 - ref. to HDJ-2000 (~ Pioneer HDJ-2000)
HD661 - ref. to MDR7506 (~ Sony MDR-7506)
HD669 - ref. to HD280PRO (~ Sennheiser HD280PRO)
HD668B - ref. to DT990 (~ Beyerdynamic DT 990 PRO)
No they can't (MH755) they just act as a slippers to Harman target curve. By the way Superlux is Taiwanese OEM that's why you see so much of they rebrand's on traditional markets.These are not new headphones, i really expect it takes £15 total for all parts to build them. The Sony MH755 costs only £5 yet with EQ can match most $200 IEM's.
Not normal usage and a different headphone than the model reviewed
After approx. 1.5 year of usage.
I have modified and owned dozens of Superluxes.
2 of them broke the dongle wire and had 1 of them had the wire coming loose (happens to AKG as well) and 1 of them (a modified one that was returned) had the plastic broken.
Some people are lucky others are not.