What headphone(s) do you own ?

[pogo]

An old companion comes home. I also had the HD430 back in the 80s. It was now a flea market find and is still fun.

 

[solderdude]

measurements of HD430 (sold between 1980 and 1985 so around 40 years old)

 

[DEF]

measurements of HD430 (sold between 1980 and 1985 so around 40 years old)

blue is left channel
red is right channel

correct?

 

[Dazerdoreal]

blue is left channel
red is right channel

correct?

Yes.

 

[DEF]

Can you theoretically make a pair of headphones where Left and Right is in perfect sync, so that you only see one color in the measurement?

 

[Jimbob54]

Can you theoretically make a pair of headphones where Left and Right is in perfect sync, so that you only see one color in the measurement?

Would need very tight tolerances but also luck with positioning . I'm sure solderdude will tell you the same side varies each measurement run too .

 

[DEF]

Would need very tight tolerances but also luck with positioning . I'm sure solderdude will tell you the same side varies each measurement run too .

How much variance can you hear?

 

[Jimbob54]

How much variance can you hear?

Not sure but depends on breadth of frequency and obviously the content playing.

 

[DEF]

Not sure but depends on breadth of frequency and obviously the content playing.

I ask because I don't quite remember a headphone that failed review because of jarring channel imbalances. Or is there one?

 

[solderdude]

Just got in a HD620S where the owner thought it sounded a bit 'off'. Almost 3dB imbalance which IMO is not acceptable.

Below Fostex T50RP mkIII

Status audio CB1

Note: the fact that these examples had channel imbalance does not mean that model has issues but happens to be one with poor channel matching.
Usually channels are within +/-1dB which is acceptable for sure.

Except perhaps for the DT250-250 which has a design error (leakage differs per cup) and even after decades they still sell it unchanged.

 

[solderdude]

Can you theoretically make a pair of headphones where Left and Right is in perfect sync, so that you only see one color in the measurement?

Have never seen one but did see some that were really well matched. There are always production tolerances in electro/mechanical devices.

 

[Robbo99999]

Can you theoretically make a pair of headphones where Left and Right is in perfect sync, so that you only see one color in the measurement?

Yeah, you can if you place the headphone at least somewhat sensibly centrally on the measurement fixture, but still above 10kHz you will get some some placements where they won't match exactly, but if you were to do a number of reseats and measure the two channels each time & and then average them then you could get the averages above 10kHz matching pretty good, so it's possible in that scenario with the right headphone that's been manufactured to tight tolerances.

 

[Mr Swing King]

Coconuts:
Sennheiser HD490 Pro | HD620S
Hifiman HE500 | Silver Sundara
Audeze LCD-2
Auribus Sierra
Aune AR5000
HFA Dahlia*

*incoming

IEMs:
7Hz Salnotes Zero | Zero 2
Moondrop Chu ll
Truthear Hexa
Tanchjim One

Currently interested in Focal Hadenys and HE1000 Unveiled/Arya Unveiled. The latter two to see if Hifiman actually cracked the code on their eggshaped models. As of yet they haven’t topped the round cup models in sound quality imho. I would like the experience of those huge cups though..but not whilst compromising on sound. Resolve’s measurements of the HE1000 Unveiled look better than what I’ve seen from Hifiman’s previous eggs.
As for iems, I’m pretty much done. Only thing I’m curious about is trying on a decently tuned hybrid one with bone conduction drivers, y’know to feel dat bass!

 

[Miguelón]

Sennheiser HD 560 S, which I enjoy so much, Apple Airpods 4 witch I thought I will love but I actually detest, and cable Earpods which I love since many years. Being totally cheap and simple they are phenomenal to my ears.

 

[sulfuriq]

Now my daily driver

 

[Dazerdoreal]

I have an AKG 371 where I perceived a significant channel imbalance in the treble but it is really just my ears. When I put on my headphone the other way round the imbalances were basically the same.

That said, I dont hear the difference much in actual music.

 

[Robbo99999]

I have an AKG 371 where I perceived a significant channel imbalance in the treble but it is really just my ears. When I put on my headphone the other way round the imbalances were basically the same.

That said, I dont hear the difference much in actual music.

What you could do if you're interested in measuring your own headphones and channel balancing them all through the whole frequency range then you could do that if you purchase a miniDSP EARS measurement rig for $299. I've got one, and I think it's a worthwhile investment if you own multiple different headphones or one very expensive one - as then the purchase cost of the measurement rig is more reasonable in relation to the cost you've spent on headphones - the result is perfect channel balance through the whole frequency range if you do a per channel EQ to bring the two channels together.

 

[namcheonbee]

Most usage:

Focal Radiance - home whilst family watches TV.

Lime Ears Model X for commuting.

Lots of other stuff lying around, but go to these two mostly.

 

[Audiobernd]

Update

Hifiman Arya Stealth, Hifiman HE6SE V2, AKG K812, beyerdynamic DT 900 Pro X, beyerdynamic DT 880 (600 Ohm), Grado RS2x, Sennheiser HD660S2, Seenheiser Momentum 4, Ollo Audio S4X, Valco VMK25, Teufel Real Blue Pro,