What headphones would you like Amir to measure next?

[FTB]

https://www.bilibili.com/video/BV1VVEez7Ect/

Here is Cuckoo's review & measurement.
It cover frequency response, distortion, impedance, and left-right channel matching.
For dynamic-driver earphones at this price point, the distortion performance is quite good.

Do you understand the differences between these two FR graphs ?

 

[Robbo99999]

I think these reviewers don't use the same fixture, nor the same target... that's why so much differences out there.

Could well be. I'm starting to feel it might be a high unit to unit variation headphone, but it's just a small hunch. Yeah, would be good to see both an Oratory & an Amir measurement for these!

Do you understand the differences between these two FR graphs ?

I had the same question!

 

[CiX]

Do you understand the differences between these two FR graphs ?

The first measurement image shows the headphone frequency response at different wearing angles.
In the second image, the left panel shows the response relative to the Harman target; the white line indicates a looser fit.
The right panel shows the headphone’s native frequency response.
The two plots at the bottom explain the pinna’s responses at three angles and present HRTF differences among Chinese listeners.

 

[FTB]

Thanks !

 

[Robbo99999]

The first measurement image shows the headphone frequency response at different wearing angles.
In the second image, the left panel shows the response relative to the Harman target; the white line indicates a looser fit.
The right panel shows the headphone’s native frequency response.
The two plots at the bottom explain the pinna’s responses at three angles and present HRTF differences among Chinese listeners.

Interesting, I don't know how all that can be controlled.

Yes I agree about measurements.
I don't agree with this reviewer about the FT1, so wait & see for the Simgot.

On gadgetrytech the mids dip is large, that's the problem with a lot of different reviewers, they don't have the consistency of ASR or Oratory measurements.View attachment 476876

I got these headphones delivered to me about an hour ago from Amazon, been listening to them at stock without measuring them on some tracks I know well. They don't sound tonally unbalanced at stock, and the bass is definitely there, you can't miss it, and feels like there's good detail in that bass. I did get the feeling that bass was lumpy when listening, and when looking at the graphic equaliser "dancing bars" whilst listening to those tracks to help identify frequency areas vs what I was listening to then I felt there was too much 300Hz, and also I do think there is dip between 3-6kHz. I don't think it's quite as much as in that graph because you're talking a 6 or 7dB dip according to that measurement. I think the dip there is more than the measurement supplied by the manufacturer showed though.

I would wager I heard the bass and below 1kHz similar to this following graph, whilst I bet the treble was more like the graph in your post I'm quoting except not quite as much dip (I'd estimate half of that dip):

So I reckon I'm gonna try to EQ in the bass based on the graph above then for the treble I'll use that gadgetry tech graph but only assume the treble dip between 3-6kHz is half of that size. I think I'm also gonna measure it my miniDSP EARS this afternoon to see what channel matching is doing and getting some more idea of what's going on below 1kHz. Not a bad headphone I think, seems to sound pretty ok at stock, and I think it will respond well to EQ.

EDIT: I had my DAC in Virtual 7.1 Surround Sound mode so god knows what that did to my sound assessment above albeit I think Neutron Player can take control of DAC so maybe it had no effect, gonna listen quickly again in Direct Stereo Mode & see if same impressions.

EDIT#2: OK, so after listening at stock with my DAC in the correct stereo direct mode I'd say these headphones are great after listening to just one song. I'm not really subjectively spotting anything I'd change. I don't hear the the dip between 3-6kHz anymore. I'd say I'm inclined to believe the manufacturers frequency response:

I will go ahead and measure on my miniDSP EARS though now.

EDIT#3: listened to a few more songs at stock, still good impression, but maybe bass is indeed a bit lumpy and maybe couple of dB or less too much. Will measured headphone now though.

 

[solderdude]

I assume, just like the JT1 (it seems to be based on), that there is no swivel other than what the headband allows ?

 

[Robbo99999]

I assume, just like the JT1 (it seems to be based on), that there is no swivel other than what the headband allows ?

Exactly. Does seem to have some room to flex to accommodate.

 

[Rayman30]

FiiO FT1

 

[Robbo99999]

Measured this Simgot EP5 on my miniDSP EARS (so don't worry about the strange frequency response, particularly above 1kHz as it won't look anything like the GRAS measurements you're used to seeing). A bit tricky to measure, it's a small fixture so not much pressure created, so I had to keep measuring until I got the bass I was hearing and then I cherry picked those 9 or so measurements and graphed them into left & right channels to work out channel balance. Actually, having gone through every headphone I've measured I don't really have any headphones where the left channel sits higher than the right channel, they've either been level or right channel varying degrees higher below about 4kHz, so I think my miniDSP EARS are calibrated wrong incorrectly showing right channel to be about 1-2dB too high below 4kHz, so if you keep that in mind then the channel matching is a bit better than I show.
All Measurements (cherry picked for heard bass response):

Channel Balance (note I think miniDSP EARS is measuring right channel 1-1.5dB too high below 4kHz due to calibration issue):

I feel this is somewhat similar below 1kHz to the following graph (so I still think I'll use following graph to EQ out the hump at 100Hz, don't think I'd do anything else to headphone until it's measured "properly"):

EDIT: quick extra note on suspected channel balance issue of miniDSP EARS due to bad calibration, that would make my HD800 have perfect channel balance if I subtract the 1-1.5dB I mention from right channel below 4kHz, and this headphone is known for it's low unit to unit variation, so that's another notch to support my idea.

And HD600 & HE4XX re the same sort of offset (and a few others, it's probably 1dB below 4kHz):
(I should just flip the headphone on the rig so that left being measured by right & right being measured by left to see if the bias sticks with the microphone side of the miniDSP EARS, I'll do that next time).

EDIT#2: EQ result so far: just a Peak Filter at 100Hz, -2.2dB, Q1.4
That seemed to clear up the bass enough, got rid of a bit of muddiness and brought overall bass amount in line.

 

[FTB]

Great, thank you.
It looks interesting... hoping to receive it quickly and try it

 

[Robbo99999]

Great, thank you.
It looks interesting... hoping to receive it quickly and try it

Ended up just putting a Peak Filter at 100Hz, -2.2dB, Q1.4
That seemed to clear up the bass enough, got rid of a bit of muddiness and brought overall bass amount in line.

 

[nonnyno]

Apple Airpod Pro 3's not least because apparently they measure heartrate and we will be able to have proof as to whether or not they are so "awe dropping" that Amirs heart quickens a tiny bit at the sound they produce - will they move him???

 

[Robbo99999]

Great, thank you.
It looks interesting... hoping to receive it quickly and try it

I ended up using a complete EQ based on that measurement, it is actually better, I had a quick look at his website I think this measurement is quite reliable, I'll use it until praps Oratory or Amir measures the Simgot EP5:

I also put one extra Peak Filter at 9000Hz, just -1.1dB Q2 to bring down that area back to zero effect from the EQ.

 

[FTB]

For you are these still listenable without EQ ?
I look for headphones sounding good without EQ as most of my listenings are on lossless streaming service with my phone, no parametric EQ possible.

I'm trying my best to find better than the AKG K371 in a reasonable price (meaning less than 400 or 500 €) but I've not found yet.
The AKG is neutral but there is still this major 4 kHz dip.

I hope something will beat these in the near future.

 

[Robbo99999]

For you are these still listenable without EQ ?
I look for headphones sounding good without EQ as most of my listenings are on lossless streaming service with my phone, no parametric EQ possible.

I'm trying my best to find better than the AKG K371 in a reasonable price (meaning less than 400 or 500 €) but I've not found yet.
The AKG is neutral but there is still this major 4 kHz dip.

I hope something will beat these in the near future.

Yeah, I did listen to them without EQ at first and then only put in that little but wide bass reduction at 100Hz as a result of listening to it and seeing the measurements, and I enjoyed it like that. I then decided to go all out and do a full EQ based on one of the measurements I have the most confidence in and I liked it better. The EQ does some pretty substantial changes - I think in reality I'm quite tolerant of different frequency responses in headphones as long as I'm not comparing in the same listening session - I think my brain just adapts. I feel that for speakers this doesn't happen as you know how your room sounds from just living in it, but with headphones they create their own room and I think your brain kind of adapts to that new room, but if I compare in same listening session between different EQ's or headphones then I notice the differences and have stronger preferences. In short I think they're listenable without EQ.

 

[FTB]

Yeah, I did listen to them without EQ at first and then only put in that little but wide bass reduction at 100Hz as a result of listening to it and seeing the measurements, and I enjoyed it like that. I then decided to go all out and do a full EQ based on one of the measurements I have the most confidence in and I liked it better. The EQ does some pretty substantial changes - I think in reality I'm quite tolerant of different frequency responses in headphones as long as I'm not comparing in the same listening session - I think my brain just adapts. I feel that for speakers this doesn't happen as you know how your room sounds from just living in it, but with headphones they create their own room and I think your brain kind of adapts to that new room, but if I compare in same listening session between different EQ's or headphones then I notice the differences and have stronger preferences. In short I think they're listenable without EQ.

I received the Simgot EP5 and I'm well surprised !

Sure, the sound is a bit congested with the high energy around 100 Hz but not that much. To my ears these are still listenable without EQ. This bass level reminds me when we play contemporary live music with my mates in a medium room, the bass is solid and provides a base to other instruments.

Like you I think the correct graph is the one from Unheard Lab. These headphones don't sound like there is a big dip from 3k to 6kHz. If this dip was real the sound would be much darker.
The mids and highs are crisp and clear, at the right level for me. No harsh cymbals and voices are present.

Build quality is good, it's lightweight and the metal headband is sturdy. Only the hinges are a bit difficult to adjust, these don't move easily but at least you won't lost the setting when moving.

To me these are the only headphones than can compete with the K371 at a reasonable price. I'm sure the latest Dan Clark and Mark Levinson 5909 beat everything but I don't have 1k $ and more for a pair of headphones.

In fact, I'm doing direct comparison between the AKG and the Simgot and I'm in the way to prefer the Simgot... When switching fast from one to another, the K371 have a bit too much treble and lacks presence, it's a bit too much laidback. Is it due to the 4 kHz dip ?

I had in the past on a timeline of 20 years : Kef M500, Nad viso HP50, Audio Technica ATH m50x, Sennheiser HD600 HD569 HD650 HD560S HD58x, 1more H1701 Triple Driver, AKG K712, Grado SR60, Philips Fidelio X2HR, AKG K340 (the old hybrid ones).
I tried recently : Fiio FT1, Shure SRH840A, JBL Tune 770nc

and the Simgot is finally a good answer to the Harman curve !

In France, EP5 is at 80 €, K371 is at 150 €... that's also a criteria.

So sad shipping costs to USA are so high otherwise I would have send these to Amir.

I will continue with pleasure this EP5/K371 comparison.

 

[solderdude]

Maybe this thread, where the idea is to as Amir what headphones one wants measured, is not the ideal place to discuss the Simgot...
Perhaps start a new thread about it and ask a moderator to move the relevant posts to that thread ?

 

[Robbo99999]

Maybe this thread, where the idea is to as Amir what headphones one wants measured, is not the ideal place to discuss the Simgot...
Perhaps start a new thread about it and ask a moderator to move the relevant posts to that thread ?

It's certainly my fault too, as I've posted the most about this headphone and my experience with it. I had thought of starting up an Owners Thread on the EP5, or maybe that's too exclusive, just a plain old EP5 thread where all things EP5 can be discussed, but my ears got blocked with wax the last few days so I can't do anything interesting with headphones at the moment. If someone starts up a thread for the EP5 then please just drop a quick note here in this thread as I want to be able to find it. If one doesn't get created I'll probably start one up when my ears clear & I start to do some stuff with headphones again.

(I'd like to think that perhaps the measurements and our experiences with this headphone that we've shown in here might pique Amir's interest if he's considering getting hold of one. USA buyers could maybe send him one if someone in USA is curious to buy one.)