Should give them a try when i can.

The Sundara is obviously the best at it’s price range. I recently had it for almost a year but then I felt like i want something more and the Edition XS really nailed everything.

Fascinating details, thank you.

> Unfortunately, this hobby is filled with snake oil. There are a cadre of companies and people who claim that there is a difference in sound...

I had been pondering about this, particularly since reading the rather harsh replies to the Stellar DAC measurements/review on ASR. I know the internet is ripe for giving people a kicking, but there some folks were suggesting that PS Audio is a deliberate scam and/or the grandfatherly image of Paul's channel on YouTube is a cynical marketing ploy to cover up products they know are inferior. I suppose I take the view that bold claims must be accompanied by bold evidence - in other words I don't like to attribute to conspiracy what can be explained by cock-up.

On the other hand, I'd like to see audio companies being willing to 'fess up when they make a boo-boo. The measurements of the Stellar were something they should have picked up themselves, but I would doubt they would have noticed that in the pre-production model and decided to ignore it. It's a rhetorical question to be sure, but how did distortion that bad end up in such a high-end product?

> And if I had 2950$ laying around, I kid you not, I would just buy a Utopia and plug that right into my 9$ Apple Lightning Dongle

I've done some digging around on the RME ADI2 FS - thanks for the steer. If I pair this with the Audeze LCD-2Cs, I'm looking at around £2K. I suppose I have the budget for the Utopia, but that leaves nothing for a DAC (though I do take onboard what you say about needing only a cheap one). My main worry about the Utopia is that I've not tried them, and demos have been such an unsatisfying affair so far (either in terms of rudeness or the sense of purchase obligation) that I am not sure how many more I can take. That said, I have discovered one very close to me, so I might do one last push before I tell all the "real stores" they've been replaced by the (much less exhausting) internet!

[deleted]

[deleted]

Thanks for the info. I just dont get it. The earpads just suddenly fell off from the headphones. No damage. It just suddenly fell off

You'll be able to hear it but the details are usually just more buried with lower end headphones, it's like a dirty window

But the warmth that i got is too nice to be missing out

Glad you have fun at Canjam! I volunteered at the NYC one few years back and the organizers were very nice and friendly.

Definitely surprised by the men:women ratio there as it looked the exact opposite of what you would see at the shopping mall haha. The women were all sitting around waiting for their partners.

Not a super invested listener myself, but had a blast listening to Final Audio and Campfire Audio, two of my favorite brands! 🤩

For me, it’s 2 things with focal: even used ones have been very uncomfortable for me in the beginning, and then very, very comfortable after a while. I only have experience with the Stellia and Utopia, but I would assume this one is similar.

The second thing is, do you experience more pressure under your ear than above it? I always jam a piece of rubber between the top of the cup and and headband, to increase the pressure on top vs on the bottom, and then they fit like a glove.

I'll give you a certain thing at a certain time in a certain song:

Listen to the 4:41 - 4:53 section of 'Abyss of Time' by Epica, maybe do it with some low quality gear first, and then do it with higher quality gear. Do you notice anything that you haven't noticed the first time?

I love Epica, I've listened to that song about 100 times but it took me about 50 times and possibly different gear to hear the vocal there. That's an example of a detail to me. It's difficult to notice, but it's definitely there and has nothing to do with placebo.

1.Fold your cable in three sections.

2.Twist the two middle cables.

3.Align your third one and you'll have a single braid.

4.Repeat the steps to your desire.

1.Fold your cable in three sections.

2.Twist the two middle cables.

3.Align your third one and you'll have a single braid.

4.Repeat the steps to your desire.

Thank you! Will read through that.

As I am not sure, if the WaveXLR will power the Headphones properly, can you suggest an affordable AMP for the HD560s or the 900 Pro X? 🤔

Yup... That indeed is the case... Audeze revisions their stuff from time to time. Reason why it was a shocker that the Audeze MM-500 had Pinna Gain out the box. Lol

Cool!

The power of the sun in the palm of my hands

Maybe some of the Shokz models are different, but my openmoves do in fact use usb-c.

They're huge and made of pure lead probably, probably make sound with some alien technology

I'd avoid ebay for something like this, there's no warranty and you don't know if the first owner damaged them In a way that you'd never know until too late

I'm usually a big fan of buying used but unless it comes with a warranty I'd never do it for headphones, luckily mine came with 3 years so I got a really good deal

Some things I listen for.

1. Symbols making a tsss sound as opposed to thhhh
2. When there are a lot of sounds happening, if you can still make out each instrument, each drum, each symbol distinctly. Bad headphones seem to sound muddled and undefined
3. Some sounds like a snare drum, or a piano note, or the pluck of a guitar, have a real sparkle to the sound.

Just some of the things I listen for. I'm not an experienced great connoisseur by any means

> Copper based

Aww man, the fiber one has so much clearer treble, you're missing out!

Double Blind Testing is the best we have came up with till date

Hello all, I am very new to this space.

I currently have a focusrite 2i2, 3rd gen for my microphone. I have come across a few threads that seem pretty old (3-8 years) some suggesting these can drive reasonably high impedance headphones if you don't crank the volume, while others suggesting a different amp altogether. I am seeking headphones at my PC for a general music listening experience across a wide range of genres - nothing for professional work/monitoring. At a budget of $200-400 USD what would you recommend as the most practical listening experience? I would prefer not adding an additional amp, but if the listening experience is materially better I don't mind having some additional hardware.

Would I be better off with either:

A) Lower impedance headphones with my focusrite 2i2 such as

• 80 ohm DT 700/DT770s
• HD 598s
• any other low impedance over ear headphones

or

B) higher impedence headphones + a more powerful amp such as

• HD 600s + magni 2
• Some other combination (please suggest)

Thank you for your input in advance

JDS Labs Atom + stack and pad swapped to Aliexpress pleather + suede pads. Sounds great, and no more squeaking against glasses.

I also used some 205G0 lube on the metal arm that retract into the headband to reduce creaking and to improve the smoothness of the height adjustment system.

Side note: I found that most of the cheap aftermarket pads don't clip into the headphone as strongly as the OEM pads. I still need to try Dekoni pads to see if they are worth it.