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The Official Headphone Thread 2.5: We're Making WAVs and Catching FLAC
- Thread starter HiResDes
- Start date
I am inching ever closer to ordering an Eikon from ZMF. The only thing that gives me pause is the pricetag in relation to the fact that I would be out hundreds of dollars on the off chance that I don't find them comfortable. (I think the return / restocking fee is 25% which would be over $300!!)
From all the user reviews and impressions that I have read they have really comfortable ear pads and headband but are heavy (550grams or so). Still, they seem to be top tier (or close to it) for a closed back headphone and of course the looks and build quality is absolute top notch.
From all the user reviews and impressions that I have read they have really comfortable ear pads and headband but are heavy (550grams or so). Still, they seem to be top tier (or close to it) for a closed back headphone and of course the looks and build quality is absolute top notch.
They clamp a bit more then your fostex thx00 actully a lot more. I have there ear pads and headband strap on a stock t50rp mk3 there comfortable but get very warm and I have the protein which are suppose to breathe better.
I'm also interested in trying the black wood but I think what I'll do first is try modding the stock mk3 and just use the zmf pads and headband and see if I can get a sound more to my liking. If not well I'll just leave it to a pro and decide either on a zmf or pm3.
Xander51
Member
550 Grams! Eeeep! Brings back bad memories of my time with the Blue Mo-Fi. Had a great sound, but couldn't take the weight for longer sessions, and those are only 466 grams. Hope the Eikon is really well-balanced!
Awesome, thanks again.
Just as I was about to buy these I see that Sennheiser released new headphones recently. Is there anything noteworthy about the new 559/569 etc?
Chittagong
Gold Member
So finally got my new home setup working today
Tidal -- Autonomic Mirage --- (coax) -- Schiit Yggdrasil -- (balanced) -- Schiit Ragnarok -- (balanced) -- Hifiman HE1000
The sound... Imma need to ly down
What are some good tracks to experience new headphones?
Tidal -- Autonomic Mirage --- (coax) -- Schiit Yggdrasil -- (balanced) -- Schiit Ragnarok -- (balanced) -- Hifiman HE1000
The sound... Imma need to ly down
What are some good tracks to experience new headphones?
Man my PM-3 is on the edge of tolerable, and it "only" weighs 329 grams. 550g sounds insane, to tolerate for lengthy sections.
How is it so heavy, with no magnets? They reference similar driver tech to the HD800, but that headphone is only 330g.
Thank you for your kind words.
Supposedly it is very comfortable and very well balanced.
Wow! I bet it sounds absolutely amazing! Which version of the Mirage are you using? Also, what type of music do you like?
It most definitely has magnets. I don't think a dynamic headphone can work without them?
It also uses very large ear cups and sound tubes made out of wood. The Cherry versions are less than 530g while the Padauk are closer to 600g. Certainly on the heavy side but supposedly very well designed and very comfortable. My current Fostex TH-X00's are around 350g and I don't notice the weight at all, only the slightly hard pads.
Here's the product page for the Eikon. http://www.zmfheadphones.com/zmf-originals/zmf-eikon It's basically a very large headphone. Converting to inches, just the ear-holes are nearly 3" tall by 2" wide and the you have a lot of cup surrounding them.
At any rate, it will take me a few more weeks to save up so I'm not pressing the buy button just yet but I am working towards it. I will end this with an obligatory picture of the Eikon in Padauk.
Antiwhippy
the holder of the trombone
One thing people don't realise when they go "wood is good" is that wood can be very heavy. 
599 most definitely seems to be a great headphone
FallingEdge
Member
The P7 Wireless came in today. Going to give them a good test run to see if I want to keep these or not.
pseudocaesar
Member
Thought as much, but in general how are Sony's headphones? I had a pair of cheap Sennheiser's that were great, but am always up to try new brands.
Sony and Sennheiser are so big and have such a wide offering of headphones that it's hard to really review them as a whole. In my experience they both have things that are terrible and amazing and everything in between.
Yep this is absolutely the truth. You have to take each model on its own merits and research them accordingly.
Chittagong
Gold Member
Yeah it's pretty mindblowing. It's a Mirage MMS-2A
http://www.autonomic-controls.com/products_hardware_mirage_MMS-2A.php
and wired through a Crestron distribution system to coaxial into Schiit Yggdrasil. Sounds unbelievablly good.
Love jazz like Charles Bradley and John Coltrane, and acoustical like Suzanne Vega.
MyNameIsRye
Member
How much outside noise do open heaphones make?
I'm not planning on using these outside the house, but I do usually play at night, and have 2 kids sleeping in the room next to me. Is it going to be to loud?
I'm not planning on using these outside the house, but I do usually play at night, and have 2 kids sleeping in the room next to me. Is it going to be to loud?
It depends how loud you listen if you have a good headphone amp you can get a full sound at a low vol.
You should be fine if your in a closed room by yourself. Your game console fan or pc fans will probably be louder.
MyNameIsRye
Member
Most likely get the Astro mix amp. Just curious what sound levels outside are like since I've never had a real set of headphones.
Chittagong
Gold Member
I know they don't get much love here, but I must say that after a couple of days of listening, the HE-1000s are the finest headphones I have ever listened. Incredibly detailed sound, a balanced sound signature with pleasing bass, crisp mids and clear treble. Soundscape is phenomenal, with directionality and depth. They are also super comfortable and feel light. It's just nuts how much information they can unearth from familiar songs, and how the various sounds are finely layered.
Listening Tidal Hi-Fi via Yggdrasil/Ragnarok, balanced.
Listening Tidal Hi-Fi via Yggdrasil/Ragnarok, balanced.
Celcius
°Temp. member
Now that's some great interior design
Flying Toaster
Member
The HE-1000 is an absolutely amazing headphone. Glad you finally get a chance to sit down and mess around with your equipment.
I know they don't get much love here, but I must say that after a couple of days of listening, the HE-1000s are the finest headphones I have ever listened. Incredibly detailed sound, a balanced sound signature with pleasing bass, crisp mids and clear treble. Soundscape is phenomenal, with directionality and depth. They are also super comfortable and feel light. It's just nuts how much information they can unearth from familiar songs, and how the various sounds are finely layered.
Listening Tidal Hi-Fi via Yggdrasil/Ragnarok, balanced.
I was really, really close to financing a pair of HE1000's a few weeks back. They sound like they would be in my wheelhouse from how they have been described by Tyll over at Innerfidelity and elsewhere.
Congratulations, again though. You have a beautiful space and are for sure listening to some beautiful sound!
Antiwhippy
the holder of the trombone
I liked what I've heard of them too from auditioning, but that price for hifiman build quality is pretty eh.
Chittagong
Gold Member
Thanks! Couldn't be happier. That Yggy sat in a box for half a year, and then warmed up for a few weeks while interior decoration was done.
Yeah the headband part is ridiculous, weird lether thing and thin metal with a shape that makes no sense. Earpads are pretty nice tho.
Well, I did it. I did some math and figured out that I could swing the bill for the ZMF Eikon so I am now officially on the build last. And, bless her heart, I have the most wonderful and understanding wife around. She didn't even bat an eye when I described the Eikon and Zach's process to her in a discussion that ended up with the price I was paying to have them built ($1400 with the Padauk wood).
I'm going to need to temper my excitement somewhat because Zach told me that I would be about 6 weeks out on the build but still, it's really difficult not to get too hyped up about them.
In the meantime I will continue to enjoy the TH-X00's which I consider to have a really great sound for the price. And speaking of that, Massdrop has the TH-X00 Ebony's up for sale right now. If you've ever wanted a set of TH-X00's with really sexy wood, now's the time!
I'm going to need to temper my excitement somewhat because Zach told me that I would be about 6 weeks out on the build but still, it's really difficult not to get too hyped up about them.
In the meantime I will continue to enjoy the TH-X00's which I consider to have a really great sound for the price. And speaking of that, Massdrop has the TH-X00 Ebony's up for sale right now. If you've ever wanted a set of TH-X00's with really sexy wood, now's the time!
Yep:
https://www.massdrop.com/buy/massdrop-x-fostex-th-x00-ebony-headphones
I'm in the market for a new pair of speakers...and I'll definitely look out for Ebony finishes:
https://www.massdrop.com/buy/massdrop-x-fostex-th-x00-ebony-headphones
I'm in the market for a new pair of speakers...and I'll definitely look out for Ebony finishes:
SolarMystic
Member
If the Hifiman HE1000 had better reliability I would be all over the V1 used market for one. I'd say it's almost a guarantee the driver fails within 3 years though. Just piss poor craftsmanship.
Lockjaw333
Member
Probably asked here before, but what does everyone think about the difference between DACs and amps?
I recently purchased a FiiO E10k, my first dac/amp, and while its a nicely built little unit, I'm not sure it was worth the $75 in comparison to what I was already using.
I first purchased a HyperX Cloud II (takstar pro 80) that came with a usb dac that I would assume isn't that high of quality. It adds $20 to the cost of the Cloud II over the I, so I'm assuming its in the $10-20 range if separate. The audio seems clean and neutral to me, and it powered the Cloud II fine.
I continued to use the Cloud II usb dac when I got my HD598Cs as well as my SHP9500s. Seemed to power them all fine and sound clean. I also purchased the 3DM1 usb sound card from Sennheiser:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01ER49SCA/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o01_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
Got it to dabble in 7.1 dolby headphone, which is neat but I don't use anymore. Stereo sound quality sounded almost identical to the Cloud II usb dac.
Grabbed the FiiO E10K thinking it would be a good entry level dac/amp and possibly provide a sound upgrade, and also be the next logical step in my headphone journey. I think whatever upgrade I perceived after I received it was placebo at this point. If I switch between the 3 dacs I barely noticed a difference. The E10k might be SLIGHTLY cleaner but its hard to say, and low end might be slightly more tight. I bet if I did a blind a/b/c test I wouldn't be able to pick out which is which.
Is this normal? What exactly makes one DAC better than another, the amp portion?
If I compared the E10k to my onboard on my Asus Z170-A (ALC892) it would have been night and day, as the onboard sounds AWFUL. Wondering if I maybe should return or sell the E10k though since its not a big difference with my other solutions...
I recently purchased a FiiO E10k, my first dac/amp, and while its a nicely built little unit, I'm not sure it was worth the $75 in comparison to what I was already using.
I first purchased a HyperX Cloud II (takstar pro 80) that came with a usb dac that I would assume isn't that high of quality. It adds $20 to the cost of the Cloud II over the I, so I'm assuming its in the $10-20 range if separate. The audio seems clean and neutral to me, and it powered the Cloud II fine.
I continued to use the Cloud II usb dac when I got my HD598Cs as well as my SHP9500s. Seemed to power them all fine and sound clean. I also purchased the 3DM1 usb sound card from Sennheiser:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01ER49SCA/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o01_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
Got it to dabble in 7.1 dolby headphone, which is neat but I don't use anymore. Stereo sound quality sounded almost identical to the Cloud II usb dac.
Grabbed the FiiO E10K thinking it would be a good entry level dac/amp and possibly provide a sound upgrade, and also be the next logical step in my headphone journey. I think whatever upgrade I perceived after I received it was placebo at this point. If I switch between the 3 dacs I barely noticed a difference. The E10k might be SLIGHTLY cleaner but its hard to say, and low end might be slightly more tight. I bet if I did a blind a/b/c test I wouldn't be able to pick out which is which.
Is this normal? What exactly makes one DAC better than another, the amp portion?
If I compared the E10k to my onboard on my Asus Z170-A (ALC892) it would have been night and day, as the onboard sounds AWFUL. Wondering if I maybe should return or sell the E10k though since its not a big difference with my other solutions...
The DACs themselves are all fairly transparent, I don't think you will notice much between dacs, the amps and how they mate to headphones will make differences to the sound. Also make sure your source files are high quality and also well recorded tracks when you compare.
been looking around and searching on google, figured I could ask here too:
Any good wireless headphones? I'd like them to be over ear too ( because I have big ears and on ears kind of hurt)
every google search brings up the same ones: Bose Queitcomfort, sennheiser momentums , sony MDR....
anything else? Obviously cheaper would be nice too, I live in canada so the Bose QuietComforts are pretty darn expensive ( 445$ on amazon) and the sennheisers are even worse ( 550...)
I mean, I don't mind paying 400-500 if i'm truly getting quality , but if there is an alternative as good for like 300 instead, i'm open to that too
Any good wireless headphones? I'd like them to be over ear too ( because I have big ears and on ears kind of hurt)
every google search brings up the same ones: Bose Queitcomfort, sennheiser momentums , sony MDR....
anything else? Obviously cheaper would be nice too, I live in canada so the Bose QuietComforts are pretty darn expensive ( 445$ on amazon) and the sennheisers are even worse ( 550...)
I mean, I don't mind paying 400-500 if i'm truly getting quality , but if there is an alternative as good for like 300 instead, i'm open to that too
Got the Shakes
Member
That was incredibly easy.
MyNameIsRye
Member
Ordering the Astro Mix amp, and Fidelio X2's tonight. Any reason not to?
Haha good find. With the MQA stuff they add recently it's pretty great.
Wow, that's awesome. I had been wanting to check out Tidal anyway. Thanks for the tip.
Thanks!
Tidal doesn't let you skip tracks by hovering over the icon, on the taskbar.
Come the fuck on Jay-Z.
6 months free is great though, thanks for posting
The 598 CS is a 23 Ohm headphone, any DAC or even cell phone will show its true potential.
Nope.
There is always a reason.
Come the fuck on Jay-Z.
6 months free is great though, thanks for posting
The 598 CS is a 23 Ohm headphone, any DAC or even cell phone will show its true potential.
Nope.
There is always a reason.
D
Deleted member 12837
Unconfirmed Member
Anyone in here have a pair of Sony MDR-1000X? The only thing I'm hesitating about is I've read it's annoying to switch among devices if you've paired to more than one. I want to be able to use it with my laptop at times, my phone at other times, my gaming PC, etc and want to hear more details about what makes this process way more annoying than the QC35 (which I'm also looking at, and has been praised for its simplicity in switching back and forth).
Shit I saw it too late
Yeah surprised that its gone already, was planning to use it for 6 months and few days before it ends to make new account to have 12 months in total, guess my plan didnt work.
Is an account shareable?
I guess if someone want to give their email and password for it like sharing anything else?
DAC's are complicated because converting a digital signal into an analog signal is a complicated business. I've spent an enormous amount of time lately reading and trying to understand the principles and technologies that go in to DAC's, amps, headphones, etc. and I feel like I am just scratching the surface.
DAC's by the way, have nothing to do with amplification. Many devices include both a digital to audio converter and and amplifier in the same box but they are vastly different in their respective roles. At the risk of grossly simplifying the subject there are half a dozen or so "major" chip makers (and when I say chip I mean the actual microchip that handles the digital to analog conversion) and within each family of chips there tends to be similarities in the way they sound no matter the name on the box.
A good "cheap" DAC (that also has an amp built in) is the Geek Out Version 2 which uses a Sabre ESS chip. You can find Sabre chips in many, many DACs these days but implementation makes a big difference and evidently LH Labs implementation in the Geek Out V2 is quite good, especially at the $300 or so price point.
One of the reasons we mention the company Schiit so often in this thread is because most of their products are fantastic quality AND inexpensive for the performance that you get out of them. Their Modi DAC starts at $99 (DAC only) but can be upgraded to a "multibit" for an extra $150 and then becomes really, really special because traditionally multibit DAC's start in the upper hundreds if not thousand dollar plus range.
I say all of that to come back around to the point that DACs are complicated and the bottom line is that each one should be taken on a case by case basis depending on what you want to do with it and what device(s) you are connecting it to. Luckily there's tons of reviews, impressions and research that happens whenever someone releases a new product so don't be afraid to ask questions and do your research.
And as for your Fiio E10k? Most Fiio products are made to be budget friendly and not necessarily to have the highest sound quality. If you can raise the budget a little bit there's generally better sound quality to be had in a similar form factor.
Lockjaw333
Member
Excellent info, thank you!
I am assuming the cloud 2 USB DAC and the Sennheiser sound card I have both use normal, cheaper DACs. But they sound basically the same as the Fiio.
What would be a good option at a slightly higher price point? Given that the e10k doesn't really sound better than my two other options. Fulla 2 at $99?
Edit: or maybe since I primarily game and listen to music here and there, and I have relatively easy to drive headphones, I don't really need the E10k or anything else at this point?
You're wasting your time, searching for something to make the 598 CS, sound "better", than what you already have. Cheap (cost wise) headphones aren't worth the financial journey.
I can almost guarantee you, that the E10K is presenting the headphone at its fullest potential, being able to push 200mW@32Ohm. The E10K is not some cheap, piece of shit DAC, with poor internals. It has a very clean sound with an extremely low sound floor.
Audio gear is about getting the most out of the headphone, not transforming it into something it isn't.
You're searching for a transformative experience, with one of the easiest to power headphones out right now. The issue is that the 598Cs doesn't have a super high ceiling to begin with, as far as sound quality, which is why I'd hate to see you burn money on trying to improve them via the audio equipment..
At this point, you should save your money.
It has a DAC and an Opamp, so yes it does.
I'm not so sure you can wisely make that statement.
There'd be a very subtle difference, if any at all, if he were to buy the Schiit.