Earphone Solutions

I have to listen more to them, but here's my first take.

I used the following system: - Headroom desktop portable / custom PS, output from PC digital out - IAudio X5 - Direct PC output (SB Audigy)

I compared them to: - Beyer DT880 - Sony SA5000 - Shure E4c

The bass is a bit punchier than the DT880, but seems a bit muddy. Definitely better bass than the others, they have here something going. I recall having a better bass on the HD650, but I forgot them in the office, so I could not compare them.

The midrange is very good, close to the E4c - I guess that's matter of taste, and what you're listening to.

The highs are not as good as the DT880, but are very well defined, and seem better than SA5000 and E4c.

I seriously doubt they would need burn-in, as I did not notice a difference in burn-in for the E4c's.

They are LOUD. They are by far the headphones that put out the loudest sound given any type of source. For example, on a Iaudio X5, I have the E500 at 22, and have to turn it to 30 to get the same output on the E4c.

They are also hard to overload. Where your ears give up, these babies just start. I guess if you're into rap music and getting rid of your hearing at an early age, these headphones are your best shot at it...

You do need a very good sound source. They are unforgiving to low-res MP3 as they are to crappy sound outputs. A very good amp makes a lot of difference.

I tried with direct connections to the PC / portable player too. Iif the PC gives you static, or the track has some residual noise, you do hear it, loud and clear, more so than the other headphones -- I have about the same problem with the SA5000.

I saw some comments that these are lighter - they seem the same weight as the E4c to me, they are just a bit bigger, so I guess that gives the impression of being lighter.

They are very comfortable, I have to give them that. It is easier to put them on and take them off than the E4c. There is no cable noise, and since the cable is thinner than the E4c, they are definitely easier to handle.

The gizmos that come with them are more than you would ever need to connect to anything and everything. They come with all combinations of sleeves and sizes, 2 adapter cables, 1 adapter with volume control, 1 full size jack adapter.

There is a filter removal tool, but no replacement filters in the package. I guess these could be ordered separately. They do not have separate sound conduits for the drivers, it's all through one filter.

They come with an oval profiled black case, similar with the case from the E4c's, but just a bit bigger, so it can accomodate the PTH adapter.

The PTH adapter takes one AAA battery (included). I put in a rechargeable Ni-MH, and works just the same. The PTH itself is very well built, very solid, and has no switching noise between direct and the microphone loop. The microphone is built into the female plug that hangs just about the heart level, facing downwards, and picks the surrounding sound pretty well, without catching any cable noise. There is also a shirt clip that can be moved up the cable as needed, but is rather loose.

Are they worth $500?

To really get the best out of them, you need a good sound source, preferrably a good amp, and that's something you just don't have with you on the street.

If you are listening in the office, like I do, and you have a good system, they are worth it, especially for the PTH gizmo, that saves you taking them out of your ears when somebody stops by. But then you are better off with HD650/DT880, at least then people DO see that you are listening to something, and will rather not bother you in the first place.

If you listen on the road, get the E4c and save a bundle, since with a mediocre sound source and environmental noise, the E4c sound better.

The only argument at this time would be the bass response, which with the proper sound source is outstanding.