I’ll have to check his reviews out! thanks @timptim44!. I know he and Randy from Cheapaudioman have a couple talking episodes out. I’m really only considering the RP600-M because they seem to be regarded as a solid set of speakers. I also considered the RF5000 too but I dont know a whole lot about speakers.
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@Mush I’m no speaker expert either. Still using my Klipsch KG 4’s from the 1980’s. However I am moving to a smaller apt soon so was also looking at a lot of reviews and the 600M interests me because i like an “alive, energetic” sound and that one is, even at lower volumes. There are so many now that are good that it’s hard to decide, but Elac seems to consistently get good reviews as well, also Triangle.
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I think I can wait until Christmas to see what the price on the RP600-M drops to. If its sub $600 CAD then I’ll pull the trigger. Plus the bonus of speaker shopping is that most places like Best buy will have demo units to try.
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Okay so I have started trajectory towards the aforementioned build. Ive just ordered a Bifrost 2 and Jotunheim 2 from Schiit. I’ll check back once I have the units set up. I also picked up some Hart audio cables so I fear my wallet might try to choke me in my sleep. Luckily its so light now; I doubt it can finish the job. Wallet abuse is real folks.
On a more serious note I will be looking to accelerate my inevitable catapult into poverty with a Headphone as the next purchase.
What headphone should I buy next?
- Hifiman Arya
- Hifiman Ananda
- Hifiman Sundara
- Focal Clear
- Focal Elex
- Senheiser HD8XX
0 voters
Forgive me @MON for I have sinned. It has been 4 days since my last major purchase… up until I saw that Hifiman has a clearance sale on right now. I have just purchased an open box set of Ananda for aprox. $800 CAD. Ive gone in to debt for the next little bit and my bank account has already filed papers for emancipation; Plus I think im under investigation for killing my wallet. Just tell me it will be all right please… just tell me i can stop now… IM LOOKING AT FOCAL SHAPE 65!!! FUUUUUUU…
hello there check out joshua valour on youtube he has a few build videos at different price points he also reviews all kinds of dacs amps and headphones. very informative person
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Thanks for the recommendation @AppleofMyDroid! I am familiar with Josh and really enjoy his opinions. In fact he is someone I watched to help with my recent purchase of the Ananda.Still going to look for other Headphones to pick up the slack there but I hope they can do a majority of what im looking for. Still considering adding the Focal MG and HD8xx in there for the trifecta. Once i get those I think I will be set… but maybe a set of focal shape twins or shape 65 can top the proverbial hifi cupcake 
sounds great man and i used him with help of my purchase of my sundara i just received my focal elex today waiting on my schiit stack which is still on back order then i think my setup will be complete
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Oooh I’d definitely be interested to hear what you think of both of those headphones.
Im finding @hawaiibadboy to be my favorite these days mainly due to how he structures his tests and how he describes what hes hearing. When it comes to drool worthy B-roll and a more traditional approach I like guys like @DMS and Josh Valour. @ZeosPantera Is just a mad man, but in a good way. I guess what im saying is Im a town bike when it comes to gear reviewers
Thought I would write a quick follow up on my recent additions and decisions.
So long story short; Schiit is out and I have been looking at other options. Had a real bad time dealing with their customer service to the point I decided to cancel my order of the Jotunheim 2 and Bifrost 2. I went more into detail HERE.
I wound up getting a set of Ananda for around $850 CAD through an open box promo recently. Short review is I like them, but will need to listen for longer to get the full experience. Right out of the box though I am disliking how the headband feels like its leaving a bruise on my head after a while. Heavier than my previous sets.
I also went forward with the purchase of a Massdrop+THX AAA 789 from amazon for $450 CAD through Amazon warehouse openbox. Its been okay so far, but like the Ananda; I will have to take more time to contrast and compare.
Overall I haven’t noticed the leaps and bounds in quality that I was expecting, but I am still happy that I went and bought these things. The 789 can pair with the RME ADI 2 DAC that Ive been eying and I am also looking at a couple of the Topping devices too.
Outside of new additions. I also went and purchased a HE400i headband for my HE4xx. Now having only realized after that this was an incompatable pairing, I have managed to drill some holes and force the two together, like a freak arranged marriage of sorts. Ill post some pics and anyone wants more info i can detail what i did.
Also bought and subsequently returned a set of Neuman NDH-20’s. Just had an awful time for $600 CAD. I went more in depth HERE.
Still gonna look at getting some ARGON MK.3 in May.
PS: All prices include taxes and fees for import.
Here are some pics of my HE4xx with the HE400i bands. Things to note:
Disclaimer I don’t recommend anyone attempt this. It can destroy your device easily if you are not careful!
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Tape up your holes good! Pad side not so much but for sure the outer grill.
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This was easy to do but had major potential for device failure. I basically just eyeballed where the holes should go and blind drilled. There is metal and other (driver material?) very close to the backside of the hole. If you were were to attempt this at your own risk. My advice would be to go low and slow. You just want to remove the material from the outter plastic shell.
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to get my rough marks, I slid the headband on to roughly the area it would rest. Close to but avoiding the metal inserts of the old yoke screws. I used a drill bit slightly smaller than the tip of the plastic pins on the new headband. I’ll have to go back down to storage to get the actual size I used.
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those marks are from previous attempts with a hack saw and pliers to remove the old seized screws. Don’t recommend this.
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2/4 screws seized in place and had to be snapped off the yokes. I was left with the remaining stubs of screw poking out. I taped up the driver in the end and used a file to take them down as close to the plastic as possible. This part generated lots of metal filings and could have destroyed my driver FYI.
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After the holes were done I aligned and pressed the new headband on.
Simple as that… 
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A review of the Hifiman Ananda’s so far…
I have had these headphones for a couple of weeks now. giving them the occasional AB comparison between my other headphones. Short and sweet answer is that I like them. They aren’t leagues better than my other sets, but the main thing I notice is how the bass seems to act independent of the other instruments. For example my HE4xx have a hard time keeping the bass-line off of the other details. By comparison; The ananda have an ability to take the bass aside and lets the detail come through. Hard to describe. I like them so far and there is a noticeable difference in quality when compared to my sub $400 headphones. My only gripe so far has been the weight. the headband puts all the weight across a 2 inch patch on your scalp. It can be uncomfortable at times.
I’ll give more info once I have more time with them.
TARGET CONFIRMED:: WALLET LOCKED:: FIRE Y/N:: Y
I imagine this is what it feels like to have a crippling gambling addiction. Ive just run to endgame kinda and its scary how easily I pushed complete purchase. After having success with the HIfiman open box sale, I noticed that Drop has some B stock of certain headphones. So naturally I added the Koss ESP/95X for $350 USD and a set of FOCAL Elex for $550 USD… Well what does Senzhenaudio have for DACs? Oh a nice combo “deal” on the ole SMSL SU-9, DA-9, XML cable dealio for only $720 USD. Fuck my life fuck my wife boys! this might be more expensive than getting into crack. Hoping this will cover my bases for good. If I like the Elex then the Clear MG will probably come later.
He… He… HE THINKS HE’S DONE, EVERYONE!!!
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The apocalypse is nigh! Mine ears deceive me and all is lost. I dont like the Focal Elex and I feel like all my expectations have betrayed me. I should probably start at the beginning.
I have made some recent additions to my collection. A pair of Koss ESP/95x, and a pair of Focal Elex.
First and second Impressions:
Koss ESP/95x - These are amazing and I love them. Ive been using 2049 from the Blade Runner 2049 OST as my bass test track. There is practically no sub bass here, no big boomin smacks, and that’s okay. Its a spooky effect because the detail is so good that the bass notes aren’t gone, just lacking weight. Like feather light bass notes that are still distinctly bass notes. Its as if someone took the note itself had just the boomy slider turned down. Moving past the almost moot point of bass, these things sound so natural and detailed. Listening to Albums by Nobuo Uematsu and The Fantasy Film World Of Bernard Herrmann, put goosebumps on my arms. My god all my music sounds better with these on. GUNSHIP, Miles Davis, Death Grips, Isaiah Rashad, Camp Lo… all of it!. I couldn’t find a song that left me thinking “this sounds bad”. These take the cake for comfort too. Light weight, a bit creaky but not enough to be distracting. I would add Sub bass and impact to the list of things I would like, but its not necessary to enjoy these god tier 600v anxiety inducing god tier cans 
Focal Elex: and this is where the hero begins to question all his teachings. I was so hyped up to finally hear that highly touted Focal sound. I dont want to poo poo these things… but I will. First the weight of them is at uncomfortable levels. Like wearing a cat on your head. Its not immediately uncomfortable like the Neumann NDH20, but its certainly not an extended session HP. All can be forgiven though if the sound is good right? well they dont sound bad. Unfortunately thats the main problem I had with them, they sound similar to what my Ananda puts out. The issue is in their performance. The aforementioned 2049 bass test is what cemented it. While my Ananda performed excellent and could handle the insane bass here; the Elex would start to clip/ pop at nowhere near the same level, like early in the bass rise. At the end of the day the Ananda are just better in every way. For similar prices I couldn’t see myself recommending the Elex to anyone when the Ananda exists in the same price range with Hifiman’s open box sales. If they didnt “clip” they would be worth it, but with the issues at hand I would say these aren’t worth getting at any price.
TLDR: Koss is Boss. Focal? more like poop poop poopy-cal. I had some issues with the Elex to the point I kinda hate them. I just shit all over focal and it hurts my soul a bit.
Please tell me im insane and that my ears are what is poopy.
Maybe its time to come and play with us big boys? Dual or more subs and noise!
True, the elex dont give the lowest of low bass but i have not clipped mine with the same tracks? How loud you listen with them… my ears are terrified.
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I think so too lol. Ive been eyeing getting a sub for my stereo. I’ll get a db reading and some time signatures for comparison. They are a set of Drop refurb Elex. Who knows?
Edit: Times and levels - Track is 2049 off the Bladerunner 2049 soundtrack. Time stamp is 1min58sec. Db reading was 78dbmax off an iphone se using the NIOSH app.
So coming to accept these Elex with their flaws. They arent as bad as I originally thought. Just really let down with the lack of wow factor. Took a listen to more things and gave them another go around the ole library. For $550 USD I still feel they are a bit over priced. At $450 USD I could live with them. $550 has me looking at paying the $50 to ship it back. Am I missing something though? Like something that these things do better than other headphones?
