this is why I ask though. It looks like it has a V signature to it. Wasn’t sure if this is a better option for the price. Though it comes with hybrid and dekoni elite velour pads. Probably better if I go with T50rp. I just personally like the Dekoni blues look to it and it can be bought for like $200 from the looks of it.
Wonder if anyone has experience with this headphone out there? Could use some input. Dekoni Blue are like $60 more expensive however I don’t know if these were custom tuned? If they respond well to the pad swap as well or potentially better I would rather go that route as $60 isn’t much more. Going to assume that frequency, as it doesn’t say, is the blue lines that show a V signature are those velour pads and the hybrids are those bass cannons. Makes a bit concerned for switching to leathers
In short, yes they all need a pretty decent amp, but your Asgard should handle them fine.
The Ohm load is not the only root cause for needing an amp. Even though the TXXRP series are low ohm, the sensitivity is also low, requiring more power. Stock sensitivity is 92dB/mW at an impedance of 50 ohm (which is actually on the higher end for a planar, IMO). I don’t have measurements, but I believe the Argon mod further reduces sensitivity below 90dB/mW.
I believe the webpage also says something like “the drivers handle up to three watts of power”. Which is… probably a subtle way to say “no, these won’t work with your iPhone”.
To be honest, everything “works”, but you’ll get moderate volume with your smartphone and it won’t be enough for calm songs.
I would love to have it balanced but have no idea how to proceed on that. Not the greatest at soldering.and wouldn’t know where to begin on that or if I could order this process to be done. If possible I would prefer it to be balanced so I can put it on my LP
I figured this was the case I was just wondering though on it’s power requirements.
yeah Noticed that myself. Good to know.
Well that’s fine and all but now my last question is mainly just between dekoni blue vs the T50RP mk3. I want to change the pads to a leather based cushion, not hybrids, but maintain a strong V signature. As it stands I have been told the T50RP becomes a great V signature when using Shure 840 pads but what about the Dekoni blue? I read that the dekoni blue is sonic tuned differently and that it isn’t as grainy on it’s highs if that’s the case does it respond just as well to this pad swap? Could use someone with some verification on this before I go buying. Really all I need to know before I up and make my decision here. Dekoni Blue seems to be around $200 while T50RP is like $150 or $160. Those dekonis are just barily above the price but I don’t want it if it just doesn’t do better in this case.
Send 'em all to Modhouse? You can do with or without pads, so you could grab the 840 or 1540 pads to try with them. Not positive they do the T20/40, but since they’re essentially just different levels of closed/open, should be reasonably similar for them to do a balanced mod and comfort strap. The driver matching/tuning might be a little different, though.
that would be my biggest concern honestly. Doesn’t seem to be enough information here. Would need a new head strap or just put some more pad on the headband by changing it, new pads, maybe a different outer shell if I can find one since I am not a fan of the outer cup casing, and balanced cabling. I want a good V signature that sounds rather airy and open. Which is why I am curious… I could Buy T50RP switch the pads but then I’d want it balanced so I would have to send it in looks like they charge $35 for the balanced conversion. or I could do Dekoni blue but I honestly have no friggin clue on the difference in tuning between the T50, Argon, and Dekoni I assume they are all different so obviously I would want the one best tuned for a V signature using those leather pads.
For some reason, I thought you had Argons already, no? They’re pretty wide sounding for as closed as they are, with good separation and clarity in the treble. I’d say they’re somewhat of a V shaped benchmark, IMO.
Borrowed but yes they are still here, I use them rather frequently, which is another reason I am considering them. I haven’t sat down with dekoni blue or the regular T50. Would take a long time to get an order of argons through. Not particularly bright though in my opinion just real bassy and warm
Gotcha…the other related option for something with a bit of a V shape and inherently capable of being balanced is the T60. You can also get them Argonified, but I hear they benefit to a lesser degree (don’t have them myself).
I would rather not go with the T60. Though I like the wood design they are much more expensive(in that price range I would just stick with my aeons considering how high that price jumps with modifications). Just mainly stuck between argon, t50rp mk3 base, or dekoni blue. Not sure if modhouse would be willing to balance out a dekoni blue though. Same headphone so I would hope they wouldn’t have issues with that. Just dunno based on tuning which would be the best route which is troubling. I do like the argons but, less it’s just the pads as these have the zmf lambskin on them, they aren’t bright enough they sound like a very warm headphone and not a V signature right now. All for having a bass cannon in house but it’s not what I am looking for at this moment ya know? If I wanted a bass cannon I would go grab the T20rp and pay modhouse to have it converted since they convert T20/T40/T50RP.
I’ve heard of people sending in their Blues since they’re a T50 derivative, but Dekoni has already done some tuning of those themselves to match up with the 2 sets of pads they provide with them. The T60 really doesn’t have to be modified, as it already has a comfort strap and is balanced out of the box (once you get a balanced cable), and they do technically fit your $300 and under budget…just sayin. In this price bracket, these are likely some of your best contenders, but mileage may vary on preferences and perceived vs measured sound signature.
This headphone itself is priced at $300 and would require a change in pads from the looks of it as well as an additional cable purchase with pushes that cost past the budget limit. Interesting idea just out of budget is the issue.Though I do like that different detachable cable design. just noticed it also looks more closed in comparison. less vents
As far as tuning…looking at pictures of the ear cup of a stock T50 and then my Blues the only thing I can think of is they changed either the thickness or density of the foam over the vents on the outside of the earcup. That’s not nothing, but it’s also not a lot of “tuning”.
The Blues change their sound wildly with different pads. The stock hybrid pads turn them into bass cannons, but to me the treble always sounds thin and brittle; almost like that treble sound you get on a low-bitrate mp3. The velour pads narrow the soundstage a bit and bring out more overall detail, sweeten the treble, but don’t eliminate that treble compression sound. They are still bassy with the velours, but not near to the level of the hybrids. I also tried Dekoni’s protein pads. Those fixed the treble issues almost entirely while still causing them to be bass cannons. I was happy with the proteins for awhile but noticed that the upper-bass bled into the lower mids a little too often and gave everything a bloated sound. Finally, I got Shure 1540 pads - the same ones @ZeosPantera uses on his T50 - and have used those ever since. The 1540s give good bass slam and extension, detailed and natural sounding mids, and accurate, detailed treble. With the Shures, I did have some piercing sibilance issues when I had my SP200. On the Asgard 3 the sibilance is less frequent but still present. The Liquid Spark and the Blues with Shure 1540 pads were made for each other, though.
Learning all of that was super fun and exciting, but I also could have saved over $100 if I had just gotten a stock T50 and put the 1540s on it right away. AFAIK, the stock and the Blues are very, very similar with those Shure pads.
Interesting to know this thank you. so it sounds like you are pretty much paying for the different housing and extra pads? when I looked it up they say they changed it sonically and changed the housings amongst a other few things inside which alters its sound. looking at the price it’s like… around $60 more? by chance do you have the Shure 840 pads to test on those blues? That’s the recommended pad @LeDechaine made to me to make it a great V signature since I want a leather based pad, not hybrid or anything. Whether its leather choice protein whatever just a nice thicker soft leather based pad, could even be perforated as I know that tends to reduce bass a little bit… By chance do you have a leather pad that fits in house to test?
Mind you I do really like the T60rp design and the new cable is nice(pretty sure you can pair one of these headphones with the V-moda Boom pro?). I watched josh’s review on the dekoni blues he said the highs were weak and didn’t have a lot of depth which worries me as someone who really likes highs
huh, so really not much different between the two at all. bit of foam extra dekoni pads(which come to think of it no idea if those pads would fit my other headphones? probably won’t fit my beyers lol) which are nice but I normally don’t buy a bunch of fostex sooo eh, plus the 840 pads are like $12. SO I would be spending like $60 extra for foam, pads, and a blue housing
Well, I suppose theres only one thing left to do. order both the headphone and the pads and try them myself. Which is a job for ANOTHER DAY.
I know I was suggested the HE-35x but also told and even read that those headphones show a lot of sibilance which is a dilemma? I suppose changing the pads may fix that? going to add that as another headphone to try as well. I can get these right now for like $50 so my question is ARE THEY WORTH IT. I have extra drop dollars from all my stupid purchases lol
One other thought…as I’ve been pad swapping a bit. If you can find where to get them with a return policy you’re good with, give the Helios with a thick angled leather pad a listen. I’m currently listening to the Deadmau5 curated playlist on Tidal with my LCD-2F leather pads, and if that’s not a V with plenty of air and treble sparkle, I don’t know what is. It’s right at my treble threshold, and I’m not overly sensitive, but generally prefer a warmer tone so I’ll probably go back to my suedes that seem to tame the treble a bit. Would be looking at something like $250 all in, as they can be run balanced inherently (if you have a balanced cable compatible with Sundara/4xx/Focal). They do somewhat fail the wide soundstage test, I suppose, though the thicker angled pads help a bit.
