To add to my previous post, I can only listen to the Harman target if the song has very little complexity in the mid-range. A good example of what I mean is Mick Gordon’s Rip n Tear. This song has a lot of distorted electric guitar and other similar synthesizer sounds. These sounds, especially the guitar, sound off with the Harman target. It’s like all the body is gone and all the harshness is pushed forward (makes sense since the Harman target has very reduced lower mids and very boosted upper mids).
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My two biggest hype wins that put the greatest grin on my face are the Harbeth C7ES3 40th and the Line Magnetic LM216ia
The two performance/dollar value hype wins or pleasant surprises are the Polk LSiM 703 on sale and Musical Paradise tube amp.
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I really don’t like my Tin T3, I only use them for movies. Great soundstage but full bass boost and Eq’d all the way to the left.
My best hype train experiences are the tin T2 and P1. The T2 was exactly what I expected, a good, clear, detailed IEM for $50. The P1 I bought almost purely because of Zeos and while I don’t really know what I expected, they met those expectations and then some. They are my second favorite headphone/earphone, only behind my TR-X00 PH. The P1 are SUPER clear and detailed with absolutely fantastic treble extension. The bass is very fast and if you do the front port mod, enough in quantity for most people I would think. The mids are smooth, a bit warm, and very detailed. I never find them to be overly sharp or at all sibilant and always find myself listening to them for much longer than I need to when comparing them to other things.
I would also like to vouch for the strategy if buying the less talked about options, as they are sometimes exactly what YOU want. I bought the HD58X basically only off of hardware Canucks recommendation. These are the reason I am a part of this community as they introduced me to HiFi and the resulting YouTube recommendations lead me to Zeos. The other “sleeper” of mine was the TR-X00 PH. I got them about 7-8 months ago when there was not to much talk of them and most reviews where like Zeos’. Overall positive but not raving. These are my absolute favorite headphone in every way but comfort (Ori lambskin pads and attenuation rings fix that). The bass is ludicrous, big, dynamic, well extended, and full. The mids are recessed but not so much as to make them feel scooped out or absent. They are just less than the bass and highs. Full, warm, and detailed but not really in your face (especially after the Ori pads swap). The highs are elevated but smooth and only sibilant if the song is sibilant and extend rather well (not as well as the P1 though) but are not fatigueing to my ears, even after long listening sessions. Like I said, be willing to try something that isn’t the talk if the town because YOU might just love it.
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Sorry that was a typo. I meant T4.
To me the most over hyped product in the audio world is/was the HD650’s/HD6XX’s.
My first attempt at higher end audio was buying the HD6XX’s for more than $300.00 and I also spent more than $300.00 on an amp to drive them (iFi MICRO Icann SE). Just about $700.00 and I was completely and totally underwhelmed.
On the upside, at the same time I discovered the Grado SR325e’s and the Meze 99 Classic’s.
EVERYBODY on every board had told me that the HD6XX’s/HD650’s were the standards of the audio world and that was just BS, to me.
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Oh, they were orignally $300? The current price does seem more fair. Though even with the HD600 I find the average used price of $150-$200 more fitting.
Pretty sure the 650 and 600 were $500-400 when they came out, but I could be wrong
Yikes. They’re good but that seems tad too much. I guess that for their time they were excellent cause they set benchmarks and the fact that they’re still relevant says a lot.
I think they are still worth that on a good tube amp lol, but that’s just me. Not advocating for a price hike lol
I wasn’t amazed by them on my unmodded DV but maybe I would change my mind on a Tuba or Bottlehead crack w/ speedball.
It’s not for everyone, but if you enjoy the sound, not much can end up comparing for some reason lol
True. I’m sure there’s another alternate reality out there where I kept my HD600 and I’m tube rolling on a Inspire Dragon IHA-1 lol
I was never a huge fan of the 6xx until I heard them on a tube amp.
They have a really nice mid range, but they are thin everywhere else on all the SS I’ve tried them on.
On a good tube they really become a complete headphone.
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Cmon, it’s an alternate reality you can go higher than a simple dragon lol
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Pretty much yeah
Why would you stick to lower end tube amps in this reality?
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I forgot that my alternate reality version isn’t as financially stunted. I meant to say the McIntosh MC275 2-Channel tube amp
You can do better that that, look for something with 2A3’s in it.
What about something like an eddie current studio or manley Neo-Classic 300B? Or like a Thomas Mayer or something
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