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SSStudios
5
Aug 22, 2016
How are people's initial responses (and of course, post responses) to the quality of the TH-X00 PHs in terms of sound? I've had a few family members and friends, who are sound guys and are well more versed than I at describing what they're hearing, having semi-mixed responses to them with or without any sort of proper audio rig. They either hate them or they're finding them adequate, but certainly not worth the price.
Personally, I've been mostly using them to listen to a lot of contemporary hip-pop and rap in the 4 days that I've had them. They sound really good and clean. Very punchy in the bass, as expected, in that genre. I tried jazz. The snare is clear and clean. Vocals, ride cymbal and other mid-ranged instruments have a nice presence, which I like to have as a performing musician. Sound staging is great, particularly when a sound engineer knows what he's doing filling in the spaces of the mix. And something like David Gilmour's Time (Live)? Those clock chimes at the beginning are phenomenal sounding. But then, is anyone else getting a VERY bad blend and muddy sound from the distortion of the guitar and bass, even moments into Time? These seem to crash and burn at a staggering rate when it comes to metal and rock. I was not getting these really noticeable characteristics until handing them to my mates and letting them try their taste of music. Listening to Baroness and other similar artists have really opened my mind about the PHs in a negative sense. :(
To be fair, I've already claimed a defective report on my PHs for the right driver cutting out the moment I got them, leaving the left driver the only working driver for a time. Other times, I can hear something wrong with the mix, and realize that the matching was very off. It may just be me who's PHs have a BAD sound quality issue rather than an aesthetic issue. But I'm curious because reading through other comments, everyone seems to love them. Which I'd want to do for $449.99...
Pierre111
413
Aug 22, 2016
SSStudiosMines sound amazing, sort of a review by me a few pages back. Maybe not for everybody. Worth the price I don't know, the other Headphone I have some experience in this price range are the Sony MDR-7520. They both are very good to my hear but I didn't do direct comparison. Fostex sure are nicer looking, for me.
Meru
52
Aug 22, 2016
SSStudiosI will say a big part of the price you have paid is on the wooden cups. PH sounds OK at this price point, and looks good, which I think is the point of a pair of wooden cans. It has the clarity, and easy to drive, sounds good right out the box which translates to limited potential with good amping. LCD2 is your best bet if you want something with subjectively superior sound quality.
Pierre111
413
Aug 22, 2016
MeruIsn't LCD2 like more like a 1000$?
Meru
52
Aug 22, 2016
Pierre111You can get a pair of used one w/o fazor for 500 bucks.
Ranom
44
Aug 22, 2016
MeruCan't get used LCD2s for 500 bucks where I live in, that's for sure.
As for my shipping experience, DHL ain't that bad as my PH's took 9 days to Japan, and I've experienced far worse with USPS in the past ( though not a drop ). The shipping package ( PH box in a larger box with only 2 wimpy air cushions supporting only 2 sides ) and lacquer quality were far worse, but as I have wrote I must have one of the worst of the bunch :-( I feel bad about the chaos because they sound good and somewhat unique, and not like a mini-TH900.
Meru
52
Aug 22, 2016
RanomHere in Malaysia, quite a few people are letting go theirs, I think they have put it on sale for years already.
The package and the quality of the wooden cups really put me off. Even a 20 bucks Sony or random headphones have a better packaging than this. I was astonished by the bubble wrap, on a 450 bucks headphones. I expect at least sponge and a proper box. The cups don't even resemble half of what the picture presents. More like Dark Purpleheart for what I have ordered.
Won't talk too much about the sound because I tried the mahogany back in February. Knew that the TH-X00 is nowhere near a TH-900, maybe better mids because of how the 900 sounds, no way the X00 can touch it. The review attached on main page is literally trolling.
Shipping wise I got the box unharmed, albeit a bit slow. Compare to the quality of the wooden cups the shipping is the least of a concern.
Wooden cups are love, but the quality of the Purpleheart is just bad. And now I'm thinking whether should I polish it or let it be. I really don't know how to feel about this drop. Not sure this is a good drop in all honesty.
Manny200
34
Aug 22, 2016
Pierre111
413
Aug 22, 2016
MeruSorry, maybe it's a quality control issue and you should return them. My purple heart wooden cup looks even better than the picture (to me, more purple, less red) and feels good quality. Everything about them feels great quality, except that maybe I would have preferred real leather but some people are ecologically conscious so It maybe a smart choice if it's durable, time will tell. I think the 900 use the same protein leather so it's not a thing to save cost. I agree with every body that all of these issues everyone are experiencing don't make Massdrop look good. I probably just got lucky this time.
Meru
52
Aug 22, 2016
Pierre111Need not to apology, MD and Fostex should be the ones doing this. Thing is it will take forever to return it and get it back, I doubt they will put out a new replacement for me. Have already waited literally an eternity for this PH, not really feel like doing it again. This time MD and Fostex really f***ed it up for me. Don't think I will get anything pricey or high-end from them. Few keycaps and keyboards maybe but not headphones. Rather try my luck and get something used. Maybe everyone should get together and ask for replacements?
Meru
52
Aug 22, 2016
Manny200It's a good deal I'll say. If you have the spare bucks do it.
SSStudios
5
Aug 22, 2016
Pierre111Actually, I inherited a pair of MDRs (not the 7520s) and they're being borrowed at the moment. But I seem to recall them being far more clearer sounding than my PHs. But, I'm only asking to see how other people fair with theirs.
SSStudios
5
Aug 22, 2016
MeruThat's unfortunate. And at the same time, I'm experiencing some of that issues--probably everyone and their mother on this drop.
But, have you tried reaching out to MD? I'm supposedly receiving a replacement unit via UPS 3-Day, though the likelihood of them shipping it out anytime soon is low. If it's still crap, I may return it and take your recommendation for the LCD-2s with that $699 link that @Manny200 provided, haha.
Meru
52
Aug 22, 2016
SSStudiosProbably because of the BASS I think you need a few days to get uses to it Or hate it and let it go I don't really know what to do tho, will try to contact them
SSStudios
5
Aug 22, 2016
MeruIt is the bass. D: And I love bass, too. It just sounds very muddied and poorly blended between the crunch of the distortion and the bass on different tracks/genres. It's my only complaint, besides the faulty drivers--both of which are pretty huge deal-breakers, if you ask me.
But, if you think 5 days isn't enough burn-in and that I need to listen to more metal/rock (no complaints there, haha), then I'll take your advice and rock with it. And then, see if there's a difference whenever and if ever I get that replacement unit. And... ya, give them a shout and wait a day.
zekken
124
Aug 22, 2016
SSStudiosI felt the same at first with the music genre I listen to but try to swap the pads. I listened them with the HM5 hybrid only for testing and the bass has been reduced and the midrange sounded less recessed and muddied, and the highs sounded a little bit more crisp. My recomendation is to get the th900 replacement pads but the HM5 for the price still a good option.
SuperKai
10
Aug 22, 2016
Manny200I think those are the old version (non-fazor?)
SSStudios
5
Aug 22, 2016
zekkenThanks! I'll look into it. Btw, what are you using to drive these?
SSStudios
5
Aug 22, 2016
SuperKaiI don't know. Looking from the description, it says "Fazor Elements". Could be wrong, who knows?
zekken
124
Aug 22, 2016
SSStudiosRight now I'm using them with a schiit magni 2 + modi 2 uber! A good dac + amp combo for most of my headphones :3
Manny200
34
Aug 22, 2016
SuperKaiNo.. I think they are the Fazor versions..... if you look at the descriptions... "Patent-Pending • Fazor elements "
Pierre111
413
Aug 22, 2016
SSStudiosThere's quite a difference between MDR's if it's the 7506 or 7510 it's not the same at all, they actually sound quite bad.
Meru
52
Aug 23, 2016
SSStudiosGive it some more time, let your ears go through the burn-in period, and decide to keep it or let it go. The PH is such a beautiful thing, too bad the 900's driver ain't included in the overall package, really don't mind paying 100-200 more for a special headphones with stellar performance to match its wooden cups. And better pads, headband and removable cables too. Well guess I won't be giving MD this big sum of money now after the PH stuffs.
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