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Neddoge
126
Jan 21, 2017
Anybody have the Fidelio X2s that can compare against these x00s?
NeddogeYep, I think both have their place. The THX00 is more intimate as far as the soundstage goes. Bass extends deeper on the THX00 and I feel its more impactful. If gaming/movie watching is a big factor I say go X2 due to it's greater mid presence and sound stage. If you will be using them for mostly music and and you listen to a lot of bass heavy tracks go THX00. If you have a wide variety of listening needs as well as musical styles I think the X2 is tad more versatile. My X2 gets used primarily for gaming with a BoomPro mic. Let me know if you have more focused questions and I will do my best to answer them.
Neddoge
126
Jan 21, 2017
ElectronicVicesAwesome feedback, and it may sway me back to the X2's actually and jump on a future x00 drop (since it's looking to be somewhat regular).
I'll try to simplify my background into manageable chunks:
Source:  Schiit Uber Stack (Magni2/Modi2) Music:  Metalcore to Rock to Jazz to Classical to whatever Dave Matthews Band is, with EDM on occasion Other cans:  HiFiMAN HE-400i's, which is very neutral and accurate almost to a fault.  Bass is there, but doesn't shine unless I boost the frequencies via EQ. Misc:  Will be using these as Gaming cans as well (have a Modmic setup).  My HE-400i's have a decent soundstage, to the point where I'm unsure if the extra depth in the X2's will be substantially impactful (although I've heard they're Top 5 with respects to Soundstage -- especially for gaming).

That said, my drive to pick up either the X2's or the x00's is for the compliment to my current cans.  Did you scoop your X2's via Massdrop or Amazon/3rd party (I ask as to whether I should wait for the MD X2's or just purchase them from Amazon).   I'm not averse to spending $400 over $200 for the x00's honestly, just want to make sure it's what I expect them to be.  I know Comfort and Soundstage is killer for the X2's, and everything else leans x00's -- but I'd love more feedback!  Also, which do you use more often?  I'd like to only have 2 cans in my possession, but the form and sound factors of both the X2's and x00's make me want to have 3... But my S/O would kill me :D
PS, I owe you a beer for your time -- seriously, thank you.
NeddogeYou are most welcome, I've used online forums for over a decade to help in my search for Audio Nirvana, so I have no trouble giving back some of what I've learned. I was extremely interested in the X2 from the time it was announced so I actually purchased them during the launch week from Amazon at full price (one of the very few cases in my collection and the only one over $130). Tyll from InnerFidelity is someone I very much respect regarding headphone reviews. We don't have 100% similar tastes but he is very transparent in what he likes and speaks quite well about all facets of a headphone. I already owned quite a few headphones at that point including the HD650 and HE500 but was rather intrigued by the idea of an easy drive, full size HP that had a similar tonality to the HD600/650 but with a better soundstage and a little more impact down low. I also took great interest in the TH600 from Fostex as I already owned a few Bio-Cellulose IEM's from Sony and Vsonic and dearly loved the technology. I have a Pro900 from Ultrasone that I picked up intending it to be my "basshead can" but found it to be quite genre limited (essentially just EDM) furthering my interest in the TH600. I just couldn't justify the price when I already had several thousand dollars in audio gear (Initially selling for $999 and later $599). Along comes the THX00 which is essentially TH600 drivers and frame/headband with Mahogany cups and some tuning tweaks. Boom, I was sold and jumped on the first drop (S/N 24 to be precise). I really had different intended purposes for them and find them to be quite complimentary. There are 5 sets of headphones within reach of my listening station on the couch the rest are on the shelf. Those five are: Beyer T1, HE500, THX00, X2 and SR325e. I joke that the T1/HE500 is my HiFi Yin Yang (one brightish, one darkish) and the others are my MidFi Trinity. These cover all of my needs from games to movies to music of literally all genres (well a few subgenres aren't represented but all the basics are covered. The 400i is pretty similar to the HE500 in tonality and almost as proficient technically so you've probably got neutral sound covered for music (from what I've read). I know my 500's are not good for gaming which would make the X2 the winner assuming that holds true on the 400i (no head time with them). That being said you also don't have a "fun" or "colored" headphone which I think the THX00 is the winner there with that boosted low end and guitar enhancing peaks. Neither headphone is winning any awards in the middle/upper treble department, nothing too bad but nothing to praise either. If you can only have two I would break it down to which matters more, gaming/movie focus (X2 soundstage)... or a complimentary "fun" can(THX00 bass boost and mid/treble peaks). Sorry for the novella, hope it helps!
pootyash
2
Jan 22, 2017
NeddogeI have an extra set of new X2s I'm looking to unload - I've checked them for quality, burned them in, and they're perfect. If interested, email pootyash@yahoo.com Andy
Kirkladc
64
Jan 22, 2017
ElectronicVicesGood stuff!
Stephen879
64
Feb 6, 2017
NeddogeI have the X2s and all three X00s. If I had to choose one among them, I'd go with the Purple Heart TX00s, but the price differences might be compelling enough to go to a second choice.
First, I think the X2s are among the best headphones for the money anywhere. They're entirely open so there's leakage in and out, but the imaging and sound stage is breathtaking. I listen to jazz and classical and I found them to be accurate except when in comes to really big orchestra pieces and they tend to fuzz out a bit there.
Second, all that said, the TX00s outshine the Fidelios. I love the TX00s in the following order:
1. Purple Hearts - Magical. Lively, bright, great bass, imaging. I substituted sheepskin angled pads with some I got from ZMF and I really like the mod, which improved sound stage and comfort considerably. I recommend this mod for all TX00s. Or you could go with the MAD DOG pads which are slightly more luxurious, or the BRAINWAVES Sheepskin. All are pricey but they make this my daily go to headphone.) 2. Ebony - A little richer and darker. Maybe you could use the word "mellow". Maybe the clarity in the mids (most vocals, most of a piano, etc) are a little better expressed - I'm not good with the audiophile yammer - but vocals and chamber music sound really sexy to me on the ebonys. I think I will only end up keeping the Purple Hearts to be honest, but that's because I don't have but 2 ears but I like these second best. 3. Mahogony - I think the mahogony were the Purple Hearts before they grew up. I mean, everything good about the Mahogony got better and livelier with the PHs. They are excellent headphones and maybe the price difference is compelling enough to go with these. Otherwise. I'd wait for the PHs.
One thing I think is important to consider is the price difference. I have never heard heaphones as good as the X2s under $300 and that includes the Fostex T50RPs Mk3, which would have been my first choice except you need a tractor engine to drive them.
Denoxster
7
Feb 7, 2017
NeddogeEverything on X00 is better than X2. I used to have X2, treble is harsh and metallic, recessed mid, boomy bass even though I don't have any complain about this. If you want better headphones, get EMU Teak. EMU are better headphones compared to X00, I have both :)
DenoxsterYou really think the soundstage is better on the X00's... I could maybe understand preference level differences on other facets but the soundstage is really no comparison between the two.
albertofgomez
25
Feb 14, 2017
ElectronicVicesIt is funny how people talk about how this or that headphone is more neutral or colored without even considering how the recording was done in the first place. How do you know how the recording is supposed to sound, nobody knows that. Even if you were at the studio, all transducers introduce colorations? Recordings are done by human beings, and as such, are prone to the preferences, and individual taste, and physiological needs or limitations of the recorder, a person, like us, behind the console, the producer, and even market requirements, even the best of them suffer from those...there is no such a thing as a role model to compare with, in music reproduction, otherwise everybody will have that, and period, pretty bored hobby, right? And even the mighty Orpheus, for me, has problem on the bass region, if you want to call one. Having said that, all what is left, is the preferences of the listener, yours, mine, etc...if you prefer this or that headphone over this, with this recording, so be it...I'm fine with that, preferences are all about; but calling, fun, colored, neutral, flat, to me is a mute discussion...you may feel that this headphone is flat, or more neutral, but maybe indeed the recording you are listening to is not, and indeed the headphone is coloring it, to make it neutral, so your are fooling yourself... Enjoy the music, the sound with whatever headphone you have in hand and be happy...peace...
BTW given that you mentioned the ultrasones, I can tell you, that till the Edition 7, and the 9 after...all of them sucks...not a single one could be considered hi-end in my book, the difference between the prolines and other lines, and the editions is like day and night, what is curious as they use mainly the same driver, but the rest is so different inside that the sound is like removing a thick curtain of plastic in front of the drivers....
albertofgomezFour things are my frame of reference for "neutral": 1)I own just under 30 headphones/iems and switch between them regularly (MSRP's from 14 to 1400) - I've spent a lot of time with all of these headphones and intentionally choose various tonalities because I enjoy the variety.
2)I've not met a person with a music library as large or as diverse as my own, including some music where I was present when it was performed. Also multiple releases of the same song that include different masters and sources.
3)I've seen more live music than the vast majority of people I know in my professional or personal life.
4) Colored, as I use it, means "different than source, significant emphasis or de-emphasis in regions of the frequency response" so the recording differences are rendered moot in my discussion of neutral/colored.
While I wholeheartedly agree your own ears are the best judge I don't agree that over the last 50 years or so the audio enthusiast community hasn't settled on at least some agreement regarding the terminology pertinent to our discussions.
albertofgomez
25
Feb 16, 2017
ElectronicVicesElectronicVices: I agree that there is some consensus, about terminology, and of course we can discern easily while something is obviously wrong while listening music, but when things get to little details, soundstage, accuracy, etc...then here or there, things get a little more complicated...as the way the recording was done, may mask the results.... I owned several IEM's, and I have heard quite a few myself, still own couple of Klipsch's, the x10 and the x5, along with several crappy cellphones ones. None of the IEM's I have heard to the date, including multi thousand dollar ones, had given me an accurate reproduction of the high frequency, all of them, roll it off at around 15-16K, and to me that is killer, as it looses all the sense of a real sound to my ears. That is why I prefer my Portapro, a $50.00 retail phone, all versions, to any of them, the high end sounds more live and real to me, and that is the one I use as a portable headphone along with a W3 Linearossa DAC/amp...so I agree that spending money does not make music sound better, if you do not know how to spend it, or choose wisely... About music, maybe not as extensive as yours, but I own myself arounds 1200 CDs, including numerous SACDs, DVD-A's and some HDCDs etc...and over 200 DVDs and BD of concerts of mainly rock and jazz, some NAM, and some acoustic, but not too many of those....and I have several hundreds that are not my cup of tea, and keep in digital formats, so even while probably I can't match your extensive collection, I have heard a little music also, or at least enough to have a little judgment of my own...my phone carries 256GB just for music...and today I added a couple of more CDs that I had forgotten... My brother is an acoustic guitarist, and I have several friends that are musicians, and I have modified and build some musical instruments, basically drums, and percussion related instruments, to the point that I use mainly percussion to judge the sound, if a drums does not have the attack, needed, the rest will not sound good to me. The sound have to give me a sense of listening real percussion, and it is the best reference I have on my mind, but that doesn't mean the recording was done the way I remember the drums to sound, nor the recorded sound will sound like live sound ever, even if you are present the recording is done completely different from you are listening, and it is fixed in the studio, just take a listen at a soundboard recording, and to the finish product of the same recording, and you will see the "hand of God" behind it...LOL.......there are a lot of acoustics involved in live music that are lost in the recordings, on purpose, or not... Again I'm not saying you are wrong, or right, just that personally, I prefer to use the term, I prefer this to that, rather than assure that this sounds better than that....just my two cents...I prefer to be subjective rather than objective while it comes to art, and sound in general...
Xapti
7
Feb 16, 2017
ElectronicVicesI also have both. I prefer the X2s (Enough bass, better vocals, treble a *bit* smoother), but the TH-X00 are still quite nice. The TH-X00 are still bit bright on the top end, like my D5000s. If the treble spike and non-removable cable don't bother you, these may be your endgames.
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