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Showing 1 of 78 conversations about:
starter
237
May 21, 2017
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Anybody dismissing these as ugly cans that can't compete with something of the HD650's pedigree... Cool. If the secret gets out these will only blow up in price. I've listened to perhaps 2000 different cans over the years. In the realm of closed phones, everything from cheap contenders like the the Senn 598 to my current favorite, the Sony Z1R. Here's the gospel on the 8.35... they are the best closed dynamic phones available under $1000. Bar none. They are easy to drive but appreciate power... they are some of the most scalable cans I've ever listened to. Like the affordable HD600/650, connect them to top tier system, and they will destroy cans costing much, much more. These will crush an LCD-XC (with retune) for instance. One caveat- upgrade the pads. I currently use the Brainwavze angled pleather. Perfect pairing. Deep, powerful bass that is never too much, clear, transparent mids, superb separation, reasonable soundstage (particularly for a closed can) and smooth, crystalline highs. These are an amazing deal at $249... at $169, it's full-on ridiculous. Pick up a pair. Swap out the pads. Burn them in properly. Amp them well. You will be amazed...
starter
237
May 22, 2017
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dalethornNo offense, but if you think swapping out pads means a headphone is somehow bad, then you don't know enough to comment. That's like saying the BMW M3/M4 are bad cars because the stock setup could benefit from rear wheel spacers...
dalethorn
193
May 22, 2017
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starterOh, offended are we? I will clarify for the benefit of others here. You're saying the sound is awesome ... but ... not the way it comes - it has to be modified first, with different earpads. Is that clear enough for you?
dalethorn
193
May 22, 2017
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dalethornAnd BTW, a $169 headphone (which I owned and reviewed among 150 others) is not a $50000 car.
starter
237
May 22, 2017
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dalethornI'm not offended at all, but it seems you are. Perhaps I was a bit brusque, for that I apologize. I'm unsure how familiar with headphones you are, but based on your comment, I assumed not very. There exists an entire cottage industry of aftermarket parts designed to make headphones sound or fit better, cables, ear pads, filters, etc... there are specialty parts designed to enhance even top-end cans costing thousands. Because some of these products do improve the headphone does not mean that the headphone is bad to begin with... just that sometimes even really great sounding phones can sound even better. To be clear- the 8.35 is still a fantastic sounding can for the money... the pads just improve it. For most people familiar with the headfi world, a $250 can that goes toe to toe with the $1700 LCD-CX, and beats it in basically all categories but low bass extension, springing for a $30 pair of pads to make an amazing can even more amazing is not a huge deal... and they certainly wouldn't think that the effectiveness of such an improvement somehow meant the headphone was bad to begin with... merely that it can be improved, and that's kind of neat. BTW... where can one get a new M3 or M4 for $50k?? Even a bone-stock stripped M3 starts at around $65k...
dalethorn
193
May 22, 2017
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starterThat's an extremely wordy reply to say "I'm unsure" after I noted reviewing 150-200 headphones, which you can find under my actual name in a simple Web search. My point is you did a big sales pitch on a headphone that needs earpads that the mfr. doesn't provide. And who gives a crap about a wealthy man's car when selling a $169 headphone? And it is a $169 headphone - nothing more. There are lots worse headphones selling for $300 or more, but still, it's what it is.
Uzuzu
1431
May 22, 2017
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starterIf you like these so much I should show you my Sennheiser hd250s from 1988. Still made in Germany, 600 ohms. They sound better than 95 percent of the headphones on the market right now, which is pretty sad. They have enough detail to be smooth but aren't as revealing as some, but it's nice because they work well with any source. Sound best with high power though. They're also closed, flat mids, flat highs. The bass is the weirdest part though. They are massively bassy with stock pads. Insanely so. I wasn't expecting it from vintage cans.. they were too bassy... with really open pads though they were bass-light, even with your ear close to the driver. Even with th-900 pads the bass got killed off too much.
Not really a fan of Dekoni pads but I put on the fostex ones. The ear hole is small, kind of like the stock pads for the hd250, but the pads have more depth and are stiffer. Also they fit amazingly.... like too well. It brought the bass down to very flat, overall the entire pair is extremely flat with staging better than most closed cans today... and they weigh less than 200 grams. Pretty insane lol, they're on my head right now.
They sound like a closed can between an hd600/hd650 atm.
starter
237
May 22, 2017
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UzuzuI LOVE the HD250- fantastic set of cans. Much like the 8.35s... You pull them out, people give them a funny look, but then they give them a listen, and wow. I agree... It's bizarre how some old cans destroy a lot of what's out there today. Right now the Sony MDR-Z1R is one of the hottest things going for closed cans, but have you ever heard the old Sony MDR-R10? Ridiculous. Unlike the HD250 however, people know about the R10... A good set can run $10K these days. Where did you source your HD250, may I ask? I found mine- in a crate with a bunch of old AV equipment my uncle gave me... Plugged them in for a listen, expecting something terrible, and woah...
dalethorn
193
May 22, 2017
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starterYour "amazing quality" sales pitch shows who the troll is - YOU. Now when you get to 175 headphone reviews, you might actually have an opinion, but not today.
starter
237
May 22, 2017
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dalethornWait, you're that Dale Thorn? Deaf-as-a-post-and-banned-everywhere-for-trolling Dale Thorn? Now it makes sense. I'm not going to ID myself, because frankly I'm one of only a few followed reviewers who have thus far avoided tangling with the teenage girl drama contingent that you have become one of the faces of. Yep, seems like everybody in the headfi community loves a throw down, and it's just not something I need to do. So, I tell you what Dale... Why don't you go give Apple Earbuds another glowing review (Yes, he did... Google it, kids!) and maybe work on getting banned from yet another venue. And with that, I am happy to say that this is about as close as I'm going to get to being the latest reviewer drawn into your ugly little world. But before I go... For real, man. Get some light and levity in your life. Not everybody you disagree with is the enemy. I think you'd find things a lot easier if you just, I don't know, had a drink. Or smoked a joint. And tried being nice. It ain't hard, friend.
dalethorn
193
May 22, 2017
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starterYou've just blown your phony review and your credibility. All anyone here has to do is check out my website, or the dozen non-sales sites (where I didn't get banned because I was telling the truth) where I post the headphone reviews. You're a nobody, challenging me? Funny!
starter
237
May 22, 2017
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dalethornBlah blah blah, I'm Dale Thorn, I've been banned everywhere, and am now reduced to trying to troll people on the flipping Massdrop product discussions... Dude, come on. This is sad. Some real advice? You're persona non-grata everywhere. I think it's time to regroup. Do some work on yourself, stop being such a [moderated] and then change your handle and come back. If you want to review headphones and get paid for it (and you do, it's awesome) you need to learn to play nice with others. Okay? Okay. So I'm gonna bounce now. It's been real.
dalethorn
193
May 22, 2017
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starterTrolls like yourself make themselves very public, by attacking others instead of dealing with the topic in the forum. You are a perfect example of a mindless troll who has no real info to contribute. So keep up the nonsense, so others here can better appreciate your phony review.
Uzuzu
1431
May 22, 2017
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dalethornThe argument between you guys is pretty stupid. A headphone should be judged as good or bad WITHOUT pads taken into account, as by all means replacing them at least eventually to wear and tear should be in mind. And of course, all the main magic is in the housing and drivers.
But it's pretty sad when someone says "google my name." My dad can beat up your dad, LOL.
Uzuzu
1431
May 22, 2017
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starterIgnore the chav, friend. This is a place for discussion and not argument, right? I will agree he is a troll. I bet if I told him I enjoy my hd250s more than my ether c's he'd call me a troll too, but it is all subjective right.
I happened to source my particular pair from a seller on Ebay, as the phones are quite rare now. My pair was sealed in box, brand new. The pads though caked the entire inside of the case and headphones in black dust. Got it all over my kitchen floor just taking them out. Pads literally just fell off/ripped off like nothing. It was hard to dig out the rings the pads attach to inside of the housing because half the pads were stuck to it and it took me a while to find out how the pads mount with rings, embarrassingly. I have a huge array of pads so I tested many... it's hard to get a good fit. Ones that fit perfectly though besides some new stock ones I ordered (do not bother, they suck!) were the dekoni pads and mrspeakers ether c and also his electrostat pads. They both somehow really killed the bass to less than flat, somehow. The th-series pads for them though fit and sounded best. Also the headphones are in super good shape and are still shiny, they feel more substantial too with real pads on them, otherwise they seem like a cheap pair. But damn they are comfy, being super lightweight. Easily boxes with any headphone under 150 and is as good as any in the 500 dollar range too, I would say. I can include pictures if you want, but right now I'm too lazy.
dalethorn
193
May 22, 2017
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UzuzuYou're defending the angry guy? Wow! First we get a phony review, then angry replies, now a defender. Wow!
dalethorn
193
May 22, 2017
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UzuzuShould be directed to the angry guy: "You should find a new line of business. Sales is not your forte, what with your anger issues. Don't become a writer either, as your skills aren't up to that."
dalethorn
193
May 22, 2017
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UzuzuBTW, I actually had one of these, and I just ordered this one, so I can give the customers here a *real* review.
starter
237
May 23, 2017
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UzuzuA BNIB eBay score? Nice! I see them come up every once in a blue moon... BNIB is rare though. Which Ether-C pads did you try, the flat or angled? I've been thinking about the angled ones, but if those kill the bass, I'll pass...
EDIT: Ha, just checked eBay, there's a BNIB pair up right now...
Uzuzu
1431
May 23, 2017
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starterYeah same seller as the one on eBay, had 3 available and I bought one. From Texas. Pretty sure stored in Texas too with how shriveled up the pads were. Ether C come stock with the angled pads so I haven't tried the flats. They sound pretty balanced bordering analytical with decent extension into the lower frequencies, and "decent" impact. With the electrostat pads I found the headphones even slightly more comfortable, soundstage a tad more open, mids and highs about the same though but what killed it was the bass. ;-( totally dead. It's there but not kind of bass.
Really I should just sell the ether c's I have. Too heavy, and I know they are the lighter of the planars but they weigh 420 grams. Dan claims they weigh 380 on his site, but never updated his product page, lol.
dalethorn
193
May 23, 2017
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UzuzuYou cannot possibly be that dumb. You pretend you can't see the egregious personal attacks here, so what does that say about you? I'd say you need to get another job, because you aren't even close to being convincing with your myopic nonsense.
dalethorn
193
May 23, 2017
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UzuzuOh, and since you failed to see that one of those replies was directed at the other troll, then you probably "failed" to see where I'm buying this headphone just to do an honest review. I buy lots of headphones. It's called backing up what I say with my money. Are you buying this headphone? Are you going to review it? Where are your previous reviews?
starter
237
May 23, 2017
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UzuzuYeah, I really dig the Ether C's, but the weight is a tough thing. That's been a thing with me lately... I can enjoy the heavy cans, but not really feeling them for long listens. I used to do the 2-3 hour thing with my LCD-4's... Just too much. Ended up flipping them when I picked up the Utopias. Still heavy at nearly 500g, but at least not the 717g my Audeze weighed... Lately I find myself coming back to the Senn HD800 S... Not my absolute favorite sound signature (a little light on bass extension), but they are so damn comfortable... Wearing them now, as a matter of fact. Think they are my next pick-up. I always come back to the comfortable ones. HD650 with a Woo WA2 (and whatever sexy exotic tubes I've scrounged off the bay from Eastern Europe) remains one of my favorite listens...
dalethorn
193
May 23, 2017
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starterI don't think chatting about 20 headphones off-topic to this discussion excuses a phony anonymous review for the headphone that is the topic here. But of course that's what you do...
trellus
396
May 26, 2017
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dalethornDale, I've read a few of your reviews and found them quite informative. I have a few of the headphones you've reviewed, too. :) I am curious as to your assessment of these, have you reviewed these?
dalethorn
193
May 26, 2017
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trellusYeah, 5 years ago, before I started using an equalizer as a way of estimating the overall response and tonality. I can't be sure from my old review how this stacks up to the average headphone now, but I'm expecting this new one (when I get it) to be kinda analytical, like some of the Beyer headphones. It would certainly sound different if you ordered different earpads separately, and I just added a new comment about that. I'm betting this will be neutral enough that worst-case I might have to boost the bass slightly or trim the treble a little, but it should be darn good. And I'd like to point out 2 important principles on headphone sound that I never see on headphone forums: One is that the best headphone sound is what sounds natural, like live music more or less, so your hearing isn't an issue as long as it's relatively normal - if you hear in the headphone similar to what you hear live, then you're good to go. The second thing about headphones is how amazingly different they sound, even if you EQ a few of them to smooth out significant peaks and recesses. Once you get a few together at the same time, you can appreciate how their tonalities shift at different frequencies, so it's not always easy to predict how one headphone will sound with a particular track.
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