Hello, I just joined, primarily for the audiophile products. Looking at purchasing the NHT C3 speakers for our new living room. Space is about 15 feet wide by 33 long and they will fire long ways. Space is just for general listening, music room with all equipment is downstairs, so hoping they will fill it with sound nicely. Cheers.
Mar 18, 2024
I read most negative reviews and a common trend is that people are under-amping these headphones. One thing I've learned is that if it's not 50 ohm or less, YOU NEED A BEEFY AMP. Period. There's no way around it. If you want to hear what they're capable of, you need to give them electricity to move those diaphragms. I'm not talking about a little dongle DAC/amp. I'm talking about a real amplifier that generates heat you can feel. If not, they will get plenty loud, but will not sound good and you'll think you wasted your money. Electric impedance is real, and not because the HD 58X are 150 ohm, it means they will be that low all the time. The impedance is measured at a certain point, so they will not always measure the stated number. It varies in real-time, like for example, how your leg muscle power varies while you run.
All headphones behave different and their impedance varies depending on frequency and other factors, just like you struggle when pushing a car from a dead-stop but once you gain a bit of speed, it gets easier. Now throw variables, like ice on the road, oil under your shoes, etc. Your little amp might move them on certain frequencies, but on others where the impedance is higher, power will not be sufficient. The more power you give them, the better they will sound as a whole in all frequencies. Why get good headphones and deprive them of power? If you're going to use your iPad or your phone, save your money and get lesser headphones, because you're going to miss the whole point of the better ones. Then you have your source to worry about. Try to sing good with a punctured lung or a sore throat.
If you get good headphones, you'll hear how bad your compressed or streaming music will sound and you'll wonder why your cheaper headphones sounded smoother and didn't bother your ears. We haven't even gotten to the DAC yet, which to the discerning/undamaged ear, makes a huge difference. If you think your Massdrop headphones that you spent over $150 don't sound impressive, spend at a minimum $200 more on any established, popular DAC and amp combo. That's all you need to play in the field. I'm biased towards Schiit Audio and highly recommend them. My Mimby/ Vali 2 combo is the most affordable audio equipment I own, and is the one that makes me smile the most. I spend more on satisfying my fallen human ego. God bless!
As a sidenote, look into how Mike Moffat created his time and frequency domain proprietary filter and how he applied a technology from the beginning of the 1900s to create it. Fascinating for sure! God bless!
I excitedly ordered my Shure SRH1840 last month and they're very boring to my ears. The reviews didn't lie about them being refined. They're VERY bass light and the highs are just right but too smooth. I like shimmery and sparkly. Plus, at 65 ohm, they're not so sensitive. My beyerdynamic T90 impress me way more, and at the same volume, are louder than the Shures and way more 3D-like and revealing.
When I wear them, sound doesn't seem to come from the headphones into my ears. I just perceive the sound image as a whole, almost visual. When sounds pan, my eyes automatically track them. I'm not sure if the slightly forward-facing ear cups not having a pivot to make them lay flat on the ears are responsible for that. It's distracting, because I use my eyes too much when I can almost see the sounds in front of me and to the sides, almost like invisible speakers.
Tonality-wise, nothing about them is harsh or muddy or shouty. They're clear-sounding, with a dry signature, and the dynamics are fast. Maybe that's also why they sound boring to me. Nothing sustains. Everything is just right, even if the bass is not ear-filling or thumping. But honestly, these are really bass shy. People call the beyerdynamic DT 880 light on the lows, but I have those, and they are bass canons compared to the SRH1840.
One thing about them is that the nuanced sounds are just like that, nuances. They're there but don't stick out like in other headphones. But when it comes to revealing sound character itself, they do that in spades. So, I'd say they're more suited for analytical purposes, not for music enjoyment. They are not engaging in my experience, even if they're not lifeless like other analytical, reference monitors. There is nothing sterile about them, but also, musicality is not their strength. There is a layer of something missing from them, which is what makes them so revealing. I do admit I tend to enjoy them with my iPhone 8 Plus through the dangly dongle. They sound a bit screechy and distant, but that seems to work with them.