My burn-in was just a playlist of a few hundred songs at slightly higher than normal volume when I left for work, + my normal usage (music, movies, games). It can take 100+ hours though before the difference is there. Not sure what did it, but with burn-in and Alcantara pads... MUCH MUCH MUCH MUCH better. It removed most of the sharpness, mids improves, but the biggest difference was bass that just became more prevalent. Comfort with Alcantara pads are barely better for short time usages, but long term they are great, no more ear pain, though I do get a bit hot sometimes, they don't make them sweat. Stock pads seem a bit cooler on the ears for some reason.
Sound is now amazing, the bass is incredibly controlled/quick. Definitively not flat, more V shaped / fun. Also there's this... clarity? that is great. Compared to my AD700, I now fing my AD700 too "airy". It is paired to my iBasso D10, which isn't the best match apparently, but it does the job damn well anyways. Un-amped it is good, but the bass is less controlled, less impressive. I'm surprised considering the low resistance, and I guess I'm really critical on bass so that's what I noticed. Movies are great and games... WOW seriously incredible. I usually don't want bass in my games because it can be distracting and it masks sounds that you want to hear at times.
HOWEVER, there seems to be, idk, a certain bass range that they seem to lack? just in certain songs where the bass seems to almost disappear on certain parts, no real difference amped or not. I'd say maybe 15~20% of my songs have this problem enough that I notice it, half of which are bad enough that it ruins the song for me. I've yet to notice it outside of songs, however, it affects FLAC and MP3 alike. Couldn't fix this with EQ.
The case that in comes with, I could almost call it a box, is really not portable, no use for it really. Basically, don't expect a case. I wish their cable was not proprietary, and un-attaching the cable isn't as easy as it should be when you are wearing them. Cable seems good, though I can't tell if the ends are good or not. QC-wise, my only complaint is probably the foam that lays on top of the driver under the earpads easily unattach themselves when removing or putting on earpads, my right one is still good, but my left one is loose now so it moves around, have to make sure it is in the center when putting on the earpad and avoid moving that earpad around too much.
I am now a happy camper. I may buy an amp that pairs better with it later on.
Sound is now amazing, the bass is incredibly controlled/quick. Definitively not flat, more V shaped / fun. Also there's this... clarity? that is great. Compared to my AD700, I now fing my AD700 too "airy". It is paired to my iBasso D10, which isn't the best match apparently, but it does the job damn well anyways. Un-amped it is good, but the bass is less controlled, less impressive. I'm surprised considering the low resistance, and I guess I'm really critical on bass so that's what I noticed. Movies are great and games... WOW seriously incredible. I usually don't want bass in my games because it can be distracting and it masks sounds that you want to hear at times.
HOWEVER, there seems to be, idk, a certain bass range that they seem to lack? just in certain songs where the bass seems to almost disappear on certain parts, no real difference amped or not. I'd say maybe 15~20% of my songs have this problem enough that I notice it, half of which are bad enough that it ruins the song for me. I've yet to notice it outside of songs, however, it affects FLAC and MP3 alike. Couldn't fix this with EQ.
The case that in comes with, I could almost call it a box, is really not portable, no use for it really. Basically, don't expect a case. I wish their cable was not proprietary, and un-attaching the cable isn't as easy as it should be when you are wearing them. Cable seems good, though I can't tell if the ends are good or not. QC-wise, my only complaint is probably the foam that lays on top of the driver under the earpads easily unattach themselves when removing or putting on earpads, my right one is still good, but my left one is loose now so it moves around, have to make sure it is in the center when putting on the earpad and avoid moving that earpad around too much.
I am now a happy camper. I may buy an amp that pairs better with it later on.