Thanks for your tip I haven't heard of the hd 650 yet, it seems like it sounds like the hd 540, it has incredibly beautiful mids and never gets on your nerves in the highs. I think that with the right amplifier you can also achieve that with hd 800.
Don't fall for the Harmon hype. More than a few devices exist for "optimizing" eq. The Harmon curve is just one of infinite variation. If the Harmon curve floats your boat good for you.I know next to nothing about audiophile headphones but this seems intriguing. I was especially attracted to the comment that the headphones are "acoustically optimized to the HARMAN Curve"
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Hi...I think you are right...the HD800S (the one we had) is fantastic and perfectly capable of producing the 'curve' of sound one wants with the right amp.
However, when I described my own personal experience with the HD800S and tinnitus with our local UK maven about this, he actually said he did not think changing frequency would do it...and he turned out to be right. He said his concern was that how it fits on my head mechanically, or how it produces/pushes sound might be creating some tension that is not related to frequency.
So I did something extreme just to test his theory, I started walking around with the headphone on my head (not even plugged in!)...and my ears started to ring (very loudly)...and then they calmed down 5-10 minutes after taking them off. THAT was weird. And I have to say, when you take off many headphones, you feel a sense of 'relief of pressure''...and there is pretty consistent medical advice that air pressure can sometimes trigger tinnitus.
Even in the case of the Meze Empyrean, it happened with the leather pads...but rarely. So I then switched to their Alcantara ear pads (more like foam almost) which more closely match the feel of the HD650 ear pads (which has never triggered tinnitus in several years of owning them)...and the Meze also became more wearable.
So that is my experience...and I have decided to sell the HD800S (I am told it is now sold or about to be sold) 30 days old to someone who really likes them (they are great)...and I am keeping the HD650 and now the Meze Empyreans as well.
Thanks…in this case, I suspect it is me. No way having ringing when wearing HD800S headphones not being plugged in is Sennheiser when it occasionally happened with Meze but not HD650. That sounds like me. I note that at all times when listening to headphones, I can not only speak with people when listening, I can hear my wife’s keyboard clicks 5 feet away…I never listen to music loud.
Not at the expense of never hearing again. No music is that good.
I know an audiophile who was the General Manager of a major highend store...he spent a weekend listening in the demo room to Wilson X1s at 'rock concert levels' because the distortion was so remarkably low, he could...and he admitted he had constant ringing the next morning that never went away...and a few months later, I saw him, and he was wearing 2 hearing aids. He was still in his 30s.
Tragic story.
Too late for me I have been taking that risk for decades.
I suppose different people have different sensibilities.
There are charts for relative levels and what results in ear damage. I have posted them before. I will try to find a good one. A good SPL meter would be good also.
Too late for me I have been taking that risk for decades.
I suppose different people have different sensibilities.
There are charts for relative levels and what results in ear damage. I have posted them before. I will try to find a good one. A good SPL meter would be good also.
Spend the whole day yesterday with this amazing combination:
Hifiman Shangri La Jr., powerd by AudioValve Solaris.
The other equipment is Bauer DPS3iT, Colibri XGP and AS Phonolab.
And of course: what a fantastic record from Christian McBride - Live at the Village Vanguard…
atb, Tom
Hifiman Shangri La Jr., powerd by AudioValve Solaris.
The other equipment is Bauer DPS3iT, Colibri XGP and AS Phonolab.
And of course: what a fantastic record from Christian McBride - Live at the Village Vanguard…
atb, Tom
Just read up on the Audiovalve Solaris...sounds like an amazing amp. Is it yours? Most curious as to what else you have heard before you went with the Audiovalve. I particularly like the fact that it is designed to drive anything including Stats giving real, long-term flexibility for headphones from (for example my own journey) Sennheiser to Meze but could also someday include Stax.
Hy @LL21
Yes, it is mine.
Had it since several years and it replaces the smaller Luminare from AudioValve.
My headphone-jouerny over the last 10 years:
Sennheiser HD800 with Lehmann Black Cube Linear SE (later: AKG K812). Than switch to Stax SR-009 with Luminare, later Solaris.
And after 5 years, replace the 009 with Shangri La Jr. in January 2022.
By the way:
the Solaris can also be used for high efficiency loudspeakers.
atb, Tom
Yes, it is mine.
Had it since several years and it replaces the smaller Luminare from AudioValve.
My headphone-jouerny over the last 10 years:
Sennheiser HD800 with Lehmann Black Cube Linear SE (later: AKG K812). Than switch to Stax SR-009 with Luminare, later Solaris.
And after 5 years, replace the 009 with Shangri La Jr. in January 2022.
By the way:
the Solaris can also be used for high efficiency loudspeakers.
atb, Tom
Fantastic! Very interesting that you also used the HD800. We started with the HD650 (which we have kept)...and the 800S sadly did not last long here and got moved on (fortunately new without loss)...and now we have moved to the Empyrean. We found an old EAR HP4 and had it brought back to 'new' by EAR and are really enjoying it. However, the one thing that this path does NOT allow for is electrostatics which your Audiovalve clearly does.
Sounds like the Audiovalve is a great long-term move. And very intriguing to see the switch over to Stax and then on to the Shangri-La Jr...so clearly electrostatics were on that path...congrats!!!
Sounds like the Audiovalve is a great long-term move. And very intriguing to see the switch over to Stax and then on to the Shangri-La Jr...so clearly electrostatics were on that path...congrats!!!
@LL21
I always „come back“ to electrostatics - first class for me.
A good friend of mine own a lot of highclass headphones, so I can listen to Susvara and Abyss (on Riviera-Amp), two Mezze (not realy „my cup of tea“), Final Audio and the Raal-Combi at some times (just to name a few
) .
So I am thinking to switch to a pure electrostatics amp like the Paltauf ES…
atb, Tom
I always „come back“ to electrostatics - first class for me.
A good friend of mine own a lot of highclass headphones, so I can listen to Susvara and Abyss (on Riviera-Amp), two Mezze (not realy „my cup of tea“), Final Audio and the Raal-Combi at some times (just to name a few
) .So I am thinking to switch to a pure electrostatics amp like the Paltauf ES…
atb, Tom
Very interesting! The one other headphone I would really like to hear is the Sennheiser Orpheus HE1...by all accounts I have read that describe, it appears to define the kind of headphone sound I would find ideal. Of course, without actually hearing it, I have no definitive idea...but sure reads that way from the descriptions and comparisons.
By any chance, have you heard it?
As for Meze...for me it represented a much better version of the classic HD650 a sound signature that I 'like' though I can hear that technically it could do a lot better. Certainly over time, as I learn more about headphones, my tastes may become more discerning as well...but for now, the Empyrean suits me extremely well.
What happens when you go to Stats from Planars that you have found 'first class'? Most intrigued. Thanks for your continued insights!...great reading.
By any chance, have you heard it?
As for Meze...for me it represented a much better version of the classic HD650 a sound signature that I 'like' though I can hear that technically it could do a lot better. Certainly over time, as I learn more about headphones, my tastes may become more discerning as well...but for now, the Empyrean suits me extremely well.
What happens when you go to Stats from Planars that you have found 'first class'? Most intrigued. Thanks for your continued insights!...great reading.
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Yes, I heard the new HE-1 at AudioVista 2019 here in Germany - together with the first Orpheus.
I liked the "original" better...
Phew, that's difficult to explain.
Often you hear that Stax and generally electostats "can't" do bass or don't build up enough pressure. That may be, but I personally "miss" there nothing. It is also noticeable only in direct comparison of, for example, Susvara and SR-009.
And what is even more important (to me):
the electrostats give the sound a kind of "shine" and "airiness" that only electrostats can. And that is what I call: „first class“.
But to be honest: when I sit outside on the terrace with the Fiio M15 and AKG K812, it also sounds great...
atb, Tom
the headphone we like is a combo of many things . its not just the sound we hear on a given song , its a total of all songs and the type of presntation . at my place in nyc non headphones i can seat myself at 8-9 feet or 25 feet . the sound level further back is much less in the need of being pefect . some music is best backed away . headphones dont give you this choice for the most part . old AKG or NEW RAAL phones do allow for adjusting the distance from driver to our ear canals and outer ear . i feel the two types above are what anyone with sennsitive ears needs . at 65 i do have a samll amount of tinitus . the loudness level is never bad but does vary . foods and alchol effect it . loud music does at live events . in talking to dr he said its due to hearing damage from noise . i do have a v curve in my hearing test , im down about 4db in the middle of 6k freq . i can tell on some freq sweep tests as the perception is not as the db meter is showing me this . so for those who do room sweeps a better way might be to adjust the sweep output to better suit ones acual hearing and compare . now having said this all of these headphones are very unlike speakers as the sound has almsot no where to go if closed back , i prefer open back types . any prolonged headphone use gives me fatigue if i play at volume levels i like . now CIEMS or norm IEMS dont do this as bad as headphones . regarding the audiophile headphone is funny in that it approaches this as a snob in some ways . i do admit the pricy ones seem to be better then cheap ones , but the user must also have a more matured understanding of better . many times this is not the case . i do my best to show my 15 year old whats closer to real . this task is alone hard to quatify . in my car the stereo is a good level of quality , so as songs i select and quiz him . is that a keyboard or real piano ? same for drums and strings . im making him learn new audio memories , its how we hear all of us . he has gotten much better at knowing now , but this does not mean he knows or even likes quality .
Very very interesting! Thank you both. Fortunately, my hearing remains stable all the way through 14khz...however, I do have recently some tinnitus aggravated by lack of sleep...and so the Sennheiser 800S was definitely out. The HD650 never triggers it...and pretty much neither does the Meze Empyrean.
That said, again, as experience with headphones grows...it might be that (other than a massive step up into the stratosphere of Sennheiser Orpheus)...I probably seem headed towards hearing a Susvara or SR009 if nothing else, just to learn.
That said, again, as experience with headphones grows...it might be that (other than a massive step up into the stratosphere of Sennheiser Orpheus)...I probably seem headed towards hearing a Susvara or SR009 if nothing else, just to learn.
Back in the day I had a loaner of the famed Orpheus
nice stats dac was ok but a better analog input showed a very pleasing sound. i then bought stax 009 and a baby Orpheus
it came with its own amp for them.
the amp was good but could not play loud enough for without clipping
I also bought a BHSE in purple lol. And woo Wes
sold the BHSE over time
kept the Wes
I made an adaptor to use the Orpheus with any stat amp. i did hear the new Orpheus , it’s a bit heavy and the on ear amps get hot on your head.
a bit colored like the original Orpheus and baby ones. the new is closer to stax 009. But not better if one takes away pride of ownership
the Baby Orpheus is very light on Your head.
nice stats dac was ok but a better analog input showed a very pleasing sound. i then bought stax 009 and a baby Orpheus
it came with its own amp for them.
the amp was good but could not play loud enough for without clipping
I also bought a BHSE in purple lol. And woo Wes
sold the BHSE over time
kept the Wes
I made an adaptor to use the Orpheus with any stat amp. i did hear the new Orpheus , it’s a bit heavy and the on ear amps get hot on your head.
a bit colored like the original Orpheus and baby ones. the new is closer to stax 009. But not better if one takes away pride of ownership
the Baby Orpheus is very light on Your head.
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