This is why its important to watch reviews or read the forums for measurements but the most important part is to actually go out and listen with YOUR own ears. If you find a speaker or combination of gear you really enjoy then pursue those options, even if people online hate them for one reason or another YOU are the one listening to them and if they make you happy then that's the most important part.
@@Krmpfpks or more accurately to what the original comment meant: If you're enjoying something legitimate and someone tricks you into thinking it's snake oil, or simply the "wrong" way to listen to music.
When it comes to headphones/earphones, sure. But not when it comes to things, e.g. amps, DACs, cables, streaming services, that you can ABX blind test in your own home.
My biggest mistake was getting obsessed with perfection and gear and forgetting the music. I still love gear, but now the gear again serves the music, the thing I really love.
Music should be fun and pure, not a 'cocaine high' that gets you tweaking, and you chase the next thing. This is exactly how we see certain industry legends go BACK to older gear that just got it right, or go off-track and find more joy in certain things - they chased the next and lost what they loved along the way perhaps
My biggest mistake as an audiophile was chasing resolution ($) when I should have been chasing tuning. I well tuned headphone is so much more enjoyable than a poorly tuned yet very resolving headphone. Figure out the tuning that you enjoy and then chase that tuning; you’ll find your endgame for so much less money.
i just have learned that lesson 2 days ago when a took a pair of sony wh ch710n connected with a simple cheap wire to my simple and cheap notebook "dac" and 4 differente equalizers, i made test with boom 3d, fxsound, dts:x headphone and dirac, and i put in all the EQ the same eq configuration that i had on my last notebook with the dts: x ultra sound driver and a superior quality integrated "DAC" of acer that let me use a frecuency meter to make the perfect EQ tuning that my ears needed, and with all the eq all sound exact the same, with an incredible sound quality, i was speechless, my 90$ wireless bluetooth headphone just turned out on a sony (with less passive soundstage) mx4, incredible, the tuning is everything.
What I've learnt most is that a lot of people will tell you something is either very good or very bad but they have no first hand experience of it and are just echoing what others they follow have said. So I decided to learn to read FR graphs and found the sound signature I most prefer (the whole day listen), and what I can enjoy for a short while. And then for fun have been testing out IEMs that fit in with these signatures, so that I can be able to understand for myself what there's a big chance I'll like vs what majority likes. For example I've found that I suffer fatigue from bassy stuff quicker , most people seem to be the other way around. This has meant that some of what people most people are hating might need more investigation from me before dismissal.
Buyers remorse is a huge one for me. There are so few brick and mortar audio shops where I can go to listen to audio gear anymore. I used to be able to bring it home to try it out, and return if I didn't like it within a couple of weeks, and not have to pay a restocking fee. Now with the online retailers, there's usually an at least 10% - 20% restocking fee, plus shipping costs. I was looking into a pair of headphones that weren't available locally, and it was going to cost me over $200.00 in fees to send it back if I didn't like them. To me, it wasn't worth the gamble just to try them out.
It’s very expensive for a business to let customers do things like that. Especially if you expect the business to bear all the shipping costs. If they did that, they would just have to raise their prices to account for all of that. OR go out of business because they couldn’t compete on price.
Some honest, great, points you made. Thanks. I went kinda nuts within the last 5 years and kept buying headphones and IEMs, beyond what was necessary for basic listening, to satisfy my curiosity. After a long history of audiophile fascination (I’m 72 years old) the single “secret” I’ve learned is this: there is no ONE headphone, IEM, nor speaker for every occasion. My tastes change from day-to-day and by mood. Sometimes I want LOUD & distorted Rock…sometimes high detail jazz…and sometimes smooth ambient relaxation. If you have the luxury of obtaining a few favorite sets of headphones and IEMs revel in their differences and tailor them to your mood. It’s worth it.
This applies to almost everything, but get something good once. I went from using the Sundara and didn't like them much straight to the Arya. I'm not someone with a lot of money that can buy anything, it was a something I though a lot about and saved up for. And it was a great choice, after getting the Arya over a year ago, I have never felt the need or want to upgrade, they just feel perfect for me. If you know you are going to be in this hobby, then buy something very good that you will like instead of many cheaper models that you don't enjoy as much.
That was my mindset so i bought the arya stealth. But i regret the purchase, its fatiguing and the sibilance is annoying. I wish i‘d went for some entry lvl stuff first to find out what i want
Maybe not a mistake but an advice that I can give after 4 years: Test the things in person. As you said, it is almost impossible to recommend something to everyone, since the perception of sound can be different for the same equipment from person to person. After I had the chance to listen to a lot of gear at a headphone show in my area, I understood better what the reviewers tried to convey to me and what I actually prefer listening to. Nevertheless, without reviewers, I would have probably not entered the hobby so thanks for being here and doing this job for us :)
I've learned, that if something doesn't resolve well, you can't make it resolve, you can tune and EQ and pair it with this or the other, but you can't add technical abilities to it ... the other thing I've learned is comfort .. if it's not comfortable (especially IEM's) it doesn't matter at all, you will never take it with you or spend time with it ... and the last thing is,, sometimes convenience beats specs,, sometimes :-) (Think ANC gear) Listen to what you love and never go broke on audio gear ...It's ok to love something other people don't, I will always love vintage QUAD Electrostatic speakers, ALWAYS,, even if to today's standards some speakers might technically blow them out of the water, sometimes something gets to your musical soul ;-) and that's okay ...
If you use an equalizer, you are distoring the intended sound. Also, you are introducing unnecessary wiring into your sound reproduction. The simpler parth from your source to your speakers is the optimal solution. This is why very high end gear does not have bass or treble controls.
@@eddihaskell First off, digital EQ. Secondly, minimum phase relationship. It'll be the same whether it was electronic EQ or headphone tuning once it comes to the eardrum.
@@eddihaskell it´s gonna depend of what do you are looking for, good vocals? good bass? just for metal? or a very neutral sound? because they´re actual differentes between sennheiser HE-1 with a prize of 55k dollars and the warwick aperio of 35k dollars, if you are looking for the very best "source sound of what intended to be" then you buy the sennheiser but at the same time the aperio sound better in the passive soundstage and with a better dyniamic range but the sennheiser bass are more punching,, why the very best he-1 sound more punching on the bass if the aperio have more dynamic range? was that the intention of the artist? was really the real mix of the studio?, then you are on a death end where both the very best headphone are both different in audio experience then what´s the real experience? or are we just missing something? yes, we are missing something, our opinion. I do prefer more powerfull vocal than everyrhing with my "cheap" sony wh ch710n the bluetooth AAC conection to my motorola g8 power, the vocals sound twice better than with my wired conection same haedphones to my pc because the vocals sound more uniform, and i don´t like it that way. The equalizer do their job, make te music more enyojable to us.
I did like this video. About influencers, I've found that I typically find particular reviewers that reflect my tastes pretty well. Not that they're better or not as good as others, just that we more often than not like or dislike pieces of gear or particular recordings or whatever in the same ways. I happen to find your reviews particularly relatable to what I hear. I also like that you provided measured reviews with lots of comparisons, rather than some who seem to find whatever the latest thing is to almost always be the greatest thing. (Many people just find "new" and "different" to be "better). I also like the more technically informative videos from you and others. Basically, keep up what you're doing!
I enjoyed your well thought out discussion of audiophile mistakes. The only thing I would add is the importance of component matching and synergy in a system, including matching to the listening room. This can be more important than any single component in a given system. In my over 40 years as an audiophile, I have had some components that I thought were awful because of the way they sounded in one system and/or room, but then found them to be wonderful in another system and/or room, and visa versa. There have been some components that have been awful or wonderful in every system or room, but those are rare in my experience. This is why, for me, in-home auditioning of components is so important, either as a try before you buy audition, or through a sufficiently long money-back return policy.
One of the things I've learned in this hobby is, audiophiles are really particular about their tastes, and there's a lot of snobbery. And what I learned from that is to not get upset when someone talks down to me because I like something that they don't and visa versa. Chances are they're just mad that you found enjoyment in something they couldn't. Don't let some sweaty person ruin the things you like.
My mistakes: My first DAC/HP amp combo was a disaster. Pricey one, too. That was back in 2015. At least my first high-end cans were great. HD800 OG. Then LCD-X. Then HD800S. I have the HD650 OG and while I do not plan on parting with it, it’s not a favorite. Expensive cables were a mistake. Custom cables for length, feel and aesthetics - fine. But expensive? No, don’t need it. Silver? Collect investment silver instead. Final mistake but the good kind. Chasing ever more expensive headphones. There is no headphone to rule them all but my first three are still favorites along with new additions like the Focal Utopia 2022 (second hand, saved a good chunk of change). The guy I purchased the Focals from let me listen to his Holo May DAC Kitsune edition, Holo ampliier and a Woo Audio WA-33 with spec’ed out tubes coupled with my new Utopia 2022’s, a Final Audio D8000 (those sound awesome) and HifiMan Susvara. Like I said. Big mistake…
Are they financially ruins you? If not, then I don't see the mistake. Sounds like a good journey to me, experiencing different gears. That's the best part of the 'hobby'
@@zakyfadhlurrohman2825 “Go, woke, go broke” - to whose financial ruin are we referring? In common parlance the expression is not directed at individuals. I’ll let the cat out of the bag for you. It is an accusatory claim and a warning used by many who follow the entertainment industry. It’s been used at a minimum since the mid 2010’s. The industry paid no mind because they were still making money but we could see already then see which way the trend lines were pointing. Then came the pandemic. Then it fell apart in the new economic climate but some are still finding it hard to make the pivot (I’m looking at you, House of Mouse!). Not to be undone, then came “hold my light beer” and Wal-not-so-sMart. You savvy? Expectations: underwhelmed.
My main mistake was avoiding bluetooth headphones for so long. I used to get obsessed with equalization, and forget the main thing, which is the pleasure of listening to music. After buying my first Bluetooth headset I realized this. Today I only use bluetooth headphones to listen to music, the way they come straight out of the box, and if I don't like the sound I just ask for a refund. The only thing I ever adjust is the bass.
I enjoyed this and like these philosophical and conversational videos quite a bit, would like to see more, just like this of you sharing your wisdom and experience.
RE: 'One of the thing I've learnt...' For many years I wasn't arsed about speaker placement... I'm STILL 'Daily driving' my 1989 Technics SU-600 'New Class A Integrated Amp (fully serviced) with a pair of mid range Wharfedale Diamond speakers (upgraded from old Sony's) and they were placed just here and there (usually on the floor either side of my 'Entertainment unit/stand')... But, some years a go, I decided to buy a decent set of bookshelf speaker stands and extra speaker wire, took the time to rewire the speakers with the new upgraded wire, mount them on the stands and place the stands either side of me but each to a 45degree angle from my forward position, but also at ear level.... And... HELLS BELLS! 😮 YUUUUUGE IMPROVEMENT! 😏 THIS JUST from a stereo setup! Think I will invest in a decent 10" sub though to get those real deep but not overpowering lows... So two things come from this... 1 - You CAN STILL get some SERIOUSLY EXCELLENT SOUND (compared to some modern amps) from a 'Vintage' Amp (like the likes of NAD, Denon, Technics, Sony etc (you CAN get a DECENT vintage 90's amp for £100-£200 off eBay) 2 - TAKE YOUR TIME to experiment with placing your speakers (like I will be soon with the 'Sub crawl' lol) at exact matching distances & heights from your favourite chair/listening point, it makes a BIG difference! As you don't really need a 5.1/7.1/9.1/1543.1(lol) system to get a SPACIAL sound setup, when a decent amp, decent speakers and some time put into placement of said can do a fine job as it is... 🤔😏👍 😎🇬🇧
I'm somebody who doesn't have the luxury of listening to many sets of IEMs because there' s no actual physical shops for that around me so reviews are my only way to gauge whether a product is okay to buy or not. Therefore, i ended up with rather balanced sets like 7hz Zero, Tangzu Wan'er, Tangzu Zetian Wu and i enjoyed them very much. However, when i first came across 7hz Legato, i was intrigued since there were so many different and polarizing sentiments around that set. I pulled the trigger, intending for it to serve as a companion for my Zetian Wu for bass-heavy tracks and lo and behold! I got them, put on my JVC Spiral Dot++ on them, plugged them into my Dunu DTC500's 4.4 port and i was instantly in love with them, more than even those popular balanced sets. I am in love with the incredibly bass-heavy sound signature coupled with rather decent details and as a result, it ends up as my main set instead. Moral of the story, try as many sound signatures as you can by buying cheap low-end sets. Don't discover your actual favourite sound signature way too late like i do.
After watching DMS's video on the Ayra Stealth, I wanted to get them. But I didn't just buy them because of his video, I then watched ever video on RUclips about the Arya Stealth (not an exaggeration) before I decided to get them. They are overall good headphones, that was obvious, so what helped me were any negative aspects a reviewer brought up.
I did the same. I upgraded from sundara to Arya stealth. Daughter got sundaras. Only bad thing is I got 6xx recently and even though bass is not as present I find myself reaching for 6xx over Arya stealth. Maybe my 50+ year old ears appreciate 6xx more but to me the 6xx are more comfortable for long listening sessions. I have a big jaw and the Arya seems to put more pressure on my jaw line. Either way. Enjoy and cheers!!! Being able to afford hobbies is what helps us enjoy the rest of life:)
Learned that it takes time to evaluate and then be happy with what you have. After owning and selling a bunch of hi end headphones (ZMF FOCAL MEZE) and some DAC/amps I've ended up with the 800s and E3 with and RME DAC FS and FluxLabs amp and I"m very happy. It really depends so much on the music you listen to and the circumstances of your listening. If you start going down a rabbit hole, you're never going to be happy chasing perfection. I may try the Tungsten tho.
Great video, thanks DMS. I've loved music since i was a kid in the 80's but only recently started down the 'audiophile' path. Upgrading piecemeal over the past couple years based on reviews from yours truly and his ilk has been very rewarding. Was just talking with the wife tonight about how much better things are sounding for us, and she doesn't get into this stuff at all, she just listens to the music. Crazy, right?!? Anyhoo, thanks DMS and all of your online compatriots. Your work is legit helping normies out here find more pleasure in their listening experiences and that's pretty cool.
Learned a few things really. I learned to remember...i came here because i was "curious". Listening to music i love, and just feeling like there's more in it i just cant make out. Wondering if there really is or not, and if it matters. I learned that you dont really plan to go to the extremes of any hobby at the beggining. I grabbed a pair of Fidelio 2hr and it blew my mind. And I learned that when you do find out there is more, you naturally need to see how deep the hole goes. I learned that for me, it took somewhere between $2-$4k to learn how deep it could go for me, and settle back into what I learned I loved along the way. Last but not least, I've learned to take all of this to save for those "dream pieces" over the flavor of the month. But I also learned you can't just tell someone all this. Gotta go find it. Back to loving the music ✌️
I think an interesting consideration with this sort of thing is whether making mistakes is worthwhile or not. There are plenty of mistakes I've made as I continually dip my toes into this hobby - importantly, none have ever been that expensive so it's easy to look at them as part of the overall learning process. Worth noting that taste can factor in a lot sometimes - I started off chasing very neural IEMs for example as I wanted to be able to hear my music clearly and be able to monitor myself when playing drums, I'm super happy with a V-shaped planar set now as music sounds way more fun with them and they have plenty of detail to make monitoring a breeze for my use case. I count myself lucky that I've been able to listen to other people's gear over the past few years and gain an appreciation for how little price can matter when it comes to my own enjoyment. That's probably one of my biggest takeaways really as I'm reaching a point where I don't think I'll ever spend more money than I need to on audio gear unless I'm paying for some sort of exclusive feature that I know I want can't get elsewhere. Another video on 'mistakes' would be great and especially ones that others have made. Alternatively, success stories would be cool to hear too.
Hey mate just wanted to say thanks for making great content. About 75% of it goes clean over my head as I'm brand new to this whole situation, but I've already digested several of your videos over the last couple of weeks as I find it really interesting and really enjoy your style. Of course I'm learning heaps too and will look forward to the day when I can invest more into audio.
You make a great first point. The reviews I read for the Monoprice M1060 were nearly exclusively negative besides soundstage. Reviews ranging from “underwhelming” ” to “requires mods” to “peaky.” A few said there had been an improvement in later models. I gave em a shot anyway. I knew what I was after: soundstage and detail. Almost exclusively. I figured I could get away with it since I don’t have a well tuned ear. Sure enough I did. I love how they sound it’s one of the most immersive experiences I can have. Ended up buying admittedly cheap dacs/amps and boom now I’m connected to my 360 and One. I can’t be killed from behind anymore in FPS. Music-wise these sound to my untrained ear the way you described the HE1’s 🤣 I wouldn’t even mod them. Apparently you can get even better soundstage by taking the back foams out but I don’t wanna risk decreasing its service life. Glazing done
What I learned is that most YT influencers don’t know the first thing about EE, audio electronics or simple math. They routinely perpetuate legends and myths originating from magic hearing. Most of them are genuinely passionate, some of them are mere showroom salesmen. Takeaway: Learning a bit about circuit design and EE can save you thousands of dollars.
It took me while, but I realise that the most important thing in the chain is, as you said; the headphone/IEM. The best DAP in the world is a waste without the commensurate headphone/IEM.
I used to consider myself an audiophile, but I don't really feel like I can honestly call myself an audiophile anymore. There are several reasons for that, but I won't elaborate. One mistake that I have made, which is not always avoidable in the current retail environment where the number of direct to consumer manufacturers have increased, along with a desire of many to price shop. That is buying equipment sight unseen, or more importantly, unheard. I have a set of Martin Logan SL3s that I absolutely love, along with ML surround, center channel, and sub. I did not purchase them without hearing them. I did hear them first. I actually had my eyes on a less expensive set of MLs, but after comparing them to the SL3s there was no way I was going to make that purchase. Originally I drove them with a decent AV receiver. It worked nice, but on certain music they would clip a bit (inaudible to me, but I could see the light on the receiver). I decided that I would "upgrade" and purchased direct to consumer brand 2-channel and 3-channel amps. They honestly didn't sound that great. Then within months of purchasing them I had some issues with the 2-channel amp. Then a couple of years later I had issues with the 3-channel amp. I considered getting them repaired, though I suspect that the manufacturer will not be able to do so given their age at this point and I'll have to trade them in to get new equipment. I don't know that I will take that chance. All that said to say, be careful buying gear without hearing it first. Thanks for the video. Please expand on your list of mistakes.
Good points! I believe my big mistake was embracing the 'IEMs are just superior closed-back' mentality. I can see that's the case for a lot of cheap stuff, but nope, not when I was comparing good vs. good. IEMs bypass all the pinna tactility that I've realized adds a lot to my immersion with EDM and movies. While IEMs can be really good, for me, it's an overall more claustrophobic and less immersive experience. Anther one was going to public discord audio servers because I wasted a lot of time reading nonsense and parrots parroting the same stuff over and over again. Also, the overall groupthink culture about certain products is just annoying. Having a private server w/ your friends is the way to go.
We are learning from our own mistakes and even though some of those hit your budget significantly, it’s always a way to find out your path, your own taste, your specific kind of “the best”. There are always options to enjoy music with simple gear or to have fun rolling over and over variants of high-end stuff. Advice here: don’t let the other’s opinion be the major, when it does not correspond to yours. Same goes to the marketing (it’s their job to sell you something). Don’t let them lead your habits, be the one mastering the process of the journey.
Not getting lost is important. My biggest mistake was getting to the point where I was listening to the equipment and not the music. I was so obsessed with achieving perfect sound that I was not enjoying listening to music anymore. I had to take a step back at that point and remember what made the early days of this hobby so much fun.
3:14 I disagree somewhat, while headphones/speakers are very important, the music and quality of the mastering are very important too - hello loudness wars! - something that is not being addressed at all by the industry, sadly. I have CDs from the 80s that sound much better than the Apple lossless versions, only because of the mastering and dynamic range. I've resorted to buying early CD versions of my favorite music because the streaming versions have had the life squeezed out of them in the re-masterings down the years.
Over the past 10 years as my ears get older I’ve stopped trying to pretend I have super human hearing. Just the way of things if we’re all being honest with ourselves. My collection after all this time is HD 6XX, DT 1990 Pro, Aful P5 all off ES9028 DAC Asgard 3. I’m throwing in my hat with my current setup.
What I've learned from being obsessed with audio since the late 80s is that the obsession never ends until one decides to finally just enjoy the content/the music. I am fortunate that I can enjoy music again with cheaper gear. I used to be so stuck in obsessing over flaws that music was just becoming a measuring tool.
40ish years ago i was introduced to the term " figures don't lie , but , liars can figure " in small high end audio store . over the decades it i've learned it doesn't just apply to audio .
You hit the nail on the head with the influencer point you made. I ended up buying a pair of 6XX because everyone was claiming how amazing they were, and at first I was definitely buying the hype. But after going through a few different headphones since the 6XX, I've come to realize just how boring they are. They're still the most comfortable headphoens I've ever tried, but I just don't enjoy the "sennheiser veil."
The last point resonates strongly. I am slightly baffled that headphones are a hobby, or at least the purchasing of them is described as such. The hobby is listening to music and the search for things that could make that ever more enjoyable (source, equipment, furniture, room treatments, whiskies, edibles etc etc) rather than the Panini sticker/Pokémon card collecting need of having them all. I get especially irked when people talk of an "endgame" to "the hobby", when my enjoyment of music as a hobby would only end when I'm deaf, unable to feel vibrations or I have died.
Uhhh, I am deaf and I enjoy listening to music for over 40 years. Granted that I may not be “hearing” the whole spectrum but it’s still enjoyable for me. I constantly get a little surprise here and there when I hear a new note or pitch for the 1st time in a favorite song. It’s a delight when that happens.
I never got the 'hobby' description either. Listening to music is the thing to be passionate about, it's part of life, not just a 'hobby'. Gear acquisition should also not be a hobby, it's a means to that end. Why do you prefer gear x over gear y? Because it shows or conveys more of this or that in your own favourite music. Now that I respect. Also be curious what your favourite music sounds like live and in the studio. What is the technology required to capture that and reproduce it in a way it takes you back to that? The gear that is best for you is the gear that links you to your music, not the gear person x or z recommends because they are a known influencer or reviewer... Too many people buy gear to get recognition and as a kind of sticker trophy but don't actually really care that much about music itself. Be a music lover first and foremost. Anything else will get boring sooner or later.
As you said, it's a journey, you can't wait for someone else to tell you about it, you have to experience it for yourself. Sometimes it will be wrong but most of the time it will be right. Sometimes you get bored of your equipment and buy something new and then one day you rediscover what you already had and the journey never ends.
Most important is trust your taste and don't force yourself to like something based on other people's reviews. Especially relevant with speakers since you will never be able to replicate someone else's room and acoustic conditions which matter a lot.
DMS, I have found value in your reviews even though we have different tastes. I tend to take a budget approach getting the best sound for the entry level. It works well for my family, we have lots of good ways to all enjoy our music. Thanks for doing you. Cheers to the THS and all my fellow viewers, have a great day!
GM from Toronto ☕️❄️ In the end especially in the iem/ headphone hobby…YOU are the only person that needs to like what they’re experiencing…period . Now at what level of performance / cost level you’re comfortable with ..that’s a personal choice. Love my LCDX 2021 are the perfect ..nope. I love my Sen’s 650’s are they perfect..nope ..along with a bunch of IEM’s …they each bring something to the party 🎉. To thine own self be true. Have a great Sunday 👍
Biggest mistake I made, buying stuff in the sub $100 bracket multiple times on the recommendation of paid reviewers. Instead of just spending 400-500 once on things well researched
Honestly; I went from budget IEMs, to a $150 planar IEM, to a $700 IEM that was quite good, tried the hd600 and hd6xx, dt990, and ended up with a Truthear Hexa and hd560s despite the common recommendation I also have decent monitors for $80 with eq though. Ultimately I chose to have a good mix of ergonomics and value rather than the best for me, after trying everything and don't really regret trialling.
Going through the price brackets is part of the fun for those who in this as a hobby. Going straight to a recommended high end is great if you want to buy once and settle with that.
Maybe with inflation or because it’s their personal journeys they are sharing, influencers are now as likely to promote expensive gear as they once were to promote cheap gear. This trend has really taken off now that many of them have been indoctrinated in the audio show circuits (CanJam, High End Munich. AXPONA, Capital, etc,). So, be careful, expensive recommendations may be just that.
Only buy what you can afford. A payment plan or throwing it on a credit card where you only pay monthly minimum means you can't afford it. The $500 cans suddenly become 750 after interest
I went to a headphone event and learned almost immediately I don’t always agree with others. Heard some amazing stuff but also some…not so. I’d love to go to another event like that for speakers and home audio. You can cover a lot very quickly.
@@StrangeBrewReviews There has never been any form of evidence that "burn in" does anything in any amount of time. If you buy audio equipment and it doesn't sound good out of the box, there's nothing that will "fix" the sound. Don't trick yourself into wasting time.
Not just expensive headphones, but ANY headphones. "Burn-in" is a ploy to stop people from returning headphones before the return window passes. "Burn-in" is your brain acclimating to the frequency response of the headphones; the clamping force loosening; or/and the ear pads breaking in. If "burn-in" were real, you would see some people complain that their headphones sounded worse over time, and measurements would show differences in frequency response graphs.
@@Avruthlelbh I've definitely had some that did and did not need it...these are mechanical devices , same as phono cart suspensions and full size speakers,,,they need a little wear to reach optimal elasticity.depends on the materials ...however it will only take hours and not days...let your new headphones play near peak volume before distorting for an hour or 2 before you even listen to them, just put them on the table playing off your head or over night even. after that there is no more that will change....but some will definitely need a couple hours of dynamic play before they reach their potential...hours not days.
the journey has also been about discovering music which brings out the nuances and how better gear allows you to enjoy it even more. discovered a lot of good artists and a lot of bad choices of gear made along the way.
1. Enjoy what you enjoy and don't let anyone else tell you it's "bad." It's like someone telling you that your favorite flavor of ice cream is "wrong." 2. Amps make things louder. They don't unlock a magical realm of unicorn farts and rainbows. The bass doesn't "open up" and they don't let your headphones "reach their full potential." They make things louder. People who claim otherwise are mistaking volume for sound quality, which is very easy to do if you don't A/B your equipment with metered volume leveling. Even 2 or 3 dB will make one sound "better." You need an amp if and only if your preferred headphones don't get loud enough with your preferred source. Period. 3. CD quality is enough. 44.1 khz, 16 bit audio was the standard set specifically because it extends to the limits (slightly beyond, really) of human hearing. The only reason to buy a hi-res audio file is if it represents a different and better mastering of the audio.
What i learned hard way in the past 20 years plus ( 39 years old , my birthday today 8 sept 24) 1. Find a way to try the headphones , you will never really know how they sound until you try them 2. The comfort is mandatory, no matter how they sound if you cannot wear them more than 20 min is useless , you will never love them 3. Try to buy 2 complete different sound signature , one neutral balanced reference sound , and the other one very bassy , sub bass heavy , this way you cover all the needs
Facts on the first point man. I don't have a lot of money to spend on gear all that often so when I do have that money to spend, I really want to get the best thing for me. I used to watch only like 2 or 3 reviewers and on their recommendations I am 2 for 5. The k9 pro ess because I wanted something that I wouldn't need to worry about upgrading for a long time and the rinko iem for a cheap, not muddy, and fun v-shaped sound. The other things I got were the rode nth-100, the hivi-swans os-10, and the ifi zen dac(the combo amp/dac one) and I was really a fan of them at all.
I found that fit and comfort of a headphone is just as important (if not more) as the sound. To be more specific, for me headphones above 400g are almost always too heavy. There are VERY FEW exceptions to this. So, when I hear about allegedly superb new product, the first thing I do is check the weight. If it is above 400g, it’s a pass.
Great video! Make more. And I agree that money does not necessarily correlate with how "Good" something is. Example is Dan Clark E3 which, I think, sound far better than many $3-5K headphones I've owned.
I like the video and I totally agree with you. So far, after all 40 years in the hobby, I haven't actually made any real mistakes, my aim has always been to achieve a lot with little effort and to stay away from snake oil and healing stones.
I'd like to see a follow up to this video where you tell more personal stories about mistakes you've made in the hobby. Did you ever impulse buy something that wowed you on the show floor, but never managed to recreate the magic at home? Poke a screwdriver through the membrane of a planar you're trying to mod?
If you're into headphones, IEMs are a very real competitor to closed back headphones. I was against IEMs originally, just liked my open backs more. But then after I got a pair for free included with my headphones, I ended up using them more than any other headphone.
Follow YOUR ears, if you like how something sounds thats the most important factor. It doesn't matter if its not the best measuring piece of gear or if people hate it on the forums, it YOU enjoy it then consider buying it and enjoying it. For me i dont like KEF, they seem to have great build quality and measure well but i never enjoy listening to music on them so i would never buy a pair. It doesnt mean kef is a bad brand or i think they suck, its just not my cup of tea when i want to listen to music. On the flip side you may love kef and you own multiple pairs and its the greatest thing ever and and you enjoy listening every day. Everyone has different ears so no 1 speaker is going to be the best option everytime.
I think the 2 biggest things I've learned are: to blind/side-by-side if possible, & buy what I want a year after it comes out. Thanks for all that this community does!
Don't go to audio stores in person, you're just a minnow before the sharks. Online has way better return policy and information. Audio store people are music (CD, vinyl, cassette) store people on steroids. Try things. Don't watch reviews, create a budget and try different models for cheap. You won't like everything. Didn't like Senn 6XX, should've bought some Sundaras from the get-go. Focal is incredible and I could've had Elegias for a great price. Meze 99's are unbelievably good, 109 pro would've been automatic for me. Planar headphones DO require burn-in (a lot, actually), dynamics are basically good-to-go out of the box. Unless you have a house all to yourself, don't buy speakers, you'll never get to hear them. Headphones are FAR better. Tubes looked cool, are cool, and I use them all the time, but having solid state as an option is the perfect remedy (hybrid). Don't use USB audio, buy a streamer. Even bluetooth lossy audio is better because of the noise your computer makes--it is not designed for music. You'll immediately get better bass, highs and mids because of less distortion. Tube rolling is amazing, I don't know how solid state folks listen to the same amp every time. Also sounds way more real for some reason. Power matters but it's secondary to amp+hps+DAC. Sabre isn't totally evil, just some sabre DACs are bad. Buy new, used stuff will sound dated, old DACs will be far behind the market unless you know what you want. Digital gets better every single day. Vinyl is heavy, cumbersome, and damn do I wish I owned a turntable again, my best memories are of my old analogue system. I LOVE vinyl no matter how difficult it is because it makes you get up, turn the record over, brush it, clean it, it was a sublime experience. CDs might be even better with a really good CD player. Convenience is king, files are where it's at. Sample everything over the internet, THEN buy physical releases and do research on mastering (analogue or digital source), whether it's worth the investment or not. Music is king, all the music is good, buy music, rent music, listen to music, it's awesome.
The best thing a budding audiophile can do is demo demo demo. Do not just blindly buy anything just because your favourite reviewer(s) hype it up to be the best thing ever released. Use your own ears and judge for yourself. Go to your nearest local audio place and test gear out. Don't have one near you? Join forums and see if you can find other like minded hobbyists around your area. Ask them if you could demo their gear. My point is, you should put what YOU hear and like to hear over anything else. Because in the end, YOU are the one listening to what you buy. =)
Chasing better and better recordings to get the "most" out of my system but forgetting to listen to music I actually like in the process. The gear is just a tool to listen to the music you love. Not the other way around.
Bottom line is that measurements are objective. Reviewers and influencers are not. Best part of this video is driving home the point that it’s all about what sounds good to you. I use reviews for tech specs and general guidance. I prefer the crowdsourcing aspect of what a lot of “users” say in forums and comments.
For me, aligning with a brand that I have used for the last 30 years, Sony, means that my system works well together and I trust it. It's odd how once I "trust" in a system, I am immune to reading critical reviews of other components that may actually be better, but are not in my ecosystem. I suppose it's similar to aligning with any other ecosystem. Not the best for everyone, or the best approach objectively, but works for me.
My biggest mistake was not knowing that I wanted only four set ups, two for on the go and two for at home. A cheap version for walks and just popping over to the store and one best for longer travel. For at home one for passive listening and one for active listening.
Why? I hope I've missed some controversy and that this isn't about the bullsh*t flamewar started by Delta Fyre who mistakenly assumed that KZ was using fake drives and later apologized for it.
What I've learned is that aesthetics matter. Just because one set of cans might have an objectively better sound signature than another you don't have to always go with the set with better output. If you hate the look of what many people refer to as the better performing headphone, often times you should go with the set you prefer.
My problem too, has been an assumption that newer and more expensive is automatically better for your tastes. Started with DT770 Pro's: liked the treble, disliked the bass. Eventually upgraded to DT1770's: liked the bass, disliked the treble... Second example: pointless upgrades to the newest model with biggest numbers. I lowkey regret upgrading Topping A90 to A90 Discrete. Got it for A90's price, but man... it's such a incremental upgrade with new features I don't need. Does it sound better? Yes, marginally. But was I ever disappointed in A90's sound in the first place? No.
For me it was prioritising sound over comfort. I use my Audio Technica open back air series headphones the most. Even with their wonky sound profile, they are just the comfiest.
I like to say that my Nighthawk Carbon's "drip and puff music." They make buffoons out of all this fancy-dancy equipment I have by just playing in their own unorthodox way. I don't use them exclusively, but when I do, it's a whole lot of fun, and they just make me smile. Btw, I'm a very picky listener and can't stand it when my music doesn't satisfy me.
I couldn’t agree more. Think about listening to musics in 70 or 80s where only cassette tapes and LP were available. We are fortunate enjoying much higher quality of sound with the fraction of the cost than those of 4 decades ago. I think YT reviewers influence my Bose QC45 is an inferior product to listen the 80,s to 2022’s songs. I am saying this aud 240 Bose headphones and Tidal combo blow away the sound quality of any type of Music players in the 20th century.
Many of us who have love music have been in live events. Some may in their youth forgot hearing protection. This for me has changed how I experience headphones. I am super sensitive for bright headphones. I cannot listen to many highly celebrated headphones. Nearly all Focals and Hifyman I cannot listen at all. HD650 and Aeon2 Noire are what I use.
Measuring things, if possible, to gain understanding, is good. But, before science, there’s experience of reality. Science came from trying to organize & understand these experiences. From Beats Studios (2012) to Dan Clark Expanse (2023 to current. & Many in between. Even OG Utopia & Susvara, until disaster), it’s about the musical bliss. Headphones has been my long time getaway to that realm. I still have a picture from ‘93, with my Sony Walkman cassette rig my mom bought me. I, am an audiophile. 🎧🎶🎵🎼
I got fomo for open back headphones as the community for audiophile's really likes them. After owning closed backs and open backs I just prefer the more intimate closed backs. I also don't feel like you sacrifice as much soundstage as they like to say. Isolated private listening is key for me. I've got speakers for the rest. I also discovered I am not an 'Audiophile' in that I like the gear and detail. I just want my music to sound the best it can be. I am an 'audiophile' lower case hahaha
Hi DMS, could you make a comparison between the CD900 and the 7506? I would like to try the CD900 after your review but can get the 7506 for 1/3 of the price of the cd900. Are they similar in sound?
My biggest mistake was my first buy. I tested the speakers at their shop, but did it on their system instead of requesting a testrig that was more similar to my own. An error I never did again. ;)
I've learned the expensive way that what self-proclaimed 'audiophiles' on the RUclipss are Fulla Schiit! I've bought so many headphones but in the end, I always end up going back to my Senny HD 599 SE's (for 'fun' listening) and the HD 6XX (for 'serious' listening). I've tried the other headphones and always hated how they sounded (to me). Maybe I'm not using them right, but all the highly regarded headphones always seemed to sound too harsh, or too sterile (no fun at all). I'm not a DJ or a sound engineer, so my preferences are probably more savage as my ears are 'untamed'.
@@En_Joshi-Godrez Dianas, Aryias, Edition XS, and so on. If YOU knew what I was talking about, you would already know what I was referring to. Red Flag YOU for being a TROLL. Go back under your bridge where you belong. Unless of course you are one of those narcissists who can't let something go and have to get the last word in all the time.
I'm 42 and though I've been listening to music all my life I recently got into the audiophile scene in the last couple of years and it has been extremely frustrating for me because I have OCD, slight Asperger's and a very low I.Q. and I don't understand anything to do with frequency response or anything technical to do with audio only listening to music, I've spent quite a bit on audio gear such as headphones, IEMS, Dacs/AMPS, dongle Dacs, and other audio gear, I really want to understand audio for my 80's metal music so I have better clarity for vocals and instruments and to stop chasing the rabbit hole of never ending audio gear spending to get the perfect sound which I know is not realistic.
I think the biggest audiophile mistake is letting other people dictate what you enjoy.
Dont go to any reddit audiophile communities then. They will tell you to your face what you are wrong about what you hear.
Yes, if you are high on snake oil then there’s nothing worse than someone pointing it out 😂
This is why its important to watch reviews or read the forums for measurements but the most important part is to actually go out and listen with YOUR own ears. If you find a speaker or combination of gear you really enjoy then pursue those options, even if people online hate them for one reason or another YOU are the one listening to them and if they make you happy then that's the most important part.
@@Krmpfpks or more accurately to what the original comment meant: If you're enjoying something legitimate and someone tricks you into thinking it's snake oil, or simply the "wrong" way to listen to music.
When it comes to headphones/earphones, sure. But not when it comes to things, e.g. amps, DACs, cables, streaming services, that you can ABX blind test in your own home.
My biggest mistake was getting obsessed with perfection and gear and forgetting the music. I still love gear, but now the gear again serves the music, the thing I really love.
Completely agree. As long as you keep comparing and switching gear you can't really focus on the music. It's something to grow out of.
Music should be fun and pure, not a 'cocaine high' that gets you tweaking, and you chase the next thing. This is exactly how we see certain industry legends go BACK to older gear that just got it right, or go off-track and find more joy in certain things - they chased the next and lost what they loved along the way perhaps
My biggest mistake as an audiophile was chasing resolution ($) when I should have been chasing tuning. I well tuned headphone is so much more enjoyable than a poorly tuned yet very resolving headphone. Figure out the tuning that you enjoy and then chase that tuning; you’ll find your endgame for so much less money.
Thanks for this advice, I'm a beginner
i just have learned that lesson 2 days ago when a took a pair of sony wh ch710n connected with a simple cheap wire to my simple and cheap notebook "dac" and 4 differente equalizers, i made test with boom 3d, fxsound, dts:x headphone and dirac, and i put in all the EQ the same eq configuration that i had on my last notebook with the dts: x ultra sound driver and a superior quality integrated "DAC" of acer that let me use a frecuency meter to make the perfect EQ tuning that my ears needed, and with all the eq all sound exact the same, with an incredible sound quality, i was speechless, my 90$ wireless bluetooth headphone just turned out on a sony (with less passive soundstage) mx4, incredible, the tuning is everything.
What I've learnt most is that a lot of people will tell you something is either very good or very bad but they have no first hand experience of it and are just echoing what others they follow have said. So I decided to learn to read FR graphs and found the sound signature I most prefer (the whole day listen), and what I can enjoy for a short while. And then for fun have been testing out IEMs that fit in with these signatures, so that I can be able to understand for myself what there's a big chance I'll like vs what majority likes. For example I've found that I suffer fatigue from bassy stuff quicker , most people seem to be the other way around. This has meant that some of what people most people are hating might need more investigation from me before dismissal.
For me it was even starting to be one
Buyers remorse is a huge one for me. There are so few brick and mortar audio shops where I can go to listen to audio gear anymore. I used to be able to bring it home to try it out, and return if I didn't like it within a couple of weeks, and not have to pay a restocking fee. Now with the online retailers, there's usually an at least 10% - 20% restocking fee, plus shipping costs. I was looking into a pair of headphones that weren't available locally, and it was going to cost me over $200.00 in fees to send it back if I didn't like them. To me, it wasn't worth the gamble just to try them out.
It’s very expensive for a business to let customers do things like that. Especially if you expect the business to bear all the shipping costs.
If they did that, they would just have to raise their prices to account for all of that. OR go out of business because they couldn’t compete on price.
Some honest, great, points you made. Thanks.
I went kinda nuts within the last 5 years and kept buying headphones and IEMs, beyond what was necessary for basic listening, to satisfy my curiosity. After a long history of audiophile fascination (I’m 72 years old) the single “secret” I’ve learned is this: there is no ONE headphone, IEM, nor speaker for every occasion. My tastes change from day-to-day and by mood. Sometimes I want LOUD & distorted Rock…sometimes high detail jazz…and sometimes smooth ambient relaxation. If you have the luxury of obtaining a few favorite sets of headphones and IEMs revel in their differences and tailor them to your mood. It’s worth it.
This frood gets it!^^^^^
This applies to almost everything, but get something good once. I went from using the Sundara and didn't like them much straight to the Arya. I'm not someone with a lot of money that can buy anything, it was a something I though a lot about and saved up for. And it was a great choice, after getting the Arya over a year ago, I have never felt the need or want to upgrade, they just feel perfect for me. If you know you are going to be in this hobby, then buy something very good that you will like instead of many cheaper models that you don't enjoy as much.
This is very very important, yet rarely implemented.
That was my mindset so i bought the arya stealth. But i regret the purchase, its fatiguing and the sibilance is annoying. I wish i‘d went for some entry lvl stuff first to find out what i want
The biggest audiophile mistake is thinking that there is a perfect sound reproduction system.
Maybe not a mistake but an advice that I can give after 4 years: Test the things in person. As you said, it is almost impossible to recommend something to everyone, since the perception of sound can be different for the same equipment from person to person. After I had the chance to listen to a lot of gear at a headphone show in my area, I understood better what the reviewers tried to convey to me and what I actually prefer listening to. Nevertheless, without reviewers, I would have probably not entered the hobby so thanks for being here and doing this job for us :)
I've learned, that if something doesn't resolve well, you can't make it resolve, you can tune and EQ and pair it with this or the other, but you can't add technical abilities to it ... the other thing I've learned is comfort .. if it's not comfortable (especially IEM's) it doesn't matter at all, you will never take it with you or spend time with it ... and the last thing is,, sometimes convenience beats specs,, sometimes :-) (Think ANC gear) Listen to what you love and never go broke on audio gear ...It's ok to love something other people don't, I will always love vintage QUAD Electrostatic speakers, ALWAYS,, even if to today's standards some speakers might technically blow them out of the water, sometimes something gets to your musical soul ;-) and that's okay ...
If you use an equalizer, you are distoring the intended sound. Also, you are introducing unnecessary wiring into your sound reproduction. The simpler parth from your source to your speakers is the optimal solution. This is why very high end gear does not have bass or treble controls.
@@eddihaskell First off, digital EQ. Secondly, minimum phase relationship. It'll be the same whether it was electronic EQ or headphone tuning once it comes to the eardrum.
@@eddihaskell it´s gonna depend of what do you are looking for, good vocals? good bass? just for metal? or a very neutral sound? because they´re actual differentes between sennheiser HE-1 with a prize of 55k dollars and the warwick aperio of 35k dollars, if you are looking for the very best "source sound of what intended to be" then you buy the sennheiser but at the same time the aperio sound better in the passive soundstage and with a better dyniamic range but the sennheiser bass are more punching,, why the very best he-1 sound more punching on the bass if the aperio have more dynamic range? was that the intention of the artist? was really the real mix of the studio?, then you are on a death end where both the very best headphone are both different in audio experience then what´s the real experience? or are we just missing something? yes, we are missing something, our opinion. I do prefer more powerfull vocal than everyrhing with my "cheap" sony wh ch710n the bluetooth AAC conection to my motorola g8 power, the vocals sound twice better than with my wired conection same haedphones to my pc because the vocals sound more uniform, and i don´t like it that way. The equalizer do their job, make te music more enyojable to us.
This is one of the most important videos that you've made. I hope more people hear this message
I did like this video. About influencers, I've found that I typically find particular reviewers that reflect my tastes pretty well. Not that they're better or not as good as others, just that we more often than not like or dislike pieces of gear or particular recordings or whatever in the same ways. I happen to find your reviews particularly relatable to what I hear. I also like that you provided measured reviews with lots of comparisons, rather than some who seem to find whatever the latest thing is to almost always be the greatest thing. (Many people just find "new" and "different" to be "better). I also like the more technically informative videos from you and others. Basically, keep up what you're doing!
I enjoyed your well thought out discussion of audiophile mistakes.
The only thing I would add is the importance of component matching and synergy in a system, including matching to the listening room. This can be more important than any single component in a given system.
In my over 40 years as an audiophile, I have had some components that I thought were awful because of the way they sounded in one system and/or room, but then found them to be wonderful in another system and/or room, and visa versa. There have been some components that have been awful or wonderful in every system or room, but those are rare in my experience.
This is why, for me, in-home auditioning of components is so important, either as a try before you buy audition, or through a sufficiently long money-back return policy.
Biggest mistake: Purchasing a pair of audiophile headphones "for my girlfriend."😂
"why my dua lipa song doesn´t sound punching anon? muh bad headphones"
We really appreciate what you do DMS. Thank you for another insightful and honest video. Love your videos man.
One of the things I've learned in this hobby is, audiophiles are really particular about their tastes, and there's a lot of snobbery. And what I learned from that is to not get upset when someone talks down to me because I like something that they don't and visa versa. Chances are they're just mad that you found enjoyment in something they couldn't. Don't let some sweaty person ruin the things you like.
My mistakes:
My first DAC/HP amp combo was a disaster. Pricey one, too. That was back in 2015. At least my first high-end cans were great. HD800 OG. Then LCD-X. Then HD800S. I have the HD650 OG and while I do not plan on parting with it, it’s not a favorite.
Expensive cables were a mistake. Custom cables for length, feel and aesthetics - fine. But expensive? No, don’t need it. Silver? Collect investment silver instead.
Final mistake but the good kind. Chasing ever more expensive headphones. There is no headphone to rule them all but my first three are still favorites along with new additions like the Focal Utopia 2022 (second hand, saved a good chunk of change). The guy I purchased the Focals from let me listen to his Holo May DAC Kitsune edition, Holo ampliier and a Woo Audio WA-33 with spec’ed out tubes coupled with my new Utopia 2022’s, a Final Audio D8000 (those sound awesome) and HifiMan Susvara.
Like I said. Big mistake…
Are they financially ruins you? If not, then I don't see the mistake. Sounds like a good journey to me, experiencing different gears. That's the best part of the 'hobby'
@@zakyfadhlurrohman2825 “Go, woke, go broke” - to whose financial ruin are we referring? In common parlance the expression is not directed at individuals. I’ll let the cat out of the bag for you. It is an accusatory claim and a warning used by many who follow the entertainment industry. It’s been used at a minimum since the mid 2010’s. The industry paid no mind because they were still making money but we could see already then see which way the trend lines were pointing. Then came the pandemic. Then it fell apart in the new economic climate but some are still finding it hard to make the pivot (I’m looking at you, House of Mouse!). Not to be undone, then came “hold my light beer” and Wal-not-so-sMart. You savvy?
Expectations: underwhelmed.
I also didn’t quite understand what exactly the mistake was reading this long comment
In other videos that HD 650 was your favourite headphone. You are the reason why I bought that headphone 😂
My main mistake was avoiding bluetooth headphones for so long. I used to get obsessed with equalization, and forget the main thing, which is the pleasure of listening to music. After buying my first Bluetooth headset I realized this. Today I only use bluetooth headphones to listen to music, the way they come straight out of the box, and if I don't like the sound I just ask for a refund. The only thing I ever adjust is the bass.
I enjoyed this and like these philosophical and conversational videos quite a bit, would like to see more, just like this of you sharing your wisdom and experience.
RE: 'One of the thing I've learnt...' For many years I wasn't arsed about speaker placement... I'm STILL 'Daily driving' my 1989 Technics SU-600 'New Class A Integrated Amp (fully serviced) with a pair of mid range Wharfedale Diamond speakers (upgraded from old Sony's) and they were placed just here and there (usually on the floor either side of my 'Entertainment unit/stand')... But, some years a go, I decided to buy a decent set of bookshelf speaker stands and extra speaker wire, took the time to rewire the speakers with the new upgraded wire, mount them on the stands and place the stands either side of me but each to a 45degree angle from my forward position, but also at ear level.... And... HELLS BELLS! 😮 YUUUUUGE IMPROVEMENT! 😏 THIS JUST from a stereo setup! Think I will invest in a decent 10" sub though to get those real deep but not overpowering lows...
So two things come from this...
1 - You CAN STILL get some SERIOUSLY EXCELLENT SOUND (compared to some modern amps) from a 'Vintage' Amp (like the likes of NAD, Denon, Technics, Sony etc (you CAN get a DECENT vintage 90's amp for £100-£200 off eBay)
2 - TAKE YOUR TIME to experiment with placing your speakers (like I will be soon with the 'Sub crawl' lol) at exact matching distances & heights from your favourite chair/listening point, it makes a BIG difference! As you don't really need a 5.1/7.1/9.1/1543.1(lol) system to get a SPACIAL sound setup, when a decent amp, decent speakers and some time put into placement of said can do a fine job as it is... 🤔😏👍
😎🇬🇧
Could've spared the wire unless you needed longer ones anyway. The SU-600 is a fine amp by the way!
I'm somebody who doesn't have the luxury of listening to many sets of IEMs because there' s no actual physical shops for that around me so reviews are my only way to gauge whether a product is okay to buy or not. Therefore, i ended up with rather balanced sets like 7hz Zero, Tangzu Wan'er, Tangzu Zetian Wu and i enjoyed them very much. However, when i first came across 7hz Legato, i was intrigued since there were so many different and polarizing sentiments around that set. I pulled the trigger, intending for it to serve as a companion for my Zetian Wu for bass-heavy tracks and lo and behold! I got them, put on my JVC Spiral Dot++ on them, plugged them into my Dunu DTC500's 4.4 port and i was instantly in love with them, more than even those popular balanced sets. I am in love with the incredibly bass-heavy sound signature coupled with rather decent details and as a result, it ends up as my main set instead. Moral of the story, try as many sound signatures as you can by buying cheap low-end sets. Don't discover your actual favourite sound signature way too late like i do.
Man, listening to you talk feels soothing. You should make more of this
After watching DMS's video on the Ayra Stealth, I wanted to get them. But I didn't just buy them because of his video, I then watched ever video on RUclips about the Arya Stealth (not an exaggeration) before I decided to get them. They are overall good headphones, that was obvious, so what helped me were any negative aspects a reviewer brought up.
I did the same. I upgraded from sundara to Arya stealth. Daughter got sundaras. Only bad thing is I got 6xx recently and even though bass is not as present I find myself reaching for 6xx over Arya stealth. Maybe my 50+ year old ears appreciate 6xx more but to me the 6xx are more comfortable for long listening sessions. I have a big jaw and the Arya seems to put more pressure on my jaw line. Either way. Enjoy and cheers!!! Being able to afford hobbies is what helps us enjoy the rest of life:)
Learned that it takes time to evaluate and then be happy with what you have. After owning and selling a bunch of hi end headphones (ZMF FOCAL MEZE) and some DAC/amps I've ended up with the 800s and E3 with and RME DAC FS and FluxLabs amp and I"m very happy. It really depends so much on the music you listen to and the circumstances of your listening. If you start going down a rabbit hole, you're never going to be happy chasing perfection. I may try the Tungsten tho.
Great video, thanks DMS.
I've loved music since i was a kid in the 80's but only recently started down the 'audiophile' path. Upgrading piecemeal over the past couple years based on reviews from yours truly and his ilk has been very rewarding. Was just talking with the wife tonight about how much better things are sounding for us, and she doesn't get into this stuff at all, she just listens to the music. Crazy, right?!?
Anyhoo, thanks DMS and all of your online compatriots. Your work is legit helping normies out here find more pleasure in their listening experiences and that's pretty cool.
Learned a few things really.
I learned to remember...i came here because i was "curious". Listening to music i love, and just feeling like there's more in it i just cant make out. Wondering if there really is or not, and if it matters.
I learned that you dont really plan to go to the extremes of any hobby at the beggining. I grabbed a pair of Fidelio 2hr and it blew my mind. And I learned that when you do find out there is more, you naturally need to see how deep the hole goes.
I learned that for me, it took somewhere between $2-$4k to learn how deep it could go for me, and settle back into what I learned I loved along the way.
Last but not least, I've learned to take all of this to save for those "dream pieces" over the flavor of the month. But I also learned you can't just tell someone all this. Gotta go find it.
Back to loving the music ✌️
I think an interesting consideration with this sort of thing is whether making mistakes is worthwhile or not. There are plenty of mistakes I've made as I continually dip my toes into this hobby - importantly, none have ever been that expensive so it's easy to look at them as part of the overall learning process. Worth noting that taste can factor in a lot sometimes - I started off chasing very neural IEMs for example as I wanted to be able to hear my music clearly and be able to monitor myself when playing drums, I'm super happy with a V-shaped planar set now as music sounds way more fun with them and they have plenty of detail to make monitoring a breeze for my use case.
I count myself lucky that I've been able to listen to other people's gear over the past few years and gain an appreciation for how little price can matter when it comes to my own enjoyment. That's probably one of my biggest takeaways really as I'm reaching a point where I don't think I'll ever spend more money than I need to on audio gear unless I'm paying for some sort of exclusive feature that I know I want can't get elsewhere.
Another video on 'mistakes' would be great and especially ones that others have made. Alternatively, success stories would be cool to hear too.
Hey mate just wanted to say thanks for making great content. About 75% of it goes clean over my head as I'm brand new to this whole situation, but I've already digested several of your videos over the last couple of weeks as I find it really interesting and really enjoy your style. Of course I'm learning heaps too and will look forward to the day when I can invest more into audio.
You make a great first point.
The reviews I read for the Monoprice M1060 were nearly exclusively negative besides soundstage. Reviews ranging from “underwhelming” ” to “requires mods” to “peaky.” A few said there had been an improvement in later models. I gave em a shot anyway. I knew what I was after: soundstage and detail. Almost exclusively. I figured I could get away with it since I don’t have a well tuned ear.
Sure enough I did. I love how they sound it’s one of the most immersive experiences I can have. Ended up buying admittedly cheap dacs/amps and boom now I’m connected to my 360 and One. I can’t be killed from behind anymore in FPS.
Music-wise these sound to my untrained ear the way you described the HE1’s 🤣 I wouldn’t even mod them. Apparently you can get even better soundstage by taking the back foams out but I don’t wanna risk decreasing its service life.
Glazing done
OMGGGG love the transistor tattoo!
What I learned is that most YT influencers don’t know the first thing about EE, audio electronics or simple math. They routinely perpetuate legends and myths originating from magic hearing. Most of them are genuinely passionate, some of them are mere showroom salesmen.
Takeaway: Learning a bit about circuit design and EE can save you thousands of dollars.
And EE is? I wanna know what exactly to look up
@@andreasjensen8451 electrical engineering
@@andreasjensen8451Electrical Engineering I assume
Been into HIFI since i was very young also read a lot of things and some stuff they talk about on here is total rubbish. @@yttrxstein4192
@@Kinzuu maybe
I'm new to the hobby, little over a year, and what an enjoyable rabbit hole is.
It took me while, but I realise that the most important thing in the chain is, as you said; the headphone/IEM.
The best DAP in the world is a waste without the commensurate headphone/IEM.
Terrific video, consistently great discussion and reviews with Mr DMS...
I used to consider myself an audiophile, but I don't really feel like I can honestly call myself an audiophile anymore. There are several reasons for that, but I won't elaborate. One mistake that I have made, which is not always avoidable in the current retail environment where the number of direct to consumer manufacturers have increased, along with a desire of many to price shop. That is buying equipment sight unseen, or more importantly, unheard.
I have a set of Martin Logan SL3s that I absolutely love, along with ML surround, center channel, and sub. I did not purchase them without hearing them. I did hear them first. I actually had my eyes on a less expensive set of MLs, but after comparing them to the SL3s there was no way I was going to make that purchase. Originally I drove them with a decent AV receiver. It worked nice, but on certain music they would clip a bit (inaudible to me, but I could see the light on the receiver). I decided that I would "upgrade" and purchased direct to consumer brand 2-channel and 3-channel amps. They honestly didn't sound that great. Then within months of purchasing them I had some issues with the 2-channel amp. Then a couple of years later I had issues with the 3-channel amp. I considered getting them repaired, though I suspect that the manufacturer will not be able to do so given their age at this point and I'll have to trade them in to get new equipment. I don't know that I will take that chance. All that said to say, be careful buying gear without hearing it first.
Thanks for the video. Please expand on your list of mistakes.
Good points! I believe my big mistake was embracing the 'IEMs are just superior closed-back' mentality. I can see that's the case for a lot of cheap stuff, but nope, not when I was comparing good vs. good. IEMs bypass all the pinna tactility that I've realized adds a lot to my immersion with EDM and movies. While IEMs can be really good, for me, it's an overall more claustrophobic and less immersive experience.
Anther one was going to public discord audio servers because I wasted a lot of time reading nonsense and parrots parroting the same stuff over and over again. Also, the overall groupthink culture about certain products is just annoying. Having a private server w/ your friends is the way to go.
I really like your take on this hobby. Just being objective and saying that everyone's taste is unique in some way, I totally agree.
We are learning from our own mistakes and even though some of those hit your budget significantly, it’s always a way to find out your path, your own taste, your specific kind of “the best”.
There are always options to enjoy music with simple gear or to have fun rolling over and over variants of high-end stuff.
Advice here: don’t let the other’s opinion be the major, when it does not correspond to yours. Same goes to the marketing (it’s their job to sell you something). Don’t let them lead your habits, be the one mastering the process of the journey.
Not getting lost is important. My biggest mistake was getting to the point where I was listening to the equipment and not the music. I was so obsessed with achieving perfect sound that I was not enjoying listening to music anymore. I had to take a step back at that point and remember what made the early days of this hobby so much fun.
3:14 I disagree somewhat, while headphones/speakers are very important, the music and quality of the mastering are very important too - hello loudness wars! - something that is not being addressed at all by the industry, sadly. I have CDs from the 80s that sound much better than the Apple lossless versions, only because of the mastering and dynamic range. I've resorted to buying early CD versions of my favorite music because the streaming versions have had the life squeezed out of them in the re-masterings down the years.
💯💯💯💯💯
Great video! Some really good inputs for me as a beginner in the headphone space.
Over the past 10 years as my ears get older I’ve stopped trying to pretend I have super human hearing. Just the way of things if we’re all being honest with ourselves.
My collection after all this time is HD 6XX, DT 1990 Pro, Aful P5 all off ES9028 DAC Asgard 3. I’m throwing in my hat with my current setup.
What I've learned from being obsessed with audio since the late 80s is that the obsession never ends until one decides to finally just enjoy the content/the music. I am fortunate that I can enjoy music again with cheaper gear. I used to be so stuck in obsessing over flaws that music was just becoming a measuring tool.
40ish years ago i was introduced to the term " figures don't lie , but , liars can figure " in small high end audio store . over the decades it i've learned it doesn't just apply to audio .
You hit the nail on the head with the influencer point you made. I ended up buying a pair of 6XX because everyone was claiming how amazing they were, and at first I was definitely buying the hype.
But after going through a few different headphones since the 6XX, I've come to realize just how boring they are. They're still the most comfortable headphoens I've ever tried, but I just don't enjoy the "sennheiser veil."
The last point resonates strongly. I am slightly baffled that headphones are a hobby, or at least the purchasing of them is described as such. The hobby is listening to music and the search for things that could make that ever more enjoyable (source, equipment, furniture, room treatments, whiskies, edibles etc etc) rather than the Panini sticker/Pokémon card collecting need of having them all. I get especially irked when people talk of an "endgame" to "the hobby", when my enjoyment of music as a hobby would only end when I'm deaf, unable to feel vibrations or I have died.
Uhhh, I am deaf and I enjoy listening to music for over 40 years. Granted that I may not be “hearing” the whole spectrum but it’s still enjoyable for me. I constantly get a little surprise here and there when I hear a new note or pitch for the 1st time in a favorite song. It’s a delight when that happens.
I never got the 'hobby' description either. Listening to music is the thing to be passionate about, it's part of life, not just a 'hobby'. Gear acquisition should also not be a hobby, it's a means to that end.
Why do you prefer gear x over gear y? Because it shows or conveys more of this or that in your own favourite music. Now that I respect. Also be curious what your favourite music sounds like live and in the studio. What is the technology required to capture that and reproduce it in a way it takes you back to that?
The gear that is best for you is the gear that links you to your music, not the gear person x or z recommends because they are a known influencer or reviewer...
Too many people buy gear to get recognition and as a kind of sticker trophy but don't actually really care that much about music itself.
Be a music lover first and foremost. Anything else will get boring sooner or later.
@@saschamilenkovic4320 call it a enthusiast then. You're being padantic because you want attention.
I heard this recently and it stuck with me:
Don't judge what others have.
You don't know what they want.
They're not spending your money.
As you said, it's a journey, you can't wait for someone else to tell you about it, you have to experience it for yourself. Sometimes it will be wrong but most of the time it will be right. Sometimes you get bored of your equipment and buy something new and then one day you rediscover what you already had and the journey never ends.
Most important is trust your taste and don't force yourself to like something based on other people's reviews. Especially relevant with speakers since you will never be able to replicate someone else's room and acoustic conditions which matter a lot.
Make Andrew Smile Again
Very much enjoyed your commentary here. Don’t listen to the haters.
DMS, I have found value in your reviews even though we have different tastes. I tend to take a budget approach getting the best sound for the entry level. It works well for my family, we have lots of good ways to all enjoy our music. Thanks for doing you. Cheers to the THS and all my fellow viewers, have a great day!
GM from Toronto ☕️❄️
In the end especially in the iem/ headphone hobby…YOU are the only person that needs to like what they’re experiencing…period .
Now at what level of performance / cost level you’re comfortable with ..that’s a personal choice.
Love my LCDX 2021 are the perfect ..nope.
I love my Sen’s 650’s are they perfect..nope ..along with a bunch of IEM’s …they each bring something to the party 🎉.
To thine own self be true.
Have a great Sunday 👍
Biggest mistake I made, buying stuff in the sub $100 bracket multiple times on the recommendation of paid reviewers. Instead of just spending 400-500 once on things well researched
hey thats all of audio youtube😂
@@dedomplerhaha yea it is, took me a while to get on forums and what not, but I still watch some people on here
Honestly; I went from budget IEMs, to a $150 planar IEM, to a $700 IEM that was quite good, tried the hd600 and hd6xx, dt990, and ended up with a Truthear Hexa and hd560s despite the common recommendation
I also have decent monitors for $80 with eq though. Ultimately I chose to have a good mix of ergonomics and value rather than the best for me, after trying everything and don't really regret trialling.
Going through the price brackets is part of the fun for those who in this as a hobby. Going straight to a recommended high end is great if you want to buy once and settle with that.
Maybe with inflation or because it’s their personal journeys they are sharing, influencers are now as likely to promote expensive gear as they once were to promote cheap gear. This trend has really taken off now that many of them have been indoctrinated in the audio show circuits (CanJam, High End Munich. AXPONA, Capital, etc,). So, be careful, expensive recommendations may be just that.
Very sensible take. Thumbs up from a happy T1.3 owner lol
Only buy what you can afford. A payment plan or throwing it on a credit card where you only pay monthly minimum means you can't afford it. The $500 cans suddenly become 750 after interest
I went to a headphone event and learned almost immediately I don’t always agree with others. Heard some amazing stuff but also some…not so.
I’d love to go to another event like that for speakers and home audio. You can cover a lot very quickly.
Letting my expensive headphones "burn in" in attempt to "fix" the sound!
depends on the headphones, but if the drivers haven't loosened up in 8 hours its not gonna happen.
@@StrangeBrewReviews There has never been any form of evidence that "burn in" does anything in any amount of time. If you buy audio equipment and it doesn't sound good out of the box, there's nothing that will "fix" the sound. Don't trick yourself into wasting time.
Not just expensive headphones, but ANY headphones. "Burn-in" is a ploy to stop people from returning headphones before the return window passes. "Burn-in" is your brain acclimating to the frequency response of the headphones; the clamping force loosening; or/and the ear pads breaking in. If "burn-in" were real, you would see some people complain that their headphones sounded worse over time, and measurements would show differences in frequency response graphs.
@Avruthlelbh again no burn in will take more than 8 hours of good dynamic play...well within the return date.
@@Avruthlelbh I've definitely had some that did and did not need it...these are mechanical devices , same as phono cart suspensions and full size speakers,,,they need a little wear to reach optimal elasticity.depends on the materials ...however it will only take hours and not days...let your new headphones play near peak volume before distorting for an hour or 2 before you even listen to them, just put them on the table playing off your head or over night even. after that there is no more that will change....but some will definitely need a couple hours of dynamic play before they reach their potential...hours not days.
the journey has also been about discovering music which brings out the nuances and how better gear allows you to enjoy it even more. discovered a lot of good artists and a lot of bad choices of gear made along the way.
1. Enjoy what you enjoy and don't let anyone else tell you it's "bad." It's like someone telling you that your favorite flavor of ice cream is "wrong."
2. Amps make things louder. They don't unlock a magical realm of unicorn farts and rainbows. The bass doesn't "open up" and they don't let your headphones "reach their full potential." They make things louder. People who claim otherwise are mistaking volume for sound quality, which is very easy to do if you don't A/B your equipment with metered volume leveling. Even 2 or 3 dB will make one sound "better." You need an amp if and only if your preferred headphones don't get loud enough with your preferred source. Period.
3. CD quality is enough. 44.1 khz, 16 bit audio was the standard set specifically because it extends to the limits (slightly beyond, really) of human hearing. The only reason to buy a hi-res audio file is if it represents a different and better mastering of the audio.
After 4 years in the hobby, last week I realized main mistake was focusing on headphones and not on IEMs.
What i learned hard way in the past 20 years plus ( 39 years old , my birthday today 8 sept 24)
1. Find a way to try the headphones , you will never really know how they sound until you try them
2. The comfort is mandatory, no matter how they sound if you cannot wear them more than 20 min is useless , you will never love them
3. Try to buy 2 complete different sound signature , one neutral balanced reference sound , and the other one very bassy , sub bass heavy , this way you cover all the needs
Facts on the first point man. I don't have a lot of money to spend on gear all that often so when I do have that money to spend, I really want to get the best thing for me. I used to watch only like 2 or 3 reviewers and on their recommendations I am 2 for 5. The k9 pro ess because I wanted something that I wouldn't need to worry about upgrading for a long time and the rinko iem for a cheap, not muddy, and fun v-shaped sound. The other things I got were the rode nth-100, the hivi-swans os-10, and the ifi zen dac(the combo amp/dac one) and I was really a fan of them at all.
I would like to see another video on this subject.
I found that fit and comfort of a headphone is just as important (if not more) as the sound.
To be more specific, for me headphones above 400g are almost always too heavy. There are VERY FEW exceptions to this. So, when I hear about allegedly superb new product, the first thing I do is check the weight.
If it is above 400g, it’s a pass.
Great video! Make more. And I agree that money does not necessarily correlate with how "Good" something is. Example is Dan Clark E3 which, I think, sound far better than many $3-5K headphones I've owned.
The biggest mistake I think most audiophiles make is not using EQ to improve the sound.
I like the video and I totally agree with you. So far, after all 40 years in the hobby, I haven't actually made any real mistakes, my aim has always been to achieve a lot with little effort and to stay away from snake oil and healing stones.
I'd like to see a follow up to this video where you tell more personal stories about mistakes you've made in the hobby. Did you ever impulse buy something that wowed you on the show floor, but never managed to recreate the magic at home? Poke a screwdriver through the membrane of a planar you're trying to mod?
Going into the rabbit hole of audio gear explained in depth.
Probably the top 5 most useful videos on this hobby. Both for complete beginners and for veterans
If you're into headphones, IEMs are a very real competitor to closed back headphones. I was against IEMs originally, just liked my open backs more. But then after I got a pair for free included with my headphones, I ended up using them more than any other headphone.
Follow YOUR ears, if you like how something sounds thats the most important factor. It doesn't matter if its not the best measuring piece of gear or if people hate it on the forums, it YOU enjoy it then consider buying it and enjoying it. For me i dont like KEF, they seem to have great build quality and measure well but i never enjoy listening to music on them so i would never buy a pair. It doesnt mean kef is a bad brand or i think they suck, its just not my cup of tea when i want to listen to music. On the flip side you may love kef and you own multiple pairs and its the greatest thing ever and and you enjoy listening every day. Everyone has different ears so no 1 speaker is going to be the best option everytime.
I think the 2 biggest things I've learned are: to blind/side-by-side if possible, & buy what I want a year after it comes out. Thanks for all that this community does!
Don't go to audio stores in person, you're just a minnow before the sharks. Online has way better return policy and information. Audio store people are music (CD, vinyl, cassette) store people on steroids.
Try things. Don't watch reviews, create a budget and try different models for cheap. You won't like everything. Didn't like Senn 6XX, should've bought some Sundaras from the get-go. Focal is incredible and I could've had Elegias for a great price. Meze 99's are unbelievably good, 109 pro would've been automatic for me.
Planar headphones DO require burn-in (a lot, actually), dynamics are basically good-to-go out of the box.
Unless you have a house all to yourself, don't buy speakers, you'll never get to hear them. Headphones are FAR better.
Tubes looked cool, are cool, and I use them all the time, but having solid state as an option is the perfect remedy (hybrid).
Don't use USB audio, buy a streamer. Even bluetooth lossy audio is better because of the noise your computer makes--it is not designed for music. You'll immediately get better bass, highs and mids because of less distortion.
Tube rolling is amazing, I don't know how solid state folks listen to the same amp every time. Also sounds way more real for some reason.
Power matters but it's secondary to amp+hps+DAC.
Sabre isn't totally evil, just some sabre DACs are bad.
Buy new, used stuff will sound dated, old DACs will be far behind the market unless you know what you want. Digital gets better every single day.
Vinyl is heavy, cumbersome, and damn do I wish I owned a turntable again, my best memories are of my old analogue system. I LOVE vinyl no matter how difficult it is because it makes you get up, turn the record over, brush it, clean it, it was a sublime experience.
CDs might be even better with a really good CD player.
Convenience is king, files are where it's at. Sample everything over the internet, THEN buy physical releases and do research on mastering (analogue or digital source), whether it's worth the investment or not.
Music is king, all the music is good, buy music, rent music, listen to music, it's awesome.
The best thing a budding audiophile can do is demo demo demo. Do not just blindly buy anything just because your favourite reviewer(s) hype it up to be the best thing ever released. Use your own ears and judge for yourself. Go to your nearest local audio place and test gear out. Don't have one near you? Join forums and see if you can find other like minded hobbyists around your area. Ask them if you could demo their gear. My point is, you should put what YOU hear and like to hear over anything else. Because in the end, YOU are the one listening to what you buy. =)
I've passed the bell curve of 'I listen to my gear with music' back to 'I listen to music with my gear'. As HBB says, "Enjoy the music"
Chasing better and better recordings to get the "most" out of my system but forgetting to listen to music I actually like in the process. The gear is just a tool to listen to the music you love. Not the other way around.
Bottom line is that measurements are objective. Reviewers and influencers are not. Best part of this video is driving home the point that it’s all about what sounds good to you. I use reviews for tech specs and general guidance. I prefer the crowdsourcing aspect of what a lot of “users” say in forums and comments.
Not to worry. Nobody is perfect except for Resolve, and Dr. Olive of course.
Jeez... Way to inflate the ego
@@TheHEADPHONEShow
Wanna sell your Tungsten? 😁
For me, aligning with a brand that I have used for the last 30 years, Sony, means that my system works well together and I trust it. It's odd how once I "trust" in a system, I am immune to reading critical reviews of other components that may actually be better, but are not in my ecosystem. I suppose it's similar to aligning with any other ecosystem. Not the best for everyone, or the best approach objectively, but works for me.
My biggest mistake was not knowing that I wanted only four set ups, two for on the go and two for at home. A cheap version for walks and just popping over to the store and one best for longer travel. For at home one for passive listening and one for active listening.
My audiophile mistake was trusting and buying a KZ
KZ Castors are awesome tho 😿
Why? I hope I've missed some controversy and that this isn't about the bullsh*t flamewar started by Delta Fyre who mistakenly assumed that KZ was using fake drives and later apologized for it.
My first IEM was KZ ES4. Its sound is flawed classic KZ but wasn't unpleasant.
What I've learned is that aesthetics matter. Just because one set of cans might have an objectively better sound signature than another you don't have to always go with the set with better output. If you hate the look of what many people refer to as the better performing headphone, often times you should go with the set you prefer.
My problem too, has been an assumption that newer and more expensive is automatically better for your tastes. Started with DT770 Pro's: liked the treble, disliked the bass. Eventually upgraded to DT1770's: liked the bass, disliked the treble...
Second example: pointless upgrades to the newest model with biggest numbers. I lowkey regret upgrading Topping A90 to A90 Discrete. Got it for A90's price, but man... it's such a incremental upgrade with new features I don't need. Does it sound better? Yes, marginally. But was I ever disappointed in A90's sound in the first place? No.
That’s pretty cool how you read every comment. Cheers buddy.
For me it was prioritising sound over comfort. I use my Audio Technica open back air series headphones the most. Even with their wonky sound profile, they are just the comfiest.
I like to say that my Nighthawk Carbon's "drip and puff music." They make buffoons out of all this fancy-dancy equipment I have by just playing in their own unorthodox way. I don't use them exclusively, but when I do, it's a whole lot of fun, and they just make me smile. Btw, I'm a very picky listener and can't stand it when my music doesn't satisfy me.
I couldn’t agree more.
Think about listening to musics in 70 or 80s where only cassette tapes and LP were available.
We are fortunate enjoying much higher quality of sound with the fraction of the cost than those of 4 decades ago.
I think YT reviewers influence my Bose QC45 is an inferior product to listen the 80,s to 2022’s songs. I am saying this aud 240 Bose headphones and Tidal combo blow away the sound quality of any type of Music players in the 20th century.
Many of us who have love music have been in live events. Some may in their youth forgot hearing protection. This for me has changed how I experience headphones. I am super sensitive for bright headphones. I cannot listen to many highly celebrated headphones. Nearly all Focals and Hifyman I cannot listen at all. HD650 and Aeon2 Noire are what I use.
Measuring things, if possible, to gain understanding, is good.
But, before science, there’s experience of reality.
Science came from trying to organize & understand these experiences.
From Beats Studios (2012) to Dan Clark Expanse (2023 to current. & Many in between. Even OG Utopia & Susvara, until disaster), it’s about the musical bliss.
Headphones has been my long time getaway to that realm.
I still have a picture from ‘93, with my Sony Walkman cassette rig my mom bought me.
I, am an audiophile.
🎧🎶🎵🎼
I got fomo for open back headphones as the community for audiophile's really likes them. After owning closed backs and open backs I just prefer the more intimate closed backs. I also don't feel like you sacrifice as much soundstage as they like to say. Isolated private listening is key for me. I've got speakers for the rest. I also discovered I am not an 'Audiophile' in that I like the gear and detail. I just want my music to sound the best it can be. I am an 'audiophile' lower case hahaha
if your only example of an openback is DT990S try another pair
Hi DMS, could you make a comparison between the CD900 and the 7506? I would like to try the CD900 after your review but can get the 7506 for 1/3 of the price of the cd900. Are they similar in sound?
DMS and Resolve are the two reviewers I always go to to solidify my purchasing decisions. Haven’t been disappointed yet… cough(Zeos)
It would be interesting to know which headphones you kept
My biggest mistake was my first buy. I tested the speakers at their shop, but did it on their system instead of requesting a testrig that was more similar to my own.
An error I never did again. ;)
I've learned the expensive way that what self-proclaimed 'audiophiles' on the RUclipss are Fulla Schiit! I've bought so many headphones but in the end, I always end up going back to my Senny HD 599 SE's (for 'fun' listening) and the HD 6XX (for 'serious' listening). I've tried the other headphones and always hated how they sounded (to me). Maybe I'm not using them right, but all the highly regarded headphones always seemed to sound too harsh, or too sterile (no fun at all). I'm not a DJ or a sound engineer, so my preferences are probably more savage as my ears are 'untamed'.
You don't sound like you know a lot. Doesn't even give examples of more expensive headphones. Red flag for legitimacy.
@@En_Joshi-Godrez Dianas, Aryias, Edition XS, and so on. If YOU knew what I was talking about, you would already know what I was referring to. Red Flag YOU for being a TROLL. Go back under your bridge where you belong. Unless of course you are one of those narcissists who can't let something go and have to get the last word in all the time.
Precious advices, thanks
I'm 42 and though I've been listening to music all my life I recently got into the audiophile scene in the last couple of years and it has been extremely frustrating for me because I have OCD, slight Asperger's and a very low I.Q. and I don't understand anything to do with frequency response or anything technical to do with audio only listening to music, I've spent quite a bit on audio gear such as headphones, IEMS, Dacs/AMPS, dongle Dacs, and other audio gear, I really want to understand audio for my 80's metal music so I have better clarity for vocals and instruments and to stop chasing the rabbit hole of never ending audio gear spending to get the perfect sound which I know is not realistic.