The other cool thing about NiTiNOL is that when it strains, it actually converts mechanical energy into a small amount of heat. That adds a natural dampening effect to the construction. That combined with the shape of the case means that the cups are essentially suspended in a spring system with natural dampening. This makes it basically a shock absorber like in a car. Very very efficient design and super rugged.
😮😮😮 I'm sorry...did you just start this with the brand Nothing? A brand you admit you haven't heard? Yikes...maybe listen first because sure they look great but they neither sound good nor work well. Charging is buggy as hell, sound quality is mediocre to bad. They clearly focused on style and box. This is a headphone channel, focus should be on the audio...not what the packaging looks like.
This was a nice change of pace from a standard review. I think the content, thoughts and insights are relevant and needed. Thank you for taking the time to do this.
Every dollar a company spends on "a pretty case" or "5 different adapters you'll never use" or "super glossy (or matte) magnetic origami box that makes you feel 'special' when you open it" are dollars that the company has NOT spent on the PERFORMANCE and engineering of that thing. As an example - I would much rather have a headphone (or amp or dac) that performs like a $1500 unit, but for $700 and comes in a plain brown box.
Came to mention ZMF's standard lifetime warranty on drivers since always. Abyss seems to be offering an "extended warranty" that must be applied for after purchase. I still appreciate the video as a worthy discussion point in an industry (RUclips videos about a hobby) that seems to only reward content creators for product reviews. Thank Josh!
The warranty gets me too. I don't understand how you can pay that much for something and then say 2 years. I know furniture companies like Herman Miller gives you 13 year warrenty for some of their chairs and it's a no questions ask and they just fix it and send it back to you.
Oh sound is super important, but I talk about that all the time including in the reviews of all of these. But, I think this other stuff is important too. A great sounding headphone means nothing if it sucks to wear or breaks after a year. When you are paying so much, having more than just sound alone should be expected. Imo.
Tell that to Lamborghini, Ferrari, Bugatti, Porsche... Its not only about is it fast ? Its about Elegance, build quality etch etch AND speed. Its the same about Headphones its all bout Sound AND materials , Beauty, build quality. People saying that care only about sound are the samw people driving whar ever just to get to their work... Eating what ever just not feel hungry... And guess what all that people have no idea about ART. People today are like China ... Cheap and make it work ... And there are people like Italy , Greece, Japan, do care about Beauty, Art ....
Hifiman needs to learn, best sound in the industry imo but I treated my HE1kv2 and Susvara like they were made of glass. I don't understand why you would put nothing brand, might as well put airpod pro or many other tws that are better in every way. Every time nothing releases a product my RUclips feed full of nothing lol, seems like all their budget goes to advertising
I don't think they'll ever update their QC. It's almost like they have this brand image of good build quality being the enemy of sound quality, cuz all their headphones sound divine in spite of having absolute garbage build.
I’d argue that 10 years isn’t a long enough time for a warranty either. In the firearms industry, no questions asked, lifetime warranties are the norm for almost every gun sold, even if you weren’t the original purchaser. Food for thought.
If all the companies cared about quality -of everything- like you care about quality of your videos, man, that would be something! I really admire the effort you take to create videos. Listening to you on a good setup with a dedicated dac, amp, nice pair of headphones is like a journey, a great experience. Even with youtube's compression, your videos put me in a good mood and make me want to play some good music :) Thank you, Sir!
When there is no opinion on sound because you have not tried them was a letdown, Thumbs down for not taking the time to do that BEFORE the video. For example, posting a video about a car but having never driven it, NOPE!
@@OhMyGodMuffinsa video that is not covering the sound is wrong by not covering the sound? What about Videos rating the design of cars? Are they only allowed to do that if they drive them?
You totally fooled me with the Fiio case (I assumed Focal). And I wonder if Nothing would want a royalty for using that dot-font in the graphics. But more importantly, I appreciate this slight departure to pay homage to headphones on a few other levels. Because ultimately audio gear isn't just about FR or or even subjective sound, but how it makes you feel. And the aspects about these brands you pointed out play big into that.
Abyss’ 10 year warranty isn’t standard, it’s very restrictive, has to be brand new stock at full price plus it’s an extended warranty, you have to apply for it within a couple months of purchase
What in the hell is this video? a bunch of products you couldn't even be bothered to listen to that you're claiming are worth the money somehow? Complete with affiliate links. Shameful.
Dude. I love your voice and your audio mix. Very relaxing and comforting. No shouty nonsense and it feels intimate without being ... weird. Nicely done.
Fucking sick of fake leather bullshit that falls apart after 2-5 years. Literally falls apart, while every clown keeps telling me how AWEEEESOMMMEE fake leather is. 10 years guarantee? Sounds good.
Not wrong haha. I had a chair that was PU leather and had a "10-12" warranty on it and guess what? it fell apart in less than 3 years of use as in the material broke down substantially in that time and had a few tears and thin parts whereas the leather couch and recliners my father bought over 15 years ago that have been abused to hell and back and have been used as a scratching post by the cats is still in fairly good shape. Sure it ended up costing around $3000 (Australian) at the time of purchase but to last this long it has easily been worth it.
I think you’ve hit the nail on the head. The experience of a product, particularly a high end product, shouldn’t be limited just to the physical device itself. The experience starts from the moment you see the marketing and includes everything from the website, package and any customer service you receive after making a purchase. Few companies get this.
I agree with the warranty observation, especially when you consider that legal has already worked how long your headphone or device will probably last, or before it starts to show the stresses of its realistic lifetime. Granted, how long the company will cover their product would be a tricky thing to work out.
In a perfect world I would love to see a product which combines a brilliant package, a huge set of accessories and a a top-tech sound. But since you usually have to pick two or even one feature to put your money in, I'll take the main feature 10 times of 10. The box and the case will gather dust for the most amount of time, but sound is why I buy headphones for.
Really curious to hear your take on the DCA Aeon 2 Noire. It's the first high end headphone I purchased and still love it after many other headphone and IEM purchases. To this day, the best closed back planar IMO.
I was completely lost as to what the point of this video was until about halfway through. Like, the praise of Nothing's unboxing experience landed completely flat with me, because I could care less about what is usually the shortest part of living with a product, even if it makes a good/bad impression. Similarly, offering a ton of accessories like what was highlighted with Fiio isn't necessarily important, and it's not something I'm really looking for from other companies. But when Josh started getting into the user experience and thoughtful design of the products, I got it, and I see what he's getting at: thoughtful, consumer-oriented design decisions. I think this video needed some more exposition to explain the purpose of the video, but otherwise great points.
The companies he chose as examples of what “doing things right” looks like are so suspicious that it makes you question his relationship with the manufacturers. I’m pretty stunned to see Nothing make a top four list of this kind, and sadly I’m not surprised that Abyss is in the video. A ten year warranty is pretty sick though. I understand the appeal of Abyss headphones, but I’ve always personally felt like all of their products are ugly. I’ll overcome that bias and buy a pair once that warrant’s in place though. I hope they pressure other makers to offer the same warranty.
Companies offering a 10 year warranty is nothing, look at Koss, the ESP-95X has a lifetime warranty on the driver and the energizer. If they could offer lifetime warranty for wear and tear on pads and headbands, it will be a steal at any price.
Wanna add that my DCA Aeon 2 Noire aren’t just a quality masterpiece of design but that they sound absolutely godlike with a Qudelix 5k for instance. I‘ll never need another headphone again and hope that they last forever.
The folding mechanism on the Dan Clarks is definitely reminiscent of the V-Moda headphones which have a similarly robust hinge design that allows you to fold the earcups up in to the headband in the same manner as the Dan Clarks. Very cool feature for sure.
Just wanted to mention that there is a discrepancy in this video. Or maybe I just got something wrong... You're talking about companies doing it right and you say that there are products which are on presentation and feel great, but in testing they actually sound very bad or work bad. But then your first 2 products are products you just looked at and did not tested them yet. I understand what you're trying to say is that these companies put real effort in their products; just this mismatch with the untestet products feels weird. Nevertheless, love your video! Especially helpful for not getting lost in the HiFi products jungle. Keep it on!
I need thank (blame) you for my fall into the headphone wormhole. Years ago I was looking for budget earbuds for my IPhone. I stumbled on one of your videos. I wish I could remember which one. I enjoyed your style and have been following you ever since. Because of you my first headphone investment was the 1More Triple Driver, which I still own. I had to say that I loved this video. Your presentation is always excellent. I just really enjoyed the subject matter. So bravo and thank you!!!
Hey, I have been watching off-and-on for a couple of years but had not subscribed. Maybe it’s the esthetic changes, but this video made me finally click. I’m glad to see more people offering practical explanations than only hard facts and teleprompter lines. I respect you for this video!
Re: the Dan Clarks, you neglected the poor design choice for attaching those easily-disfigured ear pads to the cups... with adhesive (not snap-on clips nor magnets). You then actually praised their proprietary cables... as an Apple fanboi, do you even pause when paying premium for proprietary gear? Ergonomics aside, this pick was a fail, IMO. What about how the products actually perform? How's that not a factor for expensive gear being worth the cost? You even mentioned not having used the first two; could you not take a moment before shooting video to give them a quick test so you'd have at least _something_ to say about their performance? What good is having unique designs, good ergonomics, handy accessories, and a long warranty if they don't perform? That should be #1 for getting one's money's worth, with feature set, durability, and ease of use & maintenance being close behind.
I agree wholeheartedly. The upper end and flagship headphones need to have a long-term warranty. Especially when they make claims about the build quality. When I spend this kind of money on a headphone, I expect it to be like my Moccamaster Coffee maker, or Kirby Vaccum, or my mic the Electrovoice RE20 and by the way this Kirby is older than me I'm in my 30's and this Kirby still functions well for its age. The Moccamaster is a $300 coffee maker but there are many individuals who have owned theirs for 30+ years now and in some cases even the power on light the coffee maker has is still functioning. Same with the RE20 Mic there are radio stations still using this mic and they've owned it for more than 30 years. (***a side note the RE20 is the only mic that still features the original mic design the RE27 and RE320 use different components to my knowledge.***) All of these are premium products priced into the premium range and they're built (and proven) to last. I have people who ask "why do you spend what you do on the products you own?" Why? Because I know I won't be replacing it in 2 years.
A great and informative video Josh, cheers 🍻 buddy💪🥰. The warranty statement I agree totally with. You look in the lead up to C19 car manufacturers started doubling or tripling their warranties. Even bakeware / container ware company Tupperware has offered lifetime warranty on their goods for around 60+ years.
I can relate veary good to your point on the Nothing stuff. I got the Nothing Ear1 in 2021. I disliked it because of the poor audio performance. But I was able to sell them this year for more than the original price to someone who cares more about the brand / looks than sound
Josh I need you. You have been my deciding factor on all my purchases so far. Should I reorder ie300 to replace the ones I broke or is the 200 a good enough match in performance?
I completely disagree about the Philips screws. A set of hex keys is not a big deal, and I have stripped so many shitty Philips screws. Any time I can avoid a Philips I do. If making it easy to tighten was the goal, a flat head would have been better.
6:55 loool. i always thoght phillips screws are like proprietary screws feom the brand phillips. haha i was so wrong. (in German its called kreuzschlitz/crossslit)
Joshua please dont promote philips screws. they were invented in the early days of mass production and theyre designed to cam out at a certain torque so that they can have unscilled workers assemble cars and stuff without needing to train them. One of the best drivers for screws is torx, which is not some weird special stuff a lot of people think and talk about it. Its like the standard for wood screws (that dont suck) and other applications. At least they could have used hex, which cant transfer torque as well and not as often as torx, but at least its not designed to cam out the scredriver when in use. Thats by the way you need to push so hard against phillips screws and thats why wera probably designed the laser tips you are using because they increase grip in the screw.
It sounds like Nothing will turn out to be vapor. I see your Edifier Luna Eclipse as props in a lot of your videos. How often do you plug them in for a listen? I listen to mine every now and then.
I would like to say that your video put the Fiio FT3 on my radar at exactly the wrong time. It led me to look at some website reviews, followed by a RUclips review, followed by me purchasing it. If I don't like it, I'm blaming you, so it had better be awesome!
@@enjoshi-godrez8775 That’s kind of a rude response to a comment that was jokingly made. I guess it’s your opinion that it’s nothing special in the segment. I haven’t seen a single review so far that said it wasn’t worth the $300 it costs. Even Josh compared it to the $300 Sundara for his comparison and said that he likes the sound profile better on the Sundara, but that if you enjoy Harman curve adherence, the FT3 might be the better option. Anyway, I don’t have to have my ego fed regarding the FT3. I think it sounds awesome, whether or not you or anyone else likes it, and my own opinion is the only one I need. Of course I wouldn’t really blame Josh Valour for my own purchase, and whether he thought it was a good headphone or not (he did), I will still be using it as my daily driver.
@@lowercasegoat I didn't say it isn't worth $300. When did I say it isn't worth $300? I said its nothing special. Those phrases are not mutually inclusive.
@@lowercasegoat I would of said uncompetitive if I meant it wasn't worth that asking price. Maybe it is, but I haven't heard it. Though, you have owned hd600/650 right? Would be kinda embarrassing to suggest its competitive and not heard its actual competitors as intimately like josh has.
@@enjoshi-godrez8775 Fair enough. I guess that it’s sort of implied with “nothing special.” I think it hits above its weight at $300, given the included accessories and overall sound. Add in the build quality and comfort and I find it special, but headphones are really subjective things, so I’m ok with you disagreeing with me. If you’re comparing them side by side with Aryas, they definitely shouldn’t sound as nice. I have a Clear OG. It’s objectively and subjectively better than the FT3, but not 3 times the price better.
Baffles me that Abyss sells enough headphones to stay in business without having a midfi headphone to sell. For that amount of money should be a limited lifetime warranty at least.
Without knowing anything about their actual numbers, the smartest thing they did was marketing through Linus tech tips. That definitely got them some good reach.
ABSOLUTELY NOT! I hate philips head screws. They always strip so easily for me. Much prefer something with more contact points like a hex or torx screw.
I love the cup shape of the DCA Noire, same with the Audioquest NightOwl. Too bad the sound of the Noire wasn't for me, but they were probably the most comfortable headphones I've ever worn. Sennheisers are less comfortable, but they get the cup shape right too. Not sure why so many brands opt for small circular cups. That doesn't work for big-eared folks like me. :(
Spoiler alert!!! The FiiO FT3 is the real deal! Been living with them for almost 6 weeks and for me, they’ve supplanted the 6XX Series. Not in every aspect but in enough that makes them my preference.
"Nothing" sounds like hot garbage. They put all of their budget into marketing/hype and presentation. FiiO keeps trying to innovate. They keep iterating and improving their product lines, while keeping prices reasonable and affordable. FiiO also stepped up their packaging and presentation game. Dan Clark headphones looks amazing but the sound quality is meh for the price they're charging. Not a "worth it" brand unless you value design above sound quality. Abyss is just another ridiculous company overcharging for their headphones. Warranty does not justify charging thousands for their headphones. Then again, wealthy audiophiles don't give a crap and will drop tens of thousands on audio gear each year, so audio companies will keep pumping out overpriced products.
The Nothing ear 2 look amazing but the sound.... I sent them back after 3 days of use, the treble just sounds weirdly distorted / artifacty... I'm just gonna stick with my Original Samsung Buds and upgrade to the Buds 2 Pro later.
First brand "Nothing" , wow ,truly a shill , really talking about aac Bluetooth earbuds💀 Fiio, no questions, they tend to not loose themselves in the pricing >Dan Clark, yet again very questionable brand and not "worth" for sure ,those prices are insane beside the first aeon maybe Abyss is the worst and not worth it company,they are also very stingy about reviews and measurements on their products Glad I'm not subscribed tbh
Is this an advertisement? I'm two entries in and he hasn't used either. This list has so far boiled down to "Well I haven't used them but they're kind of pretty...". Not really an audio creator I watch much but this what I'm seeing here is not quality content.
IMHO, Fiio is great at copying other brands in design. Their DAP looks like Sony WM and AK DAP had a baby together. lol.... I have not tried NOTHING buds but people who has say it doesn't work well after the honeymoon stage. I like DCA and ABYSS products but DCA has kinda lost their "value" stance of MrSpeakers products. Extra long warranty is just a marketing move. LOL.....
From my perspective, I think Focal did right. Yes, it's expensive. But you get work you pay for. They are comfortable, great looking, pretty easy time drive, and sound excellent. Compare to Abyss, I don't think they are doing right. Yes, they sound excellent, but super hard to drive, portable but not good looking, super expensive, mediocre accessories. It doesn't justify high cost and luxury product as Focal Utopia 2022.
This was basically a teaser video for other reviews lol
They are on the way for sure, but wanted to talk specifically about some extra stuff.
Oh no, a hi-fi clip show!
I have no problem with that.
@@JoshuaValour can you release the ft3 review first? :)
The other cool thing about NiTiNOL is that when it strains, it actually converts mechanical energy into a small amount of heat. That adds a natural dampening effect to the construction. That combined with the shape of the case means that the cups are essentially suspended in a spring system with natural dampening. This makes it basically a shock absorber like in a car. Very very efficient design and super rugged.
Every meterial converts deformation energy into some heat. you can bend some plain steel back and forth and feel the metal getting warm.
@@benjamincraig7198 thats impressive!
Hate to break it to you - but all materials do that.
😮😮😮
I'm sorry...did you just start this with the brand Nothing? A brand you admit you haven't heard?
Yikes...maybe listen first because sure they look great but they neither sound good nor work well. Charging is buggy as hell, sound quality is mediocre to bad. They clearly focused on style and box. This is a headphone channel, focus should be on the audio...not what the packaging looks like.
I think ZMF deserved a shout out too with their packaging and lifetime driver warranty
Exactly what I wanted to say.
This was a nice change of pace from a standard review. I think the content, thoughts and insights are relevant and needed. Thank you for taking the time to do this.
Every dollar a company spends on "a pretty case" or "5 different adapters you'll never use" or "super glossy (or matte) magnetic origami box that makes you feel 'special' when you open it"
are dollars that the company has NOT spent on the PERFORMANCE and engineering of that thing.
As an example - I would much rather have a headphone (or amp or dac) that performs like a $1500 unit, but for $700 and comes in a plain brown box.
Came to mention ZMF's standard lifetime warranty on drivers since always. Abyss seems to be offering an "extended warranty" that must be applied for after purchase.
I still appreciate the video as a worthy discussion point in an industry (RUclips videos about a hobby) that seems to only reward content creators for product reviews. Thank Josh!
Came to say this… ha!
The warranty gets me too. I don't understand how you can pay that much for something and then say 2 years. I know furniture companies like Herman Miller gives you 13 year warrenty for some of their chairs and it's a no questions ask and they just fix it and send it back to you.
Bryston audio products have a 20 year warranty. Headphones will take a lot more wear and tear, good luck with them
Hmm, Looks, feel, experience WHAT ABOUT THE SOUND??? ISNT THAT WHAT WE BUY EQUIPMENT FOR? Come on Josh, none of this matters if they sound like crap!
Oh sound is super important, but I talk about that all the time including in the reviews of all of these. But, I think this other stuff is important too. A great sounding headphone means nothing if it sucks to wear or breaks after a year. When you are paying so much, having more than just sound alone should be expected. Imo.
Tell that to Lamborghini, Ferrari, Bugatti, Porsche... Its not only about is it fast ? Its about Elegance, build quality etch etch AND speed. Its the same about Headphones its all bout Sound AND materials , Beauty, build quality. People saying that care only about sound are the samw people driving whar ever just to get to their work... Eating what ever just not feel hungry... And guess what all that people have no idea about ART.
People today are like China ... Cheap and make it work ... And there are people like Italy , Greece, Japan, do care about Beauty, Art ....
Hifiman needs to learn, best sound in the industry imo but I treated my HE1kv2 and Susvara like they were made of glass.
I don't understand why you would put nothing brand, might as well put airpod pro or many other tws that are better in every way. Every time nothing releases a product my RUclips feed full of nothing lol, seems like all their budget goes to advertising
I don't think they'll ever update their QC. It's almost like they have this brand image of good build quality being the enemy of sound quality, cuz all their headphones sound divine in spite of having absolute garbage build.
True. Difference to my Beyerdynamic headphones. Hifiman feels fragile but sound better.
I’d argue that 10 years isn’t a long enough time for a warranty either. In the firearms industry, no questions asked, lifetime warranties are the norm for almost every gun sold, even if you weren’t the original purchaser. Food for thought.
If all the companies cared about quality -of everything- like you care about quality of your videos, man, that would be something!
I really admire the effort you take to create videos. Listening to you on a good setup with a dedicated dac, amp, nice pair of headphones is like a journey, a great experience. Even with youtube's compression, your videos put me in a good mood and make me want to play some good music :) Thank you, Sir!
When there is no opinion on sound because you have not tried them was a letdown, Thumbs down for not taking the time to do that BEFORE the video. For example, posting a video about a car but having never driven it, NOPE!
That wasn’t the point of the video
@@manchild8365 what was the point? A video about hifi brands doing it right not mentioning the sound seems counter intuitive.
@@OhMyGodMuffinsa video that is not covering the sound is wrong by not covering the sound?
What about Videos rating the design of cars? Are they only allowed to do that if they drive them?
@@shirakawamaseru you got me there. I need to make a video about my favorite restaurant, but not mention the food.
You totally fooled me with the Fiio case (I assumed Focal). And I wonder if Nothing would want a royalty for using that dot-font in the graphics. But more importantly, I appreciate this slight departure to pay homage to headphones on a few other levels. Because ultimately audio gear isn't just about FR or or even subjective sound, but how it makes you feel. And the aspects about these brands you pointed out play big into that.
He gets bothered by hifi people. These recommendations are straight on point.
For those interested in knowing, the connector for the Dan Clark is Hirose, not Lemo.
Abyss’ 10 year warranty isn’t standard, it’s very restrictive, has to be brand new stock at full price plus it’s an extended warranty, you have to apply for it within a couple months of purchase
What in the hell is this video? a bunch of products you couldn't even be bothered to listen to that you're claiming are worth the money somehow? Complete with affiliate links. Shameful.
Gotta agree, this feels very off
Dude. I love your voice and your audio mix. Very relaxing and comforting. No shouty nonsense and it feels intimate without being ... weird. Nicely done.
“I have not yet used a single one of [Nothing’s] products” 🤨
Fucking sick of fake leather bullshit that falls apart after 2-5 years. Literally falls apart, while every clown keeps telling me how AWEEEESOMMMEE fake leather is.
10 years guarantee? Sounds good.
Not wrong haha. I had a chair that was PU leather and had a "10-12" warranty on it and guess what? it fell apart in less than 3 years of use as in the material broke down substantially in that time and had a few tears and thin parts whereas the leather couch and recliners my father bought over 15 years ago that have been abused to hell and back and have been used as a scratching post by the cats is still in fairly good shape. Sure it ended up costing around $3000 (Australian) at the time of purchase but to last this long it has easily been worth it.
I think you’ve hit the nail on the head. The experience of a product, particularly a high end product, shouldn’t be limited just to the physical device itself. The experience starts from the moment you see the marketing and includes everything from the website, package and any customer service you receive after making a purchase. Few companies get this.
I agree with the warranty observation, especially when you consider that legal has already worked how long your headphone or device will probably last, or before it starts to show the stresses of its realistic lifetime. Granted, how long the company will cover their product would be a tricky thing to work out.
Excellent point on the warranty length when the price is high.
Great video Joshua!! Keep it up I love your content
I think you gotta title the video differently. Doing design right or something. Cause this is all about design, not sound
In a perfect world I would love to see a product which combines a brilliant package, a huge set of accessories and a a top-tech sound. But since you usually have to pick two or even one feature to put your money in, I'll take the main feature 10 times of 10. The box and the case will gather dust for the most amount of time, but sound is why I buy headphones for.
Really curious to hear your take on the DCA Aeon 2 Noire. It's the first high end headphone I purchased and still love it after many other headphone and IEM purchases. To this day, the best closed back planar IMO.
I love Abyss for doing that,
We need to give them massive credit for that, especially since they repair stuff and dont just replace everything.
I was completely lost as to what the point of this video was until about halfway through. Like, the praise of Nothing's unboxing experience landed completely flat with me, because I could care less about what is usually the shortest part of living with a product, even if it makes a good/bad impression. Similarly, offering a ton of accessories like what was highlighted with Fiio isn't necessarily important, and it's not something I'm really looking for from other companies. But when Josh started getting into the user experience and thoughtful design of the products, I got it, and I see what he's getting at: thoughtful, consumer-oriented design decisions. I think this video needed some more exposition to explain the purpose of the video, but otherwise great points.
The companies he chose as examples of what “doing things right” looks like are so suspicious that it makes you question his relationship with the manufacturers. I’m pretty stunned to see Nothing make a top four list of this kind, and sadly I’m not surprised that Abyss is in the video. A ten year warranty is pretty sick though. I understand the appeal of Abyss headphones, but I’ve always personally felt like all of their products are ugly. I’ll overcome that bias and buy a pair once that warrant’s in place though. I hope they pressure other makers to offer the same warranty.
Would love to hear your review of the Fiio FT3
shout out to abyss
Any video with Judge Smails in it deserves at least 10 Thumbs Ups 👍X10
Josh, come on, you *have* tried the FT3, just not yet enough to review/comment 😉
Very much look forward to the review! Thanks.
Hi Joshua. Waiting fo Fiio Ft3 review. Greetings from Italy.
Since when is Nothing a HIFI company ? Also the url does not go to any products, as there are no Nothing products on APOS. Sponsorship much ?
Companies offering a 10 year warranty is nothing, look at Koss, the ESP-95X has a lifetime warranty on the driver and the energizer. If they could offer lifetime warranty for wear and tear on pads and headbands, it will be a steal at any price.
Wanna add that my DCA Aeon 2 Noire aren’t just a quality masterpiece of design but that they sound absolutely godlike with a Qudelix 5k for instance.
I‘ll never need another headphone again and hope that they last forever.
really nice chat, Josh
great solid points I couldn't agree more.
have a good one
Great video hit all the points effectively
The folding mechanism on the Dan Clarks is definitely reminiscent of the V-Moda headphones which have a similarly robust hinge design that allows you to fold the earcups up in to the headband in the same manner as the Dan Clarks. Very cool feature for sure.
I love that your Patreon is back and that you are doing it in conjunction with DMS!
Abyss isn’t worth the cost at all. Their Diana headphones sound pretty bad meh.
Just wanted to mention that there is a discrepancy in this video. Or maybe I just got something wrong...
You're talking about companies doing it right and you say that there are products which are on presentation and feel great, but in testing they actually sound very bad or work bad. But then your first 2 products are products you just looked at and did not tested them yet. I understand what you're trying to say is that these companies put real effort in their products; just this mismatch with the untestet products feels weird.
Nevertheless, love your video! Especially helpful for not getting lost in the HiFi products jungle. Keep it on!
Bryston - Solid state amps / pre etc - 20yr warranty (also used professionally if memory serves)
I need thank (blame) you for my fall into the headphone wormhole. Years ago I was looking for budget earbuds for my IPhone. I stumbled on one of your videos. I wish I could remember which one. I enjoyed your style and have been following you ever since. Because of you my first headphone investment was the 1More Triple Driver, which I still own. I had to say that I loved this video. Your presentation is always excellent. I just really enjoyed the subject matter. So bravo and thank you!!!
the real good stuff like the audioquest nighthawks is always discontinued.
used market?
@@chungang7037 good luck! i already have a pair
Hey, I have been watching off-and-on for a couple of years but had not subscribed. Maybe it’s the esthetic changes, but this video made me finally click. I’m glad to see more people offering practical explanations than only hard facts and teleprompter lines. I respect you for this video!
the brands featured and left out say more about your overly subjective take on this than anything else. Nothing ? as HIFI? wtf.
Re: the Dan Clarks, you neglected the poor design choice for attaching those easily-disfigured ear pads to the cups... with adhesive (not snap-on clips nor magnets). You then actually praised their proprietary cables... as an Apple fanboi, do you even pause when paying premium for proprietary gear? Ergonomics aside, this pick was a fail, IMO.
What about how the products actually perform? How's that not a factor for expensive gear being worth the cost? You even mentioned not having used the first two; could you not take a moment before shooting video to give them a quick test so you'd have at least _something_ to say about their performance?
What good is having unique designs, good ergonomics, handy accessories, and a long warranty if they don't perform? That should be #1 for getting one's money's worth, with feature set, durability, and ease of use & maintenance being close behind.
I agree wholeheartedly. The upper end and flagship headphones need to have a long-term warranty. Especially when they make claims about the build quality. When I spend this kind of money on a headphone, I expect it to be like my Moccamaster Coffee maker, or Kirby Vaccum, or my mic the Electrovoice RE20 and by the way this Kirby is older than me I'm in my 30's and this Kirby still functions well for its age. The Moccamaster is a $300 coffee maker but there are many individuals who have owned theirs for 30+ years now and in some cases even the power on light the coffee maker has is still functioning. Same with the RE20 Mic there are radio stations still using this mic and they've owned it for more than 30 years. (***a side note the RE20 is the only mic that still features the original mic design the RE27 and RE320 use different components to my knowledge.***)
All of these are premium products priced into the premium range and they're built (and proven) to last. I have people who ask "why do you spend what you do on the products you own?" Why? Because I know I won't be replacing it in 2 years.
A great and informative video Josh, cheers 🍻 buddy💪🥰. The warranty statement I agree totally with. You look in the lead up to C19 car manufacturers started doubling or tripling their warranties. Even bakeware / container ware company Tupperware has offered lifetime warranty on their goods for around 60+ years.
The Nothing design reminds me of TWSBI fountain pens, I wonder if they're from the same area.
You are spot on with your view on Abyss. Other companies should keep this in mind as this is a huge value proposition!!!
the dca connector called hirose connector
the lemo one I believe is in utopia or ultrasone
Can u please do the fiio ft3 review a bit sooner and please compare it to dt1990 pro and 990 pro or the hd 600 thanks
So glad the channel is active again, how’s ur health josh? U good?
I can relate veary good to your point on the Nothing stuff. I got the Nothing Ear1 in 2021. I disliked it because of the poor audio performance. But I was able to sell them this year for more than the original price to someone who cares more about the brand / looks than sound
Josh I need you. You have been my deciding factor on all my purchases so far. Should I reorder ie300 to replace the ones I broke or is the 200 a good enough match in performance?
I completely disagree about the Philips screws. A set of hex keys is not a big deal, and I have stripped so many shitty Philips screws. Any time I can avoid a Philips I do. If making it easy to tighten was the goal, a flat head would have been better.
Hi Josh. How does the FT3 compare to the Sundara? I've never heard any Fiio headphones before.
6:55 loool. i always thoght phillips screws are like proprietary screws feom the brand phillips. haha i was so wrong. (in German its called kreuzschlitz/crossslit)
Great caddyshack clip 🤣🤣
Josh, when are you going to review the Dyson Zone headphones?
Joshua please dont promote philips screws. they were invented in the early days of mass production and theyre designed to cam out at a certain torque so that they can have unscilled workers assemble cars and stuff without needing to train them.
One of the best drivers for screws is torx, which is not some weird special stuff a lot of people think and talk about it. Its like the standard for wood screws (that dont suck) and other applications. At least they could have used hex, which cant transfer torque as well and not as often as torx, but at least its not designed to cam out the scredriver when in use.
Thats by the way you need to push so hard against phillips screws and thats why wera probably designed the laser tips you are using because they increase grip in the screw.
It sounds like Nothing will turn out to be vapor.
I see your Edifier Luna Eclipse as props in a lot of your videos. How often do you plug them in for a listen? I listen to mine every now and then.
Koss offers a limited lifetime warranty
Rega offers lifetime warranty on some products.
Good closed backs around 200-300 USD mark? There is not enough closed backs in that range
I would like to say that your video put the Fiio FT3 on my radar at exactly the wrong time. It led me to look at some website reviews, followed by a RUclips review, followed by me purchasing it. If I don't like it, I'm blaming you, so it had better be awesome!
Ah, so you just wanted a video to pump up your ego instead of the actual reality being its nothing special in the current price segment.
@@enjoshi-godrez8775 That’s kind of a rude response to a comment that was jokingly made. I guess it’s your opinion that it’s nothing special in the segment. I haven’t seen a single review so far that said it wasn’t worth the $300 it costs. Even Josh compared it to the $300 Sundara for his comparison and said that he likes the sound profile better on the Sundara, but that if you enjoy Harman curve adherence, the FT3 might be the better option.
Anyway, I don’t have to have my ego fed regarding the FT3. I think it sounds awesome, whether or not you or anyone else likes it, and my own opinion is the only one I need. Of course I wouldn’t really blame Josh Valour for my own purchase, and whether he thought it was a good headphone or not (he did), I will still be using it as my daily driver.
@@lowercasegoat I didn't say it isn't worth $300. When did I say it isn't worth $300? I said its nothing special. Those phrases are not mutually inclusive.
@@lowercasegoat I would of said uncompetitive if I meant it wasn't worth that asking price. Maybe it is, but I haven't heard it. Though, you have owned hd600/650 right? Would be kinda embarrassing to suggest its competitive and not heard its actual competitors as intimately like josh has.
@@enjoshi-godrez8775 Fair enough. I guess that it’s sort of implied with “nothing special.” I think it hits above its weight at $300, given the included accessories and overall sound. Add in the build quality and comfort and I find it special, but headphones are really subjective things, so I’m ok with you disagreeing with me. If you’re comparing them side by side with Aryas, they definitely shouldn’t sound as nice. I have a Clear OG. It’s objectively and subjectively better than the FT3, but not 3 times the price better.
I know Fiio is trying hard, but I don't like fake leather stuff. I would rather have a cloth bag, at least it won't disintegrate.
Baffles me that Abyss sells enough headphones to stay in business without having a midfi headphone to sell. For that amount of money should be a limited lifetime warranty at least.
Without knowing anything about their actual numbers, the smartest thing they did was marketing through Linus tech tips. That definitely got them some good reach.
I feel like fiio always have so much value for the price
ABSOLUTELY NOT! I hate philips head screws. They always strip so easily for me. Much prefer something with more contact points like a hex or torx screw.
I love the cup shape of the DCA Noire, same with the Audioquest NightOwl. Too bad the sound of the Noire wasn't for me, but they were probably the most comfortable headphones I've ever worn. Sennheisers are less comfortable, but they get the cup shape right too. Not sure why so many brands opt for small circular cups. That doesn't work for big-eared folks like me. :(
Y-ya-you mean…in…inn….innovation???
I got the nothings ear 2s they are not audiophile in any way but they look pretty dope like you said. And feel real nice.
On the topic.... could we maybe get an Audeze Maxwell Review Josh ?
Spoiler alert!!!
The FiiO FT3 is the real deal! Been living with them for almost 6 weeks and for me, they’ve supplanted the 6XX Series. Not in every aspect but in enough that makes them my preference.
Doing It Right - Daft Punk
Can you review the Status Between Pro ? They have 3 drivers and are all over social media as audiophile headphones.
"Nothing" sounds like hot garbage. They put all of their budget into marketing/hype and presentation.
FiiO keeps trying to innovate. They keep iterating and improving their product lines, while keeping prices reasonable and affordable. FiiO also stepped up their packaging and presentation game.
Dan Clark headphones looks amazing but the sound quality is meh for the price they're charging. Not a "worth it" brand unless you value design above sound quality.
Abyss is just another ridiculous company overcharging for their headphones. Warranty does not justify charging thousands for their headphones. Then again, wealthy audiophiles don't give a crap and will drop tens of thousands on audio gear each year, so audio companies will keep pumping out overpriced products.
thanks ,saved me the trouble of having to say all this myself. I am kind of shocked at his choices
Hoping you get to try the new Sony mdr -mv1 and compare it to the Beyer 1990pro!
The Nothing ear 2 look amazing but the sound.... I sent them back after 3 days of use, the treble just sounds weirdly distorted / artifacty... I'm just gonna stick with my Original Samsung Buds and upgrade to the Buds 2 Pro later.
I have heard some not too nice things about those wacky airpods
Lululemon is well worth the money too, in my opinion.
Fuck yea I knew buying the Fiio FT3 before reviews was a good idea.
First brand "Nothing" , wow ,truly a shill , really talking about aac Bluetooth earbuds💀
Fiio, no questions, they tend to not loose themselves in the pricing
>Dan Clark, yet again very questionable brand and not "worth" for sure ,those prices are insane beside the first aeon maybe
Abyss is the worst and not worth it company,they are also very stingy about reviews and measurements on their products
Glad I'm not subscribed tbh
Can you review the hifiman ananda stealth edition
the fiio case is very similar to meze 99 classics one actually ;)
A Slow Day ???
Is this an advertisement? I'm two entries in and he hasn't used either. This list has so far boiled down to "Well I haven't used them but they're kind of pretty...". Not really an audio creator I watch much but this what I'm seeing here is not quality content.
IMHO, Fiio is great at copying other brands in design. Their DAP looks like Sony WM and AK DAP had a baby together. lol.... I have not tried NOTHING buds but people who has say it doesn't work well after the honeymoon stage. I like DCA and ABYSS products but DCA has kinda lost their "value" stance of MrSpeakers products. Extra long warranty is just a marketing move. LOL.....
hirose connector. thats what they are called.
You hope they sound good? You couldn't pop those suckers in to at least give us s hint? Weird
From my perspective, I think Focal did right. Yes, it's expensive. But you get work you pay for. They are comfortable, great looking, pretty easy time drive, and sound excellent. Compare to Abyss, I don't think they are doing right. Yes, they sound excellent, but super hard to drive, portable but not good looking, super expensive, mediocre accessories. It doesn't justify high cost and luxury product as Focal Utopia 2022.
You missed a trick by not saying _"and everything in terms of fiio-ling"_ .
Josh not a ZMF guy, very sad.
Waiting for ft3 review