You're one of the best reviewers out there, a clear cut ahead of most people on RUclips, including many who have been doing this for years, and I'd say you're definitely up there with Resolve Reviews and Amplify Audio Reviews - and in many cases I actually prefer how you articulate the differences between headphones and gear. I really like how you get into the nitty gritty and are willing to say something is better than another in different tangible aspects in an organised manner, and you don't tend to leave stones unturned when it comes to including each aspect of the sound. This is something that other reviewers either miss out on, or address sporadically throughout a video which can sometimes be hard to follow, or forbid - talk only about how they feel about a headphone which is completely subjective and will depend entirely upon personal taste. After watching your $1200 to $1800 closed back roundup, after having listened to or owned most of the headphones in that video, it blew my mind how accurate your findings were, how easy the video was to follow and how much I related to them myself. Out of all reviewers, I feel most comfortable watching your reviews at the moment, particularly of headphones and feeling as if I have a better understanding of what to expect when I pick something new up.
Great job WaveTheory and I agree with you 100% on everything you have said in this review specially about the 1266 TC and Utopia and Susvara. The number one thing you must do with the Susvara is give it the very best amp you can,I see over and over pairing it with $200 Schiit stacks saying it sucks. I have owned almost every headphone and lowfi & midfi out there. I currently own the Susvara and 1266 TC and both compliment each other very well,but the 1266 TC with the lack of midrange drives me crazy and over all tonality sound is off but still fun. I plan on buying the LCD 5 to complete the overall sound I am looking for. I pair my hp’s with the Woo Audio WA33 Elite with upgraded KR HP tubes and Chord M Scaler/ Dave = HEAVEN
Battle Royale ... After just auditioning a 1266 Phi TC - I tend to agree with you. I really do like the slam and bass presentation from the 1266, but the Final D8000 Pro I have sounds better overall to me because the midrange is fuller and timbre across the FR is so natural and real on the D8Kpro. Getting an LCD-5 in on loan soon, so looking forward to that. You have also made be think that I should listen to an Utopia too before making any decisions on next summit HP. Thanks for all the work you put into this series - really, really informative and inspirational. Also, my wallet wants to cancel you...
Thanks for the review. Was in the market for an upgrade to my Hifiman Arya. Auditioned most of these headphones in my home before pulling the trigger. As someone who appreciates high quality audio while being an avid RPG gamer, I wanted something that I can use for both music and gaming with an emphasis on comfort. Susvara is phenomenal in music, but for video games, it sounded very thin with no real low end heft. Think back stab effects in Elden Ring or when using a lift. I just did not feel the impact. Also, the sound stage was smaller than on my Arya’s and my T1’s. No way I am jumping up to $6k and losing bass impact and sound stage. Very similar experience with the LCD-5. That being said when only focusing on music, on certain tracks I freaking adored the Susvara! Was still thinking about getting them until I auditioned the Meze Elites. Not as much sparkle as the Susvara but I LOVE the open sound stage and deep sub-bass! The Elites sound FANTASTIC on games with a musical score and impactful sound effects. And on music, the Elite has so much soul! I don’t listen to much classical, although I do throw a classical track on from time to time to hear how great it sounds on my speaker set up, but most of my music has slam. Not bloated bass but real good lean sub bass and the Elites rendered them fantastically! Nothing thin here. I really was trying not the like the Elites because of your critique of them. I kept asking myself “Why am I loving the Elites?” “They suppose to NOT compete with the others in this price range, correct?” So glad I did! For the price of the Susvara I purchased the Meze Elite and the Burson GT amp. So far I am really digging it.
I really enjoy the information in the video & you confirmed what other youtubers have been saying. Thank you so much,, my end game will be the LCD-5 because it's the middle between the Susvara and Utopia.
Just a correction, the Utopia comes with the carry case and extra cables if its the newer version. The older version had a plastic ring in the driver which overheat and caused driver failure. Focal switched to a new manufacture , improved the ring design and changed the packaging as well. -ps got this info from the major dealer here in hong kong. And the price for Utopia is about $2630 US brand new
I really appreciate the comparisons! It's nice to have an experienced person address all these kinds of things in different products in relation to one-another. It's really helpful and interesting.
Great comparison! Thanks. I got my Utopia for $2600, which is not unheard of. I’m surprised that you think the LCD-5 is equally as natural sounding as the Utopia even though it is a planar.
The Dan Clark Stealth is without question the winner. This is my opinion. Others may agree or not. Opinions vary as do choices. To each their own. I choose the Stealth. No question!
The ifi Diablo should power the Steaths easily. It has 5 Watts at 32 ohms and a build in DAC. I personally use the Aeon Noire which are a bit more efficient than the Stealth but still rather inefficient with a Topping NX7 which has 1,4 Watts and it works wonderfully.
Great job, thanks for this review! I do wonder how does the ZMF Verite (open or closed) compare? At $3k (or more) I think that comparison is missing for many of us. I personally own a VC, and so it would be a very useful reference point, and at that price point it becomes relevant.
I am in the same situation, and as much as love my VC, I am still very curious about the other headphones. However, his system is tuned for planers, so not sure his review of a 300ohm dynamic headphone would be that much helpful anyways.
I got my VC for $2,600 and I sold my Stellias, 800's, and Elites because they're basically all I use now. I might get rid of my Utopia and Hekv2 as well. Was planning on a Susvara but now that the ZMF Caldera is coming I will probably try that. Im hoping for a little more resolution and detail but with the ZMF house sound to go with my VC's
Wondering if these rankings still apply if the use case is all-day everyday listening for enjoyment, and not shorter serious/critical listening session? In my experience I'd pick different pair. I'm considering the Elite for the former use case once they're available in the used market.
No, for me the ranking would not change. To my ear the Susvara combines the smoothness and easy-listening presentation of the Elite with current state-of-the-art technical ability. It's not at all fatiguing and is also comfortable enough to be worn and listened to for hours.
thanks for a great review, what I would add to your review, to help your viewers to choose among those TOTL headphones are things about weight, budget, and soundstage. headphones like 1266 phi tc could be too heavy for some and makes the headphone just impossible or unbearably uncomfortable to use compared to other lighter weight options. If you do not have big enough budget to buy a good dac/amp for susvara or other "hard to drive" options that require expensive dac/amp, the "easy to drive" options would have the upper hand. If you have a budget for just one TOTL headphone only, the options that are easy to drive would be downright better (the easy to drive options will not make you spend extra tons of $$$ that you don't have). If you are looking for a "sound up in your ear" kind of deal (like in a loud club), wide/deep soundstage could be a con rather than a pro.
Perhaps Verite closed and Final D8k pro can be added to your list. VC vs Utopia for TOTL portable rig. Then next up the estats Incliding the 007 / 009.
@@aceofspades6667 I have a solid state setup. But I've been told the best the Utopia can get is through tubes. I've heard the VC's get better with tubes as well, but in solid state, Utopia just sounds better in every way. The VC's are no slouch when it comes to tone. VC's are probably the best sounding close backs I've heard. But it can't compete with a totl open back like Utopia. If you had to go closed back I would recommend the VC's. If you can go either, it would be Utopia. The Utopia is absolutely the better portable option. Easier to drive than the VC's.
If you include tuning into sound quality, that is actually a plus for Meze. I personally feel they are tuned significantly better than the LCD-5 if lacking in detail and speed. I guess that almost counts as comfort (sonic comfort) though rather than performance.
I agree, the elite sound balanced from top to bottom whereas the Lcd5 are both dark and weak in bass. The Lcd5 is so mid centric it makes the hd650 sound v shaped, look at the graphs the Lcd5 is darker than the hd650.
Tuning is a broad term. I agree the Elite is a pleasant-sounding headphone. But even there, if that's what you're after, there are better deals than Elite.
The Susvara are very tempting to me. BUT, when I factor in the need for a premium amp with a large amount of current, even if you can find a dealer who will knock 20% off retail suggested price of the Susvara, you’re back up significantly above $6k and probably closer to $8k-10k if you want an amp that really appropriately drives them like the Bakoon 13r now Enleum. Granted there are amps that will drive them decently for less but then you’re not really getting all that the Susvara have to give IMO.
I 50% agree with you. The Sus will come alive with higher quality source gear, yes. However, even with my V281 amp it establishes itself as the current TOTL benchmark (estats notwithstanding). So it's not unreasonable to go in stages by getting the Sus first and then growing the system around it as you're able.
@@Seconds84 absolutely , I owned most ,, trying to find one that doesn't , and they all do .. it sucks big time because the sound signature without the clipping is great. I don't understand how a company that is charging that much for their stuff has such a huge flaw , it's just ridiculous
Really good overview, I just have one comment on here. I owned Susvara, still own the Utopia and the TC, and your comments about "what belongs in summit fi" and that "things are objectively bad" etc. I would not agree with. It comes down to preference. I couldn't care less about the "authentic", "soft", "mellow" timbre of the Susvara, because I index hard for space, dynamics and detail, then it's more detail, and then at some point it's the timbre and "natural sound", and for me the TC is the best set out there, and by a large margin as well. I'm yet to find a person that would audition it on my stack and not drop the jaw to the floor ... but it's all subjective. If I was all about natural midrage it would be Susvara and then nothing else pretty much. But I wouldn't say that the "weak" points of the TC as a whole are that weak, you could say that the 650 sounds more natural in the midrage in certain circumstances, and that would be true, but in the whole scheme of things it means nothing. The same way as you could say that Clear has more punch and dynamics than the Susvara, and again you would be right, but it still means nothing. At the end of the day, we all have to use our ears and discover what clicks for us : ) BTW. classical on the Holo May L2 -> Hypsos + Oor -> TC sounds phenomenal to my ears. Other than that, good review.
That's why this is a review, based off HIS ears, and HIS wants and need in audio, not yours. You can make a video yourself and review the Utopia and the TC, and you can say whatever you want. You even said yourself. It comes down to preference. And to HIS preference, the TC doesn't sound as natural as he'd want, and the mids are wonky, compared to the other TOTL cans. And to HIM, that's something that would stop him from buying the TC compared to the Susvara or the Utopia. If he were a basshead, you would get the TC, because objectively, it has better bass than all the other cans out there. He even said "if you listen exclusively to EDM, Dubstep (etc.) the TC could be your endgame." So he is acknowledging the strengths of the TC. But when it comes to what you listen to, people USUALLY want to hear certain things that other cans dont do as well. So when it comes to classical, jazz, things like that, people tend to want a more natural sounding, balanced can. Nothing bad about it. His review was spot on from what I have heard. And I have heard every can in this video other than the LCD 5. Edit: I mistyped. Not only have I heard each can, I own every can other than the lcd5, but as of next week, I will have them all. SR1a, TC, Utopia, Stealth (im selling), Susvara (I use the AHB2 for that one), As well as the Empy, and Elite. Im selling the Elites, keeping the empys. I got the empys really cheap brand new, and I prefer the OG actually. (might be because I paid full price for the Elite, and its just a LITTLE bit better than the og. Build and comfort essentially identical)
@@rlsmurfaccount6191 sure, I only have a slight issue with statements like "objectively don't belong in summit fi and the price is not justified" with a hint of "there are cheaper sets that do x y z better", that's it. We all have opinions, ears and preferences and that is all good : )
@@krisrudecki9477 I can understand and respect that. I dont mean to be an asshole, just wanted to put my 2 cents in. So thanks for replying respectfully. I do agree and disagree with certain points you made, And Im glad to say we can live on with no harm with that outcome. You have a good rest of your day my friend.
Ordered Susvara, Utopia, LCD 5, and Meze Elite to compare knowing that I would return 3 of them. I kept the Elite and returned the rest. Best tonality, comfort, staging, and imaging of the 4. The loss of detail retrieval is like comparing a 10 to a 9.8. So close and yet musical. Too much detail detracts from listening enjoyment. Kinda why when you buy a 4k or 8k TV and have it professionally adjusted, the first the tech does is turn down the saturation and turn off the sharpness.
I like what you're saying here. Also, you are coreect regarding tv picture adjustment. I worked in hifi and became expert at tv picture setup. Turn the damn contrast down! Cheers
I have tried the V281, Master 9, Topping A90, Monoprice THX AAA 887, Emotiva BasX A-100 unleashed 50w, and it makes the Susvara’s sound thin and analytical compared to my WA33 Elite which really brings it up to the Utopia impact and slam. It’s one of those things tell you hear what the Susvara’s are really capable of power wise you will be blown away and realized why it’s priced at $6k
@@tomvu9353 I have not but I heard both pair very well with the Susvara’s and the price you can’t go wrong. Looking at the Riviera AIC-10 maybe next year.
@@russb3n what are the best amps you have personally listened with the susvara besides the wa33 elite? I just got a susvara and I am looking to spend around 9000$ or below but dont know what to get
@@tomvu9353 I’ve tried the Benchmark HPA4 good super clean amp but thought it made all my headphones including the Susvara’s sound to thin and lean. Feliks Audio Euforia was another great amp which helped all of my headphones other than the Susvara. I really liked it with my Utopia which made it more open and less in your face approach. They sell used WA33 if you can find them, and this why I purchased it because I was tired of trying to find amps that could power my headphones to there fullest. With the WA33 you have the ability to use selectable LO impedance from 8 - 150 ohm headphones and HI impedance for anything above 150-800 ohms. Then of course the low & high gain switch for demanding headphones like the Susvara, HE6SE, 1266 TC, Diana Phi/TC etc. This is the only headphone amp that can give each headphone what it needs without sacrificing sound. Also do not think this WA33 is a gooey warm boring lush sound because it’s not I find my WA33 Elite more of a Solid State amp with the ability to give you expansive soundstage, holographic imaging, and rich tones that are pristine, natural, and vivid create a sense of realism that gives the user a euphoric listening experience last wording straight from Woo site and I agree. I’ve not had any headphone sound bad from the WA33 EE. I recently repurchased the HD650 and blown away with what I amp hearing vs back when I owned them with the HPA4 I ended up selling the HD650 and returning the HPA4. If anyone owns more than 3 headphones and planning on buying the Susvara’s or others hard to drive then I highly recommend the WA33.
Ok, good, Meze is shit , now take every Headgear in this review and plug'em in a phone or any other shitty source! Step 2 Compare them to Meze! Have fun!
could you please do a review of the Audeze LCL-4? That would interest me a lot because I have an LCD-4 and now I'm considering buying a Susvara or 1266 TC. I would be interested to know how the LCD-4 compares to the high-end headphones mentioned here.
You're one of the best reviewers out there, a clear cut ahead of most people on RUclips, including many who have been doing this for years, and I'd say you're definitely up there with Resolve Reviews and Amplify Audio Reviews - and in many cases I actually prefer how you articulate the differences between headphones and gear. I really like how you get into the nitty gritty and are willing to say something is better than another in different tangible aspects in an organised manner, and you don't tend to leave stones unturned when it comes to including each aspect of the sound. This is something that other reviewers either miss out on, or address sporadically throughout a video which can sometimes be hard to follow, or forbid - talk only about how they feel about a headphone which is completely subjective and will depend entirely upon personal taste. After watching your $1200 to $1800 closed back roundup, after having listened to or owned most of the headphones in that video, it blew my mind how accurate your findings were, how easy the video was to follow and how much I related to them myself. Out of all reviewers, I feel most comfortable watching your reviews at the moment, particularly of headphones and feeling as if I have a better understanding of what to expect when I pick something new up.
Well, thanks very much 🙂
One of the best reviewers I have come across. All the others are too afraid to criticise any product too much for fear of offending the manufacturers.
He made some mistakes unfortunately
But great review though
@@x32i77 All humans make mistakes, we're imperfect by nature.
Who is such reviewers ?
Which mistakes?
You are a goddamn good reviewer. Very well spoken, put together, and articulate. Thanks for the review!
Glad to see the Utopia's still holding their own half a decade later.
Half decade lmao. A whole 5 years!!! Wow, so ancient
👍😂
The quality of your reviews are incredible man!
Great job WaveTheory and I agree with you 100% on everything you have said in this review specially about the 1266 TC and Utopia and Susvara. The number one thing you must do with the Susvara is give it the very best amp you can,I see over and over pairing it with $200 Schiit stacks saying it sucks. I have owned almost every headphone and lowfi & midfi out there. I currently own the Susvara and 1266 TC and both compliment each other very well,but the 1266 TC with the lack of midrange drives me crazy and over all tonality sound is off but still fun. I plan on buying the LCD 5 to complete the overall sound I am looking for. I pair my hp’s with the Woo Audio WA33 Elite with upgraded KR HP tubes and Chord M Scaler/ Dave = HEAVEN
Battle Royale ... After just auditioning a 1266 Phi TC - I tend to agree with you. I really do like the slam and bass presentation from the 1266, but the Final D8000 Pro I have sounds better overall to me because the midrange is fuller and timbre across the FR is so natural and real on the D8Kpro. Getting an LCD-5 in on loan soon, so looking forward to that. You have also made be think that I should listen to an Utopia too before making any decisions on next summit HP. Thanks for all the work you put into this series - really, really informative and inspirational. Also, my wallet wants to cancel you...
Thanks for the review. Was in the market for an upgrade to my Hifiman Arya. Auditioned most of these headphones in my home before pulling the trigger. As someone who appreciates high quality audio while being an avid RPG gamer, I wanted something that I can use for both music and gaming with an emphasis on comfort.
Susvara is phenomenal in music, but for video games, it sounded very thin with no real low end heft. Think back stab effects in Elden Ring or when using a lift. I just did not feel the impact. Also, the sound stage was smaller than on my Arya’s and my T1’s. No way I am jumping up to $6k and losing bass impact and sound stage. Very similar experience with the LCD-5.
That being said when only focusing on music, on certain tracks I freaking adored the Susvara! Was still thinking about getting them until I auditioned the Meze Elites. Not as much sparkle as the Susvara but I LOVE the open sound stage and deep sub-bass! The Elites sound FANTASTIC on games with a musical score and impactful sound effects. And on music, the Elite has so much soul!
I don’t listen to much classical, although I do throw a classical track on from time to time to hear how great it sounds on my speaker set up, but most of my music has slam. Not bloated bass but real good lean sub bass and the Elites rendered them fantastically! Nothing thin here.
I really was trying not the like the Elites because of your critique of them. I kept asking myself “Why am I loving the Elites?” “They suppose to NOT compete with the others in this price range, correct?” So glad I did! For the price of the Susvara I purchased the Meze Elite and the Burson GT amp. So far I am really digging it.
Thanks to SA11297!
Great video. I’d be interested in your view of how the HD800s compares to the headphones mentioned in this video. Cheers
I really enjoy the information in the video & you confirmed what other youtubers have been saying. Thank you so much,, my end game will be the LCD-5 because it's the middle between the Susvara and Utopia.
Just a correction, the Utopia comes with the carry case and extra cables if its the newer version. The older version had a plastic ring in the driver which overheat and caused driver failure. Focal switched to a new manufacture , improved the ring design and changed the packaging as well. -ps got this info from the major dealer here in hong kong. And the price for Utopia is about $2630 US brand new
Good info. Thanks!
Those discount hints are "priceless". Good job. 👍
“Amp in a wheelbarrow”…got me to subscribe!
Thanks for answering several questions I've had about these headphones. You're helping with my decision making.
Well done. Lots of helpful information.
Nice job, as usual. Great that you get to hear these. As for me....lottery tickets first!
Hek1000se? How would it rank with these?
I really appreciate the comparisons! It's nice to have an experienced person address all these kinds of things in different products in relation to one-another. It's really helpful and interesting.
Great comparison! Thanks. I got my Utopia for $2600, which is not unheard of. I’m surprised that you think the LCD-5 is equally as natural sounding as the Utopia even though it is a planar.
How’s Solitaire p compared to susvara? Is it like a portable susvara?
Very informative. The only problem is I’m starting to feel like I should sell my motorcycle to buy a Susvara…
lul
The Dan Clark Stealth is without question the winner. This is my opinion. Others may agree or not. Opinions vary as do choices. To each their own. I choose the Stealth. No question!
I wish the DCA Stealth was more efficient, it's folding design is so portable
The ifi Diablo should power the Steaths easily. It has 5 Watts at 32 ohms and a build in DAC.
I personally use the Aeon Noire which are a bit more efficient than the Stealth but still rather inefficient with a Topping NX7 which has 1,4 Watts and it works wonderfully.
Great job, thanks for this review!
I do wonder how does the ZMF Verite (open or closed) compare? At $3k (or more) I think that comparison is missing for many of us. I personally own a VC, and so it would be a very useful reference point, and at that price point it becomes relevant.
I am in the same situation, and as much as love my VC, I am still very curious about the other headphones. However, his system is tuned for planers, so not sure his review of a 300ohm dynamic headphone would be that much helpful anyways.
I certainly wouldn't turn down a chance to listen to a VC if anyone out there has one to send me...
My system is tuned for planars? My Vioelectric V281 is actually designed to be optimized for hi-Z loads.
I got my VC for $2,600 and I sold my Stellias, 800's, and Elites because they're basically all I use now. I might get rid of my Utopia and Hekv2 as well. Was planning on a Susvara but now that the ZMF Caldera is coming I will probably try that. Im hoping for a little more resolution and detail but with the ZMF house sound to go with my VC's
Had chance to review the Verite closed compared to Focal Utopia 2020/2022, Senn HD800S, hifiman Susvara,
Wondering if these rankings still apply if the use case is all-day everyday listening for enjoyment, and not shorter serious/critical listening session?
In my experience I'd pick different pair. I'm considering the Elite for the former use case once they're available in the used market.
No, for me the ranking would not change. To my ear the Susvara combines the smoothness and easy-listening presentation of the Elite with current state-of-the-art technical ability. It's not at all fatiguing and is also comfortable enough to be worn and listened to for hours.
Please try T+A Solitaire P. Thanks
why isn't the HE1000se or HE1000V2 included with these... pretty much close to the same price
Didn't have Hekse at the time. Do now. This will be do for an update soon and I can include the Heks then
thanks for a great review, what I would add to your review, to help your viewers to choose among those TOTL headphones are things about weight, budget, and soundstage. headphones like 1266 phi tc could be too heavy for some and makes the headphone just impossible or unbearably uncomfortable to use compared to other lighter weight options. If you do not have big enough budget to buy a good dac/amp for susvara or other "hard to drive" options that require expensive dac/amp, the "easy to drive" options would have the upper hand. If you have a budget for just one TOTL headphone only, the options that are easy to drive would be downright better (the easy to drive options will not make you spend extra tons of $$$ that you don't have). If you are looking for a "sound up in your ear" kind of deal (like in a loud club), wide/deep soundstage could be a con rather than a pro.
Perhaps Verite closed and Final D8k pro can be added to your list. VC vs Utopia for TOTL portable rig. Then next up the estats Incliding the 007 / 009.
Utopia's are better in my opinion. I have both VC/Utopia.
@@johenkay1129 would you say Utopia are better on solid state and VC is better on tubes? Which is the better portable option?
@@aceofspades6667 I have a solid state setup. But I've been told the best the Utopia can get is through tubes. I've heard the VC's get better with tubes as well, but in solid state, Utopia just sounds better in every way. The VC's are no slouch when it comes to tone. VC's are probably the best sounding close backs I've heard. But it can't compete with a totl open back like Utopia. If you had to go closed back I would recommend the VC's. If you can go either, it would be Utopia. The Utopia is absolutely the better portable option. Easier to drive than the VC's.
If you include tuning into sound quality, that is actually a plus for Meze. I personally feel they are tuned significantly better than the LCD-5 if lacking in detail and speed. I guess that almost counts as comfort (sonic comfort) though rather than performance.
I agree, the elite sound balanced from top to bottom whereas the Lcd5 are both dark and weak in bass. The Lcd5 is so mid centric it makes the hd650 sound v shaped, look at the graphs the Lcd5 is darker than the hd650.
@@RyuMasterEX Definitely agree with this.
@@chipsnmydip it also has a smaller soundstage which wave mentioned
Tuning is a broad term. I agree the Elite is a pleasant-sounding headphone. But even there, if that's what you're after, there are better deals than Elite.
@@wavetheorysound Wondering which would you prefer over Elite if going that direction? (pleasant sound, comfort, forgiving of recording quality)
The Susvara are very tempting to me. BUT, when I factor in the need for a premium amp with a large amount of current, even if you can find a dealer who will knock 20% off retail suggested price of the Susvara, you’re back up significantly above $6k and probably closer to $8k-10k if you want an amp that really appropriately drives them like the Bakoon 13r now Enleum. Granted there are amps that will drive them decently for less but then you’re not really getting all that the Susvara have to give IMO.
I 50% agree with you. The Sus will come alive with higher quality source gear, yes. However, even with my V281 amp it establishes itself as the current TOTL benchmark (estats notwithstanding). So it's not unreasonable to go in stages by getting the Sus first and then growing the system around it as you're able.
Utopia look so good
They are beautiful to behold.
Great job!
Have you listened to ZMF Verite or Verite Closed? Where would that fit in your end-game lineup?
focal.... punch , hit, slap aaaaaand RATTLE
Facts, owned all brand new, Clear, Clear MG and Utopia, all clip in the sub bass.
@@Seconds84 absolutely , I owned most ,, trying to find one that doesn't , and they all do .. it sucks big time because the sound signature without the clipping is great. I don't understand how a company that is charging that much for their stuff has such a huge flaw , it's just ridiculous
Really good overview, I just have one comment on here. I owned Susvara, still own the Utopia and the TC, and your comments about "what belongs in summit fi" and that "things are objectively bad" etc. I would not agree with. It comes down to preference. I couldn't care less about the "authentic", "soft", "mellow" timbre of the Susvara, because I index hard for space, dynamics and detail, then it's more detail, and then at some point it's the timbre and "natural sound", and for me the TC is the best set out there, and by a large margin as well. I'm yet to find a person that would audition it on my stack and not drop the jaw to the floor ... but it's all subjective. If I was all about natural midrage it would be Susvara and then nothing else pretty much. But I wouldn't say that the "weak" points of the TC as a whole are that weak, you could say that the 650 sounds more natural in the midrage in certain circumstances, and that would be true, but in the whole scheme of things it means nothing. The same way as you could say that Clear has more punch and dynamics than the Susvara, and again you would be right, but it still means nothing. At the end of the day, we all have to use our ears and discover what clicks for us : ) BTW. classical on the Holo May L2 -> Hypsos + Oor -> TC sounds phenomenal to my ears.
Other than that, good review.
That's why this is a review, based off HIS ears, and HIS wants and need in audio, not yours.
You can make a video yourself and review the Utopia and the TC, and you can say whatever you want.
You even said yourself. It comes down to preference. And to HIS preference, the TC doesn't sound as natural as he'd want, and the mids are wonky, compared to the other TOTL cans. And to HIM, that's something that would stop him from buying the TC compared to the Susvara or the Utopia.
If he were a basshead, you would get the TC, because objectively, it has better bass than all the other cans out there. He even said "if you listen exclusively to EDM, Dubstep (etc.) the TC could be your endgame." So he is acknowledging the strengths of the TC. But when it comes to what you listen to, people USUALLY want to hear certain things that other cans dont do as well. So when it comes to classical, jazz, things like that, people tend to want a more natural sounding, balanced can. Nothing bad about it. His review was spot on from what I have heard. And I have heard every can in this video other than the LCD 5.
Edit: I mistyped. Not only have I heard each can, I own every can other than the lcd5, but as of next week, I will have them all.
SR1a, TC, Utopia, Stealth (im selling), Susvara (I use the AHB2 for that one), As well as the Empy, and Elite. Im selling the Elites, keeping the empys. I got the empys really cheap brand new, and I prefer the OG actually. (might be because I paid full price for the Elite, and its just a LITTLE bit better than the og. Build and comfort essentially identical)
@@rlsmurfaccount6191 sure, I only have a slight issue with statements like "objectively don't belong in summit fi and the price is not justified" with a hint of "there are cheaper sets that do x y z better", that's it. We all have opinions, ears and preferences and that is all good : )
@@krisrudecki9477 I can understand and respect that. I dont mean to be an asshole, just wanted to put my 2 cents in. So thanks for replying respectfully. I do agree and disagree with certain points you made, And Im glad to say we can live on with no harm with that outcome. You have a good rest of your day my friend.
@@rlsmurfaccount6191 no worries, have a great day 🍻
Ordered Susvara, Utopia, LCD 5, and Meze Elite to compare knowing that I would return 3 of them. I kept the Elite and returned the rest. Best tonality, comfort, staging, and imaging of the 4. The loss of detail retrieval is like comparing a 10 to a 9.8. So close and yet musical. Too much detail detracts from listening enjoyment. Kinda why when you buy a 4k or 8k TV and have it professionally adjusted, the first the tech does is turn down the saturation and turn off the sharpness.
I like what you're saying here. Also, you are coreect regarding tv picture adjustment. I worked in hifi and became expert at tv picture setup. Turn the damn contrast down! Cheers
YipPEE!
Haha interesting! 👋🏻bye
Can we get a $1,000 - $1,600 shootout?
I have 1 more major player in that range to listen to first but that is currently in-house. So, for the shootout...hopefully in the spring!
@@wavetheorysound Awesome, I’ll be looking forward to it!!!
How does this guy sa11297 afford all of them ?
IKR. I'm just grateful for his extreme generosity.
@@wavetheorysound I do think he also loan or sponsored. There is no way people can afford them unless they are rich
What about Susvara with iFi Diablo?
!
I'm so goddamn fucking happy that I chose the lcd 5. SOOOOO happy
I get them in about 2 weeks
19:50 ifi Diablo 🤦🤷🏻♂️ (700€ used lol it can drive Susvara ez aswell )
I’m still a 1265 Phi tc guy but there are no wrong answers at this level
Wish I were rich.
Hi Wave Theory I heard that the Susvara punches way harder if you have a more powerful amp than the v281!
I have tried the V281, Master 9, Topping A90, Monoprice THX AAA 887, Emotiva BasX A-100 unleashed 50w, and it makes the Susvara’s sound thin and analytical compared to my WA33 Elite which really brings it up to the Utopia impact and slam. It’s one of those things tell you hear what the Susvara’s are really capable of power wise you will be blown away and realized why it’s priced at $6k
@@russb3n Have you tried the benchmark ahb2, enleum amp 23 r or the ferrum oor stack?
@@tomvu9353 I have not but I heard both pair very well with the Susvara’s and the price you can’t go wrong. Looking at the Riviera AIC-10 maybe next year.
@@russb3n what are the best amps you have personally listened with the susvara besides the wa33 elite? I just got a susvara and I am looking to spend around 9000$ or below but dont know what to get
@@tomvu9353 I’ve tried the Benchmark HPA4 good super clean amp but thought it made all my headphones including the Susvara’s sound to thin and lean. Feliks Audio Euforia was another great amp which helped all of my headphones other than the Susvara. I really liked it with my Utopia which made it more open and less in your face approach. They sell used WA33 if you can find them, and this why I purchased it because I was tired of trying to find amps that could power my headphones to there fullest. With the WA33 you have the ability to use selectable LO impedance from 8 - 150 ohm headphones and HI impedance for anything above 150-800 ohms. Then of course the low & high gain switch for demanding headphones like the Susvara, HE6SE, 1266 TC, Diana Phi/TC etc. This is the only headphone amp that can give each headphone what it needs without sacrificing sound. Also do not think this WA33 is a gooey warm boring lush sound because it’s not I find my WA33 Elite more of a Solid State amp with the ability to give you expansive soundstage, holographic imaging, and rich tones that are pristine, natural, and vivid create a sense of realism that gives the user a euphoric listening experience last wording straight from Woo site and I agree. I’ve not had any headphone sound bad from the WA33 EE. I recently repurchased the HD650 and blown away with what I amp hearing vs back when I owned them with the HPA4 I ended up selling the HD650 and returning the HPA4. If anyone owns more than 3 headphones and planning on buying the Susvara’s or others hard to drive then I highly recommend the WA33.
Meze engineers realy missed the mark and/or they have the best marketing ever?
Ok, good, Meze is shit , now take every Headgear in this review and plug'em in a phone or any other shitty source! Step 2 Compare them to Meze! Have fun!
could you please do a review of the Audeze LCL-4? That would interest me a lot because I have an LCD-4 and now I'm considering buying a Susvara or 1266 TC. I would be interested to know how the LCD-4 compares to the high-end headphones mentioned here.