Mistakes I've made as an audiophile...
Vložit
- čas přidán 22. 05. 2024
- I've made a ton of mistakes over the years while enjoying audio. Here's a few things I learned!
Video about output impedance and how an amp can change your headphone's sound: • This amp can CHANGE yo...
How to read measurements:
• A new standard for hea...
Headphone Power Calculator: headphones.com/pages/headphon...
Read more headphone, IEM, amp, and DAC Reviews: Headphones.com/TheAudioFiles
Our Editorial Policy: Headphones.com/TheAudioFiles/...
Join our Discord server: go.headphones.com/discord
Measurement Index
forum.headphones.com/t/index-...
The 10 stages of headphone measurements
• The 10 stages you’ll g...
0:00 Intro
0:13 Not everyone is right (for you)
1:52 Measurements are... complicated
3:13 What GEAR really matters
4:12 Expensive doesn't mean good
5:44 Chasing intangibles
7:00 Good distortion
9:00 Don't get lost - Zábava
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
For me it was even starting to be one
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.
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 :)
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
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!^^^^^
Biggest mistake: Purchasing a pair of audiophile headphones "for my girlfriend."😂
We really appreciate what you do DMS. Thank you for another insightful and honest video. Love your videos man.
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.
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.
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.
Terrific video, consistently great discussion and reviews with Mr DMS...
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.
Great video! Some really good inputs for me as a beginner in the headphone space.
This is one of the most important videos that you've made. I hope more people hear this message
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.
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.
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
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.
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.
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.
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 CZcams 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:)
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 😂
I agree, 👍 Excellent review. I just subscribed
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
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 👍
Precious advices, thanks
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.
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!
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.
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!
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 would like to see another video on this subject.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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
Hi, new here. Thank you very much for the advice to focus most of your money spending on headphones or speakers. One gets lost in this sea of devices. I spent everything I could on some Dali Oberon 3 speakers, then on a Zen DAC V2 and finally a Fosi audio BT20a pro amplifier. Over time I will change first the amplifier and lastly the DAC. If anyone wants to make me any suggestions, welcome!
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.
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.
I really enjoy my BD 990 Edition, although they were not as expensive. But they sound good and are very comfy 😊
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.
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.
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.
Thanks for the video, first minute and i totaly find myslef. When i heard about meze empyrean V2 i thought i have to buy it then i tried it for the week and i am still in love with my focal clear og
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.
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 .
Hey DMS so I am on the verge of buying a high end end phone to keep “for life” as a memento of someone that also enjoys music a ton.
Right now, I am hesitating between the empyrean 2 and the atrium, just because I love the technicality of one and the “feel” of the other. Thus I wanted to know your opinion on what got you more stuck to a headphone, the thing that makes you keep them. How do you decide to keep one and let the other go ?
Very much enjoyed your commentary here. Don’t listen to the haters.
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.
For me, it was the avantone planar which i inital was ok with untill a pad swap.
You’re speaking of slimming down to just what you actually enjoy listening to, irregardless of all else. Well then what’s your favorite (not necessarily fanciest) IEM? you seemed to really love the sennheiser ie600 upon first hearing it, would you take that as your only iem? or something else? like maybe one that everybody seems to love so there’s no sense in praising it in your reviews but maybe would choose it as a go-to for listening? like the blessing 3 just as an example 🤷 muchísimas gracias por todo lo que haces 🙏🏽
Thank you for great insights! But I think the notion that the price and the sound quality have "no" correlation is somewhat misleading. They are not directly proportional for sure, but in fact have a strong correlation. Even on the ranking list by three of you, isn't the highest tier headphones the most expensive ones? I see the near top tier headphones are largely flagship or reference level headphones, too. Of course, there's a number of exceptions, but they are statistically rather outliers within the certain boundaries.
I had the same epiphany, forgot to just enjoy music. I got tired of buying a new set of headphones and listening to the same test tracks over and over again. Now I've sold most of my gear (with some regrets), and kept my favorite gear. Truth be told, I barely even use them anymore bc I switched over to speakers and bluetooth headphones for convenience.
As always, great stuff! Did allll of them. There is one in particular I still struggle with. It's putting too much importance on electronics. I did the same with speaker systems, and now I'm seemingly back at it... Relatively new to the headphone game. I have a JDS Labs Element III. It sounds awesome, has enough power for the headphones I currently have. In fact, I find no flaw to it versus my needs. Yet... I spend lots of time watching at DACs and amps videos, daydreaming about expensive stuff that I knoowwwww will make a very small difference. And my rational side is saying to me dudeeeeee buy shhhheeeeetloads of music with that cash. But that dang upgradeitis sickness still rears its ugly head haha!
I want to buy the DAC right now. Currently deciding between a hd650 and hd660s2. I play a lot warzone and cs2 and currently using hd599 which I like to replace. Had a chance to hear the hd650 but not the hd660s2
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, Have you tried switching the yaxi pads between those two? I hear the standard version 1 mates well with the cd900st as well. Any thoughts also on the 7506?
For me, the cheap stuff works great. Using a simple IFI Zen Dac v1 with alternating pairs of Beyer Dynamics DT990Pro or Hifiman 400SE. Listened to other stuff more expensive (within reason) but have never felt the urge to make that investment for the little difference in quality i could detect (not always better). Maybe i´m one of those who doesn´t hear soundstage and everything else audiophiles are all over about? IDK...
Excellent review and sound advice 👍 wall art is a bit pedestrian 😀
Very sensible take. Thumbs up from a happy T1.3 owner lol
What did you do to your elegia ? Will you do a headband mod video ?
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."
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.
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.
Probably the top 5 most useful videos on this hobby. Both for complete beginners and for veterans
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
i'd love to hear your thoughts on CD's vs record players and what makes them good or bad
Scrolled into this video at the perfect time and might help with a predicament I am having... I am currently looking to break into audio in general and honestly the only experience I have with audio is basic headsets for gaming. Thing is, I have a budget as most people do and am curious how to make the most out of that and working within a budget always seems more complicated than it really is. So, you're saying it would be worthwhile to try and invest more into the headset/iem and get a solid product there rather than worry about the amp or dac for quality?
Good amp dacs domt cost a lot anymore. If you cant afford even $130 for very decent one like the fiio k11, then I question how you eat lol.
Buying more gear thinking it would improve things without dealing with THE fundamental of hifi .....the room.
Stumbled across lyngdorfs room correction and stopped buying gear and just enjoyed the music.
Also, many iems out perform over ear headphones in so many ways i wish id found out about them earlier.
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?
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.
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.
💯💯💯💯💯
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? 😁
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
It would be interesting to know which headphones you kept
The biggest audiophile mistake is thinking that there is a perfect sound reproduction system.
Do the Yaxi earpads on the MDR-7506 improve the sound? I like the way they sound already for the most part aside from their narrow soundstage, but curious how the Yaxi pads affect them. Thanks!
@DMS Do you prefer the 7506 with the yaxis to the DT700 pro X?
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'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.
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 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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Make Andrew Smile Again