Headphones

I've actually experienced this twice, once a few weeks ago and just a few minutes ago too. So after a long day of studying and working blah blah, I decided to put on some music on my headphones. Everything sounded fine initially, but after like 1 hour in of music, I feel like everything sounded a little bit muddy and very... claustrophobic. I suspected that something was wrong with the cables or drivers, but the tonality, detail retrievals and sound imaging still sounded fine to me, only the soundstage got "nerfed".

So I'm wondering, does exhaustion affect perceived soundstage, or is there really a problem with my headphones?

I just can't feel/ear the changes, however I understand that brand new materials are loosing up with time and as result frequencies can be affected

Does anyone have experience with the Beyerdynamic online parts replacement shop and do you know if they ship to Canada?

I found that they sell replacment pads and headband cushion in Amazon sold from their own store but I think they dont sell the HEADBAND PRO X . Are there any parts I'm missing? I'm considering getting a Senheiser HD5XX if replacment parts are hard to get by

I want to buy a used DT 770 Pro but the inside looks like that . every photo i find online dosnt show thes markings and the sticker is not made from paper. These seem to be a relatively new generation. (the jack screw is thin). So are the newer Dt 770 pros like that or is it a fake?

Out of these headphone which one would you own if you could only have one and only one headphone or IEMs. You can't own a IEM and over headphone just one pair.

View Poll

I’ve been really into headphones for many years, but only now have I really started to research into things properly. Had a set of open back Sennys when I was much younger, but were the cheapest of their lineup, and loved them. Then I moved onto Bluetooth headphones when I could afford them, mdr100abn, to the wh1000xm3, then the Bose 700, skullcandy crusher anc, and then sennheiser momentum 4. All these were an upgrade from the last, however, not a noticeable upgrade that justified the money difference. Gaming headsets as well, I went from a cheap pair of turtle beach, to razor kraken, to then the Arctis 9x. Again all of these were upgrades from the last, but not MAJORLY.

Eventually I started to look into brands that weren’t just average consumer brands (I know sennheisers arent just for average consumers, It’s just I’ve only experienced their standard audio products that aren’t “professional” grade). The two that I found out about were Beyerdynamic, and Audeze.

After weeks of research I finally came to the conclusion of 2 headphones I was going to buy.

The Audeze Maxwell for gaming and the Beyerdynamic DT900 Pro X for music.

Atm the Audeze does sound better for music, however I am waiting on the Qudelix 5K to get delivered so I can EQ the Beyers. Not to mention the Beyers have that beautiful open back soundstage I was missing from my first ever Sennheisers.

I can’t say much for the Beyers as not had them as long as the Audeze and haven’t EQ’d them properly, but if anyone is looking into and contemplating the Audeze, GET THEM!!!

I've had my JBL Quantum 300 headphones for 10 months now, and they have already started to break, 3 pieces of plastic have chipped off them, the chipping hasn't actually done anything so far to the headphones' functionality but if 10 months of occasional use is enough to break the headphones then they don't seem to be very good quality

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https://preview.redd.it/nlls07q5o4wb1.jpg?width=4000&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=35cce32e4a8fdc918b76cdc460c56a4f1739919b

On the hunt for past weeks. Finally got one offering a secondhand pair that's only been used for a few hours, basically new. The dark and muddy impressions are true but I've really fell for the design since first I saw it. Fortunately it responds very well to EQ. Now it's a favourite pair! My only regret is not getting the classic or anniversary colorway but doesn't matter.

i'm about to buy myself the shuoer s12's but i've seen some people say that you need a good power source to run them because they're planars, is this true? if it is i'll just get arias

Upon reading a lot of opinions, the most common one I see is that a lot of people keep coming back to the HD600 series of the Sennheiser's even after trying high end headphones.

Why is that actually so for you?

Yesterday, a friend of mine came with insane chain gear to try out my headphones. Gear I wouldn't dare buying ever. A Gustard R26, Aune S7 pro, RME ADI-2 pro FS R. We have R2R dac, TOTL delta sigma with EQ, and class A amplification. This is TOTL for a lot of people and considered among the best in their price range for subjectivists. Compared to my Ifi micro idsd black label and stack of Topping E50 and S.M.S.L SP200, it should be night and day.

And when I first plugged my D8000pro, It was indeed night and day. Going from my stack to only the RME on Susvara and D8000pro, the scene was wider, more holographic, it was insane how my stack was soooooo bad. Where is that coming from ? I heard the DCS stack and Raal amp before and I thought there were no differences at all except volume control and features. Was I wrong.

Later that night, we decided to blind A/B the RME vs Ifi output (with switch box). Also, we compared only the DAC section of RME vs Ifi, DAC section of RME vs Gustard, both times connected to the Aune this time.

One of us would wear a headphones in the next room (I got long cables), the other person would switch the DAC input on the Aune randomly. Changings caused a 0.5sec cut in the sound. But we could also fake that change.

Conclusion : Both of us couldn't differential anything, it was too hard. Him with his great gear, me with my skepticism but with doubt after hearing the RME (it was our biais). Sometimes there were differences, but most time it was just the volume not being 100% perfect. Giving the advantage to which gear was even the slightest louder. Nothing like wide soundstage, resolution, imaging.... We will do more tests in the future as my Stack has not been compared to his stack yet.

And you, when was the last time you did an blinded A/B test ?

Hi, i don't know much about audio but i bought E30 dac because it was like 30$ and now i realize i need an amp to even use it 😅

So I have 3 options right now the fosi P2 tube amp, fosi K5 dac/amp or TNP amp * which is a cheap Amazon amp

I never put much stock into the whole "tips make a difference" stuff I've read in this subreddit but holy guacamole did these make a HUGE difference for me. Going from the stock tips to the small W1's...just...omg. It increased bass, resolution, and detail...The tips on this IEM do NOT do this IEM justice. At all. It even affected the separation. I never thought this was a thing but holy crap the difference is ridiculous and night and day. I first got these and was severely disappointed. I thought tips were all hype. I hate to use the word "literally" like this but this is literally game changing for this IEM.

Make fun of me if you want but these tips completely changed how this IEM sounds and for the better. The stock tips are horrendous in comparison.

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Edit: Wanted to add one other thing. With the stock tips I could feel the pressure build up that reviewers and other reddit posters have commented on. These tips completely remove that pressure build up feeling for me. Granted, I've never been too sensitive to that but I did notice it with the stock tips. I don't feel the pressure build up at all with the W1's.

There's few songs I like that became less enjoyable when I got "better" headphones with more detail. I started to notice issues with the recordings that I can't unhear now. I even though the headphones were broken and distorting but I tried different headphones and different sources and once I look for those flaws they become very obvious. One example is "Fever" by Eva Cassidy where I hear distortion around 0:50 in the right channel. Another one is "Summer in the City" by Joe Cocker at 3:06, crackling sound also right channel. Am I going crazy? I can't stop noticing this even after switching back to my old gear.

Since I thought the Galaxy Buds lineup are pretty well-known in the audio world, Crin of all people hyped them quite a bit. The OG Buds sounded great to me, I also own a Buds 2 Pro but the thing is too V-shaped for my liking, it's strange to me that there's no proper review of the Buds FE just yet. Anyone tried them?

I am planning to buy truthear zero red, but hesitant due to this inverted polarity thing. Some people say the difference is audible while others say it isn’t. Crinacle said in a comment that the difference is audible but it is subjective which sound you prefer, inverted or non inverted. That sounds so strange to me; shouldn’t non inverted sound be preferred, even if it subjectively sounds worse, since that’s the correct way to listen to music?

I got the porta pros a few weeks ago and was immediately taken back by how muffled and bassy they were. More than I expected even reading reviews. These turned out to be great for gaming, but doodoo for music listening. I've used them for almost my entire 100 htlrs in starfield, so they've been used quite a bit.

I got bored tonight and hacked off the center peice.

They are now perfect. I was expecting to get more highs, which I did, however this totally took away the muffled mess that I disliked with listening to music. They now sound way more even and just overall better. Thank you for coming to my Ted talk.

Why does my KZ PR2 or Salnotes Zero and Samson SR850 sound thin and piercing on a TaoTronics TT-BA07 bluetooth adapter (but with LOTS of volume - max volume is TOO loud)? None of them have high impedance values, and none of them are super insensitive. EQ successfully tames treble, but EQ for Sub-bass(even significant EQ of 4 or 5dB) fails to really bring back the depth and intensity of the bass when driven from better sources. It reminds me of the behavior of an under-powered livingroom stereo system with good speakers running from a weak amplifier.

On a 'Good' source like Sound Blaster X G6 (Raw output mode, no sound effects or EQ applied) or my UTWS5 from FiiO none of them are piercing, they sound warm and reach deep and low and have plenty of slam and rumble.

That said, lots of people claim that sources don't matter and you don't NEED an amplifier for IEM's usually due to the generally high sensitivity and low impedance values. I noticed this same thing a year or two ago with the FiiO FH3 when transitioning from a Galaxy S10+ to an LG G8 ThinQ. The FH3 sounded significantly warmer and bassier with a ton more sub-bass presence on the G8 and sounded virtually identical when driven from the FiiO UTWS5 and the Sound Blaster X G6, so I'd say they sounded "correct" on the G8. The S10+ has a mediocre output and every earphone or headphone consistently had enough volume but way too little bass (especially sub bass) and far too much treble emphasis. I'm a computers and electronics guy, so I can say with full confidence there was no "sound improvement" software active on the S10 at the time and no EQ enabled. The same kind of tone is achieved when driving any of my headphones and IEM's from workplace laptops (the kind that focus on being workhorses, not multimedia kings), and other portable devices that put little importance on the quality of the headphone output quality (Quest 2, Nintendo Switch, various DS consoles, shitty chinese MP3 players, and the aforementioned TaoTronics TT-BA07).

If it's not a matter of the amp inside or a volume issue, what is it, exactly?? I've got the tools to fix the issue if I have an answer. Is it the output impedance? Is it a DSP thing? Is it a matter of low output power but high gain causing perceived loud output but without any 'oomph'?

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Saw the HBB's latest video, so I'm just saying here as well.

I got Hype 2 from Linsoul like 3-4 months ago.

• Left earbud driver ramble issue
• Contact them, I show them multiple videos, they eventually tell me to send, I just wanted left earbud replacement.
• Send them back, they take 1.5 months to figure out if it has a problem, like really? Not only that, I already see online forums that Hype 2 has the same problem with lots of people, Linsoul such a massive company, Thieaudio their in-house brand, couldn't even just send over left earbud replacement which is a common issue with many.
• After 1.5 months of wait of "testing", they tell me they did find issues, they'll send me back Hype 2 replacement.
• 2 weeks in, I ask them where's my tracking for the replacement package. They tell me it's apparently in pre-order process, they'll take 1 months time to process and they are sending me a new one (given, they never told me they're gonna send a "new" replacement). Anyways, now I have to wait.
• They eventually send out, but they send with regular shipping, when my eventual order was with DHL, so they didn't even DHL me back, all while I had to remind them AGAIN to refund me for shipping the item to them.
• Item comes in after 2 weeks of shipping wait, take it out, WRONG COLOR.
• I email them immediately. They take 6 days to reply to me. By this time, I am already so frustrated, I just decided to keep them in my mind.
• When they finally reply back, I send them photos of the IEM, they keep asking for pictures of the box sleeve (I threw it out, because I decided to keep the IEM). I tell them why do they need the box sleeve, when the picture and receipt clearly shows I got the wrong colorway. After 3 times, they finally clear it up.
• They offer replacement or partial refund. I tell them, I'll keep it, atleast give me like 1/3 refund atleast. They offered me 15 bucks refund. I was in awe because their own website was literally selling for 30+ bucks off while on sale during this email. They eventually tell me 45 bucks is their max. I can't be bothered at this point and just accept.

Hype 2 itself is a great IEM, but this experience left such a bad taste in my mouth. I bought a lot from Linsoul but I feel massively hesitant to buy from them. If there's an option to buy from ShenzhenAudio or Hifigo for something I particularly want, I'd rather buy from them. I don't know if it's the seller or manufacturer being helpful but ShenzhenAudio (Truthear, Tanchjim, Moondrop), Hifigo (SeeAudio), gave me great service and I was happy with their connection and understanding.

Pros

• Lightweight yet well built
• Surprisingly comfortable fit (Subjective)
• Very versatile tuning
• Powerful yet very well controlled bass
• Clean, natural midrange
• Slightly forward, engaging female vocals but never shouty
• Inoffensive, smooth treble 
• Decent, natural treble extension
• Good technicalities

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Cons

• Accessories could be better for a product in this price range
• Weird shape with thick and long nozzles, fit may not be for everyone (Subjective)
• Male vocals lacks a bit of lushness
• Lack of "wow" factor

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Disclaimer

• Huge thanks to Hifigo for providing the opportunity for me to review the Gizaudio × Binary Chopin. I really do appreciate it. However, all thoughts and opinions are my own, and are not influenced in any way. 
• Please take this review with only a grain of salt, as everyone's hearing, fit, and gears may differ, so our experience may be different.

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Price(MSRP)

• $199.99

Source(s)

• Truthear Shio
• FiiO KA13

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Ear tips

• Dunu S&S

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Packaging

• IEM.
• Hard case. 
  • Quality is subpar.
  • Feels very cheap, plasticky and lightweight
• 3 pairs of genetic silicone ear tips (S, M, L)
• High-Purity OFC Silver-Plated Litz Cable
  • Comfortable and lightweight
  • Tangles a little sometimes, but not the worst.

https://preview.redd.it/bsnap5qlu1wb1.png?width=599&format=png&auto=webp&s=3ab22ad8a76faec96a2c98d31921251429a1b1e7

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https://preview.redd.it/a4bxa9jmu1wb1.png?width=599&format=png&auto=webp&s=bd08530796005e30ecb8f74debde245e7243fe2c

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https://preview.redd.it/3iwoqp5nu1wb1.png?width=595&format=png&auto=webp&s=2c63e2e5c4b1d7b055ed5756c7eeba9bb194b428

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(I forgot to take out the ear tips from the package so here is an extra shot)

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https://preview.redd.it/0777o9cpu1wb1.png?width=580&format=png&auto=webp&s=5ae1048fe2e53ad6505021f5c2980632953b862e

Build Quality

• Acrylic resin shell with a metal faceplate, very lightweight and solidly built

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Fit

• Nozzle is very thick and long.
• Surprisingly very comfortable despite its weird shape.
• However, do be cautious if your ear canal is small, as the nozzle size may not fit for everyone. 

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Tonality

https://preview.redd.it/vog63nwru1wb1.png?width=640&format=png&auto=webp&s=71b46edef0fa9bf46920985410ff14ee65855376

• Bass boosted neutral

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Bass

• Sub bass is more prominent and focused compared to mid bass
• Sub bass is quite rumbly, slams super hard and goes sufficiently deep as well
• Mid bass has decent body and texture, with enough punch to it
• Overall a very satisfying listening experience. A lot to love about it: Well defined, has decent speed, and super well controlled.
• Quantity is on the bassy side, may even satisfy some bass heads. Fun and engaging but remains super clean. 

Midrange

• Midrange is very clean with a hint of warmth so it is not too recessed.
• Male vocals sound average, doesn't sound particularly lush and forward but it is not overly thin and pushed back, takes a more neutral state. 
• Female vocals have a good forwardness which makes them sound engaging yet never too shouty or in your face. 
• Instruments and timbre is very natural considering that this is a hybrid IEM, almost no sign of BA timbre can be heard. At most its only a very slight hint of it sometimes but I doubt that it can affect the overall listening experience.
• Note weight and density is on the neutral side, which doesn't come off as overly thin or thick, its just the right amount. 

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Treble

• Treble is overall quite smooth, with enough sparkle and energy to make everything lively and exciting but never too harsh or sharp fatiguing
• There is some air in the upper treble but it is not an excessive amount to make everything unnatural and overdone, it is just an adequate amount to make it sound slightly airy and open while keeping it natural.
• Details can be perceived without too much effort and is not overly emphasized.

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Technicalities
Resolution

• Resolution and detail retrieval is good, but it isn't anything outstanding like the planar IEMs in this price range. 
• However, it definitely isn't lacking details in any way, and is good enough as a $200 hybrid. 

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Soundstage

• Soundstage is decent in terms of width, depth and height. 
• Nothing impressive but doesn't sound intimate at all. 

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Imaging

• Imaging and accuracy is good, I can track and pinpoint where the sound is coming from with ease.

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Separation

• Separation and layering is good. Instruments and vocals is well separated among each other. 

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Comparison 
$200 Showdown: My Personal Favorite Hybrid (Yume 2) vs The Most Versatile Hybrid (Chopin)

https://preview.redd.it/8x3jdawtu1wb1.png?width=627&format=png&auto=webp&s=9c90e9418347a9fcc52e0c72cfe9efc729b9b7e2

• Accessories: Chopin offers only 3 pairs of different ear tips sizes while Yume 2 offers up to 5, but both are still only generic ear tips, nothing special. Chopin also has a much better cable which doesn't tangle as often as Yume 2's stock cable, but Chopin's carrying case is built a bit worse than Yume 2's case. However, Chopin does come with 2 protective wrappers for the IEM.
• Bass: Chopin's bass is slightly better in terms of quality, also comes with a larger quantity. It packs a little more slam with a more natural decay, while Yume 2's bass is a touch faster and punchier. 
• Midrange: Yume 2 take the win here. Yume 2 has that extra bit of warmth to make male vocals a little more lush and natural, with a more energetic and airy presentation for female vocals. However, this does come down to preference, as the Chopin has a cleaner and smoother/relaxed midrange presentation.
• Treble: Chopin's treble is smoother compared to Yume 2, but lacks that extra bit of airiness. However, the extra airiness may make it sound less natural.
• Technicalities: Yume 2 has a slight advantage in technicalities, providing a slightly wider stage and slightly higher resolution. However, both are not very far apart in terms of technical capabilities.
• Overall, I would personally prefer the Yume 2, it is still my favorite hybrid in this range due to my preference. However, I do think that the Chopin would be the more versatile choice here with how well it performs throughout all the sections, and the Yume 2 might be a touch too spicy in the treble and air region for some. 

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Conclusion

• As a conclusion, I think the Gizaudio × Binary Chopin is another hit for Timmy from Gizaudio. A truly well rounded IEM with no major flaw. 
• Very fun and engaging bass, super clean midrange, non fatiguing treble with enough sparkle and decent extension, good technicalities for the price.
• The only compromise that I can possibly state is the lower midrange can be a bit too clean, which makes it a little sterile and boring, but even this is up to personal preference. 
• Some may say this type of tuning is too boring and does nothing special, while I agree to a certain extent especially if you're a veteran in this hobby and owns a bunch of IEMs in your collection ... but I would say that the Chopin is a perfect blend of fun and safe and is extremely recommended for people who are looking for an inoffensive yet engaging IEM, only if you can fit them in, of course!

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https://preview.redd.it/24vzs17wu1wb1.png?width=586&format=png&auto=webp&s=847da71cb771482c5af4139df1571c13c384e011

https://preview.redd.it/6fgkj4fxu1wb1.png?width=580&format=png&auto=webp&s=9837d5f949e7f155563950c51419c29ef14f4cdc

Thanks for reading!

The sound is good and size fits. But I get stutters in crowds and it just disconnected today for no reason

However it seems like the best value at this price point