dalethorn

I reviewed the matte black version of the XS a week ago, but I bought the pearl white version this time and added custom sideplates (my first ever). So here is the unboxing video and some hi-res photos. Youtube video: http://youtu.be/DSmVJTcRYcE Photos: http://dalethorn.com/Photos/Panasonic_Zs40/Headphone_Vmoda_Xs_03.jpg http://dalethorn.com/Photos/Panasonic_Zs40/Headphone_Vmoda_Xs_04.jpg

This is the long-awaited folding version of the v-moda M80 series, with numerous other improvements and a very nice very small hard-shell carry case. http://www.hifiheadphones.co.uk/forum/headphone-reviews/4035-v-moda-xs-cliqfold-tm-stereo-headphone-review.html

This is my second purchase of the DTX501p, 18 months after the first. I hadn't realized the potential of this amazing headphone since the sound I originally tested had the usual small, lightweight, closed headphone colorations that plague this type of design. When I discovered the Audioforge Parametric equalizer for Apple i-devices, and how it could make those colorations just go away without changing the basic signature, my musical enjoyment increased greatly. I've been working on getting the same results with the 18-band equalizer in Foobar2000, but it's not easy since those 18 bands aren't quite a match for Audioforge's 7 parametric bands. Bottom line: The DTX501p competes with the more expensive headphones I have, and low-cost headphones such as the Sennheiser PX series are not in the same class as the DTX501p. http://www.hifiheadphones.co.uk/forum/headphone-reviews/4030-beyerdynamic-dtx501p-stereo-headphone-review.html

Here's my video comparison of the DT1350 Facelift and non-Facelift versions, plus the T51p so you can see the 3 different earpad types. http://youtu.be/S5n97_32P6M

Oops - no more edit button. So the settings are now: 3500: +2.0 5000: -4.0 10000: +2.0 14000: +0.0

My current Foobar2000 EQ settings for the standard DT-1350 headphone: 55: +0.0 77: -2.0 110: -2.0 156: +2.0 220: -2.0 311: -6.0 440: -6.0 622: -6.0 880: -4.0 1200: -2.0 1800: +0.0 2500: +2.0 3500: +4.0 5000: -2.0 7000: +4.0 10000: +4.0 14000: +4.0

These Fostex T50rp-modded headphones are the first planars I've heard, having avoided the HiFiMan and Audeze series due to uncertainty about the neutrality of their sound. Since these belong to a friend, there was no risk involved in evaluating them. Bottom line: Superior hi-fi sound. http://www.hifiheadphones.co.uk/forum/headphone-reviews/4024-mrspeakers-mad-dog-zmf-planar-fostex-t50rp-mods-headphones-review.html

To make my determinations, the seal was perfect.

This is my third DT1350, and still no 'Facelift' version, which I may get anyway within a couple of weeks. On its own, it's the same deal as the first DT1350 I bought (April 2011), but not the second one (February 2012). The second DT1350 had a much looser clamp, and while that relieved the headaches, the midrange was even more dominant than the first DT1350. The extra-strong midrange was bad enough, but if the earpads didn't seal well immediately due to the loose clamp, the sound could be quite hollow. So even though this third sample is pretty much the same as the first, the Audioforge 'Parametric' equalizer I describe in the review and video makes the sound one of the best I've ever heard. Note that this equalization does not attempt to make the headphone sound fundamentally different or more 'hi-fi' - the goal here was twofold: Relieve the 'constricted' sound effect that many reviewers describe, and push the midrange down some to lessen the hollow effect. http://www.hifiheadp...one-review.html

This is my all-time favorite headphone amp (sans DAC). Runs 100 hours on a charge, and the rechargeable batteries are common AA NiMH cells. And it sounds very good. http://www.hifiheadphones.co.uk/forum/headphone-reviews/4011-electric-avenues-pa2v2-2-headphone-amp-review.html

This is Beyerdynamic's OEM of the AK10 - it definitely offers more detail than any standard headphone amp I have, including the $375 USD Decware Zen Head. http://www.hifiheadphones.co.uk/forum/headphone-reviews/4010-beyerdynamic-a200p-dac-headphone-amp-review.html

Someone recommended this Focal Spirit Pro to me, so I bought it and was amazed by the sound. I was very reluctant to purchase a headphone that was associated with or designed by Paul Barton because of the references I'd read about making the headphones "sound like speakers". Well, I don't think this Spirit Pro sounds like speakers, but it does sound amazingly good. http://www.hifiheadphones.co.uk/forum/headphone-reviews/3996-focal-spirit-pro-stereo-headphone-review.html

This is my review of a really nice portable (but open-back) headphone by Yamaha, and while the review hits all the critical points in a way that might read as negative, I really like it because it has an excellent sound and is very light and comfortable to wear. http://www.hifiheadphones.co.uk/forum/headphone-reviews/3994-yamaha-200bl-stereo-headphone-review.html

Here's my review of the venerable HM5 from Brainwavz. For $130 USD you wouldn't expect perfection, but it's darn close and with a slight tweak - perfect. http://www.hifiheadphones.co.uk/forum/headphone-reviews/3991-brainwavz-hm5-stereo-headphone-review.html

My review of the Yamaha MT220 - I got a hot tip on this headphone which is moderately priced, but sounds like £400 or $500 depending on which side of the Pond you reside. http://www.hifiheadphones.co.uk/forum/headphone-reviews/3978-yamaha-mt220-stereo-headphone-review.html

This is a low-cost headphone I got in a recent swap, and it surprised me with the best fidelity-per-dollar ratio I've experienced in a long time. If you like a bass that's not only warm (but not excessive) but has real weight in the lower registers, here's a headphone that does that while delivering a clean, uncolored, and detailed midrange and treble. http://www.hifiheadphones.co.uk/forum/headphone-reviews/3977-aiaiai-tma-1x-stereo-headphone-review.html

It will take time for information on Pandora, but it might never happen because it's not a big brand and also expensive.

I wish I had the original oval pads for the DT-48, and then I could make a fair comparison. As it is, both are good for detail, but the Pandora is easier to EQ.

Here's a new headphone I purchased, which has incredibly good sound, and an unusual Balanced Armature device in with the driver. http://www.hifiheadphones.co.uk/forum/headphone-reviews/3976-final-audio-design-pandora-vi-stereo-headphone-balanced-armature-feature.html

Here's my review of a new Phiaton headphone - very different from the MS-300 and MS-400 headphones I had previously. This new MS-430 looks like several other on-ear headphones I have or had, although the build looks very good and the comfort is excellent. Unfortunately, the first sample I purchased from Amazon had a defective cable (tried the cable in either earcup as well as with different headphones), and when I replaced the cable with a fully generic cable with standard 3.5 mm miniplugs on both ends, it worked only for a few hours and then one earcup dropped quite a bit in volume. I tried everything possible to isolate the issue, and it came down to the headphone itself. The replacement eventually arrived and it seems to work OK, and what's even better - it sounds the same as the first MS-430 as it came out of the box. http://www.hifiheadphones.co.uk/forum/headphone-reviews/3941-phiaton-fusion-ms430-stereo-headphone-review.html

Here's a great little headphone that sounds way better than you'd ever expect for the size and price: http://www.hifiheadphones.co.uk/forum/headphone-reviews/3930-harman-kardon-soho-stereo-headphone-review.html

This headphone was a real find even though it's been around for a couple of years. My original review compared it to several headphones that I've come to realize are a little bright and slightly bass-shy. My current evaluation of the V80 (same as M80 internally) is that it's the most perfectly balanced headphone I've heard in nearly two years. Not saying that the perfect balance extends to all of its sonic qualities, but those other qualities still very good, and way better than what I expected given the price. The comfort is highly dependent on bending the headband (easy to do) to get the perfect on-ear fit. http://www.hifiheadphones.co.uk/forum/headphone-reviews/3920-v-moda-v80-m80-stereo-headphone-review.html

I got quite a shock when I first played this new Monitor 'FX' headphone and the treble was essentially missing. It did come back for the most part after removing two different screens and using some EQ: http://www.hifiheadphones.co.uk/forum/headphone-reviews/3897-marshall-monitor-fx-stereo-headphone-review.html

Here's an interesting new headphone from Beyerdynamic - apparently replacing the older T50p, and sporting the new soft earpads that seal better for improved bass. This is a close cousin of the DT1350 physically, but very different sonically. http://www.hifiheadphones.co.uk/forum/headphone-reviews/3892-beyerdynamic-t51p-stereo-headphone-review.html

My review of the excellent Thinksound 'On1' wood-cup headphone: http://www.hifiheadphones.co.uk/forum/headphone-reviews/3885-thinksound-on1-stereo-headphone-review.html