dalethorn

My short review - returning for refund today. http://www.hifiheadphones.co.uk/forum/head...ini-review.html

Here is someone who reviewed everything: http://www.head-fi.org/t/478568/multi-iem-...-added-09-19-12

I revised my review to include a note about using the Earpods in bed, where I expect they would be used frequently. In that case bass is reduced due to the 90 degree change of listening angle, and the looseness of fit that's inherent in the Earpods' design. So when using the Earpods in bed I turn bass reduction off to get a more natural sound. I also added a music track example by Jennifer Warnes that perfectly illustrates the Earpods' bass emphasis, and how good the bass reproduction is when bass reduction is turned on.

For the updated review a fan of the Shure 1840 suggested the Jennifer Warnes track, and while Easy Listening is not my usual forte, this music does provide some excellent sonics for headphone enjoyment.

I can't use ear canal type.

Actually the latest reviews have really shown the differences to me. The quality of the bass in the Earpods is amazingly good, if you like it the way it is, or reduce it, whatever. But the problem comes in with the highs. Most of my recent headphones have a soft highs, like the v-moda M80, the Amperior, ATH M50 etc. The Soundmagic HP100 has stronger highs, which I think are really good and not irritating. But the Earpods' highs are also strong, plus they have an extra emphasis around 4 khz that can make vocals irritating or strident, making me keep the volume down a little. It's not really bad, but it makes the Earpods not as good as (for one example) the Beyer DTX501p, and certainly not as good as the v-moda M80. But the v-moda M80 has bass as good as the Earpods, while the Beyer isn't quite that good. Close enough I think, but the Earpods do make good competition under $100, and if you don't reduce the bass, the 4 khz emphasis isn't as noticeable either. So it's OK for $29 I think.

Well, the very least thing Apple could do for their credibility is put two decent neutral headphones on display. Currently they have none on display in their stores.

Here's my full review and video for the new Earpods, which are potentially quite good if you make certain accomodations: http://www.hifiheadphones.co.uk/forum/head...w.html#post5752

My text and video review of the new SoundMagic HP100 (very impressive sound): http://www.hifiheadphones.co.uk/forum/head...ull-review.html

All of our analog headphone amps are no longer LOD-compatible, and none of the digital amps will work except for those specifically licensed by Apple. I work in the software business, and removing an important feature (or heck, any useful feature) from a product that has a user base is a huge no-no.

What Apple forgot to mention: http://news.cnet.com/8301-31322_3-57511687...kid-yourselves/

I revised the review and now I can recommend the DTX501p for having a better musical midrange than my other small on-ears.

Good suggestion anyway, thanks.

Amazon has no reviews, and WhatHiFi gave 4 stars for "bottom heavy" and treble shyness. I'd say it's not even close to Shure 1840 quality. Even Headfi has nothing on it. Do you know of any reviews?

My wife just did a run-through of my headphones in a comparison to her beloved B&W P5. She didn't like anything I had until she listened to the Shure 1840, which she loved. But she wants a very compact portable, preferably closed and small like the P5, but with much better sound. Is such a thing available at any price? She did not like the v-moda M80 for example. Price is no object, but has to be small, not stick out like a Martian helmet, and sound really top notch - very hi-fi, but not bright.

I did a full review anyway, with video: http://www.hifiheadphones.co.uk/forum/head...w.html#post5684

When I switch from ipod/iphone to the Pa2v2, the soundstage gets bigger very noticeably, no matter what headphone I'm using. That doesn't happen with the O2. It happens a little bit with the mini-DACs like the Headstreamer, but moreso with the Pa2v2. It would be good to compare a Pa2v2 with the O2.

I got the DTX501p yesterday, gave it a 6-hour burn-in and another 2 hours of walkaround listening. I was hoping Beyer would improve on the DTX300p which was very fragile, and which had a very lightweight sound. The DTX501p doesn't have the fragile hinges, so it could prove durable if not abused. The sound is another matter. Although half the price of a v-moda M80, it's not 80 percent of the sound for half the price. It's 1/4 the sound for 1/2 the price. There's actually no comparison to the M80 sound. Compared to the $50 USD Sennheiser white PX200ii, both played flat, the Beyer sounds boomy and dull. Using 'Rock' EQ with the Senn (which moves its sound about halfway toward high fidelity), the Beyer now sounds very boomy and very dull in comparison. Boosting the treble on the Beyer, it now sounds only moderately boomy and dull compared to the EQ'd Senn. With treble boosted on the Beyer and running from the PA2V2 headphone amp, it becomes tolerable for most non-demanding music. Given that the DTX501p is a very light plastic headphone made to be used with portable music players without additional amplification, I think the sound for the price is not a good deal.

I don't have the O2 any more, but I never heard the O2 make such a big improvement in the sound of any headphone as the PA2V2 did.

Here's a text and video review of this tiny amp: http://www.hifiheadphones.co.uk/forum/head...-v2-review.html

Why hi-fi is complicated: Comparing the $350 USD Amperior to the $700 Shure 1840, the Amperior has the obvious weight or emphasis in the lower midrange, whereas the 1840 is light enough there to have an almost hollow quality (not really hollow, just by comparison). But while the 1840 has an obvious advantage in soundstage (yes?), the Amperior may sound "bigger" because of the extra weight in the lower mids. I was playing Hazel O'Connor's "Will You", which highlights those differences pretty well. This experiment suggests to me that comparing headphones on soundstage may not be so straightforward as some reviews indicate.

I found the following quote on the PC Advisor U.K. site. My first impression of the headphone was something like this, but PC Advisor's words express that impression more eloquently than mine, so I thought I'd repeat it here. "...It's as if the Amperior adds extra emphasis between each layer of sound it delivers..."

Here's the full text review and the youtube link: http://www.hifiheadphones.co.uk/forum/head...one-review.html

Yes, I think the sound improved much over the HD25 series.

Not so much. The bass is really good and it's not veiled.