Elephas, i agree that everyone might have a certain viewpoint, but it seems that the "darker" tonality of the O2s seems to bother you for some reason. When you say "darker" in tonality, do you feel that the O2s do not have that "Wow", "High-Fi-ish" sound that is in so many audio products today? Does the "darker" tonality of the O2s make your music seem muffled, less detailed, or less involving to you compared to other phones, such as the HE-90 and the Jade you've been listening to recently?
I dont understand how the O2s seem dark, as they imo, do not have any lack of detail compared to the other phones you metioned. Imo, darkness seems to be caused by the lack of detail in a headphone, which often results in a smoother(as opposed to etch), more "laid back"(less in your face) sound. Isn't this the reason why people often associate "analytical", "treble" oriented gear with one that has more detail? As opposed to gear that is "warmer", "darker" as gear that has less emphasis on treble energy?
The O2s in my opinion, may be "darker" compared to other phones you listed, but seems to have just as much detail. This incredible feat allows the listener to enjoy incredible detail without the usual bad side effects such as etch, excessive sibilance, and an unfocused "head-stage", just to name a few.
Warmth or darkness to me, is the key to providing a foundation for a perfect setting or "soundstage" for which music can flow and create images. When you have warmth, smoothness, "a more relaxed tone", then the soundstage becomes more focused. Why? Because there is now more space within the soundstage for music to flow. No matter what many say, obviously the sound that you hear will always "literally" be coming from the drivers that are positioned very close to you ear, as far as headphones are concerned. But what many people dont realize is that within the small space of the drivers and your ear, the headphones need to create a certain space, and infuse that space with details that creates the overall sonic image.
Im just using the HE-90 as an example, but people may say "well the O2s soundstage is not nearly as expansive as the HE-90." Thats true, but only to an extent.
The HE-90s have too much treble energy or some would say "bright" imo, and while this may cause the sound to project literally and actually farther compared to the O2s, it causes the soundstage or "overall sonic picture" to become less focused, because the space which music can flow is now less. Hence the terms "Upfront"(which we associate with detail, aggressive, ect.) vs "laid back(which we associate with less detail, smooth, ect.)"
Note the two words i bolded. Upfront(closer, less space) Laid back(farther, more space)
Dont most of us agree that headphones are just an illusion? These transducers that we put on our heads convey the performances and recordings that are not actually there in front of us when we listen to them. Creating the sonic image is a definately something that has many element. But in the small space between our ears and the drivers, we need to create a picture that has focus, depth, width, details, ect., ect., within that space.
This is why actually projecting the sound farther(excessive treble energy) is absolutely useless as this causes the sound to literally be more expansive but less focused because there is now less space to infuse with all of the frequencies of the music.
Width within the soundstage, not actual width
Depth within the soundstage, not actual depth.
Ect., Ect.
Now dont get me wrong, average transducers can be bright and lack soundstage, or be dark and lack details.
But the He-90 may be brighter(not lacking detail, but is still controlled enough to create an only slightly diffused soundstage)
While the O2s may be darker(but still able to provide exceptional detail within an smaller but extremely focused non-diffused soundstage.)
Now Elephas, with these exceptional phones(He-90s, O2s, Jades, R10s, ect.), i see that one can perhaps choose based on preference, because these extremely high end phones are able to go against normal sound trends and provide the best of all worlds, without sacraficing any important part of the sonic image
Ex. (Dark and smooth, but with detail) or (Bright, but smooth and controlled)
But i just did not quite understand what your thoughts exactly were when you describe the O2s as being "dark" I would love to hear your explanation as to why you describe them that way.
Whatever the reason, i hope you enjoy whichever phone you like the best. Thats what really matters in everything anyways.
Vincent