HiWire

I was going to rant about vinyl but then I thought I might hurt someone's feelings.

Ars Technica just published a salutary article on studio efforts to improve the sound quality of iTunes and other digital tracks. http://arstechnica.c...he-ipod-age.ars I'm glad there's good news about digital, for once. There are still many technical limitations, e.g., the iPhone still has much less storage space at 64GB than the iPod Classic at 160GB. Each portable can only hold a small slice of a decent music library encoded at low compression or in lossless format – never mind high-resolution files. There's also the tradeoff between battery life, device size and price. The HiFiMAN HM-602, for example, only has 8GB. You're really sacrificing capacity for quality there (and I don't particularly want to pick on HiFiMAN, because they sell to the audiophile community). I'm still using a Sony Discman because it has the mix of battery life, portability, and sound quality that I'm looking for. I've got an iPod Shuffle 4G hooked up to Klipsch S4i to take everywhere, but there's always a compromise. I can't afford and dislike digital music library software and hardware. It is rarely as convenient as promised and that is one of the reasons why people are returning to vinyl (beyond its realization as a hipster fad).

Happy Birthday!

Happy Birthday!

I'd like to see a comparison between the Grado PS-1, the PS-500, and the Symphones Magnum (whichever version is current). The HP-1000 is very neutral in absolute terms, but people accustomed to other cans' characteristic sounds may think differently.

The Grado SR-60 / Alessandro MS-1 would also be a giant leap for studentkind.

That's a fantastic collection, Tyll. Enjoy the music.

Girl Talk - All Day St. Vincent - Strange Mercy Ultimate Hall & Oates

The Symphones Magnums are also competitors at this price point.

Didn't John mention hating the manufacture of the HP-1000 (in the long Head-Fi interview)? If the PS500 sounds anything like the PS-1 or the HP-1000, I might be interested... I need a backup for my HP-2. The Alessandro MS-Pro is also in the running, especially because of its light weight.

I guess they'll weigh about the same as a pair of SR325i, which makes them less attractive to me... unless they sound like the PS-1. Early review here: http://www.positive-...sue57/grado.htm It took Grado a while, but they've learned something from their HF-1 and HF-2 sales... comparing them to Ultrasones and using the Grado amp is kind of a joke, though.

I was hoping for fake boobs, or toobs, at least.

Toobs are magic, like the Virginity Fairy. I am the Re-Animator of headphones.

Yes, you forgot the Underpants Gnomes, but everything else is correct. The pristine Antarctic sound (like virgin snow, but more so) is then beamed instantaneously through the Mirror Universe, warped through flatwire spacetime and unfolded to erupt in glorious goatee musical 3D-form vision for our listening enjoyment. Toobs can only make this better.

I've heard the K701 and the GS-1, but not together. People have implied that it would be a clinical experience, kind of like a prostate exam. Are you guys saying a euphonic (not Ebonics) source would elevate the K702 to a decent level of warm fuzziness, like a Furry convention? A decent set of NADs, Wadia or Naim could do the trick... maybe even a Meridian.

That's what she said.

Dual entry sounds like something professionals and talented amateurs would try after a few drinks or a lot of cash. The GS-X probably would sound good with K702s. It's easy that way, like my sister, but not cheap.

True - why won't anyone make an amp with a flux capacitor for the AKG K700-series? The only other option is to go nuclear - Mr. Fusion can't come soon enough. Also, I enjoyed a toob job from an Audio Research CD5. Once.

For the purposes of scientific discovery, I am tempted to acquire a set of K702 to hear if you can get blood from a stone. The K701 that I have heard at meets are strangely resistant to presenting a lifelike sound. I know that these cans have many (deluded) proponents, but, like Luke Skywalker and Leia Organa, I trust my feelings. Is anyone running a K701 or K702 out of a beating valve-based system? I wonder if the only way to get a lame duck to fly is to feed it sweet, sweet harmonic distortion. TL;DR - curious headphone cat is curious

Great review of these closed headphones, Tyll. I was looking for exactly this kind of can for years, but I ended up with the Alessandro MS-1 (no regrets) because of the compromises in various products. There are so many posts asking (with different wordings): "what is the best closed portable headphone for me?" online, including this forum. Sennheiser, Audio-Technica, AKG, Beyerdynamic, etc. (this is before Shure and Denon came out with their new cans) all failed to meet my standards when I was shopping around. I wasn't a fan of IEMs (many people have an aversion to this style of headphone), although I did get a pair of Klipsch S4i for my iPod Shuffle 3G this Spring. They don't have the kind of isolation that IEMs or this set of Beyerdynamics provide, though. One small thing I would like to mention: please put the headphones on your head on all your video reviews (e.g. your excellent AKG Q701 review). It's important to know what the cans look like on the noggin - we're all familiar with them "off-head" from various website photos. You did a fantastic job of modelling the DT 1350 this way. I wouldn't be a Head-Caser if I didn't ask this: does the character of the DT 1350 change with amplification at all? I find most portable-style headphones are amplifier-agnostic (as long as gain is set at reasonable levels), but somebody is guaranteed to plug this into one of those portable headphone amplifiers...

At $1,250 plus shipping, I think I'll stick with the original drivers.

I am interested in the HP1000 UpGrado.

She may have blinded us with science, but there's nothing wrong with Tyll's hearing... or his measurements.

I just got these from a computer store for about $90. Since I got my iPod Shuffle 3G (4GB) last year, I've been looking for a reasonable upgrade from the stock iBuds. The Klipsch X10i were about $280 in the same store, which was tempting, but I thought the S4i were more appropriate considering my "active" lifestyle and my use of lossy compression. It also seemed freakish to buy headphones three times more expensive than the humble Shuffle. I plan to burn these in at a lower volume and gradually ramp up to normal levels. I rip tracks at 320 Kbps AAC using iTunes, which may not be the audiophile's preferred method, but it works for me. As a reference, I compare the sound of these beauties to my Alessandro MS-1 and Grado HP-2. My first test album is Olivia Ong's self-titled SACD Olivia, which should be a fairly gentle bossa nova start (it comes in a pink envelope). All of the tracks include Olivia Ong's talented vocals, saxophone, synthesized beats, and an occasional harp. Next up is DJ Tiësto's In Search of Sunrise compilation. This is good news - the bass doesn't overwhelm the rest of the music and I'm more excited than I've ever been to hear this album. Probably because I can move about while I enjoy the music [dance break - imagine Strong Bad, The Cheat, and Homestar Runner having an old-school rave party]. Rhythm and pace are quick, without any hint of boominess or fake reverb. The Beastie Boys' Ill Communication was my third test album. My ears are starting to get sore, so I don't think I'll be able to test too many more albums tonight. Since this album is mainly instrumental, I wanted to see how it captured ambiance - that wonderful sense of flow and spontaneity in the Beastie Boys' earlier albums. Well enough, I think. I ended up listening to the album twice. Alice in Chains' Jar of Flies EP is last in the queue. The Klipsch phones do a great job of conveying the energy in Cantrell and company's guitar playing, but Staley's vocals and the acoustics are still a bit hollow-sounding. I guess it's going to take a while for the drivers to settle. In the last few days, I've listened to the following albums: Michael Bublé – Michael Bublé Blue Lines – Massive Attack Tainted Love: Mating Calls and Fight Songs – Shivaree Love Tattoo – Imelda May Jar of Flies – Alice in Chains One of These Nights – Eagles Downward Spiral – Nine Inch Nails Light Years – Kylie Minogue Dutty Rock – Sean Paul Positive – The Grassy Knoll Hit & Run Holiday – My Life with the Thrill Kill Kult A Grand Don't Come for Free – The Streets Smoker's Delight – Nightmares On Wax The Dark Side of the Moon – Pink Floyd Piece of Paradise – Sky Hello Nasty – Beastie Boys Endtroducing – DJ Shadow Sir Lucious Left Foot – Big Boi It's Time – Michael Bublé Discosis – Bran Van 3000 The Tension and the Spark – Darren Hayes Mezzanine – Massive Attack Need for Speed: Underground Soundtrack – Various Artists The Cream of Clapton – Eric Clapton Pretty In Black – The Raveonettes Marry Me – St. Vincent Sap – Alice in Chains Supernature – Goldfrapp The Score – Fugees My Way – Usher Tales of the Inexpressible – Shpongle At low volume, sound quality is similar to the stock iBuds'. I can tell that the highs are well-defined, but bass and a rich midrange have yet to kick in. The overall sound is a bit "plasticky," which doesn't worry me, since most dynamic headphones sound a bit like this fresh out of the box. I noticed that these canalbuds aren't particularly loud – I normally play music at about three bars out of my MacBook to the Alessandros and the Klipsch don't sound close until about five bars. I've noticed the Shuffle's battery drains more quickly as a consequence. After about a week and a half of listening, the sound has finally changed. This morning, the midrange finally started to come in. Anybody who doesn't believe in burn-in needs to try these canalbuds. I was secretly thinking about exchanging them until this morning. They're still a bit bright in presentation, but music is more enjoyable now – voices and instruments sound more natural. Soundstage isn't much to write home about – stereo effects are good, but I don't think these things present a three-dimensional image or anything. Using the regular tips, the S4i seem to have about 10-20 dB isolation, with no significant microphonic problems from the cables - I'm wearing them in "Sport Fit," with the cables going over and behind my ears. The tips don't go very far into my ears, just starting into the opening. Comfort is excellent so far. By the second album, I am feeling the slight pressure of the silicone tips a bit. Switching to the small tips, comfort is improved and sound remains the same. I can listen all day if I don't fiddle with the fit. The cables are fairly thin, using about the same gauge as the stock iBuds and a rubber jacket rather than the fabric-style coverings of more upmarket products. Fit and finish of the 'phones and 3-button remote is excellent - I'll have to be careful to protect them from my accustomed iBud abuse (the iBud cables are grayish and the rubber comfort rings around the buds tore off completely after a year of gentle use). 3 Week Update I'm listening to my Alessandro MS-1 and it is a truly superior experience. The Klipsch are great for convenience and they are comfortable for wearing over long periods, but they pale in comparison to a set of Alessandros coming out of a PCDP. The Alessandros have a richness, dynamism, and bass presence that are completely absent in the Klipsch buds. I'm hearing details and acoustic cues that simply disappear from the tiny buds' output... it's not a fair comparison, as I'm driving the Alessandros with a gumstick battery that is the same size as the entire iPod Shuffle, but it's nice to have choices. I bought some new music recently and I guess I'm going to enjoy the "new album" experience all over again on a real CD player. 3 Year Update One thing that I discovered recently – the double-flange oval tips change the character of the S4i's sound. There is less sibilance, less harshness, and more isolation (obviously) if you use the double-flange tips. Soundstage and imaging are about the same. You have to turn the volume up as well... the music is travelling down a slightly longer distance through the tips (versus the single-flange), which is the main contributor to the change. I recommend using the double-flange tips over the singles. They are a bit less comfortable because they go further down your ear canal, but you will get better sound for the same money, provided you can get them in your size. Otherwise, the S4i sounds about the same after 3 years. The S4i conveys compressed music in a pleasing way, but it lacks the fluidity and involvement of higher-end headphones like the Grados. For example, I was listening to the Zenph binaural re-recording of Glenn Gould's Goldberg Variations and the treble notes of the piano sounded slightly artificial (although it was recorded on a new piano with new equipment). Also, they've help up fairly well – the middle button (Pause/FFWD/REW) on the controller doesn't work reliably because it got soaked in a downpour, but it is in excellent condition after years of daily use.

The Grado HP-1000's are great for checking tonality and things like timing and pitch, but they're only so-so for 3-D aural imaging.