"Designed to perform closely to Harman"?

Like the DT 990 pro and the 1770 pro and the HEDDphone or the Neumann NDH20/30? Because they are so close to Harman, right???

Pro headphones have nothing to do with Harman compliance. They all follow a different "target", which depends on the whim of the engineers.

I think you've missed something in your analysis: Headphones, which actually adhere to the Harman target are few and far between.

It sounds to me as though you give to much credit to "pro" audio manufacturers.

2W should be enough for around 106dB peak with a Susvara, so maybe give this amp a look. It measures surprisingly well for a tube amp, I must say.

You know that "professional gear" means nothing, right?

Like the DT 1990 PRO and audeze LCD X are both marketed for "professional use" and have nothing in common with each other and nothing in commong with a "pro" staple like the MDR 7506.

I hope you understand that thats just a buzz word to target a specifc audience, like gaming for example.

You could just as well use a Hifiman Susvara in the studio, if you so desired :)

You know that for 485 USD you could just as well get a tube headphone amp, right?

>so much more air like the notes pop out of a black hole and yet the notes have more body too, more resonance, they're rich and fun instead of thin and analytical.

THIS MEANS LITERALLY NOTHING...

I too can describe sound in a fancy way that means fuck all :)

OP could have just as well described the sound as "Refreshingly esoteric, with a tinch of quantized energy, which bubbles to the surface of a quiet sea, amidst the fog of clarity, bursting into colorfoul spectrums and thus enltightening my ears"

Do you not see how OPs description is a meaningless mumbo jumbo of nonsense????

I will :)

Especially if they use fancy and absurd analogies to describe the sound :)

Tubes may add distortion. Good tube amps can be as "clean" as good solid state amps tho.

High output impedance, which tube amps usually have, can change the sound of variable impedance headphones.

You know that... Right???

So he wasted 2k on tubes, when EQ could have done the trick?

lmao

Sounds like Placebo to me.

Watch this video by Crinacle. He explains everything about gaming headphones you need to know.

Have you tried google yet?

Also: Rule 2

Condescending much?

1Vrms into 30 ohm is 33mW. Thus you get +15dB on top of the rated efficiency of 111dB/mW, netting you a whopping 126dB which will be PAINFUL.

The other one has its sensitivity given as 117dB/Vrms. So 1Vrms of output voltage will give you exactly 117dB

126dB > 117dB which is why one is louder than the other.

Both is more than enough to lose your hearing btw....

So, if 117dB peak aint enough for you, schedule an appointment with a doctor and check your hearing.

Ive seen this meme a million times already.

Well, you have a different bass preference then. I need the Harman shelf in my life and thus I need EQ for open backs.

You mean flat raw? Like a straight line without any compensation?

Yea, he overlays BK FR measurements on top of Gras FR measuremenst to prove that they are different?

We all know that... The BK having more accurate measurements is the entire point of its existence!

We also know that the old Harman target is NOT applicable to the new BK 5128 rig.

If you want to learn more, I highly recommend this video by Resolve from the headphone show the subsequent Q&A he did on the topic might also prove useful to further understand what he is talking about :)

Who the heck is Dale Cotton?

Sorry, but I wont bother reading a 20 page document by someone who has no credentials, so I simply skipped to the last page.

Sounds to me, like this guy just wasted an enitre afternoon writing a document only to express that he dislikes the 5128. Not very productive, is it?

Forward vocals and a wide soundstage sounds like on oxymoron to me.

The bluesound node DAC only has about 87dB SINAD. I think that's good enough, honestly. ASR does not though and recommends adding a DAC to boost performance. Even something like a schiit Magni should do the trick.

Without EQ there would not be a single open back that provides the bass shelf I like, with correct mids and treble, i.e. there aint not Harman tuned open back!

Well, there is the DCA Expanse, but 4700€ for the privilege do not have to use EQ? Nah, I think I am good :)

His ranking does not take EQ into account and is only based on his preference, so unless your preferences align with his: No.

Generally, if you have literally NO IDEA what you are doing, it aint a bad place to get ideas as to what it is you want to TRY. And I say try, because buying blind leads to regrets more often than not.

You need to find out what kinda sound works for you and what kinda headphones are comfortable for you to wear. Don't buy the first one that sounds good to you either, try a bunch to confirm whether or not thats really the best one for you.

Ayo, happens to the best :)

I think you replied to the wrong person :D

I did not make the switch to STAX. And I found it quite easy to go back, since they were not anything special :)

You like the bass on these? I found the early roll off to be quite disappointing. Since the front volume aint sealed, bass rolls off at 50Hz and the roll of is rather steep.

Blue tack can fix that, but I could hardly modify a store demo.

I found even the Sundaras and Anandas bass to be better due to proper extension. I would have thought that the Arya was similar in that regard.

Thanks, mate :)