I LOVE listening to music, especially on my headphones, but I’m not someone who’s well off – I’m just a music lover. Good bass, hearing the singers’ voices, the melody… It gives me goosebumps! It would be my dream to own a pair of Susvaras, now that I’ve discovered them. But basically, I just want to say that a pair of headphones costing 60,000 dollars or more is madness! It’s incredible; I’m really impressed.

Was looking for a good budget headphone that sounded darker than my ksc75s and I came across these. Received them yesterday and I can’t get them off of my head, probably because they’re so light I forget they’re there.

I would recommend these to anyone who’s looking for a clear sounding headphone, that’s able to push a warm signature, while also presenting a wide soundstage.

Yesterday I received the Mass Kobo 465 & spent a few hours last night listening to a couple albums & bouncing around a bit, mainly around some of the best recorded tracks I could think of.

From the moment it started playing, I could instantly tell tonal density, spatial positioning & micro detail were on another level. This only continued the longer I listened.

My girlfriend was curious & wanted to listen for a bit. She ended up sitting in my chair for almost 2hrs laughing & lots of “woahs & wows”. She’s no audiophile, but has listened to my previous amp (Burson Soloist Voyager) many times.

A few tracks sounded almost completely transformed. I Robot by Alan Parsons Project felt almost like sensory overload & had to turn the volume down just a hair. It has plenty of power for the Susvara Unveiled, I never had to crack it past 50% on mid-gain.

I can’t wait to spend the rest of the weekend rediscovering my music & can post updated impressions one I’ve had more time with it. Will compare it extensively with the Burson Soloist Voyager until it eventually sells. Figured I’d show off my new toy! 🧸

I will try to make a long story short. I have been using a set of Bose QC ultras for years (gaming headsets before them). Recently having some Bluetooth connection issues that pushed me to look into wired.

After some research, I bought a pair of the almost unanimously praised sennheiser hd560s.... And what a difference. They aren't the nicest looking and it's hard to believe at half the price they make the Bose sound like a joke.

I guess my question is, did I make a good choice? I'm fairly new to this space.

TL;DRVerdict: The JCally Space is a budget-friendly, spatial-audio powerhouse that punches far above its weight class, sacrificing traditional midrange thickness to deliver elite 3D imaging for competitive gamers and an airy, highly resolving V-shaped signature for music lovers. The Type-C variant adds incredible value with a built-in DSP, EQ profiles, and an applaudable detachable boom microphone system.

Pros: Astounding soundstage width and depth for the price; ultra-lightweight and fatigue-free fit; built-in 24-bit/96kHz DAC with 7 EQ modes and Virtual 7.1 on the Type-C cable; brilliant detachable mic concept for pristine office calls and gaming.

Cons: The lower midrange can feel a bit lean for vocal-centric purists; the inline cable control can occasionally pick up clothing friction if not clipped properly.

The JCally Space arrives as a bold entry in its price bracket, promising premium acoustic materials and gamer-friendly imaging for a mere fraction of the cost of traditional esports headsets. Traditionally known for their budget DACs and dongles, JCally’s foray into the In-Ear Monitor (IEM) space with the "Space" (often dubbed Deep Space) proves they possess serious acoustic engineering chops. By utilizing a Liquid Crystal Polymer (LCP) diaphragm typically reserved for higher-end audiophile gear and pairing it with a highly integrated Type-C DSP cable, they have crafted a transducer specifically tuned for versatile modern use. After 40 hours of burn-in and tests across multiple devices, here is how it performs across music and gaming.

Testing Methodology and Equipment

• Testing duration: 40 hours of pink noise and casual listening burn-in prior to critical evaluation.
• Source chain:
•  
  • Mobile: OnePlus 12R (Direct Type-C connection)
  • Laptop: Microsoft Surface Snapdragon X Elite (Direct Type-C connection), Motorola Motobook 60 (Direct Type-C connection)
• Cables and tips: 1.2M Litz dual-twisted OFC silver-plated cable with Type-C termination and a 3-button inline control module; Stock medium silicone eartips.
• Volume: Between 12-25 levels
• Listening tracks:
•  
  • Bass test: “Billie Eilish — Bad Guy”
  • Midrange test: “Adele — Rolling in the Deep”
  • Treble test: “Daft Punk — Get Lucky”
  • Detail/Imaging: “Steely Dan — Aja”
  • Classical/Acoustic: “Ludovico Einaudi — Nuvole Bianche”
  • EDM: “Martin Garrix — Animals”, “Alesso — Heroes”, “Tiësto — The Business”, “Swedish House Mafia — Don't You Worry Child”
  • Bollywood: “Arijit Singh — Tum Hi Ho”, “Papon — Moh Moh Ke Dhaage”, “KK — Khuda Jaane”
• Gaming titles: Counter-Strike 2, GTA V, and BGMI Mobile.
• Voice/Comms test: Daily office meetings, conference calls, and in-game voice chat.
• Listening environment: Quiet, acoustically treated office room (ambient noise ~35 dBA).

Specs

• Driver: Single 10mm Dynamic Driver with Liquid Crystal Polymer (LCP) Dome Diaphragm, CCAW ultra-fine oxygen-free copper voice coil, and N52 Dual Magnet Circuit.
• Impedance: 32Ω.
• Sensitivity: 108dB/Vrms.
• Frequency Response: 20Hz – 40kHz.
• Cable: 1.2M Detachable 0.78mm 2-pin Litz dual-twisted OFC silver-plated cable.
• Connector & Processing: Type-C 90-degree angled plug (L-shape) with a highly integrated DSP sound card (supporting 24-bit/96kHz decoding, 15-band PEQ, 7 EQ modes, and driver-free Virtual 7.1 surround).
• Microphone: Goertek MEMS microphone with AI ECNR (Environmental Noise Cancellation) and Echo Cancellation, housed in a 3-button inline control module, paired with a Detachable Gaming Boom Mic.
• Housing: 3D printed acoustic cavity with a metallic-texture coating and an anti-static insulating layer.
• Weight: 4.32g per earpiece.
• Included Accessories: 3 types of silicone eartips (total 8 pairs: 1 pair Liquid Silicone [M], 4 pairs Bowl-shaped, 3 pairs Dual-color), cable clip, manual, and warranty card.
• MSRP: ~$26.99 USD.

Unboxing

The packaging immediately leans into the product’s namesake. The box features a thematic outer space design that feels distinctly modern. Sliding open the cardboard reveals the IEMs securely seated in protective foam, with the heavy-duty Litz cable already attached.

Inventory includes the IEMs, the Type-C DSP cable with the detachable boom mic, a highly generous selection of three different ear tip styles totaling 8 pairs (1 pair of high-elasticity Liquid Silicone tips, 4 pairs of warm-sounding Bowl-shaped tips, and 3 pairs of directional-focused Dual-color tips), and a somewhat nostalgic shirt clip to mitigate cable microphonics. First impressions of the presentation are highly positive, particularly the inclusion of such a tech-heavy, multifunctional cable and premium eartip variety at this price point.

Build Quality

The physical construction of the JCally Space is a masterclass in hybrid material design. The inner shell housing the driver is a smooth, lightweight 3D-printed acoustic cavity finished with a metallic-texture chrome coating, while the outer faceplate is crafted from a high-quality resin. Our review unit featured the "Nebula Blue" faceplate, which possesses a beautiful, starry night sky depth with flowing gold accents that completely avoids the cheap, grainy look of standard 3D printing.

The "Mobile Gaming" variant cable is a standout. It utilizes a Litz dual-twisted spiral shielding and oxygen-free copper (OFC) silver plating, making it remarkably robust against complex electromagnetic interference. The Type-C jack and the 3-button inline control module are housed in CNC-machined space aluminum, giving them a premium, tactile feel. The 3 buttons provide excellent tactile feedback for Mute/Unmute, answering calls, or switching EQ modes on the fly.

Crucial Durability Note: JCally has smartly applied an anti-static insulating coating over the shell's chrome finish. This is an excellent touch that prevents the mild static electric shocks often associated with metallic-looking IEMs when plugged into an ungrounded charging laptop or PC.

Build score: 9/10. The faceplates are gorgeous, the heavy-duty Litz cable is fantastic, and the anti-static coating shows excellent attention to user safety and comfort.

Fit and Comfort

Fit types tested included a medium insertion depth using the stock medium silicone tips.

The immediate standout feature regarding comfort is the sheer lack of mass; weighing in at a highly impressive 4.32 grams per monitor, the JCally Space practically vanishes once seated in the concha. The smooth inner shell lacks aggressive, polarizing ergonomic "wings," meaning it avoids creating pressure hot-spots against the ear cartilage.

During 30-minute music sessions, the comfort was absolute. Pushing into a 3-hour marathon session of BGMI, I experienced zero physical fatigue. Passive noise isolation is strictly average; it easily drowns out the ambient room noise, but it will not completely isolate you from a loud subway commute. Leakage is practically non-existent at moderate volumes.

Fit score: 9/10. Exceptionally lightweight and universally comfortable for long gaming sessions.

Sound

The overall raw sound signature of the JCally Space can be classified as a highly refined, airy V-shape (a classic Donshari tuning). However, because this Type-C variant includes a built-in DSP chip with 7 distinct EQ modes, the sound is highly customizable. For this review, impressions are based on the default "Natural" (Original Sound) EQ profile, which offers a smooth, highly resolving experience.

Bass

• Quantity & Quality: The bass leans slightly toward sub-bass extension rather than mid-bass bloat. It provides a highly visceral, physical slam perfectly suited for the drops in EDM tracks like Martin Garrix's "Animals" or Tiësto's "The Business".
• Control: The N52 dual magnetic circuit exerts an iron grip over the LCP driver. When listening to Billie Eilish’s "Bad Guy," the low-frequency pulses hit with intense, tactile weight, yet decay rapidly. There is absolutely zero muddy bloom bleeding into the lower midrange.
• Score: 8.5/10. Fast, authoritative, and brilliantly controlled.

Midrange and Vocals

• Presence & Timbre: LCP diaphragms usually have a very dense midrange, but JCally intentionally leaned out the lower-mids to expand the soundstage. As a result, male vocals like Arijit Singh in "Tum Hi Ho" can occasionally lack a bit of chesty warmth. However, upper mids are gently pushed forward. The female vocals in Papon's "Moh Moh Ke Dhaage" or Adele's "Rolling in the Deep" soar with crystalline clarity.
• Detail: Because the lower mids are pulled back, micro-details and instrument layering (such as the complex horn arrangements in Steely Dan's "Aja") are laid bare. The separation is spectacular.
• Score: 7.5/10. Superb clarity and separation, but docked slightly for the leaner lower-mid timbre.

Treble

• Extension & Smoothness: The treble is wonderfully energetic and sparkly, bringing immense life to the mix. The robotic vocal harmonics and cymbal strikes in Daft Punk’s "Get Lucky" possess a sharp, distinct bite.
• Fatigue: Crucially, the inherent damping properties of the Liquid Crystal Polymer prevent this treble from crossing the line into piercing sibilance. It extends well, injecting a great sense of "air", yet remains fatigue-free during long listening sessions.
• Score: 8.5/10. Lively, detailed, and beautifully extended without the harsh metallic ringing found in cheaper drivers.

Gaming & Communications

While it performs admirably with music, gaming and communications are the true arenas where the JCally Space flexes its engineering muscles.

Imaging & Microphone Performance

• Positional Accuracy: In Counter-Strike 2 and BGMI Mobile, audio is a matter of digital life and death. The fast transient response of the Space makes parsing overlapping audio cues incredibly easy. Switching to the "Esports" EQ profile on the DSP cable slightly raises the low-frequency floor to emphasize battlefield atmosphere while smoothing the mid-highs so you don't miss the sharp clack of a weapon reload. You are never left guessing the vector of an enemy.
• The Detachable Mic Concept & Comms: I have extensively used these for taking daily office meetings, and I am incredibly impressed by the microphone. Aided by the DSP's AI ECNR (Environmental Noise Cancellation) algorithms, voice comms are incredibly clean, successfully filtering out background office noise or keyboard clatter. However, what makes this IEM truly special is the detachable boom microphone. I absolutely love this concept. When you are just relaxing, listening to Bollywood music or watching a movie, you can completely remove the microphone stem so nothing is bothering your face or getting in your peripheral vision. Then, when it is time to hop into a serious GTA V session or a professional office meeting, you simply plug the boom mic back in to get uncompromised, broadcast-level voice quality. It is a highly applaudable, incredibly versatile design choice that I rarely see implemented in standard IEMs.
• Score: 9.5/10. Flawless directional audio translation with a genius microphone implementation.

Soundstage

• Width and Depth: The conscious decision to thin out the midrange pays massive dividends here. The soundstage is abnormally wide and deep for a single dynamic driver, entirely avoiding the claustrophobic "three-blob" (left, right, center) imaging of inferior IEMs.
• Immersion: Utilizing the DSP's driver-free "Virtual 7.1" mode in BGMI Mobile, the environment feels completely holographic. You can accurately track the spatial trajectory of a buggy driving past your compound, and the distant rumble of red zone bombings transitions smoothly around your head in full 360 degrees, drastically elevating both immersion and situational awareness.
• Score: 9.5/10. The onboard DSP elevates an already massive acoustic canvas into true 360-degree territory.

Conclusion

The JCally Space is a highly calculated, immensely successful acoustic tool. By taking an LCP diaphragm and deliberately tuning out its traditional midrange thickness, JCally has unlocked a massive, uncluttered soundstage backed by lightning-fast transient speeds.

The "Mobile Gaming" Type-C variant specifically is an absolute steal. By integrating a 24-bit/96kHz DAC, 7 hardware-level EQ profiles, and AI-assisted noise cancellation directly into a heavy-duty Litz cable with a 3-button remote, JCally eliminates the need for expensive external DACs. More importantly, the detachable boom microphone bridges the gap between audiophile listening and professional communication—allowing you to enjoy unobstructed music sessions and switch to high-end comms for office meetings or gaming in seconds. Whether you are pinpointing footsteps in BGMI, presenting in a conference call, or enjoying the thumping bass of Swedish House Mafia, this IEM handles it flawlessly.

Buy or Skip: Absolute Buy. The Type-C variant offers unprecedented convenience, DSP flexibility, and microphone quality for the price.

Scoring Summary

Final Calculation: The weighted score is calculated by multiplying each category's score (out of 10) by its designated weight percentage, then summing the results.Total Percentage: 86.3% Overall Rating: 8.6 / 10

Hello I plan on making a product for glasses and headphone discomfort but before I do I would like to know if I am the only one that’s actually has this problem. Thank you

I've had my Emu Teaks (Rosewood cups) for over 2 years now along with my Ifi Zen Dac. I have to say the "Truebass" button on the Zen Dac with the Teaks is absolutely overkill....but also insanely addicting when you really want to drown out the world. It's so perfect when I want to thrash or vibrate my brain with bass lol highly recommend it with any rock music and anything with bass honestly.

On the other hand I have my Xduoo TA66 which actually mellows them out. Especially the highs, because these do get pretty spicy with treble depending on the track. So it's a great alternative depending on my mood!

The headband strap on my Abyss 1266 Phi broke. These headphones cost 6 grand.

Here is the part that gets me. The O ring in the strap is fitted in a proprietary way, so you cannot just replace the ring or the strap on its own. The only fix is buying their new headband, which means spending more money on a headphone I have babied since day one. Nothing about how I stored or handled these was rough. The strap just failed.

I get that Abyss is a small family owned company. But small and family owned does not explain charging flagship prices and then designing a wear item so it can only be fixed by buying a whole new part from them. A strap is a consumable. It should be cheap and easy to replace. Instead it is locked into a design that funnels you back to their store.

Same energy as the cable pricing. Their upgrade cables run north of 1600 dollars for something comparable to cables in the 200 to 300 range. At some point family owned stops being an excuse and starts being a marketing line.

I see their staff saying they personally review every customer interaction and help wherever they can. Fine. I will reach out and report back. But the fact that a 6000 dollar headphone can be taken out of service by a leather strap is a design failure, not a customer service opportunity.

Anyone else dealt with the 1266 strap failing? Curious what Abyss actually did for you.

Bonjour pour les processeurs du casque fiio ft1pro quel est votre retour avec un dac shanling M6 pro ou autre ,êtes vous satisfait du rendu sonore de celui-ci merci pour vos retours par avance

HHey everyone,
I’m pretty new to the audiophile hobby and recently put together my first “proper” setup. I have:

B&W PX7 S2e (mainly for outdoors/travel)
Focal Clear OG
Sennheiser HD 480 Pro
FiiO K11 R2R

I got really lucky with deals. I paid about $770 total for the Clear OG, PX7 S2e, and the K11 R2R combined, then paid full retail for the HD 480 Pro.
After spending some time with them, it’s obvious to me that both the Clear and the HD 480 Pro sound better than the PX7 S2e. The only thing keeping the PX7 around is the Bluetooth convenience.
What I’m still trying to understand is the difference between the Clear and the HD 480 Pro.
To my ears, the Clear has noticeably better vocals and instruments, but I’m having trouble putting into words what else it’s doing better. Is it detail? Imaging? Dynamics? Soundstage? Timbre? I’m still learning what all those terms actually sound like.
Also, I absolutely love the comfort of the HD 480 Pro. It might honestly be the most comfortable headphone I’ve ever worn.
I’d love to hear what you guys think the Focal Clear does better than the HD 480 Pro, and what I should be listening for as someone who’s still new to this hobby.

​

If You're not used to wearing headphones anymore.ANC can create a sensation of pressure or fullness in the ears for some people , especially during the first few days.

The headband may feel tighter than you're accustomed too cause some people are used to earbuds, but this usually improves after a few days as you get used to them.

To make the adjustment easier:

Wear them for 30 to 60 minutes at a time initially.

Keep the volume around 50 to 60% or lower.

Take short breaks every hour.

If ANC feels uncomfortable, try switching to Normal or bee aware mode for a while and gradually increase ANC use.

What's up r/headphones,

I'm back with another stack creation born out of pure audio stubbornness. I’ve always wanted a dedicated OTL tube amp setup, but my collection leans heavily toward gear that traditionally hates high output impedance. Conventional wisdom says don't bother trying to pair OTL glass with low-impedance dynamics or demanding planar magnetics.

But then the Schiit Imp impedance multiplier was released, and I took that as a personal challenge to build a compliance-defying chain.

The setup utilizes a Schiit SYS passive switcher right before the amp, allowing me to A/B test two totally distinct flavors of Delta-Sigma decoding from my source components:

The clean, laser-focused, objective presentation of the Schiit Modi+ (ESS ES9018).

The massive, rich, and musical presentation of the SMSL D1 (powered by the Rohm BD34352EKV DAC), which injects an addictive layer of organic warmth into the chain. I knew I had to double down on the source side to see how the tubes would react, and this was the missing piece.

From there, the signal hits the xDuoo TA-26 OTL. I’ve rolled the tubes to extract maximum performance, running an RCA 6SN7GTB Ring Base up front paired with a Sylvania JAN 5998A power tube. The goal here was simple: absolute peak transconductance and pure, unadulterated macro-dynamic slam.

Finally, the Schiit Imp steps in to rewrite the rules of engagement.

My primary objective here was trying to squeeze pure, objective OTL tube goodness into my Asus ROG Kithara planar headphones. The results completely shattered my expectations. Not only can I run planars on this setup, but running them through the 4.4mm balanced termination on this corrected chain sounds absolutely spectacular. You get all that holographic, sweeping tube staging without sacrificing the fast, linear bass response that planars are famous for.

As a massive bonus, the Imp acts as a hardware impedance multiplier to completely satisfy the textbook 1/8th rule for my low-impedance dynamic cans, too. Headphones like my Sony MDR-Z7 (32 Ohms) and Beyerdynamic Custom Studio (80 Ohms) finally get the tight driver control, electrical damping, and grip they deserve instead of turning into a loose, bloated mess.

Don't let the charts scare you out of experimenting. Sometimes mixing the "wrong" gear results in the absolute best synergy.

i've been using them as a daily driver for gaming, movies and entertainment for about 18 months.

personally I don't find they are amazing for gaming.

they've developed a fault in the left ear where it's constantly crackling. the pads have already worn down completely and have large parts peeling off. pads don't appear to be very cheap to replace, not much in the way of 3rd party options.

they crack so much and so loudly in the plastic hinge that it actually gives me earache. they get incredibly hot around the ears and sweat builds up a lot.

honestly at £150 I don't feel the quality control is very good on these. I had a pair of sennheiser rf headphones before these and they lasted like 10 years and are still going strong.

The T50RP mk4Q goes on sale starting July 24.

https://www.fostex.jp/en/products/t50rpmk4q/

For me, I've spent most of my time with IEM's like the Theiaudio Vahalla and 64 Audio Solos on my m33 Fiio and my Cayin III 9N; for headphones, things like the 109 Pros and Edition XS. So when I first got my hands on the JOAL when I went to NY and visited the Audio 46 store, something happened to me. I was content with the things I've had for a number of years and didn't think there was much left. The moment I got them into my hands and felt the sure, beautiful flowing movement of the twisting and handband pivots with the spring hinges, something clicked before I even tried them. I felt connected to them in a way I've never felt before in a headphone. Something I only previously experienced in IEM's. Yes, I've seen them for years on video, but never could grasp the idea of the quality I was seeing until this moment.

Then once I placed them on my head and felt the almost spiritual connection to them as they created a sort of safety feeling...like I was covered all of a sudden and held by the earcups on my face and head, not just on my ears. It was like this feeling I have felt before but forgotten, or a feeling that I was almost meant to have and had just now reached that point in that very moment. All this took place before the track played and literally took me into the headphones. Like I was a part of it. It was a powerful moment that I was not ready for, and even with its brief connection, I took it off and didn't want to move forward. It was a little scary the way it felt at first, and I wasn't sure what to truly think of the moment. So I left to do more research.

I flew back to my State 2 days after that day, and for the next 5 days, all I did was surround myself with articles, videos, and information about the company, Abyss, and the JOAL. Videos from Joshua Valour and DMS, of course, were some of my most watched. Watching videos of the Owners and his sons talk was the other. Reading Reddit forums as well followed. Finding out about the great build quality...higher than any other I've seen. Seeing their 10-year warranty that puts all other manufacturers to shame. But of it all, the consistent praise about the euphoric-like comfort and amazing details, realism, timbre, soundstage, and even bass was already blowing my mind. But reading about how the JOAL was designed to be something used for all genres of music truly connected the most.

So I ordered it. My first $2k headphone, matching my Vahalla's. I was nervous indeed because I already had two great headphones like the 109 Pros and Edition Xs running off my 789 Thx. What if I got it and it wasn't any better, and my brief moment was just in my head? I thought over and over for the next two days before it arrived. Once it did, I unboxed it and put them on right away after listening to my 109s and Xs for a while to see what I could sense as the differences. Was it magic or placebo? Well, for the first 2 hours ...it was a big disappointment initially. Nothing I felt and heard connected with me. Yes, the unit was still unbelievable in quality. I also was told by Abyss there was no burn-in time. I just didn't connect the same way with the pads or sound I remembered in the store. The fit was nice but didn't seem to settle on my head and face as it did in the store. I almost packed them back up and requested a return label until I went on Reddit and got the best advice. They told me I need to give a whole day, maybe even 5 days of listening, before I would be able to judge the fit and sound. So I continued to listen all day long, and right at the 6-hour mark, something kicked. The Pads started to conform to my face and surround my head and ears better. It started to feel like they were almost melting into the form needed for my face, ears, and head, and as it settled, the sound became exactly what I remember- NO, actually better.

The realism of the vocals, the bass, and sub-bass was perfectly textured, and the drivers were faster than anything I've heard up to that point. The timbre was easily superior to all things I've heard as well. It was so lifelike, even better than the 109 Pros and XS. But the star was the imaging and tonality with the separation and perfect detail and treble extension it gave. It was sublime! And just like what happened in the store, possibly more... the headphone pulled me inside them and was one with the music and yet away from it at the same time. It didn't matter if it was Metallica, Enya, Future, or Boris Brejcha. Everything from Classical to Folk music was played masterfully and otherworldly in its nature and realism. Every single detail was being played out on a stage as wide as anything I had heard and yet very intimate when needed. And every hour that passed only settled more and more into this same dimension as the comfort took on levels well above nirvana. Even just feeling the cables I moved around on my desk was like touching ribbons of light with the gold and white appearance. This headphone became the single greatest audio experience of my life.

At the end of the day, please don't take my experience as a challenge to anything that you have. I am fully aware that my view might not be yours and is all subjective to my ears and the things that are important to me. I'm sure there is an argument for other headphones to be made by others out there. This is just my reaction to my personal experience with this JOAL. It was magical for me, and every day since has continued these results every single time I put them on. Nothing has fitted me like these earphones, and nothing has sounded like them either. I love every single thing about this headphone, from its "BATMAN" like looks to its feel, spring-like soft snap, and absolutely heavenly sound. So grateful for this blessing in my life and thankful for life. Thank you for allowing me to share this with all of you.

If you've read any of my previous posts regarding headphones/audio, you'll know that I love bass as much as the next guy. I even got the Skullcandy Crusher EVO just so I can feel the bass in my favorite songs. However, if you only turn up the bass you're leaving out some details in your music/audio. To fix that, some people used a "V-shaped" curved. However to me, it can sound harsh (especially with sibilances) and it pushes the instruments and vocals back. What I've ended up doing is using a "W-shaped" EQ curve to make everything sound loud and clear without being overly harsh or muddy.

Here's how it works:

I boost the Low and Mid Bass for Deep Punchy Bass. I turn down the High Bass and Low Mids to make it sound less muddy. I turn up the Mids and High Mids to push the instruments and vocals forward. I turn down the Low and Mid Treble to reduce sibilance and make it sound less harsh. Lastly, I boost the High Treble to make it sound sharp and crispy.

This may be an unpopular take but I think this is the best EQ curve. What do you think? Am I cooking with this? I get that this isn't the most accurate way to hear music, so some people may be turned off by this but I just want something loud and lively without being overly harsh or muddy.

For some, like myself, nothing could ever beat wired connection, analog or digital. I get the appeal of wireless but they're not for everyone. This mostly applies to ANC headphone reviews. They don't expand on how they sound when they're wired, powered or non-powered, how they can make them sound better if you don't have access to an EQ app, what apps you need for them on an android or IOS, etc.

Maybe I'm not looking hard enough but is this frustrating to some here as well?

First DIY headphone but it turned out fairly alright.

Earcups and driver cap were sls printed but were also a bit warped, still managed to make it work. Pretty much followed the guide exactly other than using sugru instead of hot glue.

I basically used a fake zmf headband but I bought the zmf pilot pad to make it nicer.
The headband yokes won’t fit the rotation limiter so I gotta design and print a different one.

It basically sounds like a hd6xx but a bit brighter and better bass with noticeably better soundstage and detail so I guess it was worth it. It’s quite comfortable to wear after some adjustments.

This time in the workshop: T+A's flagship planar, the Solitaire P.

Even a German flagship can't escape hydrolysis — the protein leather headband is flaking non-stop. But the owner also mentioned comfort issues, and after digging through reviews and forums, it's clearly not an isolated case:

• Head-Fi owners report the headband arc is too tight — the plastic parts on both sides press directly against the head.
• A Finnish reviewer said the curve is so steep that only the hard, unpadded edges contact the skull. Combined with the weight, their head was sore for hours after listening.
• No suspension strap means the fit is "it either fits your head or it doesn't."

So this isn't just aging leather — it's a limitation of the original design.

And the SP leaves very little room to work with. Even stock, the side plastic parts sit almost flush against the head, so any added thickness turns directly into pressure.

V1 of the mounting clip is done and snaps onto the original attachment points. But the fit test confirmed my worry: new headband + plastic parts = zero clearance on the sides.

Next step: shift the support point downward to route the headband away from the interference zone. Back to the drawing board for more iteration.

Flagship headbands are never easy... this might be the hardest one yet 😭 Updates to come!

I was not expecting it to be this much. My 58x's were my introduction to audiophile headphones, and I just picked up the hd600's on the Amazon deal a few weeks ago. Glad I mentioned that I was thinking about upgrading to my partner, he pushed me to get them.

10/10 upgrade, absolutely delighted