General Headphone Audio

Ok so for gaming the HE1000se is superior, that's the long story short. Positional placement in BF6 is just pin precise with the soundstage width and imaging on the HE. HD600 is good but just doesn't match up in a game like this where war is happening in 360 degrees.
 
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Yeah the 600s wouldn't be my first choice for gaming, though they can be good for a cinematic single player experience - I played through one of the Mass Effect games on them, the soundstage is just too intimate and the "unhurried" nature of the drivers compared to the at least perceptually faster response of other headphones.
 
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Glad I haven't bought the Airpod Pros 3 now, the Sennheiser HDB 630 is getting a lot of hype right now and it looks like it could be something that is worth investing in, especially as I find my Sony XM4 a little too small.
 
Fell asleep watching TV with the HD600s on, brings back 650 memories from back in the days doing the same thing.

Also that monkey stand I got recently seems perfect for the 600, the headband foam notch in the middle keeps it in place and the cable plug has its own slot that stock cables don't fit into.

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It was just meant to be....

I also raised a feature request to Luxsin where the 12v trigger sleeps the power amp when the headphones out is active, saves having to manually power off the power amp each headphone session. X9 is cementing its place full time at this rate for its versatility and convenience.
 
The CMF Buds 2 Plus were interesting, full day of use so got to test what LDAC is like on power use at the gym and out and about. After 15 mins walking I saw battery drop on each bud to 95%, flicked it to AAC mode and noticed no real difference in sound quality, I don't think these are resolving enough at the top end in order to hear any difference anyway, so spent an hour in the gym in AAC and the battery dropped to 90% by the time i left.

AAC is the way to go on phone for sure. Quality is absolutely fine.
 
Raymond Lin said:
Glad I haven't bought the Airpod Pros 3 now, the Sennheiser HDB 630 is getting a lot of hype right now and it looks like it could be something that is worth investing in, especially as I find my Sony XM4 a little too small.
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It's great they've nailed the sound and companion app with PEQ. However if they're gonna charge 500+ quid it's need look and feel more desirable. It's looks so cheap and nasty and enough to put me off spending any more than 200 on it.
 
kona786 said:
It's great they've nailed the sound and companion app with PEQ. However if they're gonna charge 500+ quid it's need look and feel more desirable. It's looks so cheap and nasty and enough to put me off spending any more than 200 on it.
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I’m very tempted but my problem is the only time I use an overear wireless ANC headphone is on the plane. I don’t use it at home or at work or out and about. It’s a lot of money to drop on this for that purpose when I have the XM4 already.

Plus like all tech, it will get out of date and reduce in price.
 
mrk said:
Fell asleep watching TV with the HD600s on, brings back 650 memories from back in the days doing the same thing.
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I don't know how you do that. I couldn't even sleep with earbuds on. They are light and comfy which helps I suppose.

The stand is nice. I think the important bit personally, is to have a stand that's basically a peg for the HD 6x0 to hang from. Then you aren't compressing the foam etc. Your stand clearly works in that department. I use these super cheap, plastic clip on hooks at the moment. I used to have those Sennheiser headphone hangers (got two in the loft somewhere) however they are two wide so again the headband might take some small wear over a prolonged period.

Not Apple Pro 3 related but yesterday it was hard to ignore the new Sennheiser HDB 630 Wireless Bluetooth headphone. Felt like every channel came up on my feed yesterday and with glowing reviews. They sound fantastic, particularly from a tuning perspective. However some of the issues flagged by Gadgetrytech on PS5, high latency and mode-switching issues mean they don't sound ideal for gaming. They do sound perfect if I was in the market for a wireless headphone though for use out and about.
 
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Timber said:
I don't know how you do that. I couldn't even sleep with earbuds on. They are light and comfy which helps I suppose.
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I can sleep with earbuds but I don't make a habit of it, no way I'd be dropping off with my HD600s on though. I don't understand how some people just fall asleep where they are I've had friends who it wasn't uncommon to find them snoring away with their head resting on their keyboard or laptop, etc. I just couldn't do that and don't just fall asleep like that.
 
The embargo lifted yesterday so all the reviews dropped at the same time. They do sound great but I want a pair, it's just that i can't fit them into my life.

There is no use case for them as I don't use wireless at home, only on a plane. Spending £500 on headphones flying 6-8 times a year is basically financially irresponsible.

ps I fell asleep wearing the i5 once but I was flat on my back on the sofa.
 
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Rroff said:
I can sleep with earbuds but I don't make a habit of it, no way I'd be dropping off with my HD600s on though. I don't understand how some people just fall asleep where they are I've had friends who it wasn't uncommon to find them snoring away with their head resting on their keyboard or laptop, etc. I just couldn't do that and don't just fall asleep like that.
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I guess it's possible if you're tired enough.

I know sometimes I can start drifting off at the computer if I'm tired enough, but I usually catch myself a few seconds in and take it as a warning sign it's time to retire. But with things like the Steam Deck, Switch etc. I know some people do a lot of playing in bed, or on the sofa and I guess it's much easier to drift off in that scenario.

Raymond Lin said:
The embargo lifted yesterday so all the reviews dropped at the same time. They do sound great but I want a pair, it's just that i can't fit them into my life.

There is no use case for them as I don't use wireless at home, only on a plane. Spending £500 on headphones flying 6-8 times a year is basically financially irresponsible.

ps I fell asleep wearing the i5 once but I was flat on my back on the sofa.
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Yes. But unlike Fiio, Topping and Fosi recently this release has been so much more co-ordinated. All the big channels, with all the reviews at the same time. As you say the minute the embargo ends. Like you often have in the video game space with Borderlands 4, PlayStration 5 Pro, or whatever.

Agreed, I don't have a need either for them. But when the reviews are that good it's hard not to notice.
 
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Yeah I mean flat not on the side lol. I switched back to HE1000se last night during a listening session having forced my ears to get acclimatised to the HD600 signature and the immediate thing that stood out was just how much clearer/detailed and open everything sounded in 3D space, quite surreal how big the difference is and reminded me of the first time I heard planars after the HD650.

There definitely is a re-adjustment period needed of a day or two to notice the biggest difference.
 
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mrk said:
There definitely is a re-adjustment period needed of a day or two to notice the biggest difference.
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It takes me ages to retune from the 650 to the 600 and vice versa. Sometimes when I try a new headphone, or amp for the first time there are immediate things that stand out. But the nuanced, or subtle detail takes a while.
 
I've mentioned it a couple of times before but these FF1s have really ruined me for audio LOL they are just good enough I don't really miss better headphones, aside from the HD600 which I only use in short bursts anyway, while being flathead eardbuds completely seamless and comfortable in use. I had a whole bunch of headphones in my shopping list which were an itch I needed to scratch and now I've lost all interest in them.

mrk said:
Ok so for gaming the HE1000se is superior, that's the long story short. Positional placement in BF6 is just pin precise with the soundstage width and imaging on the HE. HD600 is good but just doesn't match up in a game like this where war is happening in 360 degrees.
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I don't recommend it but you can EQ out the HD600s to reduce the mid-range prominence and get similar results in pushing out the soundstage for gaming (IIRC attenuating just before ~4KHz is one of the keys but it has been awhile), though generally you are better just going to headphones that do that properly in my opinion but still - they still won't have the brighter and hence tighter perceptual detail of the HE1000.
 
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Yeah EQing isn't for me to be honest, never was but I did dabble here and there especially with the LCD5 as it's needed on those but with HE1000se and HD600 everything is off and just letting the factory hardware tuning do its thing and that is basically perfect. Back on the HE1000se now full time again and will use the HD600 again at some point when the need arises.


I'm playing this song currently and the HD600 does it really well but flicking over to the HE1000se and the whole song comes alive on another level, it's an old skool song with synth and electronics all over, the planar just presents so huge range of dynamic capability with this type of music.
 
Rroff said:
I've mentioned it a couple of times before but these FF1s have really ruined me for audio LOL they are just good enough I don't really miss better headphones, aside from the HD600 which I only use in short bursts anyway, while being flathead eardbuds completely seamless and comfortable in use. I had a whole bunch of headphones in my shopping list which were an itch I needed to scratch and now I've lost all interest in them.
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Went on a little bit of a research mission last night and found two pairs of interest; Flathead Audio Studio Earbuds (c.£52) and NiceHCK EB2S Pro (£30) that stood out a bit as they would probably be something I would like. That said I'm unsure if an earbud appeals. It certainly seems a little niche area with no-where near the quantity and variety of models found in other headphones types. Albeit as someone that finds IEMs uncomfortable I get these. Might be a product I explore at some point (needs to go on the back burner for now).

I've personally realised in the hotter summer months I'd probably appreciate really want super-lightweight headphones and I think something like a Porta Pro, or these would be useful.
 
Timber said:
Went on a little bit of a research mission last night and found two pairs of interest; Flathead Audio Studio Earbuds (c.£52) and NiceHCK EB2S Pro (£30) that stood out a bit as they would probably be something I would like. That said I'm unsure if an earbud appeals. It certainly seems a little niche area with no-where near the quantity and variety of models found in other headphones types. Albeit as someone that finds IEMs uncomfortable I get these. Might be a product I explore at some point (needs to go on the back burner for now).

I've personally realised in the hotter summer months I'd probably appreciate really want super-lightweight headphones and I think something like a Porta Pro, or these would be useful.
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Yeah flathead earbuds are very much a personal preference thing and it seems they aren't the preference of a lot of people - anything other than the basic ones which come bundled with phones and MP3 players, etc. most manufacturers stopped making them around 2010 and it was pretty much impossible to get anything decent until for some reason around 2022 there was suddenly interest from some of these emerging brands.

I do quite a lot of general listening and I never find proper headphones, or IEMs, etc. which go in the ear canal ideal beyond a couple of hours - even my Sony MDR-10RC which are very lightweight and comfortable.

Problem with flatheads though there is always a big caveat with ear geometry and fit - especially with open back variants like these FF1s it doesn't take much to impact or change the sound quality and/or they might never fit securely for some people. Fortunately for me they work perfectly.
 
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