PM-3
Just sound only impressions for now.
The PM-3 sounded quite balanced right off the bat. They didn't really pop in one area but were solid in most!
Bass
The bass sounded neither thick nor thin but rather a medium to my ears. It didn't have the punch of the Spirit Classic but did have decent texture to it. It didn't seem to extend all the way down like most planars but it was decent.
I have a wide selection of music from old school Japanese classical up to main stream music. I found that these were designed to be just a balanced phone..it's slightly warm but not overly so.
The bass compared to the Mad Dog 3.2 and Spirit Classic is less exciting.
Mids
My fav mids on a closed headphone are probably the A900X and Mad Dog 3.0 +3.1. I found these didn't have the beauty in the mids as the other two but they were decently integrated mids. The A900X is a less expensive headphone by about £120 or so but the mids on them are beautiful. They have this warmth and flow that I feel the Japanese do better then most. They are detailed but smooth and elegant. The Oppo's mids sound a bit less emotional and detailed than the A900X in the voices but I don't feel their focus is on the mids as much.
I expected to be really impressed but I was rather casual. I think I'm so used to mid centric headphones that anything less than fantastic mids just doesn't flow with me.
Overall decent but now fantastic.
Treble
I like a bit more treble in closed headphones rather than open. Open I tend to like a lush liquid sound but in closed I want a bit more space and air to get rid of that boxy sound that headphones like the Mad Dogs suffered from badly and so did the D600 and even the Focal Spirit Classic.
The PM-3 had a slightly relaxed treble for me. It was detailed and had an ok sense of image but it didn't have the air to try break that closed feeling I hate. It's better than the Mad Dog here and Focal for sure.
Soundstage
Soundstage is small. I need more for my taste here but for a portable headphone I don't think it's too much of a problem. Gaming wise, without trying them I can tell without even trying how they will fare here.
I think overall these are a good headphone if someone wants a midfi portable that looks good and sounds good. I honestly prefer my A900X over them as I think they sound more engaging and emotional in the mids and treble.
I didn't even think the PM-3 had refinement on it's side. It sounded like a normal midfi closed back to me. Am I disappointed? Not really as I didn't actually expect anything. I think I've now done this for long that I don't fall for hype etc.
I will be getting a pair on loan from a friend hopefully so will write a full review on my guide with scores.
PM-1
This is the 2nd time I've heard these. I had a very long time with them and came away with these impressions.
Bass
I found the bass to have slight bloom. They reminded me of the HD650 pre black box but with more of a linear curve through the mid bass and gently rolling off in the low. They didn't really have the energy as something like the HE-500 or LCD2. I came away with the impression that these are headphones for vocals and relaxing listen.
Mids
These again, reminded me of the HD650 but sounded more..muted? Vocals sounded nice but I don't know if my taste has matured slightly but they didn't have that happy medium I like. I love smoothness but I need voices to sound detailed but with a warm romantic smoke flowing through if that makes sense?(Christ, it's so cheesy having to describe sound) The PM-1 sounds like it has hardly any depth here. I feel these are a night time headphone rather then a engaging all round headphone.
It sounds like I'm bashing it but let's be real! these are £1099! these sounded in-between the HD650 and LCD-2 somewhere. Please don't take me wrong, the mids are great, really lush but a bit, too much! they need to find that balance I believe. Vocals sound seductive and like they want to get you into bed and when I listen to these, that's exactly what I want to do.
Treble
Do I really need to say anything? It's rolled off or polite. It picks up detail fine if you concentrate, it just doesn't have any air created this thick, warm sound.
Soundstage
Small, bigger than a closed, smaller than a normal open headphone. I felt it didn't have the depth the Hifimans have.
You know what? I like them! Just because I like them doesn't mean I have to be kind to them. They sound beautiful at times. I feel these are only a sit down and relax headphone. The price is ridiculous! serious £1099? just no. They to me, if I was to put a price on these without that stupid wooden box and whatever other posh **** they threw in! it would be £400. Obviously the posh bits and bobs and the sexy build, and it is stunning by the way; adds to the high price. If they come down to about £700-800...yeah I might actually consider them as a relaxed listen.
I've not heard the other pads yet but I will do.
Just sound only impressions for now.
The PM-3 sounded quite balanced right off the bat. They didn't really pop in one area but were solid in most!
Bass
The bass sounded neither thick nor thin but rather a medium to my ears. It didn't have the punch of the Spirit Classic but did have decent texture to it. It didn't seem to extend all the way down like most planars but it was decent.
I have a wide selection of music from old school Japanese classical up to main stream music. I found that these were designed to be just a balanced phone..it's slightly warm but not overly so.
The bass compared to the Mad Dog 3.2 and Spirit Classic is less exciting.
Mids
My fav mids on a closed headphone are probably the A900X and Mad Dog 3.0 +3.1. I found these didn't have the beauty in the mids as the other two but they were decently integrated mids. The A900X is a less expensive headphone by about £120 or so but the mids on them are beautiful. They have this warmth and flow that I feel the Japanese do better then most. They are detailed but smooth and elegant. The Oppo's mids sound a bit less emotional and detailed than the A900X in the voices but I don't feel their focus is on the mids as much.
I expected to be really impressed but I was rather casual. I think I'm so used to mid centric headphones that anything less than fantastic mids just doesn't flow with me.
Overall decent but now fantastic.
Treble
I like a bit more treble in closed headphones rather than open. Open I tend to like a lush liquid sound but in closed I want a bit more space and air to get rid of that boxy sound that headphones like the Mad Dogs suffered from badly and so did the D600 and even the Focal Spirit Classic.
The PM-3 had a slightly relaxed treble for me. It was detailed and had an ok sense of image but it didn't have the air to try break that closed feeling I hate. It's better than the Mad Dog here and Focal for sure.
Soundstage
Soundstage is small. I need more for my taste here but for a portable headphone I don't think it's too much of a problem. Gaming wise, without trying them I can tell without even trying how they will fare here.
I think overall these are a good headphone if someone wants a midfi portable that looks good and sounds good. I honestly prefer my A900X over them as I think they sound more engaging and emotional in the mids and treble.
I didn't even think the PM-3 had refinement on it's side. It sounded like a normal midfi closed back to me. Am I disappointed? Not really as I didn't actually expect anything. I think I've now done this for long that I don't fall for hype etc.
I will be getting a pair on loan from a friend hopefully so will write a full review on my guide with scores.
PM-1
This is the 2nd time I've heard these. I had a very long time with them and came away with these impressions.
Bass
I found the bass to have slight bloom. They reminded me of the HD650 pre black box but with more of a linear curve through the mid bass and gently rolling off in the low. They didn't really have the energy as something like the HE-500 or LCD2. I came away with the impression that these are headphones for vocals and relaxing listen.
Mids
These again, reminded me of the HD650 but sounded more..muted? Vocals sounded nice but I don't know if my taste has matured slightly but they didn't have that happy medium I like. I love smoothness but I need voices to sound detailed but with a warm romantic smoke flowing through if that makes sense?(Christ, it's so cheesy having to describe sound) The PM-1 sounds like it has hardly any depth here. I feel these are a night time headphone rather then a engaging all round headphone.
It sounds like I'm bashing it but let's be real! these are £1099! these sounded in-between the HD650 and LCD-2 somewhere. Please don't take me wrong, the mids are great, really lush but a bit, too much! they need to find that balance I believe. Vocals sound seductive and like they want to get you into bed and when I listen to these, that's exactly what I want to do.
Treble
Do I really need to say anything? It's rolled off or polite. It picks up detail fine if you concentrate, it just doesn't have any air created this thick, warm sound.
Soundstage
Small, bigger than a closed, smaller than a normal open headphone. I felt it didn't have the depth the Hifimans have.
You know what? I like them! Just because I like them doesn't mean I have to be kind to them. They sound beautiful at times. I feel these are only a sit down and relax headphone. The price is ridiculous! serious £1099? just no. They to me, if I was to put a price on these without that stupid wooden box and whatever other posh **** they threw in! it would be £400. Obviously the posh bits and bobs and the sexy build, and it is stunning by the way; adds to the high price. If they come down to about £700-800...yeah I might actually consider them as a relaxed listen.
I've not heard the other pads yet but I will do.
![[ui]ICEMAN](/styles/overclockers/avatars/5.png){kind=avatar}