Sennheiser PC37X randomly goes bad after disconnecting the cable ?
Greetings, Yesterday I was using my headset like normal with my macbook, just listening to music and on a call with people like usual, and the headset was perfectly fine. The stock wire that came with the headset is extremely long and yesterday it annoyed me very much that it kept getting tangled with itself, so I decided to see if the cable is replaceable. I pulled out the cable from the headset and saw the adapter, and looked online for a replacement. Upon plugging it back in, the audio sounded extremely muffled and washed out. Im not sure what I did wrong to make it mess up like that as I've always taken good care of it, ive had it for about 2 years and its always just been chilling on my desk, but anywho I thought the cable just went bad and ordered a replacement. The replacement came, and the issue is still persistant, so I am not sure what the issue is I've tried multiple different headsets and the issue is not with the port, and I also tried it with my windows laptop and...
Apr 23, 2024
For me, HE-4XX excel in speed and texture, they give a very realistic sound from most musical instruments: after hearing them most headphones sound kinda "artificial", like listening to a record compared to live listening. I have to agree with you, soundstage on them is nothing special, but they have just enough to not feel congested by any means. But velied? For me, they do not sound veiled in any way. It's true that high frequencies are a bit rolled off compared to other headphones, but mid-high frequencies have a small peak that compensates for that (and sometimes leads to small sibilances, but nothing crazy), and the higher frequencies roll off makes the listening fatigue completely disappear.
one more thing: i absolutely do not like closed cans.
At the very least, I recommend that you EQ* your 4XX. Doing so will help to remove the 'veil' you are hearing. Any remaining haziness or lack of sound-stage is do to the Fulla's inadequacies - not the headphones.
Also, I suggest you purchase a FiiO Q1 mkII (the best DAC/amp under $100), and a 2.5mm balanced headphone cable compatible with the 4XX.
* Using a system-wide sound modification program called Equalizer APO and the frequency response graph (on the main page) as a reference, I created an EQ profile for the HE-4XX that lowers its mid-bass through the upper-mids. Activating this profile, removes the haze in the headphones' sound, creates a wider (perceived) sound-stage, and generally increases the transparency/realism of the sound.
Once installed, click on the green "+" and select 'Graphic Equalizer with variable bands'. Then copy-paste the following into the (pencil and paper) 'Edit text' bar:
GraphicEQ: 47 0; 50 -1; 53 -1.7; 57 -2.4; 62 -3; 67 -3.4; 73 -3.8; 80 -4; 120 -4; 500 -3; 1200 -2; 2000 -1
Using the columns on the right side of the window (or within 'Edit text'), the frequencies/levels can be adjusted to taste. To deactivate the profile, click on the white 'profile active' button, and it will turn black.
I read that someone tested the Schiit Fulla and determined its real-world specs. At 30.5 Ohms, it outputs 1.52 Vrms, and only 75.7 mW rms. The 4xx have an impedance of 35 ohms, so the power output will be even less. This is simply not enough to get the 4XX to really sing. They need at least 200 mW.
Also the 4XX have a sensitivity of 93 dB. The Philips X2 is 100 dB. That 7 dB is a massive difference in volume.
Finding specs on the original Fulla is difficult, but I would bet that its THD and noise are relatively high, and channel separation is poor. The Fulla was only meant as a replacement (upgrade) from bottom-of -the-barrel sound coming from computer headphone jacks - not power full-size planar magnetic headphones even close to their full potential.
After direct comparison, I discovered that the FiiO Q1 mkII is substantially better-sounding than Micca Origen+. The FiiO unit had a clearer overall sound and wider sound-stage. And this was from its standard 3.5mm jack. The 2.5 balanced is more powerful and channel separation is a bit better.
Conclusion: The DAC/amp matters, and you absolutely must upgrade yours to enjoy the 4XX. In the meantime, try my EQ suggestion.
32 ohms is 32 ohms. the x2 sounded amazing right out the box powered through my lg v20 and ps4 controller and absolutely floored me when connected to the fulla. the 4xx sounded good but not great, and the fulla did not improve the sound quality much, mostly the volume. could it be that i just don't prefer the sound signature for its uses? is one entry-level audiophile headphone in the same price range empirically better than another? you cannot find much data on the fulla, doesn't mean that it's a substandard device.
please explain what makes the 32 ohm 4xx so power hungry.
Add it all up and you have a power hungry headphone.
Innerfidelity's reports that the X2 takes just 0.089 Volts and 0.23 mW to reach 90dB. The 4XX takes 0.271 Volts and 1.51 mW. This massive difference would explain the volume and poor sound issues.
And as jaydunndiddit (and I) pointed out the 4XX has a higher impedance and sensitivity.
"is one entry-level audiophile headphone in the same price range empirically better than another?" Yes, as far as accurate sound reproduction goes, the 4XX is superior in every way. I must admit, I prefer the X2's build, though.
I understand you wanted empirical data. But if you understand these numbers enough to explain/confirm the issues you were experiencing, you probably should have just done the research yourself... rather than expecting a discontinued, substandard USB-powered single-ended DAC/amp to properly drive full-size planar magnetic headphones... or expected others to do the research yourself.
You simply NEED to get a better DAC/amp to get your 4XX sounding anywhere close to their potential. The FiiO Q1 mkII with a 4XX-compatible balanced cable would be the cheapest option to do so.
"rather than expecting a discontinued, substandard USB-powered single-ended DAC/amp to properly drive full-size planar magnetic headphones..."
the original hifiman 4xx series, the x2, and the fulla were all produced within the same timeline, so the fulla being discontinued is a moot point. the massdrop 4xx were supposed to be even easier to drive, claiming you could use your cellphone! simply untrue. you keep dropping the word substandard based on...? something you MIGHT have read?
and i don't believe in a one fits all empirically better headphones unless you want a boring, sterile, neutral headphone (imo). the x2 were a much more enjoyable experience for me. let me live. but i will look into the fiio down the road.
i already said the 4xx was an impulse buy. i am sure i was down to the last few minutes (artifical urgency), my beloved x2 was broken, i had heard good things but admittedly did NOT do my own independent research, but i thought i could trust the information on this site in the product description. also i don't expect to buy a new DAC every time i get a new pair of headphones when the old one served me just fine.
another assumption that i don't see rooted into any other hobby is that everyone who participates has the same level of knowledge. i guess that's part of the elitism. 🙄
I'm skeptical you did any reading on your own because it was literally spelled out for you in this thread what the power output of the original Fulla is and why it won't be sufficient with not just the 4xx, but just about any planar magnetic headphone.
You are correct that sound is subjective to the listener, however, and I can respect that. I suggest you go and find another pair of Fidelio X2s if those sound best to you and work well with your equipment. The thing you shouldn't do is go around dissing other headphones because they aren't copying that design and attempting to speak with authority on things you clearly have no knowledge or understanding of.
one person said he read in one location about the fulla, which is vastly different from this specs on schiit's website. but go ahead and think i didn't do any research. 🙄
i didn't speak with any authority. i simply detailed my experience. but you have proven my point about the elitism once again with that last sentence you said. not only are you wrong on both accounts, but i never dissed the 4xx. i said i failed to be impressed but i thought they were a good headphone and that it was a possibility that they simply were not the cans for my preferred sound signature.
why are you even continuing to engage with me? you said you would have quit a long time ago and i already expressed a disinterest in talking to you, my rationale for which was made readily apparent in your first post talking shit about me in my own thread. lol
go fellate your ego about how much you know about audiophile equipment with someone else. you don't impress me in any way.
If you're interested in reading where the opposing specs with measurements for the original Fulla were posted (there are also references to others who have found similar results with the Fulla): https://www.google.com/amp/s/amp.reddit.com/r/headphones/comments/6p3zfb/schiit_fulla_measurements/
Looks as though Schiit wronged many folks with the Fulla by using an out of nowhere reference point for THD (total harmonic distortion) on their original measurements and this is particularly problematic for low impedance gear (both the 4xx and X2 would fall here).
The X2s are likely less susceptible to the issue as they have a higher sensitivity (requiring less power to reach listenable volumes) and draw far less current from the amp. The 4xx is more likely to strain the amp section of the Fulla with its high current draw and lower sensitivity. For what it's worth, a different amp/DAC would likely improve your audio (at least objectively concerning the signal quality) across the board, but particularly with the 4xx.
this is valuable information and a clear direction to see for myself what my next step should be in purchasing a new DAC. i suppose i should be future proofing. i just vastly prefer IEMs for everything but gaming, and am on the budget minded end due to the law of diminishing returns and having more expensive interests that could actually make me money.
anyway, with that said, i have probably only owned no more than 6-8 pairs of entry to lower mid audiophile-quality circumaural cans in my life as i much prefer an open sound even though i am a bit of a basshead, but clarity is important to me as well (these two seem to be at odds...i thought the x2 did a great job at handling both, as well as having a good soundstage). these are for home listening only, obviously, and usually just for gaming or audio projects i am working on at my desktop (or listening to music while on my desktop).
considering i do not need a desktop dac/amp and want something powered by usb, what would you suggest?
It's battery powered but can go into desktop mode and bypass the battery so it doesn't kill its lifespan. There are a lot of other good perks but these are the biggies.