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Acoustic Research AR-H1 Planar Magnetic Headphones
01 / 09
Acoustic Research AR-H1 Planar Magnetic Headphones
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221 Sold
Product Description
Acoustic Research has a legacy of producing high-end audio, so when the company debuted its new planar magnetic headphone at 2017’s Munich High End Show, audiophiles were duly impressed. Since then, the AR-H1 open-back headphone has won "Editors' Choice" from PC Magazine, "Top Pick" from Sound & Vision, and a Gold Medal Award at the 2018 Japan Visual Grand Prix Read More
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TheIzzardKing
359
Jan 10, 2019
i like how the mods edited the guy crap talking to make it look like i just went on some rant for no reason lol...
dude said a lot more than $100 off right now.
(Edited)
Artismo
461
Nov 26, 2018
I listened to these on a Marantz HD-DAC1 DSD DAC with low and mid gain, Deezer lossless, and my impressions were that the vocals were lacking body, the vocals were more in-head, and the bass was not impactful. For being an open back, I didn’t get much sense of width or space except in the mid to upper treble region. Could it be the amp, or are my ears capturing the character of the headphone correctly? Because I so want to buy these.
I can forgive the neutral-ish sound and a bit of shrill treble from the peak around 8K-10k (sounds like).
I really love love the sound of my HE4XX and the magic of the HD58X has worn off.
I find myself shopping these days for the HD600, HD650, and the like. I almost pulled the trigger on a 660S, but that price brand new.
I live in Japan and with customs fees, plus parcel forwarding costs, I might as well just buy the Sennheisers in-store.
jaydunndiddit
3262
Dec 28, 2018
It's not you or your pair. That's just part of the sound sig of the 58X. It is a budget headphone after all and I think that gets forgotten just because it sounds pretty good for the dollar. I have the 4XX and Elex as well and can easily confirm exactly the same as you.
Mbot
191
Dec 30, 2018
Those headphones have silky inaccurate treble, not accurate. The HD58X with a silver-lined copper cable has accurate treble, clean, lush and realistic. Stay with the 58X.
DareToBe
214
Nov 22, 2018
Just got my pair today. The headband is already broken in the sealed box.
DareToBe
214
Nov 28, 2018
I did wait for 2 - 3 hours before unboxing. No luck for this time, but MD promised a full refund.
raansire7
1507
Nov 28, 2018
DareToBeMy luck! I just unboxed mine and the left side doesn't work. I was just thinking about you when opening my box, hoping not to see anything broken. They looked perfect and the presentation was great, superior to every other company I've experienced. But yeah, broken out of the box, too. I'm about to go to church in a few minutes and it's going to be hard for me to concentrate on Bible class while thinking about the broken cans I spent $300 on and waited a month for them. I know it's just a material possession, but I'm a human. I like toys!
ttran946
91
Nov 29, 2018
LazerfluxDoes he not give a positive review in this other interview? Understandably he may have tried them in a non-deal environment for a short time, but it seems like his first impressions are so good and in generally people usually only like headphones more the longer they listen to them. I'm so confused by this haha
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dIpi5II7_bE
ElectronicVices
2937
Nov 29, 2018
ttran946I think this is a good example of why first impressions from shows like CanJam aren't a good source of useful information. Poor environment and often the manufacturer has selected the most optimal pairing of upstream gear for their demonstrations.
rdodev
632
Oct 19, 2018
Every time a manufacturer sells their cans at 50% or so off original price, it screams we're paying a 100% premium over cost price. Must be nice being in an industry where you could sell goods at a 100% markup.
Helpbot
310
Oct 19, 2018
phoenixsongI've seen it on ebay, It's not constant though. But with their on and off %15 off sales you get close to that as well.
WILLxLOVE
164
Oct 19, 2018
If you're above the 200$ mark in the Planar space, you need to be better than HiFimans and mrSpkrs. It's priced modestly better than they've been online lately ( around 479) but again, if I'm up past a certain range I'm spending a little extra and getting new age comfort, extended fuller range and spatial movement for a few extra Donald ducks... nawwwmmmsayn,
WILLxLOVE
164
Oct 20, 2018
I don’t have the Elex, but I have the OEM equivalent the Focal Elear and it has probably the best sound of any headphone I own, of any technology. It’s a special kind of dynamic driver, based on loud speaker tech. Not Planar, but the way they did it is spectacular.
DareToBe
214
Oct 22, 2018
Get focal elex or at least elear. Comparing with my aeon flow closed, lcd-2 and edition x, elex is simply better. You need to hear them.
RC28
14
Nov 28, 2018
I have had AR HD-1 for about two weeks now and had a chance for them to be burned in. I have various other cans, but (All Considered very well made or regarded) this comment is only going to deal with two Cans the AR vs the OPPO Pm-3 or open vs closed. OPPO since purchase have been my mainstays when I’m not using studio Speakers. I have worked in a professional capacity years ago at the Old Warner Bros Studio. Took a old Harrison Analog mixing board out and reworked the whole studio (Tuning baffles, wiring, all new power amp rack, etc..) and replaced it with the new digital SSK board. What I am trying to say is yes my ears are pretty aware of acoustics and harmonic vibrations and true life sound. Now about the cans the resistance is within 1 ohm of each other AR (33) OPPO (32). I’m just going to give my opinion on both both utilizing the planar principles. The planar magnet arrays differ but they both excel in faithful reproduction of what was put on the original master tapes. Both are neutral and do not color the music like heavy bass style headphones do. Both have feq. ratings above and below the 20-20000. It is my opinion no fancy tests just my years of experience the AR’s produce the music in a slightly more exacting. Bad recordings will sound just what they are bad. (Mark Almond, Song: One Way Sunday used for comparison). OPPO are comfortable ( fine for all day wear) but the AR have less clamping force so they slightly edge out OPPO in the comfort range. If you pay more for headphones you are doing just that paying more for status. My Klipsch X20i were $550 and sound good for what they are, but don’t compare sound wise to them. I see planar based cans are updated electrostatic cans that do not require feq generators. RC
RC28
14
Dec 31, 2018
ArtismoHappy New Year to you. I have some time in now with the AR-HD 1 and they are really really good at the price point. Another old speaker name taken over by Vox/Audiovox. The AR’s better clarity and more airy sound great. Larger Planar took longer to burn 76mm vs 40mm. Downside, wish they used better metal (SS) and love web system vs band, but one side sticks. That’s how to keep $ down. RC
FuckHead-Fi
424
Oct 20, 2018
https://www.innerfidelity.com/images/AcousticResearchARH1.pdf
Hmmm, massive peak in the treble, no thanks.
Hmmm, massive peak in the treble, no thanks.
LowFi42
263
Nov 5, 2018
FuckHead-Figlad you rely on only frequency response graphs when purchasing headphones, it's not like actually actually listening to them first before forming an opinion is logical, right?
cwelton17
108
Nov 26, 2018
LowFi42When someone is buying headphones online they rarely have a chance to try them out in person. So the next best thing is looking at measurable stats, which of course is not as good as trying them out in person. Please don't leave unnecessarily passive aggressive comments.
buffer
9
Oct 20, 2018
I never post on Massdrop. But I feel compelled to do so. I own this headphone and flagships from companies such as HifiMan, Focal, Grado, Labs, Audeze, Stax, and Sennheiser. I use a balanced 4 pin XLR cable that I find improves clarity over the stock cable. I can only speak for my tastes - I would put this AR H1 against any of the flagships I own. Why? I think the tonal balance is very neutral, and tonal balance is probably the most important factor I consider. Second would be clarity and third priority would probably be impact/slam. I think the AR H1 is pretty good with regard to each of these factors. I would not hesitate to recommend. I should say that I bought my pair used so I do not know how they sound out of the box, but I would describe their sound as vibrant.
Edit - I did want to add one thought -while I find the bass satisfying, some might consider these slightly light on bass. I notice this when comparing to headphones like the Final Audio D8000 that have exceptional bass and dynamics. But compared to other high end head phones (and to what I consider neutral) these do present an appropriate amount of bass (but certainly no bass hump) and can sound good on rock and pretty much all genres.
One other thing. I did not want to sound like I am saying these beat all other flagships. I only meant to say they are competitive for their overall set of strengths. Ok, now I feel better - I was coming off as a bit of a fanboy and I wanted to correct that.
Edit - I did want to add one thought -while I find the bass satisfying, some might consider these slightly light on bass. I notice this when comparing to headphones like the Final Audio D8000 that have exceptional bass and dynamics. But compared to other high end head phones (and to what I consider neutral) these do present an appropriate amount of bass (but certainly no bass hump) and can sound good on rock and pretty much all genres.
One other thing. I did not want to sound like I am saying these beat all other flagships. I only meant to say they are competitive for their overall set of strengths. Ok, now I feel better - I was coming off as a bit of a fanboy and I wanted to correct that.
WhiskeyJacks
66
Oct 19, 2018
Okay so I have only eyes for a while and I just want to put my two cents in even at 500 I think these are a very good sounding planar magnetic headphones with much less issues with the build and quality of design in comparison to some of the headphones I've owned from Hi-Fi man and other companies. I know people are saying because a few negative reviews I things aren't good for the money and I think really that's just an opinion there's plenty of people that really like these headphones and that was for when they were priced for more I've owned hifiman he 560 the he-400i, Sennheiser hd600 and the HD 650, beyerdynamics DT 880 and the t-90, Mad Dogs 3.2, zmf omi's, excetera. I currently still own these headphones and use them daily and the zmf Omni I recently sold my m1060 V2. I I think these are a great compliment to the zmf headphone line that I've used in owned the base is is more neutral with tight quick Bass with good extension, the mid-range is Airy and detailed and more upfront then the he-560 and the travel is very airy and detailed without being too harsh or or Sharp with its notes. I have a large head and there has been some talk about the clamp being too strong because the build is sturdy and the band is metal you can put pressure in the center of the band and bend in a bit very unnoticeable to the eye but it does alleviate that pressure on larger heads and makes he's very comfortable and lightweight for planar magnetic headphones. I've used this with just my phone granted on higher volume and it still sounds enjoyable and I've also use this with my fiio x5 mark 3 and ibasso DX 90 without the need of adding a portable amp and the quality of sound was still good and enjoyable with the dedicated integrated amp on both those players. I believe these headphones are a good deal even when around $500 and at $300 it's probably one of the best deals on planner magnetic headphones in terms of sound quality for price that I've seen for a new headphone. And yes that is an opinion not a fact but I have listened to a good amount of headphones in the 300 to $500 range and above and I feel like if you read the description of the sound of this headphone, and its signature and you think that it might be right for you the chances are you'll feel like it's the good headphones for the money once you listen. I have paired this had fun with the Pan Am tube hybrid which is fantastic especially with the the vokshod tubes, I also have used it with the audio GD nfb 28 in Balance mode, the Meier audio concerto, The massdrop liquid carbon X paired with the Aries DAC in balanced mode. And it sounded enjoyable and detail with all those amplifiers with the two best being the Pan Am and perhaps a liquid carbon. I don't see many people regretting this purchase and they're looking for a lightweight planomatic headphone that sounds detailed with good balance in the frequencies from low to high end for under $500, but of course I'm sure they'll be some but they don't suit and that's something that happens with every headphone and that's why we write reviews for our fellow hobbyists. I apologize if this is long-winded I just try to answer questions before they were asked on things that I'm usually wondering about when looking up a headphone that I'm interested in, and feel free to ask me about anyting you would like to know in regards to this headphone right now.
Gregfras
30
Oct 20, 2018
WhiskeyJacksHow long have you owned a pair? And you say you enjoy them as much as other Hifiman headphones? I believe it. I've been in the market for a new planar headset as I've never owned a pair and would like to have one. Been on the fence about the Hifiman 4xx, the dekoni fostex, the Koss ESP90 (yeah I know they are electrostats not planar) and now possibly these.
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