Friendly PSA... I'm not sure what's wrong with some people's hearing on the discussion pages but the SR 9 is by no means 'bright', nor does the FR graph make a lot of sense either but that's a whole other story...
I am just curious if said people who mentioned this headphone as being bright have actually heard this & what are they using as source ?
I made a comment several months ago regarding SR 9 sound sig which I will repost :
'Subjectively & personally, SR 9 is better than the MSR 7 sonically & technically.Though 'better' is relative & I suggest you demo if possible as only you know what you like nor does anyone else have your hearing, head & ear shape, etc nor should you judge by a sole review...just my humble two cents...
There are other head gear certainly which potentially outclass this both technically & sonically but for the deal here, it is hard to be not tempted, even with standard drop waitng time.
This headphone requires good, well recorded quality sources to really shine & does matter, regardless the format.
A decent to good DAP or desk setup will make these work well too, provided said good, well recorded quality sources definitely apply.
SR 9 sound in subjective terms, is more refined with a lean towards more pro tuning where highs & bass response is concerned though by no means is this classed as pro audio headphones but sits somewhere between pro & consumer. A good amp, tube or solid, not necessarily with DAC, will also make the SR 9 sound really good.As per the sound signature, these are definitely not for bass heads but can handle good bass as stated.'
As a final point, considering how much this headphone goes for retail in most parts of the world, this is really good value.
Trust your own ears & your own opinions, also listen to as much good quality sources as you can, format is also largely irrelavant.
Hope everyone has a great day !
PaganDAs I said before this cans are very good but they are bright !!! In comparison to the MSR 7 they have much more Bass quality and quantity and Sound more spacious and "more open". The micro Details are really Great! But the Mid,s are little recessed especially the lower end. Overall they can be annoying to People that can stand the Highs and upper Mid,s, but they are so Detailed and Precise that I would recommend them anytime over the very Popular MSR 7.
TLDR;This is the meme version of the MSR7 with extremely bright tuning to create fake soundstage/space.
If you're the type of person who listens to different tunings and attributes the differences to technical ability in that area of frequency response like you're some audio sommelier then you'll love it. The MSRP will flatter your sensibility and provide reassurance that you made the right choice and got a good deal. Go for it. You love to waste money and who would I be keep you from enjoying what you love?
If you actually listen to music for more than a few minutes at a time and view headphones as a means to enjoy music within reasonable expectations, then we have a problem.
I bought these on a whim because I saw them for cheap, used, and they looked cool. Without EQ I can't really use them and all my other stuff is better, so midfi fashion statement is all it's good for.
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This is the (close to) standard Harman compensated FR. So we have rolled off bass with a really prominent camel hump 100-300 followed by a dip into the midrange, holding pretty steady until 5k before we LAUNCH INTO SPACE.
The bass is rolled off for good reason as it spikes to 10% distortion on the low end and with EQ boost it is definitely audible. The midbass hump followed by the dip creates a weird warm but distant midrange backdrop, which probably contributes to the illusion of space with all that air up top.
Once you EQ this or pad swap to tame the treble to something more listenable it becomes a boring tinny sound with muffled mids. Without the air to mask the weird FR humps/imbalances and the lack of housing based vs FR based soundstage the mediocrity is undeniable. Try MSR7 instead.
SureSh0tAlrighty folks. This conversation is not leading to any super productive or germane discussion so I am locking this post. Have a great weekend!
for anyone unaware of this set's sound signature, it's BRIGHT... if you've heard the msr7, turn up the brightness another notch. i bought a pair off amazon, forced myself to listen to them for 3 weeks in the hope i'd adjust to them (needed a closed high isolation portable), but in the end just couldn't stand the treble, and returned them. if you're treble sensitive, run away...fast! if you like a lot of treble though they're great.
The only reason why the M50X are popular in the first place because a certain tech YouTuber promoted it as the "best" headphones he ever used. I remember when the M50/X was just an ordinary monitoring headphone before the hype caught on. People bought it for casual music listening and gaming when it is meant just for monitoring! We have Dr Dre Beats headphones in the mainstream world, M50X's are the "Dr Dre Beats" in the audio enthusiast world.
I highly recommend the Sivga SV003 and SV006 (a little narrower soundstage with more bass than the 003) with Brainwavz - or misodiko - Micro Suede pads installed... all-in, $100 less than the SR9... and better-sounding, I would wager.