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rhythmdevils
40
Jan 20, 2022
Gear ipod touch 7 -> HE-R7DX Yggdrasil -> Cavalli Liquid Fire -> HE-R7DX TLDR; These things are going to sell really well. They are comfortable, easy to drive, extremely well tuned, and super cheap at $149. I like them better than the cheap Hifiman orthos I’ve heard, and I much prefer orthos. A very balanced, expansive sounding closed back electrodynamic. Overall they have a slightly warm tone that makes them sound natural. From bass to treble, I hear no peaks at all, they’re exceptionally tuned. Nothing sticks out except maybe a little bump in the upper mids and one in the lower treble but they’re not peaks and not harsh but just makes certain notes a bit louder than they ought to be (nit picking). Treble has good tone- cymbals sound like cymbals- and is perfectly balanced. Vocals are very neutral, not recessed, and have great, natural tone. Bass has great slam and goes deep with good control. Resolution seems quite good to me, though they seem to have better macro than micro detail. I wasn’t expecting to like these headphones. I don’t like electrodynamics in general, they sound grainy and mooshy to me, and usually peaky and resonant to boot with high distortion. Hifiman making an electrodynamic had me even less excited and it’s closed back. I was very surprised when I reluctantly put on the first track with these plugged into my ipod touch. I was ready to send these back or send them to someone else to review. https://i.imgur.com/dcF4wx8.jpg

First Impression Very open sounding was my first reaction. I then went through some test tracks and not only was I not bothered, I found myself listening to the songs- songs I’ve heard a million times tuning orthos, and not really paying attention to the headphones. This is a good sign as you all know, especially for a picky bastard like me. Fit They fit a bit weird. They use the old school og HE-5/6/500 style Hifiman headband (come on guys, I like this headband personally, but you can design a new headband). This headband wraps around the top of the head pretty evenly. The weird part is that the cups/earpads aren’t positioned to put much pressure on your head, they just kind of touch gently, and the way the headband cradles the head, you can’t get more pressure or clamp.  So when you first put them on it’s unlike most headphones that immediately pivot and find the right angle against your head. You have to move the cups into position. But once you do, I personally find them comfortable. They’re very lightweight and that weight is distributed evenly all along the headband and earpads. It’s just such a unique fit that I am picturing other head sizes/shapes maybe having issues, but I like how they fit my noggin. It’s still a bit weird though, it feels more like wearing a helmet than wearing headphones. Here’s a picture where you can see how the earpads line up with the headband in basically a straight line so you can see why the earpads don’t have much pressure against your head.   https://i.imgur.com/4l8w7Ck.jpg There are two things I don’t like 1) How shallow the earpads are, but with the very mild clamp I don’t notice any discomfort with my limited time with them. I imagine if I wore them all day my ears might get sore from touching the grill but i don’t know. 2) The cable comes out of the cups basically at a straight down angle, instead of slightly angling forward. It works for the stock cable, but when I put an aftermarket cable on them, the 3.5mm jacks make the cable hit my shoulders. But the cable I’m using costs more than these headphones, so I’m not sure this is a legitimate concern. Still, seems like an oversight. Treble Maybe just a tiny bit more than neutral. But it’s done in a very even keeled, natural way, and the treble has excellent tone no plastic-y bullshit. No harshness. I actualliy think they have very good air too despite being closed back. Midrange It’s lovely. Neither emphasized or pushed back in the mix, midrange heads will love the vocal presentation of these phones. Very lifelike. Rich when called for, airy when called for. You can hear the timbre of breath coming out of a human being like you should be able to. It just sounds very right. Which is important. If the vocals are off, I could care less about anything else. But these phones nail it. There is one spot in the upper mids that is a bit emphasized and picks up harshly recorded piano a bit too loud. But I only heard this on two of my test tracks. And it’s not quite to the point of being harsh. I would call this a flavor, bringing out electric guitar in a nice way for most people. I don’t see many people finding fault here. Though I would personally want a little less presence. Bass These are not basshead headphones at all. I can see a lot of noobs buying these - because of the price, being closed back and the Drop crowd’s preferences in general including lots of noobs - and wanting more bass. Bass is neutral, but high quality and has great extension and control. Extension goes all the way down flatter than most electrodynamics, though I’d say by 20hz they are down a bit from where they are at 40hz. Not bad by any means. Just not ortho flat. Punchy, layered and detailed. I don’t think I can ask for more from an electrodynamic headphone. Bass never bleeds into the midrange at all. And they’re not bass light in the slightest. Bob Marley sounds excellent, and you can hear the little nuances and details of the bass riffs not just a big phat note like on many headphones when playing Bob Marley.. Dynamics They have a very dynamic sound. Focus is on macro rather than micro, they lack a little finnesse or refinement for the last bit of microdynamics, but I’m quite happy listening to them. Soundstage Very open for a closed back as far as I remember them sounding. I guess I can tell they’re closed back, but they create the illusion of space very well. They actually have a sense of air and space to them. Instruments have good separation. Power requirements They honestly sound pretty similar straight out of my ipod touch compared to my Yggrdrasil -> Liquid Fire. So I’d say they are very easy to drive and not picky about amps. It’s too bad they don’t fold up or isolate better because they’d make great portable headphones. Drop should consider making a foldable version with a little second layer of plastic on the outside of the cups filled with styrofoam. Distortion I’m guessing it measures pretty good. That’s all I have to say about that. Weaknesses There is a very slight plastic tone to the whole sound. I’m not sure where it’s coming from, because anywhere I look sounds natural. I’m guessing it’s from the little bumps in the upper mids or lower treble, or a distortion thing. They aren’t the most resolving headphones I’ve ever heard. But they are actually quite good, and at $149 they are damn good. They sound about as resolving as Focals to me I’d say, from memory. Maybe not quite as resolving as the Clears. Not amazing but pretty damn good. Though I will admit that my dislike of electrodynamics may be clouding my judgement here. They’re pretty bulky for what people will probably want to use them for - portable phones. The design makes them home use headphones or I guess transportable. But they don’t isolate at all, they may as well be open or semi open back. I think the fit may bother some, it’s very unique but once I get them positioned right, I actually like it because there’s so little clamp. They’re very light and rest evenly and lightly all around from the headband to the earpads. Conclusion Very cheap Closed but not isolating Very balanced FR with great tone across the spectrum Few faults Spacious and open sounding for a closed back Not picky about amps I really like how these sound, and they are the opposite kind of headphones I usually like. I’m impressed by what Hifiman and Drop have pulled off here. I think these are going to make a lot of people very happy and sell extremely well. I think I would take these over any ortho I’ve heard under the LCD-2 Classic price range maybe. The LCD-2 Classic has lower distortion obviously, but these are more clear and neutral sounding. I’ve heard some cheap orthos (I won’t name names) that sound way way worse.  Hifiman should make more electrodynamics... I would highly recommend these headphones for anyone looking for a budget headphone that is natural sounding and natural.  Fans of the HD650 or Joe Grado HP1000 or Focal Clear would like these headphones.  If you prefer a John Grado sound with boosted upper mids or treble or bass, these may not be for you.   -rhythmdevils on SBAF
Recommends this product? Yes
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Mastaboog749
145
Jan 20, 2022
rhythmdevilsLoved the review, wasn't expecting these to drop so soon I literally told myself 2 days ago I was going to start stashing cash to grab these expecting 200-300 but at 150 I feel like I can't miss out on these. I've been looking for easy to drive closed back for my occasional bus trips and my 4xx are my daily drivers
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327.Towsif
5
Jan 20, 2022
rhythmdevilsHow do they compared with Sennheiser hd58x in sound quality ?? Almost the same price range. Looking very interesting.
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bassvirtuoso
10
Jan 20, 2022
rhythmdevilsComment was incorrect, edited/deleted.
(Edited)
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rhythmdevils
40
Jan 20, 2022
bassvirtuosoYou are thinking of Electrostatics. Orthos and traditional dynamics are both dynamic headphones, The correct terms to differentiate them is planar magnetic or orthodynamic (ortho) and electrodynamic. In other words, the full word for traditional dynamic headphones is electrodynamic, which is why I always use that phrase since orthos are so popular now.
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bassvirtuoso
10
Jan 20, 2022
rhythmdevilsI'd like to apologize, I must not have read the entire word and stopped at "electro" and didn't even notice "dynamic" at the end.
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rhythmdevils
40
Jan 20, 2022
327.TowsifThey're really different from the HD58x. The HD58x: open back very difficult to drive to make them sound good more refined when driven properly dull, slow transients fuzzy bass response unless driven by the best amps The HE-R7DX: closed back very easy to drive to make them sound their best less refined more clear and neutral sounding faster sounding excellent bass response even out of an iPod that has more extension In the end it depends on how important the refinement that the HD58x has is to you. I personally would take the HE-R7DX unless I had a very very good headphone rig (which would be expensive). I think most people new to headphones would prefer the HE-R7DX.
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Mastaboog749
145
Jan 20, 2022
bassvirtuosoAgreed with rhythmdevils. If you're just getting into the world of nice headphones and don't have a proper amp, the R7DX is the way to go budget wise. With the HD58x not only do you need an alright power source but let's say you want to use it for your phone, atleast mobile while out and about, you then need to get an additional dongle dac/amp which is additional $100. The R7DX will be able to be driven by literally anything with a jack on it. I have the sennheiser HD6XX and the hifiman 4xx and I use my 4xx for everything including gaming, in my opinion they sound better but my girlfriend picks the sennheiser every time so it's all about your own ears on what sounds better. I do plan on getting the HD58x in the future but I am getting this first for sure, these can be worn in public without sound major leaking and driven by anything that's my reason
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Mastaboog749Unless you're running a budget or older phone you don't really need a external dac/amp for 58x's my S10 drove them as well as a zen stack
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quicklytoo4

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rhythmdevilsVery nice review, this is mildly off topic, but can I request a pleasure pic of that Cavalli Liquid Fire?
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dioporks
48
Jan 20, 2022
rhythmdevilsI have the HD58X, the 6Xx, the focal Elear, Hifiman HE-560 and the Edition X V2. Honestly, the HD58X are the less power hungry of the bunch, they’re the only ones that sound the same straight out of my MacBook and of my Pioneer XDP-300 or out of the THX789 and the Lehmann Rhinelander. I think they’re easy to drive, so I don’t understand your statement that they are “very difficult to drive”.they’re not at all. MYbe they sound better out of an amp, but that’s true for any headphones
(Edited)
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Mastaboog749
145
Jan 20, 2022
quicklytoo4Well I know with the 6xx and my $350 phone of 2 years ago will not run them at a decent volume and while it does run other 150 ohm headphones a little louder it still doesn't run them great. I haven't tried the 58x but I don't have much hope. My ddhifi tc35 arrives tomorrow to fix this actually which I am quite excited.
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rhythmdevils
40
Jan 21, 2022
dioporksThis is a very ignorant post. The HD650 series are the some of the most difficult to drive headphones on the market. If you haven't heard them driven out of a very powerful tube amp with a good source you should not be posting about this. Go to a meet. Listen to them out of a good rig. Then post your opinion. They sound like dull garbage out of an iPod or dongle.
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rhythmdevils
40
Jan 21, 2022
Mastaboog749Adequate volume is not the same as being driven properly. A dongle can't drive the HDXXX series properly. They require a powerful tube amp to hear what they are capable of, most of these tube amps are quite expensive. If you haven't heard it, please don't argue.
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dioporks
48
Jan 21, 2022
rhythmdevilsFistly, the "HD650 series" does not exist. Secondly, the HD58X doesn't even belong to the HD6 series. Thirdly, I did not mention the HD650 (or HD6XX) with reference to their drivability, only the HD58X. What you don't grasp is the conceptual difference between being difficult to drive and to perform better with an amplifier. DIfficult to drive = need a powerful source, or picky about the source of power Perform better = performs at a good level with any sources, better with better sources. Difficult to drive are the HE-560, the HE-6. Without an amp they are just bad. With an amp they show all their potential. Different story with the Hifiman Edition X, which sounds good already out of a decent source without amplification. It goes without saying that ANY headphones even the crappiest ones, will sound better out of a great amp, valve or not. Quite simple to understand. I just explained that to my cat and she nodded. So said, the HD58X are NOT difficult to drive, because they sound really good out of a decent source without amplification. out an amplifier, they will sound obviously better. This does not mean that they are difficult to drive. I can say this quite confidently because I have them and I have tried them with different sources and amplifiers, and compared to the other headphones I have listed. Stating that the HD58X are very difficult to drive is nonsense, stating that they are VERY difficult to drive is utter nonsense.
(Edited)
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rhythmdevils
40
Jan 21, 2022
dioporksIgnorance is bliss buddy.
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rhythmdevilsSometimes, ignorance is misery.
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mattris

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dioporks
48
Jan 21, 2022
mattristhat's certainly rhthmdevils case ;)
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Hyde
1119
Jan 21, 2022
rhythmdevilsHello, nice review! I have a question, I currently have Denon AH-D5200 (MSRP $899). And I'm curious to try either Focal Elegia at $379 (MSRP $890) or HE-R7DX at $149. I have a giant head so HE-R7DX has light clamp is a plus for me. I also work at home so I want something comfortable for long hours. But realistically should I just go with Focal Elegia? Would HE-R7DX feel like a downgrade coming from the other 2 headphones? Also I realize HE-R7DX's sound signature is quite a big departure from the D5200. I'll be honest maybe I'm just curious to try new gear but realistically I'm not too sure if this is for me. For reference my preference is forward female vocal and I listen to a lot of acoustic, rock, and pop songs. What would you recommend? Thanks!
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dioporksrhythmdevils had said that the HD58X are "very difficult to drive to make them sound good" and are "more refined when driven properly" by "a very very good headphone rig". He then clarified his statements when noting they produce "fuzzy bass response unless driven by the best amps". Your definition of "the conceptual difference between being difficult to drive and to perform better with an amplifier" contains subjectivity since you didn't define what "perform better" means. But I do agree that all 'difficult to drive' headphones "need a powerful source" or can be "picky about the source of power". You also say that "ANY headphones even the crappiest ones, will sound better out of a great amp" and "With an amp they show all their potential." So you've left your overarching claim open to interpretation... or real-world assessment, if one is able to directly compare the headphones in question - in this case, the HD58X - with amplifiers of varying power output (Volts, amps, Watts) and other specs (channel separation, distortion, etc.). And all this without even addressing the other links in the audio chain: the DAC (specs and real-world performance), input Voltage to the amp, cables/connections, sources/files, etc. Everything matters, some things to a much greater degree than others. You claimed the HE-560 and HE-6 are "Difficult to drive" and that "Without an amp they are just bad". rhythmdevils said the same applies to the HD58X, perhaps replacing "bad" with 'not nearly as good as when used with a good amp'. But again, what does "good" mean? Regarding the use of the HD58X with varying-power amplifiers, perhaps rhythmdevils is able to discern performance differences that you cannot... or holds the differences he hears to be of greater importance to a level that he considers the HD58X "very difficult to drive to make them sound good". Of course, without measured performance or carefully defined sonic characteristics, "good" is merely his opinion. Though, as I noted before, he did say the HD58X had "fuzzy bass response unless driven by the best amps". You say that "the HD58X sound really good out of a decent source without amplification". Would you agree that they are "difficult to drive" if one is hoping to achieve levels of performance approaching their full potential, especially with the quality of the bass? And just to be clear... Re: "ignorance", I wasn't referring to either of you. But it's safe to say that subjectivity is a major factor in these matters, especially when it comes to classifying the performance of headphones with so many variables in the audio chain.
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HydeWhile I haven't heard the Denon AH-D5200 or HE-R7DX, I do have a giant head. So while I'm here, I'll give my two cents on the absolutely superb Focal Elegia, which I own and have used with various DACs and amps... though, in balanced mode only. What gear would you be using, should you buy it? At that price, I will confidently say that the Elegia is the best-value, closed-back headphones for at-home listening in the world... but only if you swap out their shockingly-bad, sound-hindering stock ear pads. I realize this condition will be a deal-breaker for some. But if you're intrigued, I will elaborate.
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Hyde
1119
Jan 21, 2022
mattrisI currently have a Burson Playmate 2 but it's wayyyyyyyy overpowered even at low gain volume 1 it's already loud ish on D5200 (24 Ohm). To my understanding is that Elegia is fairly easy to drive also. So I have a Cayin RU6 on the way to me which should arrive next week. Which has both 3.5 single ended and 4.4 balanced out. I was following the Elegia thread on head-fi sounds like people swear by the Dekoni Stellia pad. Would that be your recommendation? Though they still recommend EQ over it but in general I'm not a fan of EQ. So it depends on how far the Dekoni Stellia pad will take it lol. I think I don't mind minor tweaks but sometimes I know people can be like "oh you need this pad and this crazy expensive cable and then you EQ it then you need dac/amp at least this level......". I feel like I've been through that "need this 1 more item until it sound good", so at this point I'd prefer to keep things simple and hopefully mostly just work out of the box lol.
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Struze
1
Jan 21, 2022
mattrisWhat kind of ear pads do you use on your Elegia? I also have a pair and was thinking about the perforated dekoni, but binging out almost 150 cad is a bit tough to do just to see if I like something. (I'm hoping to keep the treble at bay since I'm sensitive and increase the base without screwing up details.)
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Mr.Fish-N-Ducks
37
Jan 22, 2022
rhythmdevilsSo the earcup connection is 3.5mm?
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HydeI can confirm that the Focal Elegia is fairly easy to drive. I've found they scale a bit with more power and a cleaner/more-detailed signal. It's a quite capable, versatile, and resolving headphone, so every link in the audio chain (DAC, amp, pads) greatly affects the overall sound. I used to be a fan of EQ, but I rarely use it anymore. I prefer to 'tune' my listening experience with different 'combos' of headphones, DACs, & amps. That being said, the TRUEBASS button on my ifi ZEN DAC is so easy to press... and very satisfying on tracks that need a bit more sub-bass thump. With the right pads and amp, Elegia's can deliver bass quality in spades. (I primarily use my ZEN DAC as a DAC... and only use its built-in amp for casual listening with lesser headphones.) I prefer to use my Elegia with gear that yields the most natural, spacious sound for listening to orchestral/classical music: a Cirrus Logic-based DAC, Geshelli Labs Erish amplifier (or a GE JAN 5654W tube-rolled xDuoo MT-604 amp, if I'm in the mood for more smoothness), and perforated leather pads (more on this later). As I said before, the Elegia's (synthetic) suede stock pads do an injustice to the sonic potential of the headphones. Did Focal expect that Elegia owners would eventually upgrade to one of their more expensive, better-sounding models, like the Stellia, Radiance, or Celestee... the stock pads of which are vastly superior? Bottom line: There is no need buy another headphone like the Elegia. Just replace their pads and enjoy a signiicant improvement. I chose to destroy my Elegia's stock pads to salvage their ring-mounts so that I could use any aftermarket pads and change them as I desired. But to keep your pad-swap simple: Yes, it looks like the Dekoni Limited Edition Stellia Pads are the most impressive-/interesting-sounding pads designed specifically for use with Focal's closed-back models. Shame Dekoni has either sold out of them for now... or entirely. I wish I had gotten a pair when they were last available on Drop. If you can find 'em, get 'em! Dekoni's Elite Sheepskin Pads (solid, non-fenestrated) would be the next best thing... with more vocal-presence and overall solidity, just lacking the expansive sound-staging feature of the fancy Stellia pads. (The fenestrated model would be the more spacious-sounding but have a much leaner (less bassy) sound. From what I gather, Dekoni's Elite Hybrid Pads would provide a larger sound-stage than the Elite Sheepskin. But I don't think they'd be as detailed, and you might hear some treble peaks/grain that could be fatiguing. Alternatively, you could use double-sided tape to affix any pads of your choice. This method can actually be advantageous over using the Focal mounting rings in order to bring the driver closer to your ears to improve the sound with certain (thicker) pads. General rules for headphone pads:
  • Deeper pads will reduce the mids.
  • Angled pads will yield a peakier sound.
  • Thinner pads will reduce bass.
  • The bigger the 'ear hole' of the pad, the larger the sound-stage.
  • Real leather will yield the most detail and the most bass... but imaging performance may not be optimal, especially with solid leather pads.
  • Artificial materials will yield the most reflections, usually resulting in less perceived clarity
All this being said, I recommend the Focal Elegia, the Dekoni Elite Sheepskin Pads (or their elusive Stellia LE pads), and a balanced cable (Amazon has some new, inexpensive models) to use with your Cayin RU6... which looks to be a rather unique little unit. I'm curious to hear what you think of it. Of course, you could first see (hear) how the Elegia (+Dekoni pads) sound with your Burson. Yikes, that got a bit long-winded. Let me know if you have any questions.
(Edited)
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Hyde
1119
Jan 22, 2022
mattrisOh yeah I used to pad roll for Fostex / Denon headphones so I definitely agree with all points. Maybe I'll see what Dekoni pads I can find first and go from there. Thank you for your explanation!
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Hyde

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StruzeAs a general rule, perforated pads should not be used with closed-back headphones... unless the pads' outer perorations are completely covered in some way: cloth, tape, or a band of some kind. The more solid the material and/or tighter seal of the perorations, the more the bass will be contained. On my Elegia, I have done this. Later on, I will reveal the pads I use. If Dekoni's perforated leather pads (for Focal headphones) were installed on the Elegia - and all the pads' outer perorations were covered - I imagine the sound would be rather spacious, detailed, and lean. But considering that you want to increase the base and still keep the detail, I think Dekoni's solid leather pads would be ideal for you.
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Hyde
1119
Mar 25, 2022
mattrishttps://dekoniaudio.com/product/dekoni-audio-custom-series-replacement-ear-pads-for-focal-headphones/ Oh in case you're interested, the limited Stellia pad is back being a permanent item now. It's exactly the same as before only difference is that it's not a limited run anymore. And no I still haven't bought any headphones yet, dancing on the fence forever LOL.
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