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
This is Zeos he is a very good, in depth headphone reviewer.
I do wish he shared more objective observations about the gear and consistently gave an overall description of a headphone before launching into his opinions. It does sometimes seem like he loves or hates a product, and the only “why” you get is described in hand waving and different grunts. The headphone recording videos are useless, as the sound is retuned and distorted by the amateur mic setup, Zeos’ audio chain, youtube compression, the viewer’s audio chain, and the colorations and limitations of your own speakers or headphone. I always picture people that like the recording videos as listening with their phone’s speakerphone, going “Oh, YES, this one has much more bass than the other headphone, yes...”
I think it’s fair to say that a reviewer HAS to be confident in his opinions, even to the extent where a reviewer might seem like he has a big ego by necessity, but even when he is “on a mission” around a CanJam with an assistant he doesn’t seem like a jerk.
I also think the reason why he is popular is because he is a livewire, and his reactions are entertaining. I don’t come to learn about headphones or inform my next purchase, but I have watched a lot of his videos because of his reactions. He even influences me somewhat, where I’m really wishing my DAP started up faster and had twice the battery life, even though 10 hours gives me more than a day’s worth of listening. Overall, I like him being part of the community.
My audio adventures continue, though the pace has somewhat slowed. I also wondered about upgrade cables, and after a lot of scepticism and then a few convincing demos (the only way to really know), I jumped into the deep end with an all-silver cable from Wireworld. It was expensive, but without changing the FR of the headphone I bought it for, it provided a great upgrade in revealing a more layered, nuanced sound. I don’t want to go much more into detail on an HE-4XX drop, though I’m sure Larry from Wireworld would make great upgrade cables for HiFiman, especially if you find a headphone signature you really like and just want to elevate it. Of course I’m curious about this HE-4XX, as I had the opportunity to borrow an HE-400 with velour pads from Mad Lust Envy back in the day. I’m wondering if these are less V-Shaped than those... or if those would sound better off the higher end gear I have today. The draw of the HE-400 was BASS, but (on my gear back then) it pushed the vocals into the background. This HE-4XX is supposed to be more balanced.
To go back off-topic but still talk about my audio equipment... I’m actually kinda proud that I just cleaned up my home office/listening room. Just TOO MANY shipping boxes for headphones and a few other things accumulated in the past year, and I had saved them wondering if I would have to mail them back or sell old stuff. Now, the floor is clear (and there’s room for a guest air bed if someone comes by!), and in a weird way I’m happy there is only 10 headphone retail boxes in the closet 😅 Still stacked pretty high...
EDIT: Since this post already went way off topic (sorry, hope it was at least still a bit entertaining), here’s a before and after of my little garden from yesterday:
I pair them with Fiio X5 ii and E12k amp, this works well for x2 but not for Hd6xx, producing a harsh unpleasant sound. I just ordered a dragonfly red to see if the hd's pair better with it.
Overall, I'm enjoying the clarity, immersion and bass of X2's. Only some 60-70's dont sound very good when vocals/guitar are all mixed into one channel without much crossover (Hendrix /doors). For those songs and blues guitar I'm enjoying the HD6XX as it's more laid back and intimate.
I am familiar with the box life. I get EVERYTHING online lol. I see we have a similar desk setup lol. I even have a trashcan behind my chair XD. I have the budget version set up tho. Its an offbrand chair and Ikea desk that I got for free from a guy who graduated. Those are also 50$ "gaming" headphones. They are decent in locating the location of sound but I have to focus to find the source of the sound in games. They are also super staticy and have insanely muddy bass.
I haven’t heard the Philips X2, but i’ve read a lot about it and the HE-4XX. I think either one would be a “fun” colored compliment to the HD 6XX, which is like a nice pair of parlor speakers. The X2 and HE-4XX are more similar than disseparate in sound style, except for build quality. While the X2 and HE-4XX are both more balanced than their respective ancestors, the X1 and HE-400, I think that if you’re going for a more unique sound then you might as well pick the HE-4XX. I probably would have a HiFiman by now, if it wasn’t for my wife explicitly telling me I can’t buy anymore headphones.
So, don’t tell her I got in on the IndieGoGo campaign for the Audeze Mobius ;)
Not saying you listen loud, but I do advise everyone who enjoys audio, and doesn’t want ringing sounds in their ears at random times, to practice good listening habits so you can listen late into life. It’s not a mind over matter thing, it’s a permanent irreversible damage thing: http://dangerousdecibels.org/education/information-center/
Over 1 hour of exposure to 94 dB or louder, about as loud as a gas lawnmower, is enough to make you soften or lose some frequencies.
The HD 650 wasn’t at all what I was expecting from reviews (which is why I always say if I haven’t heard something). I thought it would be a warm, bass or mids strong, blurry veiled mess. But it isn’t. I found it to sound really even-keeled and balanced, nothing in a highlight, but it has a nice sense of solidity, is comfortable to listen to or wear for long periods of time. Most of all, though it doesn’t give you something you can easily put your finger on right away, once you let it play through three songs or so it has a beguiling ability to draw you in and leave you too charmed to notice the passing of time.
The HE-400 (and I think this HE-4XX) is easier to demonstrate to friends that “Wow!“ moment so they “get” why you’re getting into higher end audio. So I think they can co-exist and provide a nice contrast.
At this point I can only really speculate and read what other people have said. I seriously cant wait to hear what High end cans will sound like. I am really hoping that they blow me away and give me what I am looking for. I honestly don't know if I prefer the v shape curve or a more neutral curve. Here is what I think the difference will be. I have 2 sets of speakers as you saw. One of them has really strong bass and far extended bass but voices are overpowered by it and the highs are meh. the other set of speakers has less bass but the mids and highs are clearer and fuller they just sound so much better. I like the bassy speakers for hiphop or some electric stuff with a good bass line but other music that focuses on vocals or higher pitched notes are so much better on the other speakers. And of course I have my MEE PX but IEMs just sound small even if they are super clear.
I know the speakers that i have are around $100 and I've heard that good headphones are way better than similarly priced speakers so I really have my hopes set high that they will sound amazing.
@DaveinSM Thanks for letting me know I'm really glad to hear that. I want it to be the same as the 400i so I can compare it with what other people think about it and how it compares to other headphones.
I do keep finding deals on coat hanger stands that get sold out before I make a move, but for the same purpose I’ve debated on making my own “headphone tree” that is like a coat stand except I could festoon it with headphones! Meh, someday.
Stuff in the office, from Massdrop: AK Racing Chair two of the Vivo Monitor Mount arms Reylight Pineapple 2x AAA Brass Lumintop light (lost my Massdrop Brass light) Couple of knives Creative BlasterX Katana Sennheiser x Massdrop PC37X PS Audio Sprout II review unit Peak Design bag and straps One of a pair of Vorso spinning tops, the other one is with my Dad so we can be reminded of each other despite the states and miles between us ... uh, I think there’s more stuff too, but I forget. 😁
http://www.keepinspiring.me/20-ways-to-organize-your-life-now/
@RayF , I really like that list, something I lived by as a kid or realized I just had to give in and do in order to keep up with college and most people around me. Reading lists like the one in your link is actually encouraging, because it reminds you of the good habits you already do and how most of the others are in reach, too.
In grade school, I almost always forgot what my homework assignment was by the time I got home. My mom is a HUGE fan of Franklin Covelli day planners, but we learned pretty quickly that I found paper planners boring and I just wouldn’t put time into it... so we saved up and I got a Palm PDA. It was more interesting, but I still resisted spending time organizing like it was an extra school subject with its own homework assignment/chore, and I hated the idea of mapping out the whole day/week into a routine at the cost of spontaneity, BUT I gave in and I get a LOT done knowing what I’m supposed to do and when I am almost done. I build in “freetime” for spontaneity for when my wife leaves for evening work. Reoccuring to-Do lists keep the bills paid without stress, the trash not getting rotten, and a sense that you did something with the day.
i really like the “bucket list” idea. Spending too much time working, sometimes you feel like there’s nothing fulfilling to do when you get home, so you veg on the couch watching TV or YouTube or a dumb phone game, while you could be having a richer and more sat experience instead. I need to work on that, and somehow convincing my wife to help with house chores. Even just not falling asleep on the couch and not leaving her almost full tea cups on TV dinner trays or the kitchen sink for days at a time would help.
however, I need to get back into the full schedule, and sleep schedule. I still spend a certain amount of time on things, but my work doesn’t have a shift schedule, so I’ve been lazy about going to bed and waking up at a normal time. My wife works “Do Not Disturb” for the mornings, so other than waking her up so she’s not late (lately been doing that every morning) I don’t have anything to do in the morning, so I stay up late giving the cat attention or playing with my phone.
on that note, I realize I’ve fully derailed the thread and stayed up stupid late. When people read this later, wish past me that is writing this a quick quieting if the mind and peace finding sleep 😅
BTW I also own (and like) the M50x, but the stock earpads were a real pain. I didn't enjoyed them for gaming until I replaced the pads (brainwavz pleather work like a charm, sheepskin leather is even better because it's more breathable and feels great on your skin). I strongly encourage you to replace the stock pads for something better, pleather or true leather (velour usually affects the sound too much, killing the bass and making treble even more fatiguing). Brainwavz are a safe choice, but you can try some others too, there's plenty of options. Believe me, with proper pads the M50x become super comfortable, you'll be able to wear them for days, and they're a great complement for the HD650 because they offer just the opposite (v-shaped sound, closed back with good isolation, strong sub-bass).
Initially I got kinda dissapointed first time I heard the HD6XX, coming from the fun v-shaped M50x they sounded dull and boring, but the more I listened to them the more I liked the warmy relaxed sound of the senns. And they improved substantially when I upgraded to a Darkvoice 336se amp (even with stock tubes) compared to the Little Dot I+ (hybrid tube/ss amp) with upgraded tubes & opamp. On the other hand, the HE4XX was a instant surprise, the planar sound is so addictive! Both need a proper amp to sound good, but the HE4XX need a shitload of power while the HD6XX are pretty easy to drive (as long as your amp has decent power output under 300ohm load).
Now, which one would I choose? If you can afford it, go for both (with an amp too, of course). If I had no amp, I'd probably go with the HD6XX since they sound louder from my smartphone and pc. If I only had a budget solid state amp that delivered just enought power to drive them, I'd probably go with the HE4XX. But if you can afford a better amp (specially an OTL) the HD6XX is one of these headphones you'll never get tired of, it's a safe choice like the somewhat pretty girl you've been dating for months and you enjoy even when she's not that exciting, while the HE4XX are the "hot crazy bitch" that you meet a few weeks ago, you know she'll get you some serious headaches but at the same time you can't get her out of your mind, and she can make you feel in heaven or turn your life into a living hell.
P.S.: in case you didn't know, both HD6XX and HE4XX are open back and provide zero noise isolation in both ways (they leak A LOT, specially the HE4XX), so they're only good on quiet environments where you won't disturb anyone.
Si tienes más dudas, no dudes en preguntarme. Buena suerte en tu eterna búsqueda del mejor sonido posible :)
Ah, opamp rolling es lo mismo que el tube rolling pero aplicado al opamp (amplificador operacional, un pequeño circuito integrado que es el que lleva a cabo la amplificación): cambiar el opamp de fabrica por otros mejores/diferentes para obtener un sonido diferente, más acorde a tu gusto. Como te dije, si te interesa te doy +info y sugerencias, los opamp son muy baratos: muchos modelos los encuentras por eBay a menos de $1/unidad, los más top rondan los $3-5, algún modelo premium cuesta mucho más pero ya no merece la pena. Ten en cuenta que no se nota mucho cambiar el opamp, digamos que el 70-80% de la coloración del sonido la dan los tubos y el otro 30-20% el opamp, pero sigue siendo divertido hacerte con una colección de chips e ir probando unos y otros ;)
Una cuestión a tener en cuenta es el "factor de forma" de los chips: el que utiliza el LD es el DIP8, el que tiene patillas largas para encajarse en un zócalo, pero algunos opamps sólo están disponibles en SOP8 que es más pequeño y está pensado para ir soldado sobre la placa. Existen adaptadores que permiten soldar un chip SOP8 sobre una pequeña placa y añadir pines para poderlo encajar en un zócalo DIP8, cuestan muy muy poco y las soldaduras son fáciles de hacer, pero has de tener soldador de estaño y un mínimo de maña (y ganas de hacer un poco de bricomanía).
Otra cuestión importante es que algunos opamp son "single", pero el LD necesita uno "dual" ya que ambos canales se amplifican por el mismo chip. Pero también existen adaptadores muy simples que permiten conectar dos opamp single en serie para formar uno dual, los hay que ya vienen montados incluso y son plug & play, pero si quieres ahorrar te recomiendo que compres las placas y los pines por separado y te los montes tú.
Como ves, el opamp rolling es un poco más artesanal que el tube rolling, y los resultados no son tan apreciables. Pero tiene su gracia, y cuesta tan poco que merece la pena aunque sea comprar un par de opamps para tener recambios o jugar un poco. Ah, no lo he dicho porque es más que evidente, pero para cambiar el opamp hay que abrir la tapa inferior del LD (quitar los 4 tornillos inferiores, dos en la parte frontal y dos en la parte trasera). Yo tengo mi LD con los tornillos siempre quitados, ya que para tenerlo sobre la mesa no hace falta ponerlos y así puedo cambiar los switches de ganancia (y selectores de familia de tubos) así como reemplazar el opamp cuando me apetece.
Por último, mis sugerencias de opamps: OPA627 (single DIP8, hermano "balanceado/estable" del OPA637, sonido natural y relajado, buen match con los HE4XX), OPA2228 (dual DIP8, relajado y cálido, sólo es estable con ganancia alta, buen match con los HE4XX), AD8066 (dual SOP8, sonido brillante y rápido, graves contundentes, buen match para los HD6XX), OPA2604 (dual DIP8, muy relajado y nada fatigante, algo "aburrido", buen match para auriculares con un sonido en v muy marcado como los ATH-M50x). Si sólo pudiera quedarme con un opamp, seguramente sería el OPA637, ya que es estable a cualquier ganancia y suena muy neutro, por lo que no suena mal con ningún auricular. Lo único "malo" del OPA627 es que es single, y por tanto hay que comprar al menos 2 unidades (yo compré 3 por menos de 4€) y un adaptador de doble DIP8 a single DIP8 (si lo quires ya montado, aquí tienes uno: https://www.ebay.es/itm/Double-Single-DIP8-to-Single-DIP8-Dual-OP-Amp-Opamp-Socket-Gold-Plated-Converter/172677868865).
Esto ha sido más largo de lo que esperaba, wow! Espero que te sea de ayuda toda la info jajaja