Refusal to take responsibility.
Hi, Just thought I would make a note here of your handling of my issues. I ordered a pair of HD6xx headphones and then earlier today recieved the package. I drive to go and get it, as I like in the UK I had to pay import tax and handling fees. These total £47.92. The breakdown being £35.92 in tax and £12 in fees. These taxes were calculated of the shipping label of the box, which marked the shipment as the 6xx headphones of $199 value. Before leaving the parcel depot, I open the box to find a $35 lord of the rings mousepad. So now the problem is not only do I not have the headphones, but you have marked the shipment wrong so I have paid £47.92 fees for the handling of the mousepad. Which would have acrued £0 of fees if marked correctly as it is under £135. I go back to the desk but as I have already paid the fees I am unable to reject the shipment, but as the box said 6xx, there was no way for me to know before opening it. I contact support and they offer me a replacement, which...
Jan 17, 2025
So what do I think of them? Well, put some Red Hot Chili Pepper's Blood, Sugar, Sex, Magic on it seems like these headphones were made for that album. If you like Rock with some punchy bass then you'll love the sound the Jubilees make. The Precisions were made in a time where bass was starting to take a spot closer to the center of the rock band stage so it makes sense that kind of sound would be so fantastic in these.
With that same time period in mind I found that older Beastie Boys wasn't as exciting, but newer stuff is like Hot Sauce Committee.
These cans really come to life when there is a good mix of highs and lows. They're casual enough to enjoy while working, but you can get analytical with them if you want. I'm finding them to be a very excellent companion to the Sennheiser HD700s with a tube amp. The tubes help to warm things up and drive a little more low punch while the HD580s really help the bassier songs jump around in your ears. The HD700s are there to accentuate those tracks with screaming stringed-instrument leads where the HD580s don't pop as much.
Can one live life with just the HD580s? Absolutely. Is one's life better with a complimentary set of higher frequency performers? One could call that nirvana.
My ears are thoroughly enjoying the HD580s while taking me through a journey of 1980 and 1990s rock. Reliving my teenage hero music on a whole new level is absolutely worth $150!
On the other hand, the Loki helps the HD58xs out in the highs when a song can use it. Admittedly I've cranked up the bass a few times on some older rap songs (don't have the same bass character as modern stuff) with it and thoroughly enjoyed some "Boomin' System" on my head.
I have not tested the Loki against an equalizer program, so I can't speak to whether the sound is any different. My recommendation of it comes purely out of ease of use. The Valhalla, however, that recommendation absolutely comes from making a more pleasing sound.
P.S. Valhalla 2 = 1/4 turn on low gain is plenty loud on most of my headphones. Turning the volume knob makes a significant difference in comparison to other amps.
Without the Loki or the Valhalla's warmth I still enjoy the HD700s. Sure, there are tracks they just don't work for. With that said I'm still on the hunt for a pair of headphones that plays every single song perfectly, and I know that hunt will never be satisfied. I think the HD700s handle a wider gamut of genres than the HD58xs as a blasphemous example of how no headphone is perfect.
I come from a rock and roll upbringing. My father used to hustle records for a few of the larger companies in the 70s and 80s to radio stations on the East coast. He brought that love of music to me and we've enjoyed analyzing lyrics and harmonics for as long as I can remember. In this upbringing I've been able to sample a lot of equipment and I've learned to appreciate things for what they are instead of wishing for them to be better.
The HD700s are my daily driver first and foremost because they meld to myhead to the point of being unnoticeable outside of the cable. The added benefit of one of the most amazing sound stages is a giant bonus, but the bigger bonus is that they sound pretty damn good. In fact, they sound good enough that I have not even considered upgrading to any of the 800 level Sennheisers.
As someone posted a while back, that maybe they should just repackage the 700 in all matte black with a grill like the 600 series... and call it some higher number in the chain, just past the 650;).. and maybe it won't be so shat upon... or maybe it will, markets are fickle things...
I was just listening to some Tchaikovsky off of a DVD, and the 700's are still right on, stage was better, wider, than the Elex's. keeping mine folks, both.
But I think my next headphones should be the HD 800 or above. I already have plenty of $500 - $600 headphones. I've been looking at the Elear, Elex, the T1.2, the Aeon Flow Open and the older HD 800. But all seem compromised in some areas. Like...the $1000+ price bracket has more compromises and flawed sound quality excuses than the $500+ bracket.
I've noticed that in reviews, which is why I haven't bought anything high-end yet and I'm reluctant to do so. I even read a Headfonia review of one of the writers wanting to trade their HD 800 for the HD 700. That isn't encouraging at all to someone wanting to climb the ladder.