Headphone Reviews

A reader recently asked if I preferred listening to loudspeakers or to headphones. There is no easy answer: Although I do most of my music listening through speakers, about 10% of that listening, for various reasons, takes place in the privacy of my headphones. I have also found that, since I purchased the Audeze LCD-X headphones following my review of them last March, I now tend to watch movies on my MacBook Pro, with the soundtrack reproduced by these headphones plugged into an AudioQuest DragonFly or whatever D/A headphone amplifier has been passing through my test lab. So when Meridian's PR person, Sue Toscano, asked me last Christmas if I'd be interested in reviewing the English company's new Prime D/A headphone amplifier ($2000) with its optional Prime Power Supply ($1295), it took me less than a New York minute to say "Yes."

This story originally appeared at InnerFidelity.com

While the X2 shares a lot in common with the X1 at first glance, deeper investigation reveals significant changes and real improvements with this new release. The X2 is an excellent headphone...yes, even for audiophiles...maybe especially for audiophiles. For the first time, in a long time, I think we've got a headphone to rival the Sennheiser HD 600 in the mid-priced open headphone category. Yes, I think it's that good.

This story originally appeared at InnerFidelity.com

The Oppo PM-2 was released not long after the Oppo PM-1 as a lower cost alternative. The PM-2 forgoes the fancy presentation box, extra ear-pads, and balanced cable, leaving the denim clam-shell case, short mobile cable, and longe unbalanced cable (OFC instead of OCC) as the included accessories. On the headphones themselves, ear-pads and headband pad coverings switch from lamb-skin to synthetic leather, and a couple of the trim pieces on the ear capsule are now plastic instead of metal. All told, I think these were excellent choices in creating a lower cost version of the PM-1.

This story originally appeared at InnerFidelity.com

Lots of chatter abut the Oppo ear-pads on Head-Fi.org. I figured I better do some measurements to get another view.

Did some listening too, and found a favorite pad.

This story originally appeared at InnerFidelity.com

Yes, I've been very vocal about my disappointment with Beats product, especially the original Solo.

Well, it's time to change my tune, and I'll be vocal about that too.

This story originally appeared at InnerFidelity.com

Oh boy. This one's going to be a tough one for me. I love the sound of the PM-1...heck I love almost everything about them. But they're not neutral, and many won't like them.

Oh well...here we go...

This story originally appeared at InnerFidelity.com

Okay, okay, perfect is a bit strong, I've got a few little niggles with sound quality. But damn, you're getting a heck of a lot for $212 with these terrific headphones.