Two Vintage AKG Headphones: K240 Sextett and K340 Electrostatic Dynamic
This story originally appeared at InnerFidelity.com
I can't tell you what a treat it is to measure and listen to the unusual headphones I get from enthusiasts. This time, rythmdevils from Head-Fi has sent in a couple of vintage AKG cans.
He's also a photographer, and has kindly allowed me to use his sweet pix of these two cans for the article. Very nice! Thanks!
Ultimate Ears Reference Remastered Custom In-Ear Monitors
This story originally appeared at InnerFidelity.comIt's been nearly 5 years since ToTL Madnessour attempt to survey the growing custom IEM landscape and identify the best of the best. It's still a good read if you want to learn more about the history of the industry, the major players, and the strengths/weaknesses of these colorful little ear gems.
V-MODA Crossfade M-80 and V-80 True Blood Headphones
This story originally appeared at InnerFidelity.com
Call me out of touch with pop-culture, but I had no idea what the "True Blood" referred to on V-MODA's V-80 True Blood headphone. A quick Google and I know we have a new kind of celebrity headphone, one endorsed by a T.V. show about vampires. Fine with me because ...
... these headphones are AWESOME!
V-MODA Crossfade Wireless a Mixed Bag
This story originally appeared at InnerFidelity.com
In the end I think these are pretty good for a wireless headphone, but you're going to have to wade through a lot of mixed feelings from me to get there.
World's Best Headphone: The Focal Utopia
This story originally appeared at InnerFidelity.comAnd then, at 21 second in, right after she sings, "When God gave out rhythm...", two chords are gently played on the piano. My goodness, I've never heard such sensitively percussive, harmonically rich, filled with weight and substance sound from a piano. Most astonishing is the interplay of tones, harmonics, and intermodulation making the whole of the chord a rich textured wave of sound. I was transfixed until track's end.
ZMF Atticus Sealed Over-Ear Headphones
This story originally appeared at InnerFidelity.comTo my eyes, the Atticus is one half of a two part experiment by Zach Mehrbach, Founder and CEO of ZMF Headphones. His past has been dominated by the venerable, but in my opinion underperforming, Fostex T50RP planar magnetic driver. I guess Zach sees his future with a more modernthough more commondynamic driver. It seems to me he's designed these latest two headphones as an experiment to find out just how good a headphone he can build using two different types of dynamic driver: the Atticus with a TPE (Thermoplastic Elastomer) diaphragm driver; and the Eikon with its bio-cellulose cone and rubber surround.
ZMF Eikon Sealed Around-Ear Headphones
This story originally appeared at InnerFidelity.comOn the one hand you have Sony, Sennheiser, AKG, and the like mounting big bucks R&D efforts to grab at the various brass rings in the headphone world; and on the other hand you have a guy like Zach Mehrbach, Founder, CEO, and Chief Cook and Bottle-Washer at ZMF Headphones, who's artisanal approach is less mental and measurement, and more heart and art...lots more.