audio amateur
06-01-2008, 10:54 AM
I've had these along with the DAC & amp for a couple months now and I thought I would share my opinions, now that I've had a little time with them.
I would imagine that they are clearly broken in by now, having used them quite a lot during this time. I'd like to note that the acoustics in my current dorm room are not good, as the walls are hard and bare.
I couldn't wait to get these hooked up when I got them, as all I had before that for several months was some fake Sennheiser ear phones, and my laptop 'speakers' (to make things worse, the inbuilt sound-card is foul). I believe I've managed to place them relatively well. The soundstage was a little too left/right, whereas currently it is perfectly balanced, with voices coming straight from the centre. I have them about 5 feet apart and 7 feet from me.
Now for the impressions. They sounded amazing out of the box. Literally, they sounded really good. I had obviously been auditioning them in store, and they didn't fail to impress when I got them home, at first listen. Which doesn't mean they don't now.
More resolute than anything I've owned before, and the bass extensions truly belies their size. I'm not used to this with such a small speaker. I was watching 'I am legend' (in stereo with my configuration) last night I was shocked how low they went during a couple passages. The bass is well controlled as well.
Midrange is great, the high end perhaps a tad harsh but I haven't been bothered. I feel the Trends amp really helps with all this, as I am sure that they wouldn't shine so much with other amplifiers. I believe it is a very 'transparent amp'. One negative aspect I can point out is the soundstage which I feel is a bit blurred, but perhaps this has to with room acoustics.
One possible shortcoming in a larger room with more absorption might be the amp. It does run out of steam and i can clearly hear clipping. At modest levels in a large room though, it should be fine. One track I may well use as a reference from now on is Amy Winehouse's 'Just Friends'. I love this track and know it quite well, and what shocked me is when I plugged my headphone. It sounded absolutely nasty in comparaison. 'Tinny', compressed, distorted and without any dynamics (part of this could be the sound card). The 686's sound so much more full.
I think this sums it up. Feel free to ask me about them.
Stephen.
ps: They like Harpsichord. And Massive Attack:D
I would imagine that they are clearly broken in by now, having used them quite a lot during this time. I'd like to note that the acoustics in my current dorm room are not good, as the walls are hard and bare.
I couldn't wait to get these hooked up when I got them, as all I had before that for several months was some fake Sennheiser ear phones, and my laptop 'speakers' (to make things worse, the inbuilt sound-card is foul). I believe I've managed to place them relatively well. The soundstage was a little too left/right, whereas currently it is perfectly balanced, with voices coming straight from the centre. I have them about 5 feet apart and 7 feet from me.
Now for the impressions. They sounded amazing out of the box. Literally, they sounded really good. I had obviously been auditioning them in store, and they didn't fail to impress when I got them home, at first listen. Which doesn't mean they don't now.
More resolute than anything I've owned before, and the bass extensions truly belies their size. I'm not used to this with such a small speaker. I was watching 'I am legend' (in stereo with my configuration) last night I was shocked how low they went during a couple passages. The bass is well controlled as well.
Midrange is great, the high end perhaps a tad harsh but I haven't been bothered. I feel the Trends amp really helps with all this, as I am sure that they wouldn't shine so much with other amplifiers. I believe it is a very 'transparent amp'. One negative aspect I can point out is the soundstage which I feel is a bit blurred, but perhaps this has to with room acoustics.
One possible shortcoming in a larger room with more absorption might be the amp. It does run out of steam and i can clearly hear clipping. At modest levels in a large room though, it should be fine. One track I may well use as a reference from now on is Amy Winehouse's 'Just Friends'. I love this track and know it quite well, and what shocked me is when I plugged my headphone. It sounded absolutely nasty in comparaison. 'Tinny', compressed, distorted and without any dynamics (part of this could be the sound card). The 686's sound so much more full.
I think this sums it up. Feel free to ask me about them.
Stephen.
ps: They like Harpsichord. And Massive Attack:D