Tyll Hertsens

Actually, I've listened to Pandora quite a bit too. And yes, it does a good job of playing music similar to something you seed it with. Sometime when I want background music that won't distract I'll poke something like Pat Metheny into Pandora and just let it stream.

Well... I don't call it my nutsacks.

Mostly international Jazz radio stations. My favorite is here: FIP > En direct

Manfession: My most commonly listened to source is streaming radio off the interweb with an average bitrate of about 96kbs. What can I say, I want to listen to music I haven't heard before.

I would say they do sound brighter than the 650, in there with the 701 but in a different way.

Been doing quite a bit of listening with these over the last day or two. Frankly, I'm amazed it does as well as id does in a pretty crouded field of damn good headphones. The mids seem really soulful to me, lots of body and strength. But I do hear something odd going on in the higs. I haven't measured them yet, but the guy in Japan seems to produce quality data and I tend to hear some stuff missing and some stuff accentuated as the graphs would imply. Cymbals are a little splashy sounding but the overal effect is omehow laid back at the same time. I'm not sure that the mixed results you're seeing is due to manufacturing variance as much as it is just some unevenness in response. I would suggest they may be similer to Grados in that regard. I also think he needs to work on the earpad some; it seems to contact my head top and bottom and not fore and aft as much. One the whole though, I'm amazed at how good they sound. A real luscious old school sound; I'm enjoying them.

I have to say I could quite happily live with the RS170 (closed) or RS180 (open) for quite some time. I really do think they sounded great for what they are. My guess is that for folks here using a wireless as a secondary headphone for music while doing dishes or for movies or listening in bed, they would be quite satisfied. The RS160 is pretty range limited; good for a bedroom headphone though.

Here, lemme help ya: I really thought the 380 sucked too. You're welcome.

Man, you wonder what the strategy will be to deliver a come-back. Thin out, for sure. Discontinue the low money makers. R&D is expensive. Focus on the products with good sell through. Focus on developing stronger partnerships with .. say ... Radio Shack. I sorta don't see them with a gas pedal to step on, the headphone market is furiously competitive and busting with new product from every direction. Be pretty tough selling "The Plug" when so many better products are appearing out there. I dunno. I'm guessing they'll either have to thin down to a shadow of their former self, or try to sell the brand to someone who's got the money and will to refresh it. They do have very good brand recognition, someone is bound to see that as an opportunity. Logitec? Sumpin' like that. edit - Does bankruptcy let them off the hook from previous warranty commitments?

Reviewed those wireless cans on my blog a coupla weeks ago, Al. They're pretty friggen amazingly good.

Nah. I'm not going to CES and have no idea what they're announcing. I tell you what though, they've been putting out some great shit lately (PX100-II, CX 300-II, the new wireless stuff), I'd guess it's the logo thing, but if there's product coming along too, I bet it's pretty damn good.

No, I'm with you John, the euphony tends to stick to your taint and makes you squirm after a while. The HD800 will scrape that clean off. I do think the HD800 has a bit of dry glare or sumpin', but balancing them and recabling does wonders to deliver just plain clean sound.

The graphing software is a bitch, not sure what they're going to look like when they go up for real. But I note and agree with your comment.

I'll do some looking into our impedance measurement. We do do it with the cans on the dummy, and it does change the impedance curve a little. But usually just a little, no where near the the difference between our data and Stereophile's. I'll let you guys know in a week or two.

Ho ho ho! Off to the airport destined for ATL. See you tomorrow guys!

Two ... two ... two wins in one!

I think that's a little too cynical. I'm sure most in corporations group-think their way into believing they're listening and delivering with their own brand of Kool-Aid. I know I do.

No. You were drunk. Alright, I'll rephrase that: "when these guys show up at CanJam they think they value you and your opinion" They may be deluded, but aren't we all.

Truthiness! The more vendors you have, the more money is made for the organizers to figure out how to spend it on the members fun. I'll also add, that when these guys show up at CanJam it means they value you and your opinion. And when they're there you have the opportunity to voice your pleasure/displeasure at their products and corporate activity. How many here had the balls to tell them you're opinion of Monster? Noel Lee said "Headphones are the new speakers" to me. He wants "in" in this market. I think it's only right for folks to make sure they have an accurate understanding of the perceptions they'll have to deal with as they try to enter this market. CanJam is a GREAT opportunity to speak up and speak directly to the people who bring headphone products to you. And it's virtually a miracle that they're coming to us, rather than trying to worm your opinion into their corporate systems.

Say wasn't there recently a death of someone famous who was found in a full body latex suit?

Ready or not ......... Oooohhhh, that hurts!

Headphones are to microscopes as speakers are to glasses.

Oy! I've got a monster headache. I gotta go talk to Logitec.