mypasswordis

I like this site.

Oh you mean like poking a hole through the paper, and then ripping a chunk out? I hate when that happens. That constant thickness things sounds really cool, I'll definitely want to try it out, thanks.

Kind of a weird question, but do better pencils let you write more precisely or do you actually need thinner lead, like 0.3? Sometimes 0.5mm is turns out too thick for me and smudges on everything (I'm left handed, so writing across the page almost guarantees smudging from my hand).

I really wanted to like the 404LE as the end-all Lambda but I'm just not digging it. =/ I'm fine with extra bass (which, btw, there is no real hump, the frequency response is just tilted toward the bass) but the rubbery coloration and the lack of treble is bugging me. Instruments just don't quite sound real, they sound as if they were made of rubber. Right now I think I prefer the SR-Lambda, L Pro, and L Sig to it, in terms of Lambdas. And probably the SR-404 actually, but that's going off a vague memory. Also going off vague memory, I might prefer the HD580/600. I've never heard anything that resembled "etch" so maybe I just like treble. I'll reserve final judgment for... a few days from now, actually, but I doubt my opinion will suddenly change.

Sorry the tape measure is too crappy, 6.0" +- 0.1

Hm yeah I'm getting pretty much exactly 6", wow never thought I'd find someone with similarly sized wrists. And almost the same height too!

And Jin, I'm pretty sure my wrists are thinner than yours. Mine are really thin.

Someday a truck will finally win out against the cold-hearted evil low bridge. It will be a celebratory day of triumph for the trucks.

This thread has made me decide that when I finally get a decent watch, it will in fact be all black or as damn near as possible. Edit: The problem with watches though is I have super thin wrists and I don't want to wear watches for ladies.

Reminds me of Top Gear saying the only qualification someone needs to be a Lamborghini test driver is to have a kickass name Not saying anything about the amp of course, I'm sure it is kickass.

Yeah that is seriously impressive. Good find, and glad you have a Qualia again!

I've heard my share of 'stats, and my share of Lambdas (Lambda, Lambda Pro, Lambda Sig, SR-202, SR-404, now 404LE), and I agree that the 404LE is more fun than analytical, and more forgiving than revealing. I have not heard most of the expensive 'stats, though. And wow Jim, the first 'stat you have gets use of both a KGSS and SRM-600? Nice. So did you guys also observe this rubberiness to the sound? I think you're kind of getting at it with the dryness, JP#.

A hugely disproportionate percentage of people I know who own pets own cats. I'm not sure why that is, but I'd like one of my own someday. Nice looking kitties, all, and I hope you find your cat, HPA.

And God knows I don't like wearing protection when I listen to music

Pffft, I don't write reviews. And I certainly didn't go in depth with anything.

Have I ever mentioned that Stax are badass? If I haven't, I'm doing it now. Interesting, thanks for the info!

Well what I'm trying to say is since my hand reflects backwave so well, doesn't that mean the Lambda cage, even if it is quite open, is still reflecting some of the backwave back?

I don't think that's the case with headphones, though, since we're not putting speakers into a wall and doing the hand blocking thing still has a big effect on sound.

I just thought Stax had managed to somehow make a closed-back headphone not sound closed, but from your statement it seems to me that is not the case.

Ah, so they do still have some closed sound attributes? Hmm... ------ 404LE Initial impressions (I'll do a "final" impressions on Friday or Saturday after I spend a bit more time with it, and go a bit more in-depth): Aesthetics/functionality: The pads look nice and fit me just fine. They are very comfortable and I don't have a problem with heat building up in my ears over time. The 404LE is a lot heavier than the other Lambdas but this is probably just because of the massive cable. Sound: Comparing to the Lambda Pro and Lamba Sig, the 404LE obviously has the most tilt to toward the bass, as I expected. The bass easily extends to 30Hz and rolls off after that, and in fact may even have a slight hump around the 35-45Hz range. Bass amount goes 404LE > Pro > Sig. This by no means imply the Sig lacks bass. The 404LE also has a slightly rubbery coloration to the sound, whereas the Pro has a slightly tizzy coloration, and the Sig has a slightly smooth coloration. To further explain the rubbery sound, notes sound slightly stuck and if playing a note were analogous to poking something rubbery and feeling that little bit of rubbery bounce, instead of a clean hit. The 404LE has the least amount of air to the sound, probably because of its somewhat recessed treble. Sometimes I feel even vocals are a bit recessed, which is the opposite of the Sig, in which I feel sometimes the vocals are too forward. But this frequency tilt makes sure even the crappy recordings sound good, and a lot of the time with other headphones I hear a bunch of background hiss, there is virtually none on the 404LE. All in all, I do not feel the 404LE is in another class from the other Lambdas but I can see how some would prefer this sound to some of the other Lambdas. Comparing to the AKG K1000, the sound of the 404LE is quite a bit darker. I would say the Lambda that is closest sounding to the K1000 is the L Sig, though the K1000 has less forward mids. I'm thinking after the meet I will let Aman take home with him the Pro and the Sig if he wants to do his own Lambda shootout.

So controlling backwave doesn't factor into it? Got it.

Every time I listen to Radiohead, esp In Rainbows, I want to do the Thom Yorke head roll/twitch dance, but I can't with the K1000.

I was just wondering if I possibly didn't stick the driver to the baffle completely tightly, causing a bit of rumble in the low bass. I think I was just hearing things. As to the infinite baffle approach, do you think putting some fiberglass behind the drivers like in the Lambda and Lambda Pro would help?